Cape York

Kerrymac - You do not have to do any water crossings if you stick to the bypass road and do not take side trips to Iron Range NP.

If you do the Old telegraph track there are quite a few - they vary in condition and it always pays to walk and find a safe route before dipping the car. Depending on when you go too how much water there will be and amount of people crossing them.

You do not need another vehicle with you but it is always the safer way to travel.

A snorkle is not needed but for dust and obvious reasons highly recommended.

Time lines depend on what you want to see. You can drive from Cairns to the tip easily in 3 days without seeing too much. Take time to see the sites and 4 weeks will not be enough.

Basically do some research - decide what you want to do and then plan your trip accordingly.

Take the basic recovery gear and that should cover you. This site will give you a good kit to take.

The roads will now be open this year so that is not an issue now

Cheers Tony

Hi Kerrymac
Best advice I can give is to buy Ron & Viv Moon's Cape York Adventures Book Lots of information & very acurate. I am the CEO of our household & I too asked those important questions, but when we went Aug 09 it was all good. I even drove a couple of the water crossings. There is always someone doing the same thing as you so you shouldn't be alone, but it is nice to have another vehichle travel with you, just in case. It''s something you will never regret doing. Have fun travel safe.
Julie

Hi Kerrymac,

I echo everything Tony said and will add - get Ron Moons book, great info and lots of detail. Also, jump on the Cape York Forum (http://capeyorkforums.com/forums/index.php) for lots of advice from the locals which will compliment all the great advice you get on Exploroz.

What sort of vehicle do you have? will you be towing anything? Kids?

At the end of the day just doing it is great, we are doing it end of May and can't wait

Cheers
Ev

Hi Kerrymac,

We did a trip last year but did not go on the OTT due to time constraints.

Follow my profile to my blog for details.

In answering your questions:

1. The number of water crossings depends on where you go. We didn't find any serious crossing until we got right near the tip. On the back track between Punsand Bay & the Tip. You don't need to go that way.

2. We didn't need any recovery gear. If your are planning to go on the OTT it could be different.

3. Best time is Jun / Jul - If you time just before the peak traffic you can get recently graded roads that are like billiard tables to drive on.

Hi Kerrymac,

We are going up in June and due to time constraints have been able to fit the trip into a 3 week package, Brisbane to Brisbane.

We won't see everything this time but will go back for a proper look when the time permits.

We are taking the bypass roads which are easier and intend to visit, Cape Trib, Cooktown, The Cape, Thursday Island, The Plane wrecks at Bamaga, Fishing, Twin Falls, Chilli Beach, Chillagoe Caves and Rock Art. It was hard deciding which places we could visit this trip mainly camping in commercial parks, the girls are worried about how their hair looks.