Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rinyirru National ParkQueensland |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Rinyirru National Park, July 2011
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| Nearest town or city | Cooktown |
| Established | 1979 |
| Area | 5,370 km2 (2,073.4 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Rinyirru National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of Queensland |
Rinyirru (also known as Lakefield) is a huge national park in Queensland, Australia. It's located on the Cape York Peninsula, about 1,707 km northwest of Brisbane. By road, it's about 340 km north-west of Cairns.
This park is enormous! It covers 5,370 square kilometers (about 2,073 square miles). To give you an idea, it's bigger than the country of Trinidad and Tobago. This makes Rinyirru the second largest park in Queensland. It's a very popular spot for fishing and camping adventures.
The park stretches from Princess Charlotte Bay in the north down to the town of Laura. It includes parts of the Normanby River, Morehead River, and North Kennedy River. You'll also find many lakes, billabongs (waterholes), and wetlands here. There are more than 100 permanent lagoons in the park.
There's one main dirt road, called Lakefield Road, that goes through the park. However, it often becomes impossible to use during the wet season. Because of this, the park usually closes during those months. Inside the park, there's a ranger station. Rangers can help you with information or in case of an emergency.
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Climate in Rinyirru
The wettest time in Rinyirru National Park is from early December to April. During these months, the park gets about 1,200 mm of rain on average. Sometimes, heavy monsoon rains fall. These rains can cause the rivers to overflow their banks. In the much drier months, the plains become very dry and dusty.
History of Rinyirru
Before Europeans arrived in the 1870s, many Aboriginal groups lived in this rich coastal area. You can still find Aboriginal cultural sites at Hann and Kalpowar crossings.
Edmund Kennedy was one of the first European explorers to visit the area by land. Another early explorer was William Hann. The Laura Homestead was set up around 1892. It's one of the oldest farmhouses still standing in the region.
The land that became Lakefield Station was huge. It stretched for over 150 kilometers. In 1979, the Queensland Government bought several cattle stations, including Lakefield. This is when Rinyirru National Park was officially created.
Animals of Rinyirru
Rinyirru National Park is famous for its many waterbirds. You can see brolgas, sarus cranes, and magpie geese. In the woodlands and grasslands, you might spot agile wallabys and Australian bustards.
Some rare animals also live here. These include the golden-shouldered parrot and the red goshawk. You'll see many termite mounds scattered across the park.
There are also lots of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Mammals include dingoes, wallabies, and possums. Sometimes, there are so many wild pigs that some need to be removed. Reptiles include many types of snakes. The brown snake, death adder, and taipan are three very dangerous ones. They are highly venomous. Monitor lizards, also called goannas, are common too. Frogs are numerous, like the green tree frog. The cane toad, which is not native, is also present.
Crocodiles in the Park Visitors must be very careful because there are many crocodiles in the park's waterways. Rinyirru has the largest number of crocodiles in Queensland. There are two types: freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. Freshwater crocodiles are smaller and less dangerous to people. Saltwater crocodiles can grow very large and are potentially dangerous. It's very important to follow all safety signs and warnings about crocodiles.
Plants of Rinyirru
The park is mostly covered by eucalypt woodlands. You'll also find gallery forests along the waterways. There are different kinds of eucalypt trees, like bloodwoods. Wattles are also common, including the northern black wattle. Paperbark trees grow near water, such as the weeping paperbark.
One beautiful plant in the park is the Corypha utan palm. These palms grow near water and can handle the floods during the wet season. After about 75 to 100 years, the palm produces a huge flower stalk with millions of flowers. Once it flowers and seeds, the palm dies. New palms grow well in Rinyirru. People locally call this palm "Kennedy palm" or "Gebang palm." Near the coast, you can also find healthy mangrove forests and salt flats.
Fishing in Rinyirru
Rinyirru National Park is one of the parks in Queensland where you can go fishing. You can fish at all campsites and other spots. However, some areas might have cultural rules where fishing is not allowed.
In freshwater, you might catch barramundi, tarpon, and catfish. In saltwater areas of the park, you could find mangrove jack, fingermark, and salmon.
How to Get There
You can reach Rinyirru National Park by road from either Cooktown or Laura. The easiest way is to take the Peninsula Development Road north of Lakefield on the Mulligan Highway. The Starcke Track is another route, which is more popular for four-wheel drive vehicles. There's also a northern route from Coen via the Musgrave Roadhouse.
The park is in a remote area. Visitors should make sure they have enough food, petrol, and other supplies before leaving Cooktown, Lakefield, or Laura. Roads in the park might close very quickly after rain. This is to prevent damage to the road surface.
Camping in Rinyirru
There are many bush campgrounds throughout the park. Two camps, Kalpowar Crossing Campground and Hanns Crossing Campground, have toilets and showers. Other campsites across the park do not have these facilities. You now need to get permits online or through official channels, as self-registration is no longer possible (since April 2013). Some campsites allow generators that operate quietly (65 dB or lower).
For your safety, you should not camp within 50 meters of any body of water. This is because of the risk of crocodile attacks.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Lakefield para niños
