Cape York trip advice and/or suggestions

There is nothing not worth seeing.
Once you have been there and know the layout, then go back in a couple of years and finish looking.
Buy Ron and Viv Moons book on The Cape and go go go go go go go go.

dont get to exited check out this thread 76967

G'day Paul

We are planning the same trip for July/August with the aim of one of our members to be back at Kalpowar for Vietnam Vets' Day on 18 Aug.

We have been using Ron & Viv Moon's book, Cape York An Adventurer's Guide (avail on this site), and the advice of others who've been. We will have three vehicles, and will camp after leaving caravans/campers at Lakeland. We are moderately, rather than very, experienced 4WDrivers. From the book, and from talking to those who've been, the advice has included taking our time, Chilli Beach, Portland Roads, Captain Billy Landing, Weipa, and about a week at the top including an overnight trip to Thursday Is. We will take about four weeks from Lakeland to the Cape and back again.

We are down to issues like - how much water to carry?/two spare wheels or spare wheel + spare tyre / how do we manage the Engel - we all have dual battery systems but even so? / winch or just snatch straps / what will all the current rain do for the creek crossings by July?

All this means we are piggy-backing onto your Thread, so thanks for asking the questions.

Cheers
John

Paul the best info for the Cape can be found in Ron Moons guide book. It's excellent for planning & a great reference while driving.
1.8 tonne for a trailer could be seen as excessive for serious offroad driving and may restrict you in some places depending on the type of trailer & the experience of the drivers. Despite fools like the Gall brothers towing a full sized offroad van up to the top, in general large trailers are a burden & often fail under the weight.
Good luck on your travels.
Cheers Craig...............

Hi Paul,

Check out my blog from our trip to the Tip last year.

Hopefully some useful stuff there.

Follow the link through my profile.

Hi Paul
Well you are in for a great time. We went in 2009, left Cairns about Mid August and returned about Mid September. We went via Weipa, then came across Batavia Downs then up the OTL as far as Cockatoo Creek where it was closed and we had to take the Development Road. Don't miss the saucepan at Twin Falls it was awesome (deep and cold) The river crossings were fun, our kids (9 & 13) had a ball. The Jardine River Crossing is odd it takes about 4mins and costs about $90.00.(mmm, not a bad enterprise) The dust is everywhere, you'll find yourself eating lots of it. Take my advise as well and buy the Ron & Via Moon book Cape York Adventures, it was really accurate and helpful. When we got to the top we stayed at Siesia right on the beach with a bungalow as it had power and water. Don't forget to call into the Croc Tent on the way to the actual tip where you will be able to buy the I've been there done that souvenirs. When we stayed in Weipa we hired a boat from the caravan park for the day and went fishing, I think our black bream count was over the 100 mark but we only kept what we could eat. (Yum)
We came back to Cairns via Lakefield national park, that was great, lots of BIG crocodiles there, and through the Daintree, Mossman etc.
Well as I'm recalling my memory I'm feeling a bit sad that we are all the way over in WA and not going again this year. Oh Well, enjoy yourselves, we did.
If you want to read our blog of our trip to Cape York, just drop me a line.

Cheers for now
Julie & Brad

Just go and explore........
We put off the Cape for a long time because of its popularity, but that popularity is quite justified.

I keep putting this slide show up, skip it if you've seen it.....

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Paul,
You can also check out my blog for trips in 2006 and 2009.
Very differenet conditions.

Morning Paul and I will be back on the Cape in June/July for my sixth time in the last twenty years. I wish you well in your attempt to cover as much of the area as you can BUT you only give yourselves three weeks for the return trip and frankly, that is not enough time. By all means do the Cape Tribulation leg and then through to Weipa by whichever route you choose and then the Telegraph track although your trailers are pretty heavy for a couple of the crossings particularly to the north of Elliot Falls. You might like to consider a side track in to Vyrlia Point on the Gulf. The road to the top will be open despite the couple of alarmist threads posted here of late and for heavens sake, you are going to Cape York and if the roads have not been graded and the tracks are a bit rough, so what. Surely people got to the Cape for a bit of an adventure and not a Sunday drive around the burbs. I never thought that I would see camper trailers up there let alone the vans that are now being taken. Above all take your time, enjoy the place and travel safely.
Regards.

I support Bushbums comments in that 3 weeks is not a lot of time. Having said that we will only have 3 weeks in our own Cape trip in August. Previously we have spent 2 months in one trip and this will be our 4th trip and as mentioned above there is just so much to see. My favourite places are Weipa (I really like the fishing there) Verilia Point, Cape Melville but the truth is that is all worth seeing particularly for the first time.

Cape tribulation to Cooktown is a good leg, then Lakefield (spend a few days there - differnt camps maybe), head out to Wiepa (couple of days), back to the track to the tip via the falls (camp at the falls if possible), do the tip including TI (need a couple of days) come back via Iron Range. The start planing your next trip to take in the places you did not get to see like Cape Melville - need a good week to do that some justice.

Kind regards

Thanks to everyone for their informative and very valuable feedback.

I've just heard on this site that common sense has prevailed and the Qld. Gov. and the Cook Shire council have agreed to work together to keep most of the iconic Cape tracks open.

With all your advice we will plan, pack and enjoy

Cheers

Paul