Far North Qld Feedback

Submitted: Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 18:59
ThreadID: 58149 Views:2715 Replies:4 FollowUps:5
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We have just returned from Cape York. 26th May08.

All roads are in good condition bar a few dips. Grader drivers are out in force and doing excellent jobs with great courtesy, please be patient, they will call you past on channel 40. Be sure to give them a wave. I will suggest all travellers maintain a listening watch on uhf channel 40. Only use other channels fro group chatter. Then you will know where the road trains and road workers are. Remember Road trains have right of way.

2 years ago Telstra very kindly did major grading of the old Telegraph track to install optic fibre to the cape. This means that Gunshot is now driveable and the exit at present is moderate. Cockatoo creek was still running a metre + depth but with a rock bottom.
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Reply By: Lunny0204 - Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 20:41

Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 20:41
Thanks for this I was really pleased to hear about the roads. We are taking our first trip to the Cape leaving Wollongong NSW on Sat 31 May. Unfortunately we only have 5 weeks of travel but hope to see a bit. Really looking forward tot eh trip. Please let us know any "must dos" We are in a Prado and off road camper trailer. We also have our 3yr old with us
AnswerID: 306600

Follow Up By: davmac452 - Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:12

Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:12
The quickest way from Wollongong I reckon is out to the Newell and up though St George, Emerald and Charters Towers. if you shop at Charter Towers then you can bypass Cairns from Undarra on the way up

Undarra lava Tubes is well worth o look and an excellent spot to stay.
Recommend the coast road from Mossman through Daintree, Cape Trib to Cooktown. Then out to Lakefield np.

Archer river has excellent camping. Also bush camp just north of Coen.

Punsand Bay is a gorgeous spot to camp also.

Chilli beach is nice to stay but not a lot there and the road is slow and rough. We had 3 punctures on 2 vehicles on the way out. Allow a few days around Bamaga

If doing the old telegraph track find a group to travel with at Bramwell Roadhouse, some of the creek crossings can be challenging. We found that the telegraph track could almost be a day trip without the camper, the southern section is only 3 hours and the bypass road back is quick.

Roads should be ok as the worst of the traffic wont have cut them up. LEAVE UHF RADIOS ON CHANNEL 40

GOODLUCK AND DRIVE SAFELY. we did Ballarat to the tip and back to Cairns in 15 days for a quick survey trip so 5 weeks should be good and relaxing.
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FollowupID: 572671

Reply By: Bluespot - Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 20:48

Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 20:48
davmac452
Nice post It helps a lot with planning when you have to carry a bit of gear.
How was the usual rough section of road sth of Laura.
I'm off in a months time from Townsville to Pennefather River and considering taking a few extra kilos this year if the roads are in similar condition to what they were like last year.
Are there many travellers on the roads this year as I flew to Weipa a week ago and the camp grounds appeared to be only at 40% capacity.
cheers
Bluespot
AnswerID: 306603

Follow Up By: davmac452 - Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:17

Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:17
Hi Bluespot.

South of Laura was ok, Did not really stand out as particurlarly rough so i suppose i was sitting on about 90-95 k's.

Seemed a bit quiet but it was my first trip up that way so hard to judge, and being early in the season it is a bit hard to tell. Certainly did not have trouble finding campsites etc.
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Reply By: DIO - Friday, May 30, 2008 at 09:54

Friday, May 30, 2008 at 09:54
E'r m'mmm 'road trains have right of way' not sure that's totally accurate. Perhaps you might care to indicate the section in QLD Road Traffic Rules that spell that out. Yes R/T's are large vehicles and sadly some drivers of them believe that 'might is right'. Common courtesy is something lacking on our roads. Yes R/T's are heavy and difficult to manoeuvre HOWEVER drivers of such vehicles are required to exercise greater diligence than most drivers because of their sheer size and weight. I know that I certainly wouldn't argue with one at a narrow bridge if I thought it wasn't likely to yield to me.
AnswerID: 306715

Follow Up By: davmac452 - Friday, May 30, 2008 at 15:54

Friday, May 30, 2008 at 15:54
Maybe not a written rule as such, but just "common sense". Anyway i am not going to argue with 140 tons of ore truck at 100 km/h on a 16ft wide bridge.

The other thing is if they fall off the 3m wide strip of bitumen between Charters towers and Townsville the size of rocks will be a windscreen replacement.

P.s A little bit of courtesy to these drivers makes life a whole lot easier for all !
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Follow Up By: Off-track - Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 22:53

Sunday, Jun 01, 2008 at 22:53
DIO up around this way on narrow sections of tar you will find quite large road signs informing road users to move off the blacktop so that the oncoming truck doesnt have to put their wheels into the dirt/mud.

I wont teach anyone how to 'suck eggs' by explaining why.
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Reply By: WorkingNavara - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 22:53

Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 22:53
Hi davmac452,
I am going to the Cape in late July for 2 weeks. I am traveling alone (one car), is there many at Bramwell Station lookink for a partner to travel the Telli track? What are the fuel prices like at the moment there?

Thanks
AnswerID: 307413

Follow Up By: davmac452 - Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008 at 19:31

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008 at 19:31
Should not have any trouble finding a fellow traveller/s. We ended up with 2 differebt groups. The theory is, if you get stuck be in the middle of the track, then other have to help you out so they can get past you anyway !!

You can start looking from about Laura onwards. PS, if bats are about camp under the trees, if in the open you will bat crapped on.

Fuel is about $1.70 in Cairns, $2.10 at Archer River and Musgrave
drops to $1.85 at Jardine Ferry and i think $1.85 at Bamaga.

All supplies are trucked in as far as Weipa and Archer River, the fuel come by boat to Bamaga hence lower transport costs to Jardine.
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