Cobourg and Gove Peninsular

Hi Angelo

Can't really comment on where you are going but as far as other comments are concerned new rear suspension would be a good start

Mate has the same set up but with a Trayon Camper and has ARB 400suspension
and the truck sits level.

Have a great trip

Cheers Teza

Having been to both places(a while back) I was very dissapointed in Cobourg as there were far too many restrictions as to where you can or cannot go.So much so l left days before my permit expired-so did some other campers.Having a boat may improve things a bit but in my opinion Gove is a far better option with a lot of unrestricted drives along the coast.Remember that I do not think you can get a permit to go across the top from Cobourg to Gove so you will have to backtrack.Also you will find the roads are not nearly as bad as some people make out if you go June to August.Hope this helps.

Have to agree with the comments on Coburg, we've been twice, the fist time in the early 90's when there was a large boat that did day trips to Victoria Settlement and fishing trips offshore. There was also a small shop that sold fuel and basic supplies.
We stayed ten days and had a great time, so much so we returned a few years later to find the store had shut, no fuel available, tracks and roads were even rougher than the first time, more restrictions were in place, no ranger guided tours to places of interest, bush tucker etc and the place was getting run down.
Also no boat available for tours to Victoria Settlement or fishing trips.
Unless you are into marine fishing activities and have a large trailer boat over 14' then activities are restricted to landbased.
Gove is a far better destination with a much wider range of activities, campsites and country to explore as well as fishing and boating if you want.
You cannot get a permit to travel across from Oenpelli to Gove, must travel in from near Mataranka. It is a pretty good road most of the way but there are a couple of deepish river crossings depending on the weather of course, over 700 k's each way and you are only allowed to camp in designated spots along the road. It is too far for one day in my opinion. No caravans are allowed and while we took a hardfloor camper it was frowned on. Be very careful on the top half of the road, in fact all the roads around Gove, as they use bauxite waste (little round balls of rock) on the road and it is extremely slippery, so much so it is near impossible to walk in the soft stuff off the wheel tracks.
Gove has the normal shops that any small mining town has.

Was there last year and tend to agree, unless you have access to a boat, Coburg may be a struggle for a long stay.

Recommend the art gallery at Gunbalanya.

If you head to Gove, do a bit of research first and I would recommend booking permits etc ahead of time. There are two organizations Dhirmurru and Lirrwi to have a look at. From memory Dhirmurru manage the permits in around Nhulunbuy.

Last year I contacted Craig Hodges at Lirrwi before we arrives and he was great, helping us to organise ourselves and ensure we could get out and about. Definitely worth an email.

Also, the art gallery at Yirrkala was excellent. All in all, we had a cracking time in and around Nhulunbuy.

Plan ahead and your will have a great time. Also, check when they think the main road in will be open. It was in July sometime last year so that may cause a challenge.

Michael A

Yes - too many restrictions , we left a day early from what we had paid for , won't be going back.