Drysdale River

EXPLORING THE DRYSDALE RIVER DRYSDALE RIVER AIR PHOTO

The Drysdale River, on the eastern side of Napier Broome Bay, provides many sheltered anchorages and good fishing for cruisers willing to spend the time to negotiate the several miles of shallow sandbars stretching upstream for 8nm from the mouth of the river. The Drysdale can be accessed from secure anchorages 10 miles to the north at Cape Talbot or 10 miles to the west at the Governor Islands. Anchorage can also be taken off the beach north of Curran Point, or just east of Curran Point (1a on map) while checking out the sandbars and awaiting the high tide to move up the river.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The logical entrance to the Drysdale River is to approach the mouth near high tide on an easterly course and zig zag through the deeper channels running between sandbars which are clearly shown on the Air Photo of the river entrance (left). South of Curran Point there is a 20 m deep hole (2 on map) and there is a pleasant anchorage east of Curran Point to the north east of this hole.

When the wind is blowing hard from the ESE, there is a more protected anchorage 6 nm further upstream at the mouth of a side creek on the eastern bank (1b on map). The safest channel upstream from here is to the west of the small mangrove island. Take care while passing to the south west of the rock bars and isolated rocks (3 on map). Anchorage can be taken upstream of the rockbars (1c on map) where spectacular sunrises (right) have been observed.

TIDE TIMES AND HEIGHTS

The tides in the Drysdale River are similar in time and height to Ila Point at the northern tip of the Governor Islands. It is wise to travel upstream on the top couple of hours of the tide, as there are many shallow sandbanks to negotiate within about 8 miles of Curran Point.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Upstream of anchorage 1c take a turn to starboard where the navigable, scenic section of the river runs in a southerly direction for a further 3 miles before terminating at a calm picturesque anchorage (left and 1d on map) opposite the camp and where the floatplanes bring in guests from Kununurra (right).

Around the corner there was an ideal fishing perch (left) until the 2008 flood washed it away. A few hundred metres further upstream is the tidal rockbar and the freshwater falls where good barra have been picked up along the rocky bank (right). The flat rocks make it easy to fill up with fresh water, do the washing (below left), or have a quick dip at any time of the tide.

Upstream of this rockbar the river snakes south through rocky gorges for hundreds of kilometres.

As well as at the rockbar, freshwater is available all year round at Waterfall Creek marked 6 on the map above. The main falls at this creek may be nearly dry by mid-season.

However, there is always water cascading into the river east of the main falls (right).

The pools above the main falls at Waterfall Creek are easy to walk to (left), and provide welcome relief from the heat late in the cruising season. Be careful not to get the dinghy trapped in the upper pool below the falls on the outgoing tide!

Also Beware of the crocodiles!

The freshwater pools above the Drysdale River rockbar (right) look really inviting on a hot day; but crocodile tracks have been seen on the sand about 1 mile upstream of this rockbar.

A number of big crocs have also been spotted in the side creeks along the deepwater reach and one or two large crocs lie around on the rocks in the sun or cruise around the anchorage opposite the fishing camp. These guys usually keep their distance. But! Can any crocodile be trusted?

This page was last updated 10-Apr-2008 - download Drysdale River.pdf