Lakefield National Park
- Introduction
- Fact file
- A look at the past
- Aboriginal culture
- Natural features
- Native plants
- Wildlife
- NQIS (07) 3227 8185
- Park ranger (07) 4060 3271,
- (07) 4060 3260
- QPWS Cooktown (07) 4069 5777
- MARVEL at the huge termite mounds on the grasslands
- VISIT the beautiful Red and White Lily lagoons
- CATCH a tasty barramundi for dinner
Introduction
Lakefield National Park on the Cape York Peninsula is Queensland’s second largest park. Stretching from the small outback town of Laura in the south to Princess Charlotte Bay in the north, it is renowned for its vast river systems and spectacular wetlands. Gallery rainforest grows along parts of the Normanby and Kennedy rivers and monsoonal scrub is found on sections of the park’s sandstone escarpments.
Fact file
Access
From Cairns and Laura via Peninsula Developmental Rd, 4WD recommended; from Cooktown via Battlecamp Rd; from Coen via Musgrave Roadhouse, 4WD only; check current road conditions before travelling; nearest supplies and fuel at Laura and Musgrave
Best Season
April to November; closed in the wet season
Location
435 km north-west of Cairns; 118 km west of Cooktown; 27 km north of Laura
Park Information
Permits
Camping permit required
Size
537 000 ha
Where to Stay
Cooktown (07) 4069 6100
Quinkan Hotel, Laura (07) 4060 3255
A look at the past
William Hann made a crossing of the North Kennedy River during his expedition to Cape York in 1872. The site is now known as Hann Crossing. Hann was one of many explorers, geologists and surveyors, including Kennedy, Mulligan, Logan Jack, Bradford and Embley, who traversed parts of what is now Lakefield National Park after the mid-1800s. Hann also discovered gold on the Palmer River, initiating the rush of 1873, which resulted in tracks through the southern end of the park. The first cattle grazing lease was granted in 1879 for Laura station. Old Laura homestead is open to the public and, north of Kalpowar Crossing, a delightful lagoon and 100-year-old mango trees mark the site of Breeza homestead, where horses were bred for the Palmer River fields.
Aboriginal culture
Prior to European settlement in the 1870s numerous Aboriginal clans occupied the area now designated as national park. Hann and Kalpowar crossings are among a number of culturally signifi cant sites associated with occupation, ceremonies and stories of ancestral spirits. The traditional owners now identify with one of four major language groups, the Lamalama, Kuku Warra, Kuku Yamithi and Kuku Thaypan; and they are involved in the management of the park.
Natural features
Gazetted as a national park in 1979, Lakefield has an extensive river system comprising the Normanby, Morehead and North Kennedy rivers and their tributaries. During the wet season, these waterways join to flood vast areas, eventually draining into Princess Charlotte Bay. During the dry season, the rivers and creeks shrink, leaving large permanent waterholes, lakes and lagoons interspersed by flood plains, ridges and riverbeds.
Native plants
To the north of the park around Princess Charlotte Bay are river estuaries and mudflats with fringing mangroves. Open woodland of eucalypt and paperbark spreads across the flood plains while elsewhere there are extensive grasslands. Near Lakefi eld ranger station are fan-leaved palm trees (Corypha utan), a rare species that flowers and fruits only once in its life then dies, sometimes reaching 100 years of age. For a spectacular sight, visit the Red and White Lily lagoons, around 8 kilometres north of the ranger station.
Wildlife
The park’s wetlands attract a diversity of animals, particularly waterbirds. Look for brolgas, sarus cranes, black-necked storks, comb-crested jacanas, magpie geese and ducks. A good viewing spot is picturesque Low Lake, 3 kilometres off Lakefield Road. In open woodland and grassland areas agile wallabies are abundant; the northern nailtail wallaby and Australian bustard are harder to find. Termite mounds – both magnetic and cathedral constructions – are a common sight on the grasslands, particularly on the Nifold Plain. The park also protects a number of threatened species including the golden-shouldered parrot, star finch, red goshawk, Lakeland Downs mouse and spectacled hare-wallaby. A variety of fish inhabit the rivers, including barramundi (see Things to do, for fishing details).
Featured Activities in the National Park
Introduction
Never swim, canoe, clean fish or prepare food at the water’s edge, or camp close to deep waterholes, as estuarine crocodiles live in these waters. Lakefield is one of the few Queensland parks where fishing is allowed. Anglers can target barramundi, tarpon, catfish and archerfish in the freshwater regions, and mangrove jack, fingermark, cod, trevally, queenfish and salmon in the saltwater areas. Recreational fishing is permitted at all camping areas. The Bizant boat ramp provides the best access to Princess Charlotte Bay. Check with a ranger for current fishing restrictions and regulations. Canoeing is not recommended due to the presence of crocodiles.Two main walking trails exist in the park: Normanby River circuit (4.5 km, 1–1½ hours) at Kalpowar Crossing; and North Kennedy River track (7 km return, 90 minutes) at Hann Crossing.
Campsites
Bottom Whiphandle Waterhole camping area
Catfish Waterhole camping area
Hanush’s Waterhole camping area
Kennedy Bend Waterhole camping area
Melaleuca Waterhole camping area
Mick Fienn Waterhole camping area
Old Faithful Waterhole camping area
Orange Plain Waterhole camping area
Seven Mile Waterhole camping area
Six Mile Waterhole camping area
Top Whiphandle Waterhole camping area
Twelve Mile Waterhole camping area
Welcome Waterhole camping area
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