Bathurst Bay - Towing Tinnie?

Which way you going Mike? We went from Cooktown to Bathurst Bay via Starke in 2002 and it was pretty rough in places. There are some pretty severe washouts, long stretches of bulldust and dry river crossings however our troupe of 3 vehicles and 2 campers made it without any damage. As long as you are not in a rush you should do it no worries.

We saw a couple of groups with boats and fixed outboards and they appeared to make it easily. Not sure of track conditions since though.

Have a trip report on our website if interested.

Regards
David

We went their last June 2005 and via Starky Station is a good track but there was a rivver crossing we stopped at that you would need to be carefull. Its all in the take your time bit. We lefted the Lions Den early around 8 am and camped the next night along the track ,them made easy trip through to the fresh water stream just behind the main beach and set up camp.Great spot for the boat. I wish we had one. The easy way in is through Lakefield National Park straight ahead through Capower Camp Ground on the river and only a right hand turn onto the track north of a log bridge. You pass an old abandoned outstation with one of those 3 wheel tractors still standing there.long forgotton by the new owners of Strky
Have a good trip. Wish I was coming with you

G'day Miker. I too hope to go out to Cape Melville next year with a 4.5m boat on a HD raised trailer. Have been out twice before with 3.5 rooftopper and whilst it was fine in the bay, it was just a bit too small to venture out to the reefs, islands etc, especially when that south easter comes up.
Unfortunately the facts are that you can do all the preparations in the world and mother nature can blow them all apart in March, April or even May with a late "wet" or even a cyclone. If this happens the roads (particularly the Starke/coast rd) can be impassable well into winter, and very difficult for trailers all season.
For example, the first time I went out to CM it took me 18 hours of driving to get up the coast road from Cooktown with no trailer. At this time the track wasn't even that wet, just eroded and with countless trees all over it meaning lots of tight winding detours. The Kalpower crossing track out was also bad. Two years later I easily drove from CM to Cooktown in a day and a trailer would have been easy.
Not trying to put you off, just make sure you have a plan B. Regards. Tim.

Yoy guys might want to find out about access. it was all over the ABC news/radio up here about a month ago. Kalpower? has shut the road due to a few wallies with guns shooting up his truck plus the theft of a heap of equipment from the station. It was a big story at the time and I'm unsure of the final outcome....but he was adamant that nobody was getting in.

Sorry for the news.

tez

miker,
Sorry for the late reply to your post about Bathurst Bay, but my laptop is out of commission at present.
I last went to Bathurst Bay in mid August 06. We went up the coast road via Starke Station and the road was very good in comparison to previous trips. Hilux, cruiser, nissan. Some of the entries and exits were pretty steep but consisted mainly of sand.
As for towing a 4m tinnie on a HD custom trailer, this is also possible. In 2004 we had a 4m on a HD trailer and no problems at all. We have been to Ninian Bay towing a 3.8 m tinnie on a stock standard boat trailer, and managed to fracture the tow bar. Couple of saplings and Cobb & Co and away you go.
This year we came out through Kalpowar Station and found the track very good as long as you checked out the creek crossings first and took the right line. I can't remember any entry or exit that would unduly worry a raised o/b.
2006 was an exceptional year for rain in that area. Contact with the rangers at Kalpowar (Lakefield National Park) 07 40603271 or Cooktown 07 40695777 will usually get you weekly updates on the road conditions.
BB is truly a beautiful place to visit and we will be going again in mid 08.
Hope you can find something useful out of that lot or ask for more if you want it.
Cheers,
Brosw.

Thanks for the feedback fellas, appreciate it. Sorry for the late comeback but I left on leave a couple of days after I posted the thread and have only just returned. Unfortunately nowhere as exciting as the far North.

Will continue with the plan and make the appropriate enquiries in the comings months.

Fear only regrets - Cheers Mike.