Cape Crawford area in the wet season

having lived through a few wet seasons in the NT I have to be frank and please don't take offense but only a lunatic would plan any trip off road in that party of the world at that time of year. It is called the wet season for a reason. I wouldn't be too concerned about comfort I would be worried about flooding and road conditions. You will probably find most roads susceptible to damage from floods also prevent use by vehicles by closing the roads.

Hi Alby, I would suggest if you want to be in that area in January you will have to be prepared to be on the side of the road for days if not weeks.
I am the caretaker Lorella Springs in the wet season and have gone to Borroloola, normally takes 3 hours return in the dry took 10 days stuck between creeks.
The Savannah way is closed from Bauhinia Downs to Roper Bar.
After rain the road from Borroloola to Cape Crawford can be closed for a day or two.
So to answer your question, there are restriction as to where you can go and yes the area pretty much shuts down.
Unless you have a good 4wd with mud tyres, snorkel, winch and max tracks and be prepared to wait it out for up to 3weeks on the side of the road you would be best to leave it till latter in the year
Again this all depends on the wet season starting on time normally 24th December. The word is it will be a late start this year. I will be able to give you a better idea early in January.
Cheers Andy

Alby,
The Gregory downs pub used to get flood in for up to 3 months. The road out to Lawn Hill could also be a big problem. Although the roads are far better you could still get stuck for a fair amount of time. This includes the Barkly highway and out to Cape Crawford and Borroloola. I know flooding can occur anywhere, but historically it is a bad time to holiday travel in north western Qld.

You may well jag it but it is a punt. I just think you are shortening your odds a fair bit by nominating January. If you watch the weather reports for lows and monsoon troughs you maybe able to manage your progress with success.

If you do decide to go I hope the weather is good for you.

Alby,

I wouldn't say you can't do it, but you'd need to know more about the weather than BOM.

Would give Lawn Hill a miss, as there's too much dirt road between there and the Gregory.

Here's a pic that I put up in Jan, 2009, of Creswell Ck, on the Tableland Highway, probably about Dec 2008. Checked the archives, but all photos are gone, probably due to site upgrades.



And if you do go, make sure tyres are new and cooling system is 100%. It's going to be hot. The Carpentaria Highway from Cape Crawford, to Daly Waters, may be a better escape route than the Tablelands H'way.

Bob