Hann Crossing - Lakeland National Park

We travelled approximately 200 kms north of Cooktown in order to meet up with Peter (Andrew’s middle son) and Toni (his wife) at Hann Crossing in Lakefield National Park. They were coming south from Seisa.

Lakefield is Queensland’s second largest national park and it is also one of the more isolated national parks on the Cape York Peninsula. The park is located within the Laura Basin that drains northwards into Princess Charlotte Bay.

Lakefiled is a remote park and the QNPW leaflet advises that visitors need to be self-sufficient with adequate food, water, fuel and basic vehicle repair equipment. Access to the park is only possible during the dry season from about April to November and 4WD vehicles are recommended. Vehicle access is not possible during the wet season. The photo above shows part of the lovely campsite.

Pete and Toni had two campsites booked on the river, as they are keen fishing people. Their friends Ken and Sue had been with them and after spending a pleasant evening being six, they left to attend the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival leaving us four.

The next afternoon after our arrival, a couple of hours after their friends Sue and Ken left, Pete caught a lovely sized barramundi and Toni caught an almost as big one the day after. The photo attests to it. The next day Toni caught one only ever so slightly smaller. I need to add that until our arrival, Pete and Toni had no luck with fishing at this particular spot. It goes to show Sue and Ken, how the power of suggestion works. We willed Pete to be successful as I have been longing to try freshly caught fish. We discovered by they way that Sue and Ken Moffitt are long time bridge players and while I forgot to take any photos and we also desisted from a game because of Pete and Toni, we plan to meet again in Darwin sometime in July and have that game of bridge.

We had to delay having Andrew’s piece de resistance, spaghetti bolognaise in favour of the freshly caught barra. And I made a laksa from the fish head for lunch the next day – take note George Gondor – we thought of you as we eat the laksa. Photo coming up of our laksas. The blog can only take up to 4 photos at any one time it seems.

This photo shows Pete gutting and filleting the fish. Pete and Toni cooked it in the camp oven with some sambal oelek and lime juice. It was wonderful.

Another view of the North Kennedy River.