On our way here we saw two lots of wild pigs. One pig family crossed the road in front of us so we slowed down and then two more came darting out of the bushes, we liteally missed them by inches. Another 20kms on we see a massive group of over 20 crossing the road.  Apparently Cape York is known as the feral pig capital of the country and they are a massive problem. They cause a lot of damage to wetlands, spoil water quality (affecting fish populations) eat all the emu, turtle and crocodile eggs, churn up the soil, spread invasive weeds and impact negatively on ground dwelling wildlife like birds and goannas. There is an active management strategy up here to try and control them. Picanninny Plains is an area in the heart of the Cape and contains 70 wetlands of national conservation significance. Since 2013 they have implemented a monthly aerial pig shooting control program and have shot over 8000 pigs. The emu population is now recovering and other rare birds and wildlife are returning to the area. They used to see groups of over 100 pigs at a time back when they started the program. I don’t think I had ever seen one wild pig before coming here.

Moreton Telegraph Station is approximately 300 kms south of the Cape on the Wenlock River. It is a working cattle farm and the cows and bulls wander around your camp site. It has grass camping sites which was amazing after all the red dust but they work hard to keep it green. They water it continuously by moving sprinklers around using their motorbikes. The water comes from the river which usually keeps running through the dry season. They have a 3km walk through the bush to the ‘natural bridge’ where the creek has eroded the land and left the rock which now forms a bridge, it also has a barramundi fishing hole. We did the walk and the water looked so inviting after our long drive but there is a resident crocodile around so you couldn’t risk it. It’s very difficult to be somewhere so lovely where you would love to just sit on the river bank and go for a swim but you cannot do either You shouldn’t even be close to the river edge as the crocodile track you and can lunge out of the water. 

We stayed here for 5 nights so that Simon could work. We could have driven the last 300km but it’s nice to have a rest from the dust and the corrugations. Plus we know that the last 300kms is the worst 300kms. Everybody we meet tells us. Even if you are not the one driving you cannot switch off there are too many holes to watch out for and you just shake continuously, no smooth ride here. Note to the ladies if you are doing this trip invest in a decent sport bra, there is a lot of jiggling going on.

In the shop here there is a notice board with photos of the difference between the wet season and the dry season. In 2006 wet season they were waist deep in water where we are camping. It really is hard to imagine.