Australia: The Land Where Time Began
Iron Range National Park
What's special?
Rugged, hilly country in the far north-east of Cape York Peninsula rises to 543m above sea level at Mt Tozer in Iron Range National Park, a place of spectacular natural beauty. The park protects Australia’s largest lowland tropical rainforest remnant. Volcanic rocks overlie the older metamorphic rocks where the rainforest grows.Iron Range is an important wildlife refuge and home to many unusual wildlife species such as the eclectus parrot, palm cockatoo, southern cassowary, fawn-breasted bowerbird, red-bellied pitta, green python and spotted cuscus. Most are found only here and in New Guinea.
Heath covers the Janet and Tozer Ranges, dense, tall lowland rainforest grows across the broad floodplains and open forest, woodland and paperbark forest grow closer to the coast. Sandy beaches and rocky headlands overlook the Coral Sea.
Aboriginal people of the Kuuku Ya’u language group occupied this area until they were forced into missions. Their descendants living at the Lockhart River Community retain close ties with their land and cultural heritage. Aboriginal lands border the park and the traditional owners help manage the park.
The first European contact was William Bligh’s boat landing after the Bounty Mutiny. Explorer Edmund Kennedy left a party here during his ill-fated overland expedition in 1848. Relics of gold mining during the 1930s and 1940s can be seen near Gordon Creek. Iron Range was a staging post for thousands of American troops during World War II.
Exploring Iron Range
Relax and enjoy the unspoilt beauty of this special place.Bush camp at Rainforests, Gordons Creek, Chili Beach or Cook’s Hut camping areas. Few facilities are provided so visitors must be self-sufficient. Take plenty of drinking water, a fuel stove and mosquito nets. Generators are not permitted in the camping areas. Remove your rubbish.
Supplies and fuel can be purchased from the Lockhart River Community Store.
Fishing is allowed at Chili Beach. Beware of estuarine crocodiles in the park’s coastal beaches, rivers and waterholes. For your safety, never swim, canoe, clean fish or prepare food at the water’s edge, or camp near deep waterholes. Be croc-wise.
Walking
The only track starts from Rainforests camping area. Wear a hat and sunscreen. Take drinking water.Accessibility
The crocodile warning signs are in German and Japanese as well as English.Getting there
Access to the park is along the Portand Roads Road which leaves the Peninsula Development Road 35 km north of the Archer River Roadhouse. From this turnoff, the drive to the ranger station takes about three to four hours.From the north, take Frenchmans Road east from the Telegraph Road, 2km north of the Batavia Downs to Weipa Road. Drive about 50km or two hours to the intersection with Portand Roads Road and a further 30km to the ranger station. The ranger station is 3km south of the road junction, just past the new Claudie River bridge.
Four-wheel-drive is recommended. Visit only in the dry cooler months, April to September. Check road conditions before travelling on the Portland Roads Road or Frenchmans Road as both can become impassable following rain.
| Author: M. H. Monroe |
| Email: admin@austhrutime.com |
| Last Updated 30/09/2011 |
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