Cape York Information

Submitted: Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 18:12

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Cape York

This is the true 4WD journey to the tip of Cape York following the Old Telegraph Track (OTT) and its many challenging river crossings.

Cape York

Section: Treks

This is the true 4WD journey to the tip of Cape York following the Old Telegraph Track (OTT) and its many challenging river crossings.

Chris_K

Hi All

We're planning a Cape York trip next winter, and I'd like to know if anyone has any links, advice or other information that I might be able to access. No-one in the group has been to the Cape before We currently have five vehicles in our group, and would like to know a "must-do" list and a "must-not-do" list!

Cheers

Chris

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Reply By: Crackles - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 18:23

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 18:23

Ron Moons Cape York Adventurers Guide has everything you need to know. Many of the best attractions are off the beaten track so don't be afraid to take the side trips.
Cheers Craig...................

AnswerID: 448864

Follow Up By: Chris_K - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 20:40

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 20:40

Hi Craig

Thanks for the info - I'll check out the book

Cheers

Chris

FollowupID: 721154

Reply By: Member - Ivan (ACT) - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 18:25

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 18:25

Our trip report has exactly that.. Also, make sure that you download and watch the slideshow..

http://www.ivanlea.net/photos/CapeYork/default.htm

Cheers,

Ivan
2008 D4D Prado

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AnswerID: 448866

Follow Up By: Member - Toby R (WA) - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 19:44

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 19:44

A bit off the topic but great blog Ivan it should give me some great reading and info for my June/July trip to the Cape well done

FollowupID: 721140

Follow Up By: Chris_K - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 20:40

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 20:40

Hi Ivan

Some great info there - slide show looks great! Will take a while to check out all the stuff.

Cheers

Chris

FollowupID: 721153

Follow Up By: Frances - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 20:52

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 20:52

Hi Chris, I took 4 of our kids to the Tip last winter in a stock standard Nissan Patrol with a snorkel. We did the old telegraph track and never got stuck once - and we never took any chicken tracks. If I had've listened to everyone's advice before I went I would have had a lift, a winch and every accessory on it known to man but none of it was necessary bar the snorkel. The only things I took were a snatch strap and some basic spare parts in case I broke down, also a rattle gun because being a woman I can't undo wheel nuts. What I should also have taken was a tarp to put across the front of the car to go through deep creek crossings but fortunately someone loaned me one. A packet of cable ties would have been very handy too.

Have a great trip - I wish I was going again but the Simpson desert beckons this year!

FollowupID: 721265

Follow Up By: Chris_K - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 22:17

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 22:17

Hi Frances

Thanks - I've been having a look at all the stuff that is around - and I must admit that some of the tracks & photo's look a little daunting. I'm not really into killing cars - they cost too much money! If there is an easy way and a hard way - I'm going to take the easy way...just call me chicken.

I also realise that a lot of the stuff that is on the internet is the stuff that is a bit "sensationalised". We've got the 200 series Cruiser and some of our group have Pajero's - I'm confident that we will be fine (air bags at the back) although I'm not sure if the Parejo's might drag their bums a bit coming out of creeks etc?

Thanks again for the info!

Chris

FollowupID: 721279

Follow Up By: Frances - Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011 at 20:24

Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011 at 20:24

Hi Chris,

I said the same thing before I left but if you take the chicken tracks you are going to have a very boring trip. The OTL is no big deal but lots of fun if you just do it sensibly. I had never done any four wheel driving before either. I just followed another group of sensible people who knew what they were doing through all the creeks. My bum dragged a bit in spots - probably should have taken the tow ball off before I went but I didn't think of it and there was no damage anyway.

FollowupID: 721382

Follow Up By: Chris_K - Friday, Mar 25, 2011 at 20:50

Friday, Mar 25, 2011 at 20:50

Hi Frances

Thanks - given that there are a few vehicles going - I might try to sell the more "challenging" idea to the others.

Thanks for your help

Chris

FollowupID: 721590

Follow Up By: JonoM - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 23:06

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 23:06

Hi Ivan,

That site hosting your trip report seems to have gone down. I was really keen on checking out your slideshow but I didn't get around to downloading it last night. And tonight it's gone!

Reckon you can post it up again?

Cheers,

Jonathan

FollowupID: 721893

Follow Up By: Member - Ivan (ACT) - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 23:10

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 23:10

G'day Jono,

ISP server problem I think - have another go tomorrow... (I can't ftp to it either...

Cheers,

Ivan
2008 D4D Prado

Member
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FollowupID: 721894

Reply By: juspokinalong - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 20:52

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 20:52

Hi Chris,
We were up there in July last year, can be windy on the east coast at that time of the year. There is so much to see and do. Undara Lava Tubes near Mt Surprise, Cooktown, Weipa Mine Tours, Twin Falls, fishing with 'Bat', and the Tip were some of the highlights for us. Depends on time constraints really as to how much you see and activities you do. Ron Moon's book has it all.
Cheers
Frosty

AnswerID: 448890

Follow Up By: Chris_K - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 22:20

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 22:20

Hi Frosty

Yeah - the wind can be a bit painful - we visited Cape Tribulation (as far north as we could get in the available time) and it was ordinary on the coast to say the least.

I'd image that it would be better the further north & west you go?

Cheers

Chris

FollowupID: 721280

Reply By: Dave(NSW) - Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 23:39

Monday, Mar 21, 2011 at 23:39

Chris,
This site might helphttp://capeyorkforums.com/forums/ lots of info there.
Cheers Dave.

GU RULES!!

Lifetime Member
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AnswerID: 448913

Follow Up By: Chris_K - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 09:01

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 09:01

Hi Dave

Some great information there - think I will need to save all this stuff somewhere so I can remember where is all is!

Cheers

Chris

FollowupID: 721200

Reply By: sweetnam - Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 11:01

Tuesday, Mar 22, 2011 at 11:01

We went up last year, and the Ron & Viv Moon book was our bible. It is a must - they reissued it last May so it is fairly current.

Also Hema map - very handy.

Thursday island was good, but we booked the tour when we hit Archer River as it can book out - don't just rock up and expect to get on.

We found at the tip, Loyalty Beach was a nicer stay than Seisa.

Frenchmans was a great track if you are a bit more adventurous

Also, the girls did the private Quaken gallery tour at Laura - they loved it and was worth the money.

Chilli Beach was windy as, but we found a great cafe further up at Portland

Loved every minute of the trip...

B

AnswerID: 448937

Reply By: cycadcenter - Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011 at 03:35

Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011 at 03:35

Hi Chris,

We have done several trips up The Cape mainly looking for plant populations so we tend to get off the beaten path a little.

If you want to do something than the straight up and back via the Development Road from Cairns head west through Atherton, Irvinebank and Petford, up to Chillagoe (good for a days stopover to see the place).

From there head up to Gambolla (if you want to get ritz stay at Wortham Park in the way), Cross the Mitchell at Gambolla and head of north through King Junction, Pinnacles and New Dixie and join the Dev Road just south of Musgrave.

Side trip to Port Stewart but not much there, don't try the short cut from Port Stewart road to Coen, you won't make it without considerable effort, We have tried from both directions.

Head north from Coen and head out to Lockhart River, Chilli Beach, Iron Range, Portland Roads. All great places except maybe Lockhart River.

Back across Frenchmans and the Pascoe. The Pascoe can be tricky, usually ok if less than .7m of water

North if there all the regular spots are documented.

regards

Bruce
Fallbrook CA

AnswerID: 449026