New Mapoon and Loyalty Beach

Just south of Loyalty Beach, it is about half way between the Islander communities Bamaga and Seisia.


It is where the people of Old Mapoon, north of Weipa, were moved when bauxite was discovered and the mining activity started in and around Weipa.

Many people have now also moved back to Old Mapoon.
  

There is a historical centre, and the NPA Art Centre, where you can buy beautiful local indigenous art. UPDATE 2020 - closed.

And there is the ice and tackle shop that sells fishing and camping gear,

... and a general store and a takeaway, which is our GFC, and they also do fish and chips, burgers, kebab and pizza. UPDATE 2021 - closed.

Loyalty Beach and the Area

North of New Mapoon, on the road to Seisia, is the turnoff to Loyalty Beach.



It is mostly known for its camping ground and beachfront restaurant, but there is more than that in the area.



The beach itself is beautiful, and to the south you can see all the way to Seisia and Red Island.



A dirt road goes to the Loyalty Beach Camping Ground,



... which has camping sites, safari huts,
 

 

... and a fishing lodge with a beachfront restaurant.

Beach South to Seisia

By the beach, Seisia is so close to Loyalty,



... it's an easy stroll south of the campground and much closer than via the road.

 

On the road into Loyalty Beach,



... there are also a few tracks to the beach between Loyalty and Seisia.

Beach North to Paterson Creek

Just north of the Loyalty Beach camping ground, the beach continues until Paterson Creek mouth.
   

The beaches here, by the way, have a lot more mud flats at low tide than Seisia.



It's a beautiful walk,



... and a fun drive :-)

New Mapoon and Loyalty Beach Back Tracks

Although there are also little tracks to the actual New Mapoon community, they are not so much for travellers but more for locals.



The community might well be worth a turn-in and a look-around.



But at the Loyalty Beach turnoff, there is a road that takes you to Paterson Creek mouth, if you don't want to go by the beach.



It later turns into smaller tracks as it goes past the ruins of old Paterson Telegraph Station,



... and via some sandy tracks it comes to the beach,



... and the mouth of Paterson Creek.

The Alternative Track to Pajinka Road

Back on the road from Loyalty Beach,



... if you continue north you come past some private land such as Utingu,



... you cross the Cody Creek (which is a tributary of the Paterson Creek),



... and you finally come out to the Pajinka Road at the Lockerbie sign,



... about a few kilometres south of the Croc Tent.

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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 vehicle-recovery-guy partner). Not to mention locals' tips on how to spot that croc and palm cockatoo ;-)

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