Anyone been to Weipa???

Tanka, with stops it takes around 11 hrs. As for road conditions, a bit hard to predict that far ahead but generally they are in reasonable condition. Its hard top to Lakeland Downs then dirt the rest of the way, with a little bit of hard top out of Coen on the way to the Airport T/O.

Speed can vary around the 80k mark on the more open sections and down to 60 - 70 on the windy bits. Caution where it says DIP slow right down to 1st gear.

The last 100k into Weipa can be a bit quicker.

G'day Tanka, I lived in Weipa for two years in the late 90's and did quite a few trips "out" as they say up there. the roads vary in condition, depending on when the grader has been through and the amount of traffic thats been thru. Generally, find a comfortable speed over the corrugations and keep under about 80 to be safe. The biggest dangers are (1) dust and (2) speed, with the most common "accidents" being head-on's and rollovers. As stated, the road between Coen, (the Sexchange Hotel has cold beer)and when you see a sign saying "DIP", believe it, they're beauties. The road between ArcherRiver (great hamburgers)
and Weipa is usually wider and faster but beware of some sweeping bends that have been the scene of many a rollover. Apart from that it's not bad run and Weipa is a good spot with a great golf club.

You shouldnt have a problem depending on the wet.
The road is always getting worked on , a little bit more tar every year.

All the best
Eric

Hiya Tanka,

Have done that road twice now. First time was in about July 2001 after it was graded in June. Was sweet as. Speed between 80 and 110 but you gotta slow for those DIPS.

Second time was in late march early april this year and it was just after cyclone Ingrid. The road was a mess. Washouts and corrugations galore. It was so variable it it not funny.

As said, it is black stuff to Lakelands and that is great. To Laura was not bad. The bit from Laura to Archer River was an absolute shocker. It was generally a rough surface and when you see a sign that says "Rough Surface" then you know they ain't kidding! They only put these out at the holes and washouts with a minimum depth of 2 feet so you are well advised to take note and hit that gear that has either a 2 or a 1 on it! Steady as she goes or you will definately break something.

Having said all that, as we came outbound in ealy april the grader crews were forming up at Hann River Roadhouse and that would make a huge difference. It was not that it was actually difficult conditions, but more the amount of time you give yourself to do it. There is 600km of dirt after Lakelands and if you want to do that in one day you need to keep the average speed up a bit. We sat on 60 to 80km/h a lot of the way and that was pushing for the conditions but we were working to a schedule. If you don't mind camping along the way then just amble along and you will be fine. Patrols and Cruisers will lap it up.

The main thing is to avoid it when raining. When I went it was literally just after the wet and with the late burst from the Cyclone it was touch and go, especially across the Archer River. A week earlier it had 17 metres over the road (yep, not a typo) but we saw 600mm (2 feet) and it was fine.

One last thing. Those Dip signs are there for a reason. Take good note of them as some are shockers! Cheese & Dip, Chilli Dip, Diplomatic, Dipstick, Dipped out, Dippedy doo da. Seen them all, but make sure you knock it back a cog or two! On the way out of Weipa there was one Dip sign that was missing. 5am, raining, dark, and all of a sudden the front end goes down into a massive dip! Broke a tralier spring and dented a rim on the trailer we reckon. Found that later.

Certainly one of the more interesting roads in the country. One day I might go back and take that Right Turn a bit before Weipa and go to the Cape. They tell me that "interesting" takes on a whole new meaning on THAT road.

Cheers
Muddy