Pre-Booking Northern Qld Campsites

I've done the same thing for a convoy of 7 vehicles from my local 4WD Club for our forthcoming journey to Cape York....like you we are hoping to be able to stick to schedule ( a lot can happen in 3500km from here to the Cape) and I also have the same misgivings as you irt someone guzzumping us on the real estate. You never know the rangers just might be on the ball with this stuff by mid-year.

I too am apprehensive about this booking scheme and I look forward to reading your experiences on this forum.

The Queensland Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing is Steve Dickson, the Member for Buderim. I know Steve and will take concerns to him but they need to be actual experiences not just misgivings. Of course, I will gain some personally on my next trip to the Cape.

For anyone that wishes to contact Steve directly, here is hiswebsite.

We are also travelling to Cape York leaving Mt Carbine around the 17th June. Our trip leader has booked all camp-sites and like you I am dubious that it will be a smooth transition.
There are 6 vehicles in our group from our 4WD club.

See you on the track!

I cant see how this can work,what if your one day early or one day late.Who can plan there holidays that precise.Wally

Yep, certainly takes the spontaneity out of a trip.

I took the kids out this time last year and because we were trying to camp at NP's, but not really planning too far ahead, a few times we booked in while standing in the back of the ute using a smart phone. Probably not an option further up the cape though.

One thing we did find though was that 2 of the parks that we went to that were shown as booked solid on line, actually had quite a few free sites due to no-shows.

I see good and bad points; it stops the sites being over subscribed as people can gauge how busy it is going to be before they go, but it only works if people take notice of the booking system or it is enforced by a Ranger.

The system is by no means fool proof. Last July we booked at Lake Tinaroo and the area we booked was so over crowded there was no way we could. Did the wrong thing and moved to the next area same thing. Fortunately a ranger appeared and also did the "wrong" thing and directed us to an area we he knew we would fit. It turned out to be a great location.

Cheers
Racey

I think the problem with this system arises from the likelihood that the sites are not marked 'reserved'. Someone turning up can pay their money at the gate and use a site. Possibly oblivious to the fact that others have also booked on line.

I don't think the system is well controlled inevitably leading to disappointment by those pre-booking. Mind you where the system does work is for the National Parks, they don't have to worry about collecting cash at park.

Good luck with for trip, enjoy.

Hi
I am now at Seisia, got here this morning. As this is my first trip up here by 4wd, I did not do any online prebooking. On the way North I was going to book at Heathlands Ranger Station for Eliot Falls as by then I knew when I would get there. The DERM website says there is a touchscreen booking point for use with your credit card there. We turned off the bypass road and went the 10km down the track and were p.....d off to find the gate was locked. So back to the main road and continued to Sailor Creek, left the van there and did the three falls with just the 4wd. I did not see any whiz bangers but it is still early in the season.

The good news is that the roads are in very good condition and crews are flat out flattening them before the rush.

Fuel prices (diesel):
Cairns. $1 .57
Lakeland. $1.62
Archer river. $2.20
Seisia. $2.15

A few showers today and a temp of about 27.

Safe travels.