Cape York Trip Planned......Experienced old bloke required for free advice

Three and a half weeks is just about perfect, Steve. A few years ago we took 3 weeks ex Cairns, and found it just right. Could have stayed a few days extra in many places if we'd had the time, but still had a rellaxing trip.
Not really as remote as you may think these days, unless you strike unseasonal rain, and there is plenty of help along the way, - you can get anything you need at the top.
Don't think there are any dos and don'ts particularly, just go and enjoy it. One thing's for sure, after this trip it won't be your last!
Feel free to ask any specific questions - I'm sur ethere are hundreds on this forum that can anser just about anything.
John

You have not said what your experience is so have aimed this at the lowest common level. We also travel very early in the season so there are rarely crowds of people. For July you will need to check with someone who travels at that time of year.

Have only been up there once. Will get there again one day. The Cape is no different to any other trip in tropical or remote areas. Dump the rigid itinerary idea unless you must book somewhere. It is a waste of time and just makes you try to do dumb things. Just know where you would like to go and stay flexible on when. It is pretty easy to spend 3-4 weeks there if you are not in a hurry.

Main points:
1) Roads can be rough so drive to the conditions. The mechanics up there are often busy because people insist on driving at 80 or 90 (or 130) because someone said they should even though 30 would be more appropriate.
2) Make sure you know ALL the alcohol restrictions in ALL the areas you are going to. It does vary from place to place. They do check and it is an expensive error. First offence is about $17,000
3) Be croc aware.
4) Cape is hardly a remote area these days but you should carry enough gear for 2-3 days.
5) If you are doing the OLT track you need a basic understanding of 4wding. It is hardly exteme for the vast majority of the track but you can get into trouble easily enough and would be daunting for a beginner. It is by no means a flat little track. Gunshot can be bypassed if you want. Take your time, look at each crossing carefully and you will avoid most issues.
6) If you are unsure of your skills go and do a 4wd course. They are usually well worth the money. In fact they can save you from doing a lot of damage to your vehicle.
7) Get a good map like the Hema map of the area. They are covered with useful information.

We stayed at Loyalty Beach instead of Seisia. It was pretty good as far as it goes. We used it as our base for a week or so while we went to the tip, Somerset Beach, Virylia point (?sp) etc.

Lakefield NP and Cape Melville were well worth the effort.

Weipa is only of interest if you are going to look at the mine or do some fishing though there supermarket etc is pretty good.

Would probably pass on Chilli beach. Check fiirst but the year we were there it rained on us with strong winds for 2 days. We found out later that it had been like that for three weeks! It was calm everywhere else.

Have a good trip.

Steve

Thanks Steve,

My experience is by no means vast. I am usually found on the beach at Moreton and Fraser and the like. As far as bush driving goes, if anyone is familiar with Mt. Mee State Forest, I have been through there a bit, and conquered most of the hills in there. I don't even know if that is considered extreme really, but I am not imagining anything much harder than that up the Cape. My be a little naivety creeping in?

Hi Chopper
This a link to one of the Qz forum members a great story & pictures .

link text

Hi Steve,

Here is a link to a trip report that we did for our 2002 Cape Trip (can't believe it's been 5 years already) - http://www.mcs.net.au/~grungle/capeyork02.html. Also have our trip itinerary, meal planner etc listed. I have listed times as well where possible in the report of when we did things to give others a rough idea of travel times between places. Can be a bit monotonous in places but I found it invaluable from a mates previous trip where he did the same.

We also flew up with Qantas Link in 2005 as my Father is buried on TI and found it fantastic to fly over all the places we had travelled and camped which put it all into perspective.

If I can make one suggestion and that is to buy Ron Moons Books on the Cape. Really quite a valuable bit of kit.

Take it easy and enjoy yourself. I am thinking about doing the trip again this year as I really enjoyed it.

Regards
David

Chopper525

"If I can make one suggestion and that is to buy Ron Moons Books on the Cape. Really quite a valuable bit of kit".

Could not agree more with that, it's my bible for our trip in May this year.

Do a search on this forum for CAPE YORK and see what comes up.

Mostly get a few others involved and have a great time mate.
Colin.

After having lived in Weipa for 5 years and marrying a local girl ( who had grown up there and stayed for 30 years), there is a heap to see and do just in and around the Weipa area, pull up stumps at the local caravan park and use it as a base to explore some of the western side of the Cape.

Places that include Stones Crossing, Vyces waterhole, Janie Creek, Unegen nature walk and the mouth of the Pennefather River just to name a select few.
Crabbing, fishing, beautiful sunsets sitting on the beach at Gonbung beach or watching the world go by in the beer garden at the Albatross hotel

So much to see....... so little time.

Hope you have a safe and great trip (know doubt you will)

The off roading you do at Beerburrum and the Mt Mee area is far more intense than anything you will be running into on your Cape trip.. you really do have to go looking for hard stuff to do on the trip... Look at it more of a test of endurance for your car as the corrugations are the killer..

As far as grip and articulation goes it is generally only as you are popping out of creek crossings that you will find this stuff and on a general standing they are all pretty basic crossings anyway...

I would be looking at making sure your vehicle is up to scratch as far as tyres, bushes, springs, shocks etc etc goes... then look at how your camping supplies are laid out in your car.. you will find you are packing up and unpacking most days so you want it to be as easy and trouble free as possible... especially if you have the wife and kids along..

When we started planning the trip we had an itinerary and it didn't take long for that idea to go out the window.. instead as there were three cars we each did our homework on what we would like to see before we left and got a map to put down the points we wanted to see or do.. that gave the basis for the trip route.. anything else was a bonus!

The trip was fantastic and I would go again tomorrow money and time permitting.. enjoy and take the time to relax and take in the views rather than have the mind set of getting to the next location.

Cheers

CLC50,

Thanks heaps for that link, that is absolutley awesome I love it, can't take it off my screen lol. Especially the video at Gunshot. I have only really seen pictures of that and to see the 4wd's actually taking it on is great. Although I saw a LEyland Brothers show or something like that and going the other way looks a little scary. HEHEHE.

Hi Steve,
Have never been to the Cape, but planning a trip up there aswell. Probably in Jul or Aug this year.
My only advise is: Lay out what you think you will need, the only take half of that. As alot of the stuff you think you need to live comfortably is too much weight. Secondly, but more importantly, do a 4x4 drivers course, with recovery. It is invaluable in most peoples cases, as it will help you identify your capabilities and the capabilities of your vehicle. It will also give you and understaning of track appreciation and vehicle / environment sympathy.
I strongly recommend a 4x4 driving / recovery course to anyone going of the beaten teck.
It costs us as tax payers millions of dollars each year to recover / rescue people who go out into the remote outback regions of Aust' unprepared, or ill informed.

Drop us a line if you wanna chat. We are looking for people to travel with on our trip.
I have a good knowledge of X country driving and recovery techniques and other bush skills (Driving Instructor in the Army).

Cheers,
Brad

We were there for the second time in August '05. First time was in '92. There have been a lot of changes since then. the main one I noticed was it was nowhere nearly as green as the first time. Dug out the old photos to compare and how much it has dried out is amazing.
This time we did it in a bog standard '95 dual cab Hilux. Had no problems at all.

Do as much of the Telegraph Track as you can . It is so much better than the main drag. The mian road now has 5-15km stretches of bitumen along the way north which come as a suprise!

places to go: Vrilya Point-really really nice, get water at chrystal creek just after the turn off. Drive along the beach right to the Point past the lightship wreck.

Mouth of the Jardine past Muttee Heads -great campspot, be croc aware -we did not see any but it looks like the sort of place they would love!
This is the worst mozzie spot we found. had to hide in the tent around dusk for an hour or so the it was ok.

Captain billys -nice camp nice beach nice walk. Easy road in

All over the top is good. We stayed at Loyalty Beach and Punsand Bay. Punsand is further out of town than you think!

The drive to Sommerset and down the east coast for a bit is really good day trip.

The big disappointment around here is looking for the WW2 wrecks. In '92 there were fences and plaques around the wrecks describing them and what happened. Now the fences are gone and the whole area is trashed.

T.I and Horn are worth a look. the tour on Horn is a must do. My wife was not at all interested in that sort of thing but she came away with a new respect for the things that happened in WW2
A great tour.

Chilli beach is great!! Both timees there has been beaut weather! Obviously check it before you go! There ia a short muddy section just before you get there that can be quite hard to get up if it has rained!
Portland Roads nearby is worth a look as well. there is water here from a tank near the beach.
We came into Chilli from the north across the Pascoe. The track was ok and the only tricky bit was the few meters into the river, very rocky. We had no probs. Along this track keep an eye out for motorbikes. Very popular along here and a head on is quite possible if you don't keep your wits about you.

Got so much info and could rabbit on for hours!!

PM if you need any more help!

Apart from all this its still one of the best places we have been. Planning our next trip there as soon as we can!!