Maytown and Palmer River
Submitted: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10:44
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Redback
OK I'm getting conflicting stories about this area, this is the only part of our Cape trip that is not final, we have been told that access has been stopped from the Lakefied end and it's only accessible from the south.
We are wanting to travel from LakeField National Park
to
Maytown Gold Fields and
Camp at Palmer River Gold Reserve? then
depart Palmer River to
Chillagoe Camp.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Baz.
Reply By: handy - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10:57
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10:57
have a look at capeyorker web site. cheers
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Follow Up By: Redback - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 13:18
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 13:18
Thanks have registered by email, waiting for the comfirmation email.
Baz.
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Reply By: GoneTroppo Member (FNQ) - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:15
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:15
Assume your talking about the road from
Laura, this northern access is a very very solid day's drive, but I believe it is still open.
It is the southern access that some station owners would like to close. There are some very intimidating signs around there but is is tsill a gazetted road.
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Follow Up By: Redback - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:25
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:25
What about towing a camper, any problems there??
Baz.
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Follow Up By: GoneTroppo Member (FNQ) - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:47
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:47
Make note to oneself: I must make a point of using spell
check occasionally!!!!
Baz an O/R CT would be OK but make it just that much slower, (more than a day's driving) anything else is probably not feasible.
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Follow Up By: Redback - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 12:20
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 12:20
Thanks mate for that.
Baz.
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Follow Up By: Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ) - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 16:31
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 16:31
Do not tow a trailer, there is no turning back if you can not make it :-). This is not a trailer route, not saying it can not be done it would just be a big pain for everyone.If you do not have diff locks you will get considerable wheel spin without a trailer, add a trailer - boy I just would not like to be there. It is a solid 8 hour dive to do 50k in to the
camp spot. Cheers Tony
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Follow Up By: CJ - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 18:04
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 18:04
I second Tony's advice, and that is after towing one from
Laura to
MAytown myself.
Yes be careful, with a ful offroad trailer, and you will make it, but that is if you are an experienced 4x4er
CJ
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Reply By: A J - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:26
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 11:26
Redback -
check out Tony B thread 68106 it may assist you.
A J
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Follow Up By: Redback - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 12:21
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 12:21
Thanks A J, will do.
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Reply By: kevanancy - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 14:47
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 14:47
Been a coupe of years since last going to
Laura from
Maytown but when we dit it I certainly wouldn't like to have been towing a trailer . We spent New Years up there this year and were told not to take the
Laura track as it has deteriorated , still drivable but a very slow journey . Still if you have time up your sleeves and a good winch etc it would probably be fun .
Kev
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Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 15:44
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 15:44
G'day Baz,
We had a scary experience with that track and where I've advocated towing trailers to most
places I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be doing that there. But it has been 16 years since I was there and some current info might change that.
From my (poor) memory the track required building to negotiate and there was no going back.
Kind regards
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Reply By: Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ) - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 16:36
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 16:36
Redback - Not sure if you can see my Blog on the
Maytown Track. If not email me and I will send you some photos and a description Cheers
tonyb@activ8.net.au
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Reply By: Redback - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 17:03
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 17:03
G'Day Tony, yes I read your Blog, very interesting and good photos too, I'll be with a group of 4 off road camper trailers and 3 solos vehicles, this is near the end of our trip heading homeward.
I will put it to the others in our group and see what they say, we have an option of camping at Jowelbinna and do a day drive out there for a look.
Thanks for the info and link, very helpful.
Baz.
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Follow Up By: Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ) - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 19:12
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 19:12
REDBACK. From that direction some of your more challenging climbs are 2/3 of the way to
Maytown or 4 - 5 hrs in to the trip. There are a couple of sharp ones a few ks in but it will be the far end where you will need the serious 4 x 4. With a group that size you would have lots of help. As mentioned above if you take a trailer you have to be very confident in your ability to drive. There are a lot of
places that you can not overtake another vehicle, so you would have to keep that in mind if you are traveling in convoy.
The last part of your question has not been answered. There is a dispute with the owner of Palmerville Station. Once you get to Dogleg crossing (there is another crossing west of this nearer to
Maytown as
well) I do not think it would be advisable to then travel West to the road that connects to Chillago. This is one of the directions that is under conflict at this time. Best to head back out to the Mulligan Highway. Once you cross the river you are on Palmerville Station and he has not granted any permission to use his land.
Best to ring the
Cook Shire Council during business hours to find out what roads you can drive with safety in that area. They will know the latest issues. Have fun and take it slow. Cheers Tony
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Reply By: Member - Glenn F (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 10, 2009 at 11:49
Wednesday, Jun 10, 2009 at 11:49
G'day Redback, I see you have a few replies so far and may be planning something different now but I was hoping these was someone out there that could expand on your original question. On my return from the Cape I plan to travel to
Maytown along the old coach road then want to travel to
Chillagoe. What is the best way from
Maytown to
Chillagoe?
Thanks Glenn
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