Travelling to the Cape in very early April with camper trailer.

Re the first part of your question, when you searched the threads you would have seen this one
cape york - Submitted: Thursday, Jan 18, 2018 at 06:06
ThreadID: 136111

I might be able to give you some info, I've been up 40 odd times since the late 80's, April is not a good month to head up the Cape, most national parks will be closed and the rivers will definitely be up, the water is 2.4m over the causeway at Archer River atm, and the monsoons have started up here, if you can leave it a month and head up late May you will have a better chance of enjoying the Cape. Last year Nolans brook claimed 74 vehicles, in saying that, a lot of them could be put down to driver inexpirience. My preferred time is late May as Lakefield will be generally open by then, and so will others. It does seem we are going to have a fair bit of rain this year as compared to last year. I'm not trying to scaremonger, but just offer advice. Btw its around $8k to get your vehicle off the Cape if you should come to grief. Please don't hesitate to ask me any further questions as I am willing to pass on any info that may help you plan your trip.

We've just spent last weekend in Cairns, and came home via Atherton Tablelands, on Kennedy & Hann Highways.

I feel you could spend quite a lot of time around this area, fishing, touring, eating, walking and.......well, you get the idea. 3 years ago we camped at Granite Gorge for a few days, and to celebrate someone's birthday, we travelled around Mareeba & Atherton, visiting a cheese 'n chocolate factory, Tolga Pub for a counter, Tolga Woodworks, a distillery, a second distillery, then a third(HIC!) & finally, Coffee Works in Mareeba.

Lake Tinaroo, Cobbold Gorge, Lava Tubes, Mt Mulligan, Kingsborough, and a refreshing, cold drink in the smallest bar, probably in the world, at the roadhouse at The Lynd.

Plenty to do and you haven't even got to the Cape yet.

Bob

In 2013 I did the Cape towing a Camper Trailer and there were other vehicles doing the same. I would have reservations about doing it in April. It would still be very wet with the rivers up. Better to do it after the run off.

Hi Charlie, we have been to Cape York twice and taken our off road camper trailer both times with no problems, would have been more of a pain without it! We did the Develomnetal Road, not the OTT. Have a great trip!
Amanda

G`day Charlie,
I towed my caravan to the car park at the Tip of the Cape July 2011 with my 60 series L/cruiser, but I went via the good road not the old telegraph track. There were 32 vehicles at Barmaga waiting to be transported by ship back to Cairns as they were damaged so bad they could no longer be driven. There were plenty of others that were damaged but still driveable.
I have no sympathy for those that deliberately risk writing off their vehicle on the old telegraph track creek and river crossings just for the hell of it.
If possible Charlie try and avoid school holiday times, a lot of travelers at these times are trying to squeeze everything into just a couple of weeks and drive like maniacs.
I got fish at Weipa , Mapoon , Wenlock River and Seisia.

Whenever you do it enjoy it.

Scrubby.