Cape York and vans

I will start by saying it has been ten years since my last Cape trip.

I think most vans that will sleep all of you in comfort would be too big to take all the way up the Telegraph track so I would count this out with all but the smallest true offroad vans. The Bypass road was (and generally is) very corrougated so all but the better offroad vans will shake to bits and end up being a burden to you. You will get people up there with vans and even motorhomes but you need to ask how much fixing do you want to do if you get the van back to Cairns? if you can fix and are prepared to do so then by all means go ahead otherwise look into campers or a tent.

If you miss the Telegraph track then you might as well not go to the Cape in my opinion.

Regards, Trevor.

You will get most type of vans to Weipa as long as they have a bit a clearance under the back end. The Seka range of Corimal in dual axle are one that springs to mind.

Now that its black top all the way to Cooktown, you can leave the van there and tent it for the rest.

Kedron caravans from Brisbane, did a video on a trip to the cape with one of their vans. You can buy the tape , there is a set of three separate tapes on various trips. I would not like to have owned the van as they wrecked it. If you want to see some idiots travelling to the cape buy it , very entertaining.

G'day,
We've travelled to Cape York twice in the past few years (2002 and 2005). Our 3 boys were aged 2,5 & 7 on the 1st trip. We have a Ultimate Camper which has a King size bed and a single actually inside the camper, plus we have a purpose made (by Ultimate) tent that slings underneath the lid when it is opened.
Our lads sleep in that tent (only takes about 5 minutes to get the camper set-up and another 5 minutes or less to erect the tent). Of course I can't assume your kids are prepared to "rough it" in their swags inside the tent etc, but it works well for us.
If you do want a great off-road camper that has good interior bedding, I reckon the Camprite might fit the bill. It seems to open out into a decent size bedding area and certainly seems to have the necessary off-road cred'
Cheers
Roachie

Hi travelin

we went to the
Cape in September 2005. No vans just the 4x's. It really depends on what you want to do and where you want to go. I would expect an outback credible van to get to most places from Cooktown onwards - how it travels and the capacity of the towing vehicle is a bigger question as the other posts seem to indicate. The OTL track and some of the spots along it are a big attraction from a 4wd point of view - it is rugged, breathtaking and just good fun. I would not suggest a van along here at all (my rig pick shows Gunshot descent) BUT there are tracks into the more popular spots such as Fruitbat and Elliot falls form the bypass road. Once you get to the top of CY then you stay at one of the camping grounds, Seisa, Loyalty, Punshand Bay - you can leave the van there and day trip around the tip.

You can certainly get into major attractions using the main roads - Lani Lagoon, Chilli Beach, Weipa, Lakefield NP etc. I would not suggest going to Cape Melville as there (was) a fair bit of sand and dust on the track and may be hard going with a van.

the corrugations are present on all but the made roads. some not so bad but some will swallow a small car. we found the best method of travel was up around the 80Klm hr mark where you tend to jump across the top a bit, lessens but does not stop the effects. if you do not do this then you can be faced with a very long slow journey which will drive you crazy. you should also consider the danger of reasonably sharp manouvres on the roads. often you come across pot holes in the corrugations which you try to steer around. travelling at any speed and towing could be a dangerous proposition.

It has certainly been done before. If you are researching a van then ask for contact details of the people they know who have taken their brand to the cape - talk to them about the experience and where they went.

Good Luck