Cape York trip June-July 2015

Surely you didn't actually cross the Jardine, Spanner? I didn't think this was still possible even if you wanted to... never mind the fact that I wouldn't be walking it! I'm assuming that was a typo..!

Sounds like a great trip mate - except for those corrugations. I can still feel them just thinking about it.

Thanks Tommo,
Yes we did cross the Jardine, (heading west to east coast) as stated the water was to the bonnet and no further. Rumours were this was over bonnet a couple of days prior.

We didn't cross the Jardine. But we did everything you did I regards to walking the crossings etc. Glad you gad a great trip.

Can you give us a bit more on road conditions please Spanner? I'm not sure what you mean when you say that most roads were in good condition but that corrugations were hard to get used to. My interpretation of a good road is one without corrugations.
Cheers, Kevin.

Most roads were well graded with some good corrugations. Some except for frenchmans track heading toward chilli beach was very rutted. The bamaga access road to captain billy landing was well used and rutted in some places.

The crossing we did my apologies was the water crossing off frenchmans track ( thinking it was the Pascoe) going toward chilli beach which in some areas was well rutted with large rocks and would be dangerous if wet, my apologies this wasn't the Jardine we crossed.

Spanner

Spanner, thanks for the update. We are also looking at going up the Cape the same time next year with a group of four vehicles all towing camping trailers. Did you or any of your party tow a camper trailer? Also can you give me an idea of your night locs along the OTT? How did you find Elliot/Twin Falls and did you camp there?
I know it changes each year but would be keen to hear how you went.
Regards Will

Three weeks for Canberra to the Cape and return, Wouldn't have much time to relax and enjoy, generally it's a six week trip once we get to Cairns and return and it's never enough time to fit everything in.

No we didnt take camper trailers this time, but in saying this many others did.
I suppose if you take the easy tracks with campers you may be ok, but some of the tracks are not for camper trailers. Like frenchmans track not for trailers heading to chilli beach.
We spoke to one unhappy camper who took his mates camper and both leaf springs snapped and the camper had to be taken to Weipa from Musgrave Roadhouse. The cost of the tow truck alone was $750 bucks plus the cost of the new springs. Your call at the end of the day.

The locations on the OTT.
We stayed at Bramwell Station going up and Moreton St coming home. Elliot falls we camped both ways and is worth stopping to rest up and check your gear, it really is a lovely spot but book early as you will need a booking to stay there. We booked 4 months in advance, FYI.
Fruit bat falls is lovely and just down the road, unsure if this changes but no camping was allowed at Fruit bat, day visits only and we saw many rangers checking ours and others camping permits at Elliot.
Loyalty beach was our last stop and you will also need to book early, fantastic spot.
As for three weeks to do this trip, sure it would be nice to see everything with more time, but we had three weeks only and we jammed as much in as we could, we can visit this spots we missed or would like to see next time.
Spanner

Wasn't a problem. Just left hand down and drove out. Looked good though and the son learn't a bit more about wheel placement. Kids - Hey he is 40 years old. Better stop that Dad.

As for fuel we spent just under $1800 return to Canberra, which was just over 7000ks return trip, one of the cattle stations were $2.10 per litre.
That being a 2004 GU patrol 3.0ltr.
We filled up mainly at the major fuel stations and only used the roadhouses as backup.
spanner

We just came back from the Cape last Friday leaving from Geelong mid June. Did not do the OTT as we were towing a camper trailer. Road was "good" for a corrugated road, air down the tyres and sat on about 80. The road on the way back was worse we felt, maybe as more cars go through it gets worse?. And people, if we slow down for you to pass, please don't shower us with stones as you race on by, maybe slow down a bit too then speed up after you are past us. Most people that sped past us were stopped at the same place as us up the road anyway, either camped or getting lunch, so I did not see the point. Most expensive fuel was Archer River roadhouse, and get there early as the camp ground was almost full late arvo. We stayed at Loyalty Beach but did not book ahead and got a powered site, second row back from the beach. Restaurant there is nice if you don't want to cook. We did however book our trip to Thursday & Horn Islands. Also if you are headed up to the Cape remember to get to the Jardine ferry before 12 as that is their lunch time and will be yours too if you get there late. Love seeing everyone get out their burners and start to cook lunch while waiting in the queue when they realise it will be an hour wait until the ferry leaves again! Also found a nice spot to camp on our way home coming in to Blackhall, about 70 kms out - maybe after Barcaldine, called Lara Wetlands (Lara Station). Look for the sign on the road. Little gem of a place, new shower and toilet block. It is a cattle station about 13kms off the road where you can camp around a beautiful big lagoon - great for birdwatching.
Bring on the Kimberley again next year! Amanda & James

got back from the cape today. left loyalty beach 1st july came back via lakefield. there were 4 in our group 3 d max's and a 100 series ( towing a track trailer ) I were towing an O'briens camper.
Wife and I are going back next year but this time taking the Dirt road caravan and staying longer, that will indicate what the bypass road was like.
we camped at the back of the coen pub (great place )Then at the Delhuntly river, fruit bat falls GREAT place were booked in at Elliot falls but didn't like it so pushed on. I bailed out at mistake creek and bypassed nolans as I had the obriens camper. The rest of my bunch didn't make it through nolans ended in tears or one.
came back via the development road out to chilli then to lake field. maybe it was just me but didn't think much of the OTT we have better / challenging tracks in the high country. the hardest part of the trip was going out to morgans landing then on to cape Flattery (great day) next hardest was the bloomfield track very rough in places ( nearly done clutch there )
as I said glad I done it and next year we are taking the van up.
Foot note.. If you do your auto at the cape Isuzu don't want to know you even if its under warranty.

Some good info on this site, thanks Spanner.

Warren B, interesting comments about Bloomfield and Cape Flannery.
We will have a group of 4 vehicles and camper trailers in our party and from what you said they all should be OK to travel the Bloomfield from Cairns to Cooktown?
Also in regards to Cape Flannery how did you find the beach run and was the rough time to go from Cooktown to Cape Flannery?

Regards Will

Hi Will. Campers will be no problem on the OTT however bear in mind I bypassed Nolans. Out to Morgans landing and on to cape flattery via the beach would be interesting with campers having said that on the way in we passed a camper coming out he had twin diff locks. The problem as I see it would be two of the water crossings one is DEEP over the bonnet of the Dmax and up the windscreen ( no way round it ) that was one end of a 100 feet crossing rest was about mid door height. other one is about mid door height but soft bottom ( I walked this and all the other diversions around it working out best route only to find out some days later bloody crocs there.... woops) beach run is great on low tide. there were people camped on the north of flattery but buggered if I know how they got their campers there cause you had to go under a conveyor that is as wide as a 100 series and low. But worth it though. we left our campers set up at endeavour falls caravan park and did a day trip. the bloomfield was different I were behind the 100 series and on one VERY steep rocky washed out section he struggled and I were only in 2wd and nearly rammed him so had to stop ( my D max is chipped ) I were to close !!!! then couldn't start had to go into low range and engage the locker and ride the clutch to take off cupla cars behind also had to do low range.
Don't get fuel at Archer river 45cents dearer than coen and fuel at the jardine was 55cents dearer than Bamaga
hope this helps cheers warren

I asked a question earlier in the thread,but these last few responses have given me much of the information that I was seeking. Wife and I leave Brisbane on 27th July with 6 weeks to get to the tip and back. This is not our first venture on lengthy unsealed roads but one where we will be sharing the road with the most other travelers. We are looking forward to it. Even a bit excited.

Cheers, Kevin

Woops forgot the 100 series with us had all 4 shocks replaced, kept a coupla shocks but had to give them to another 100 series who's shocks stuffed up. mine were 3 years old and survived ok. not one in our party had any tyre troubles but then all tyres where next to new when we left. cheers warren