Artemis Station

Mustering is in full swing on Artemis Station, a cattle operation where the dogs are so nimble at hopping on and off their quadbike taxis, they will shortly be acquiring their HR licence to drive the beef to market too.

A rustic campground with a roaring donkey shower caters for dusty travellers stopping off from the long trek on the Peninsula Development Road to or from the tip of Cape York, 580kms of dirt adventures.

The station is a mecca for bird enthusiasts in search of the golden-shouldered parrot or antbed parrot. Sue, one of the owners, has spent many decades conserving the last of the 800 remaining birds of this species which is also looked after fulltime now by a conservation charity, Artemis Nature Fund. Always happy for donations, the fund improves habitat, protects the birds' nests inside termite mounds, and deters predators, such as snakes, butcherbirds, and goannas.

The dam is a pleasant spot for ducks, egrets, and visitors to pull up a chair and enjoy the view from the shade.

Early morning is delightful: the dawn chorus whistles, shrieks and chortles; the scent of last night's campfire spices the cool air; and stationhands load up the quads, the dogs jump up onboard, and the day launches with the first rays of the sun on the treetops where the galahs glint pink and grey.

A small posse of bird enthusiasts sets off to shoot the parrots. A spartan set of feeders attracts the spectacularly plumaged parrots to drop down from the surrounding trees. Happy cameras click away. Just a snapshot of the endless fascination of bush life.

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Artemis Station, Cape York, Golden-shouldered Parrot, FNQ