Cooktown to the tip...?

Batt's is right, flying is the only way to do it in a day but then if you hired a car to look around once there you still wouldn't fit it in a day.
If you insist on driving, July is peak tourist time so on the road you would have to contend with convoys of travellers nose to tail and loads of dust. Also remember the Jardine ferry does not run 24 hrs a day, nor are fuel stops open 24/7 so carry fuel if travelling at night.

I travel from Cairns once or twice a year and do it in two days. I have driven non stop travelling south as I am home when I get to Cairns but usually camp half way. I know Bamaga locals will do the trip non stop, timing their arrival at the ferry. They know the road well and do it in ridiculous times, but this does not allow for the unexpected. As another post said, there are fatalities.

Save it for a time when you can do it at leisure and enjoy it. I recommend after September when the tourist traffic drops dramatically.

Pelican:

If you were doing 100 kph on bitumen it would take over 17 hrs to drive 870 each way and that's not allowing for ANY stoppages or hold-ups. You're on the Cape, mate, not the Stuart Hwy or the motorway. Not a chance unless you're intent on killing yourselves and others along the way.

sorry, should've read "Philby" - mixed up another thread, believe it or not.

;)

I've been first on the scene at three fatals now on the Cape- don't want to see any more. Unfortunately if you don't have the time, it is best to not do the trip until you do.

Philby

It's 870 Kms EACH way. I wouldn't even try that on bitumen over two days. Not even time for a toilet break. At the most, the best safe speed would be around 60.

Like said before, fly or wait.

We (all above) are not having you on mate.

Bad news! Sorry but just a fact.

Phil

do what charlie and boots did..
take a charter on a plane if your that keen..
might cost a bit, maybe ?

your not realy getting what people are saying here are you.. ?
DONT DRIVE..

re read all posts, olsens tours have been on the scene for 3 fatalities.
thats the ones they have seen !!
even the servo operators will say the same thing.
SICK OF SEEING FATALITIES !!
happens over and OVER AGAIN..

CHANGE YOUR PLANS.
try something closer !!

i havnt even been up that way, yet i hear it all the time.

idiots think they can do a quick burn to the tip and back..

factor in.....
fatigue, loss of control on a dirt road, head on collision..
you also have to think of the other idiots on the road doing the same thing... taking risks.. and doing a quick trip to the top of cape york.

HIGH RISK..

looks like i'm going to take this trip off my list for a while also, bugger. was looking forward but haven't got the time or experience. as philby said - thanks for the tips. lets work on plan B.

bb