You do not require a permit to visit Pormpuraaw, but you are required to check in at the Council Offices on arrival. As Pormpuraaw is an Aboriginal community the customs of the traditional owners must be adhered to at all times. Please don't stray from the main roads unless you are accompanied by a traditional owner. It is a custom that in the event of a death in the Community an area of land or sea is closed, and can not be visited, the Council will advise you if there is somewhere you should not go.
All communities on Cape York have their own alcohol management plan which restricts the sale and possession of alcohol. You can bring one case of light or mid-strength beer (24 cans) or half a case of heavy (12 cans), per car, into Pormpuraaw. Wine and liquor is prohibited in the community. Additional beer can be purchased at The Edward River Hotel.
Crocodiles live in the waters around Pormpuraaw, so there is no swimming in saltwater and some other precautions must be taken. See the Environmental Protection Agency website for more about crocs and how to be crocwise.
Fishing
It is the main pastime for many locals, and visitors come from all over Australia to catch themselves a mighty Barra. Situated between two rivers, Pormpuraaw boasts terrific estuary fishing for barramundi, threadfin salmon, grunter, bream, among other species. Boating out to the nearby reefs offers great fishing for fingermark. Rods, reels, bait and tackle can be bought at the Pormpuraaw Store. In the unlikely event that you don't catch anything, you can purchase fish in 5 and 10kg packs and mud crabs from the Council offices and your family will never know.
Edward River Crocodile Farm
Pormpuraaw has the oldest crocodile farm in Australia. Set up in the 1970s when crocodiles were becoming endangered, the Edward River Croc Farm has been responsible for repopulating the local rivers.
As well as maintaining croc numbers in the wild, the farm is a commercial business producing eggs and infants to be sent to farms around the country where they are grown for their meat and skins. There are some 4 thousand crocodiles at any one time in several hectares of open range lagoon, including one 18 foot giant called Hymn. On Thursdays visitors can drive their own vehicle into the Croc Farm, if prearranged, to see the crocodiles being fed whole chickens and wild pigs. Call 07 4060 4177
Crocodile Races
On the Queen's Birthday weekend in 2006, Pormpuraaw again plays host to the world's only crocodile races. A charity event to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the races are a spectacle you must see to believe. The night before the big event 25 juvenile crocodiles, with names like Mungkan Mauler and Barra Biter, are auctioned to the highest bidder. On the day the crocs are put in a chute that leads onto a 25 meter track. The first to scamper over the finish line wins. The 'owners' of the first, second and third place take home prizes. Call Pormpuraaw Council for more details 07 4060 4600.
Birdwatching
Some 170 species of bird inhabit the sea, savannah and wetlands around Pormpuraaw. The bird population changes dramatically with the seasons as migratory birds come and go. Some locals are the crimson finch, star finch, brolga, sea eagle, hawk, and jabiru.
Pormpuraaw Cultural Centre
A new building has been built to showcase the history and culture of Pormpuraaw and the surrounding lands. The Pormpuraaw Cultural Centre houses artifacts, art and craft of the Thayorre and Mungkan peoples who inhabit this part of Cape York. See our
Pormpuraaw Cultural Centre page for more.
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