Mutee Head and Jardine Mouth

Other than the headland itself, there are also some Second World War relics, Saibai Islander graves, and a beautiful beach.


The spot is reached from the main road that goes north to Bamaga, in the NPA (north of Jardine River).
  

And if you like fishing and discovering,

... there is also a small track west to the mouth of Jardine River.
  

The Road into Mutee Head

At the turnoff from the main road, there is now even a road sign saying Mutee Head.



The road in is a good gravel road, doable in two wheel drive during the dry season.
 


Up on the hill behind the beach is a Second World War radar tower,



... reachable by a track that turns off the road in, not far from the beach.



The beach is beautiful,



... day or night, 




... and not bad for fishing.
 


The old poles sticking out of the water is what is left from a Second World War jetty,



... which was later useful for the community of Saibai islanders.
  


Yes - the WWII relics were already here when the first Saibai islanders came to settle on the mainland in 1947. They first settled in the Mutee Head because the WWII water tanks and the jetty were handy. The Government erected a temporary church, store and medical post. As more and more families arrived, old army huts were used for housing.



It later showed that the water source was not sufficient, and they went looking for better spots. They got help from people at Injinoo, and together they found natural freshwater sources at Red Island Point (now Seisia Jetty) and what was then called Ichuru (now Bamaga).



While the Bamaga township was built most families stayed in Mutee Head, and gradually moved to Bamaga as the housing was completed there.

Track to the Mouth of Jardine River

The above-mentioned track to the radar tower continues west to the mouth of Jardine River.
   

The track gets gradually sandier and is four wheel drive,



... at least towards the end. 




You first come to the river bank,



... there are some nice spots,



... and you can drive down to the river.




The track continues,



... towards the river mouth,



... and once you get there,



... there is a boggy spot,



... we have got bogged here many times,



... and seen others to do the same and helped them out.



Behind the boggy spot is a beautiful beach,
  


... and in the eastern end of the beach, you can see Mutee Head.
   

And to the west, you can see beyond the river mouth.



The place is on Aboriginal land - the camping rules are in the Destination Guide, along with all the rest of the places on the peninsula.

Plan Your Trip... the FREE Cape York Travel Pocket Guide

Get this 50 pages guide totally for FREE. It contains information that helps you getting started with planning of your trip. You get to make early-stages desicions such as when to go, how long time you should take, how to get there and get around, where to stay (general info), what will it cost.. and a short insight to what is there to see and do in Cape York.

Plan and Bring to the Trip... the full Destination Cape York Travel Guide

This complete 300 pages travel guide is all you need before and during your trip. Besides the background chapters on the peninsula's history and wildlife; and the comprehensive detail about all the places (down to prices, opening hours and full contact detail), it has invaluable information on at least 10 four wheel drive tracks, at least 30 guaranteed FREE camping spots on the Cape (and at least 150 on your way to the Cape), at least 40 best swimming holes, all mapped; as well as practical things - from fuel, roads, wireless internet and mobile phone reception, how to deal with the national parks booking rules; and Aboriginal land entrance and camping permits and alcohol restrictions - to vehicle preparation and accessories and necessary recovery gear by my partner Mark who is the recovery guy on northern Cape York and the Old Telegraph Track). Not to mention locals' tips on how to spot that croc and palm cockatoo ;-)

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