Cape York

Hey Nigel sure a lot in that question. Can't help with the grading of the road but don't let that put you off - half the fun of the trip is encountering the unexpected. You will get through no matter what - the road will be corrugated no matter what - the creeks will be flowing a little deeper this year - great....and the dust might (wishful thinking here) be much less. Yep - you can catch a boat to TI at Punsand but from my own personal perspective I find Seisia a better spot maily because it is so accessible and is a good place to base yourself for a few days to do day trips. The road into Punsand while being an interesting drive takes a fair while and this cuts too much into how much you can see in a day trip. But like all things its horses for courses - my preference is Seisia or Loyalty Beach.
Cheers
Pete

If you go to TI, make sure you include Horn Is and do the Museum tour. They serve a great lunch and take you around to the various WW2 sites. Just TI for the whole day would be a little boring for me.
The trip we took was from Punsand, the boat moors off the beach and they use a tender to ferry passengers back and forward to the beach. You can book at the Punsand bay campground for the Island trips.
For my two bobs worth, camping does not come much better than right on the beach at Punsand Bay. Most people we encountered were staying a couple of days at each of Seisa/Loyalty and Punsand.
Cheers

Nigel for me I like to stay at loyalty beach its closer to everthing . As for TI the 2 island trip is good the history on Horn IS is fascinating.
Chritine from peddels has sent me some new brochers and they have some new packages that include lunch at the Jardine motel and accses to the pool on TI.
In my oppion If your got kids with you they could get bored on horn IS depending on age that is.

All the best
Eric

Nigel,

We did the Cape in May of 99 (big wet that year too)with a trailer and 3 kids. Main road was great no corrigations and very litle dust. Plenty of mud but. We were limited as to where we could go as so many oads were under water. thouroughly recomend being up there early in the season. Less crouds etc.

Things have changed since we were there ie causeway on Wenlock we crossed it on a barge pulled across by hand with 4m of water under us. It was truly an adventure and great fun as well. We were given some pretty bad information in Weipa about road conditions norht of Wenlock. I believe it was done on purpose to get us to stay in Weipa longer.

We camped at Seisa and it was very nice, right on the beach and walking distance to the warf to catch ferry to TI. We only did TI for the day and the kids had a great time. walked their little legs off. My then 11yr old girl loved the over stocked very colourful shops and the ice creams from the fruit shop at the eastern end of town was the best we have ever had.

I am jealous(I'll be doing exams while you explore the Cape)
Have a great trip
Duncs

We tried the Dunbar->Musgrave track , via Koolata (I think that's how its spelt) , but my mate got stuck in the Mitchell river (6.2 Chev in 61 Series + off rd camper) . We found out later the bed had been dug up by a grader getting a vehicle un-stuck . I have heard a better route is via the two Aboriginal settlements on the West coast , a rock cossing of Mitchell river.
Camping at Gilbert river is good .
We stayed at Seisia ... was fine - had a lunch at Punsand bay , place looked okay too.