Cape York camping

Submitted: Saturday, Jun 25, 2011 at 21:45

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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.

myaussieadventure

We are heading up Cape York in a few weeks.

I am just wondering if there are any free bush camping or if all places are private campgrounds.
We have a dog that is coming with us too.

Any advice would be appreciated as it's just my husband and I traveling and not quite sure what to expect.

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Reply By: On Patrol & TONI - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 07:33

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 07:33

There is plenty of free camping along the way, as is there pay camping also. Along the telegraph track nearly all is free camping except National Parks that will restrict you re the dog, but those camps are off the track but include some great spots, IE Twin Falls, Indian Head etc. Some pay camps are good & not too expensive, IE Musgrave stn. Archer River & Bramwell stn etc. The dog will restrict you somewhat but you will benefit the companionship, but be aware there are crocs up there and they love dogs for lunch.

Cheers Colin.

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Follow Up By: myaussieadventure - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 15:42

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 15:42

Thanks heaps for that. Very helpful.

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Reply By: Alloy c/t - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 12:34

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 12:34

Free camp just nth of Coen ,only about 3 - 4 klm from town , BramwellJunction costs but do allow dogs [last time we were there] , freecamp on Delahunty creek , same Sailor creek . honour box at Twin falls , lots of places just off the OTL that 1 or 2 vehicles can disapear into for a night in the middle of the scrub.

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Reply By: Member - Michael A (ACT) - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 12:37

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 12:37

yeah good idea to take the dog camping
It stops the crocs eating the kids.
Take 2 they enjoy a smorgasborg

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Follow Up By: myaussieadventure - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 15:37

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 15:37

Haha!! I hope she'll be ok !!

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Reply By: CSeaJay - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 13:21

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 13:21

I am realy surprised to hear this question from someone going up shortly!
There are plenty of info on CY, and I recommend that you do some homework before undertaking this trip!!

Also, many national parks up there, taking a dog will severely limit what you can do.
Do yourself a favour and get the Moon's book on CY and take an hour to read, all info in there is relevant

CJ

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Follow Up By: myaussieadventure - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 13:33

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 13:33

Cool thanks, will have a look out for it. We are traveling Australia so we while the whole trip is 'sort of' planned we are also taking it as we go. Done a fair bit of research on CY just wasn't sure if there was free camping cause mOst places I've seen seem to be paid.
I'll check out that book anyway.

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Follow Up By: CSeaJay - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 13:42

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 13:42

"An Adventurer's Guide to Cape York"
Ron Moon

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Follow Up By: Mark&Sue - Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 18:42

Sunday, Jun 26, 2011 at 18:42

One of the best spots we camped at last year was Canal Creek about a km nth of twin Falls , beautiful clean water and good camping On both sides of crossing.

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Follow Up By: redwine - Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 22:51

Sunday, Jul 17, 2011 at 22:51

Good value camping at the tip is Umagico Campground, the town before Bamaga, under new management, right on the beach, loads of space, only $10 per adult. Pets allowed. We are also travelling around Oz in a van (with kids) and made a spur of the moment decision to go the tip while in Cairns recently. Raced around buying camping equipment etc. Loads of info on the net and these sort of forums. Discovered while we were enroute to the tip that some people spend years planning their trip!

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Follow Up By: myaussieadventure - Thursday, Jul 21, 2011 at 07:51

Thursday, Jul 21, 2011 at 07:51

We ended up meeting a fantastic group of people from a 4wd club at Bramwell. We tagged alOng with them up the telegraph track run ended up spending about 2 weeks them them.
Because we are set up for traveling Australia there wasn't a Lot of preparatiOn that we needed to do.
If ur going to do the telegraph track, I would just recommend either travel with someone or at least have a winch on ur car.
And buy a map of the cape! There are lots if tracks not named.
We saw so many people get stuck in rivers and it was because they didn't walk the crossings first, just drove straight through and a few people got stuck coming north to south but it is a bit more challenging that way.
It is amazing how many people u see that have no idea how to drive a 4wd.
It's a fun track but a lil common sence is requires.

We stayed at Canal creek for a few days and such a beautiful spot!

To sum it up, cape York is the best part of our Aust trip so far! It was awesome and the Old telegraph track made it the best. It was such an adventure and felt like an accomplishment to reach the tip :)

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