Page 86 - Ebook Explore Cape York

Explore Cape York 80
Jackey Jackey Creek & Escape River
Almost to the Tip on the eastern coast of the Cape there is the
Jackey Jackey creek system and the Escape River – don’t be fooled
by the word creek - the Jackey Jackey can feel more like an ocean
at times – what may surprise many are the patches of reef found
within its banks.

Jackey Jackey Creek is named after Jackey Jackey, an indigenous
explorer and survivor of the ill-fated Kennedy expedition of 1848
which set out to find a route to the top of Cape York.
Once out into Newcastle Bay you’ve access to Albany and Turtle
Head Islands with reefs and bommies that are basically a fishing
paradise.

There’s boat ramp access to the Jackey Jackey not far from the
airport on Fishbone Creek but do check the tides before you go in
or out as the ramp is not always accessible at low tide. If you
haven’t got a boat, check out the several charter options available
in the NPA.

WWII Plane Wrecks
During WWII, the Cape played a huge role in our most northern
defence efforts. The main activities were the No 52 radar station at
Mutee Head and the Advanced Operational Base at Higgins Field -
now Bamaga Injinoo Airport.

Head out of Bamaga on the airport road - 4.5km past BP on the
‘Cairns’ intersection you’ll easily find the remains of several
crashes. The first is an air force courier DC3 that crashed on its
landing approach killing all six crew on board. The turn off for the
second wreck is a further 2km past the DC3 site, near the end of
the airport runway, where you’ll find a signed track to the Beaufort
Bomber which also met with misfortune. The third, a Curtiss P-40E
Warhawk, is found 1.6km down on the Jackey Jackey Road and
50m down a bush track off to your left.

Take a wander, you’ll find the remains of other crashes, the camps,
maintenance bays and fuel dumps.