Kimberley or Cape York????

Submitted: Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 15:16
ThreadID: 40588 Views:3381 Replies:13 FollowUps:3
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G'day all, this is my last big trip for at least 7 years, (3 kids and secondary school). I have 7 weeks to play with, and need your opinion on where you would spend your last holiday. We are heading off from July to end of August from Melbourne. SWMBO prefers the Kimberley and i am 50/50, to all adventurers who have done both trips your opinion would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks & Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all.

Lance
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Reply By: Trekkie (Member - WA) - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 15:47

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 15:47
Why not both
1 Week to get to Cape York
2 weeks at the Cape
1 week to get to Kimberley
2 weeks in Kimberley
1 week to get home
AnswerID: 211800

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 15:53

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 15:53
LOL almost around the block in 7 weeks :))))
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Reply By: 3.0turbob - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 16:22

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 16:22
Lance,
Go the Kimberley, you won't regret it.I believe it to be more picturesque and probably not as punishing on your vehicle.( Depends on the condition of the GRR) Do a bit of research on both areas, and if you still can't decide, SWMBO would be on the money.

Rob
AnswerID: 211802

Reply By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 18:06

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 18:06
If you were going alone, I'd say the cape for a boys adventure, but the Kimberey is unbeatable and more suited to the once in 7 years trip. The scenery is spectacular.
AnswerID: 211812

Reply By: Darian (SA) - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 18:23

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 18:23
Have not done the Cape yet (kick me for this presumtuous reply :-0) but thought I would reinforce that 7 weeks is a good span for a Kimberley trip ex Melbourne - we did that last July Ex Adelaide in 5 weeks (incl Darwin) - top shelf all round - back down the Tanami - a scenic flight for 2 hours out of Drysdale Station (up over the M Falls and that spectacular coastline) was the hilite - about $250 a seat now ("ouch" for a family but). Hope the choosing goes well..... dp (PS - the Gibb was great - been graded for us :-0)
AnswerID: 211816

Reply By: Eric from Cape York Connections - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 18:52

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 18:52
Done both this year and would be very hard to pressed to recommend
either as better or worse than the other both completely different types
of trips.

All the best
Eric
AnswerID: 211819

Reply By: Member - Nick (Kununurra) - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 20:37

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 20:37
For outright 4wd'ing fun I'd go up the Cape.I have lived in the Kimberleysfor a year but the best 4wding trip we have ever done was going up the Cape on the OTT.The Kimberley is great,prettier than the Cape but when we done the GRR I was very disapointed,alot of not much to see in between the nice to see bits.
AnswerID: 211827

Reply By: Big Kidz (Andrew & Jen) - Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 23:26

Saturday, Dec 23, 2006 at 23:26
I would go to the Kimberley. Our kids loved the Kimberley. There are lots of places to swim in fresh water without any salties and the kids loved it. Pumped up some inner tubes and they floated around the gorges and lagoons. You can swim and Cape Leveque and Middle Lagoon and Broome. Not as many safe swimming spots at the Cape which is what makes it for the kids.

For the family - Kimberley by a mile - Cape is drier and dustier and the telegraph line at the Cape was not all that tough. Jen did not like the Cape but she loved the Kimberley...

Andrew
AnswerID: 211840

Reply By: Mobi Condo - Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 07:11

Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 07:11
Lance - when are you off on the lovely tour? Sounds like soon - but in the wet? However if it is nearer mid 2007 we plan an 8 week stint in the Kimberly & are looking for any contacts to meet / greet along the way.
Cheers - Mobi
AnswerID: 211852

Follow Up By: Member - Lance S (VIC) - Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 10:50

Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 10:50
G'day Mobi Condo, we are leaving Melbourne on the 30th June 2007, via the Tanami to Broome, the Kimberley then Darwin and home down the middle. Be great to catch up with anyone who is planning that trip.
Lance

P.S Thanks guys for all your thoughts. so far it looks like the Kimberley has the lead. My wife saw what u said Andrew, and that pretty much made up her mind.
Lance
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Follow Up By: the thommos on tour - Monday, Jan 15, 2007 at 16:08

Monday, Jan 15, 2007 at 16:08
Hi there Mobi Condo, we are leaving Bris in August for a 10week trip to Broome via Katherine then travel the WA coast down to Denmark then up to the Nullabor and then home. Would love to make contact if we are in the Kimberley region around the same time. We are travelling with a 4yr old and a 13yr old and would love to hear from anyone with any tips on where and what to see. We have purchased Camps 3 and intend to do as much free camping as possible. We are towing a Jayco Dove Outback with a 4WD.

Cheers, the thommos
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Reply By: Member - Michael G (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 17:05

Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 17:05
I am doing a trip to the cape leaving mid May 2007.

It will be a 10 week trip.This is the 2nd trip for me to the cape.

I have not been to the Kimberley's yet but it is on my to do list.

Mike
AnswerID: 211914

Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 17:44

Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 17:44
Tough one Lance.

We did the Kimberley this year (May to August). Doing the Cape next year, leaving late April.

We loved the Kimberley. Beautiful scenery. Still some (relatively) remote spots. Good free camping areas. Good walks and swimming. Roads weren't too bad, much better than we had been led to believe, but we learned that opinions on roads is a bit like beauty; it's in the eye of the beholder.

I suspect all of this can be said about the Cape too.

The Cape is closer, so less time spent getting to your target area. If you plan on doing the OTL, it would be a bit more taxing and adventurous for 4WDing. Up to the individual if this is good or bad.

On balance (and remembering I've not been all the way to the Cape yet), I'd do the Kimberley, but it's 55/45. But you certainly can't do both properly in that time. We spent 16 weeks in the Kimberley (plus a bit more) and will spend 12 weeks on the Cape trip.

Another factor is if traveling alone, personally I'd do the Kimberley. We did the Kimberley alone (no problems) but have waited on the Cape till some friends can go. We'll do it in a group of 4 or 5 vehicles. Be more prepared to be a bit more adventurous and not miss as much that way.
AnswerID: 211917

Reply By: Member - Royce- Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 23:45

Sunday, Dec 24, 2006 at 23:45
"SWMBO prefers the Kimberley"..... you have no choice!
AnswerID: 211949

Reply By: Sam from Weipa Auto Electrics - Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 at 15:40

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 at 15:40
I've had the chance of seeing the kimberleys but I have never heard a person say he didnt enjoy a trip to the cape.
AnswerID: 215674

Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 at 16:06

Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 at 16:06
Lance, what a dilema mate but I would have to say the Kimberley. I have had great time at both but there is certainly more for the bride at the Kimberley if she is not a naturally gifted camper. Mine even had a good time fishing there (and she hates fishing) because she outfished me. So it is either,



Or some great 4WD,

!MPG:5!

Kind regards
AnswerID: 215682

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