Cape York Trip Planning - Jul 2009

G'day Gazza,

Mate, all of that (and some more) at our trip report

Check the slideshow, do's and don'ts, also track files and fuel usage

We did the trip in 2007 with 2 cars with offroad trailers. We left from Brisbane up to up the coast & back through Karumba,Lawn Hill & Mt Isa. Our trip was for 9 weeks with 5 weeks from Cairns to Karumba & still didn't see everything. You just need to work out what you would like to see & go for it. You won't be disappointed. regards Mark R

We have done Cape last 4 years from Melb and agree that it doesnt matter where you go, you will enjoy it. Heeeeeeeeaps to see. Unfortunate that you only have 4 weeks. We generally take 2-3 months. 5-7 days to Cairns? I drive to Townsville in 2 days, but thats not easy driving, as I've seen all on that trip many times.

Enjoy

Phill

Our Melbourne to Melbourne trip via the Tip took 21 nights
and we felt we had a good look at most things and did many of the 4wd tracks - mind you we didn't like some places like chilli beach and only spent 15 minutes there as it was wet and miserable.

Other places like the sixth beach on the five beaches run had us worried about sinking in the sand and all in all it was a very memorable trip.

To make it work though we had to do 3 * 1000km days up and back which were long days as we stick to 100

One of the things we remeber most was jumping into the river at Elliot falls from the bank about 10-15ft above.




NIGHT PLACE ACCOMODATION
1st Goondiwindi 5pm (Unit in caravan park)
2nd Mackay 8pm unit Tropical c/park Gps approx.
3rd Cairns 6pm Unit Mindar caravan park
4th Cairns Still at MINDAR caravan park
5th Ayton Unit-no facilites bloomfield C/Park
6th Starke river Bush tent at dry Stacke river
7th Cooktown Unit caravan park
8th Coen Tent Coen camp area in town ($9)
9th Dulhunty River Bush tent edge of river
10th Elliot Falls Tent @ camp area (honesty box $6)
11th Punsand Bay Tent in Camp ground $9/night
12th Punsand Bay Tent Camp ground $9/night
13th Wenlock River Bush Tent edge of river
14th Pascoe River Bush Tent in River Bed
15th Palmer river Tent in roadhouse camp area
16th Cape tribulation Tent in PKS caravan park $12/nite
17th Cairns Tent in Coconut Resort c/park
18th Cairns Tent in Coconut Resort c/park
19th Emerald Tent in caravan park
20th Goondiwindi again same place VAN-01
21th Narrandra Tent in caravan park
Home @ Melbourne Saturday 5th Oct 2002

We've just come back from a scout tour of the cape (a quick trip to see whats up there , next time take our friends) 17 days ,6500 km trip.
Did the OTL northbound, camped at Loyalty Beach, went to the tip had a good look around. Leave all the touristy things til next time eg; Thursday Island, Helicoptor ride to view the cape.
The best time camping on the way up & back at all the campgrounds attached to the roadhouses.
Fruitbat Falls was absolutely beautiful. Bypass road in fairly good condition due to the graders doin some work at that time.
Fellow travellers who we met on the way up said the bypass was in a mess,can change if you strike it at the right time.
We were travelling in a 4wd with roof top tent,made it so much easier than having to tow a trailer.

I'd be planning 3 days up and 3-4 days back from cairns so you can spend another week up top.

Leroy

Thanks heaps everyone - good info.

Hey OzGazza,

Have a squiz here...http://www.capeyorker.com/

We've got a pretty good little forum happening on this site, chatting about "All Things Cape York" !!

Scorcher