cooktown to chilli beach
Submitted: Saturday, Jul 14, 2012 at 22:03
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ken w4
Hi guys ,
New to the
forum, and have a few questions that can hopefully be answered, driving up from melb in late august and getting married on the way, so 4 weeks will be our honey moon .
We are wanting to travel from
cooktown,
well hopevale to be exact, and we wont to travel to chilli beach for a few days and back to
cooktown , how many hrs would it take from say
cooktown to the archer river rd house or, laurer to the
archer river roadhouse, i no its approx 400ks, but trying to get a time line in place so i dont upset the new bride hahaha.
Really appreciate any feed back tell me what you think or no any help is good help.
Cheers ken
Reply By: ken w4 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 09:49
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 09:49
ANY ONE????
AnswerID:
490990
Follow Up By: Lyn W3 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:05
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:05
OK
Do you just want to "drive" there and not see anything on the way or stop and smell the roses with the new bride?
If you get on the PDR and just drive there it will take 6-7 hours.
If you go up through
Cooktown you can take the Battle
Camp road and go through
Lakeland and come out at Musgrave Road House and then north though
Coen stopping to see the sights, detours to
places like Charlie's
Mine and
camp a couple nights it will take 3-4 days.
Just remember you have to pre book camping now in Qld.
And watch out for the salties at Chilli Beach.
BTW there used to be a member on ExlopOZ from
Portland Roads if you want to do a search I'm sure you'll find him.
FollowupID:
766393
Reply By: PJR (NSW) - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:02
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:02
It has been two years for us, but from what I have read lately the drive from
Cooktown to
Archer River Roadhouse could be done sitting on 80 quite easily. Chilli Beach - don't know haven't been there.
I am assuming that it's the driving you need help with not the honeymoon. Correct.
Enjoy.
AnswerID:
490993
Follow Up By: ken w4 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:07
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:07
hahaha yeah honeymoons all sorted, were going to hopevale area, so really wanted to explore chilli beach as were closer to it there than in my lounge room in
melbourne, but just concerned with the time it takes to get there and back as we have other things booked in futher down the coast.
cheers ken
FollowupID:
766394
Follow Up By: PJR (NSW) - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:22
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:22
Fine mate. But like Lyn said above see if you have more time for it and stop to
check out the (as she put it) roses.
I am guessing that you have had to prebook and time is tight. But it is a damned long way back.
If you want a few ideas then all you have to do is ask. And please ignore the "google is your friend" ones. If you do not know what you are searching for how can a search help.
FollowupID:
766397
Reply By: Member - Vivien C (VIC) - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:39
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 10:39
Ken,
We spent two nights at
Chili Beach on our way
home from our
Cape York trip last August/September.
We left there in the morning around 8.30 stopped for a break at Archer River,
Coen & Musgrave Station then headed into Lakefield NP and camped at Kalpower Crossing. From there we went via
Old Laura Homestead, Battlecamp etc to
Cooktown the next day.
While at
Chili Beach we just wandered along
the beach, had lunch at
Portland Roads and visited the
Lockhart River Community.
If you can fit it into your trip, then do!! We all enjoyed our time there.
All the best Viv
AnswerID:
490997
Follow Up By: ken w4 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 11:50
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 11:50
Appreciate the reply viv,
Can you give me any more info on batttle
camp rd , did you have to cross the
pascoe river , what was that like.
Were travelling alone, with a suitable 4wd ,but no winch i do have a hand winch if i really need it,
I like your trip plan that would suit us , i could do
hope vale on the way back through.
Cheers ken
FollowupID:
766400
Follow Up By: Member - Vivien C (VIC) - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 12:23
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 12:23
Ken,
Just rechecked my trip notes and realised it was Hann Crossing not Kalpower, where we camped in Lakefield NP, but whichever you choose would be good.
Battle
Camp road was good going and the only water crossings we made were easy. We travelled with a Prado and
Kimberley offroad camper and our friends had a Nissan and a Trakshak.
The
Pascoe River crossing on the main road to
Chili Beach was wide but easy. Its the crossing on the
Frenchmans Track that is difficult but to do that would be further for you as its the northern entrance.
Portland Road has a restaurant which serves delicious lunches and the view is lovely.
Best wishes
Viv
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ken w4 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 12:47
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 12:47
Thanks viv,
One more question, would 2 nights be enough at chilli or would 3 be better.
Did you see any crocs, are you able to cool off in the water.
Thanks again viv , very helpful
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Vivien C (VIC) - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 18:18
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 18:18
Ken,
We didn't see any crocs or any signs that they were there, but that's not to say they're not!! We also didn't go swimming just wandered along
the beach.
We enjoyed our two nights there and could've spent another but all we did was read, wander, visit
Portland Roads, visit
Lockhart River and generally relax. Its very windy there, constantly....but the
camp sites are fairly sheltered.
On the way there or back you might find it interesting to have a visit to Charlies Place near
Coen. We didn't but wish we had. There are
camp sites etc You will find lots of info if you
check it out.
The drive through Lakefield NP was very interesting especially the plain with what seem like thousands of termite hills....
All the best
Viv
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ken w4 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 18:43
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 18:43
Great thanks viv,
Just running over some maps now, and planning a route which will suit.
Appreciate your help. Will let you no what we choose.
Never been so keen for a trip in my life, we also have a 120 prado very comfy and capapble 4x4s.
Cheers ken
FollowupID:
766439
Reply By: Member - OzGazza (VIC) - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 12:26
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 12:26
You might find some useful info on my blog
http://oz4x4ing.blogspot.com
Our trip was in June / July 2009 - you will need to click on the dates in the side bar.
Chilli Beach is a beautiful beach - but the cape has a number of great
places to see.
AnswerID:
491006
Follow Up By: ken w4 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 18:46
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 18:46
Gaz,
Awsome right up mate very helpful also, having some dinner running through it now looking at the computer and maps , trying to figure out the best route as we want to visit cape trib and eddies. Either on the way up or way down not really phased , planned to ditch the van at cape trib, and live in the roof top tent for a week or so.
Cheers again ken
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ken w4 - Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 20:28
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012 at 20:28
Gaz,
Questin mate, iv read your trip plan, and you report 240k's from archer river to
port douglas, i did a shearch and i get 570k's taking near on 10 hrs.
Im guessing your right as you have done the trip, trying to work out my days driving and getting really confused hahaha.
Ken
FollowupID:
766451
Follow Up By: Member - OzGazza (VIC) - Monday, Jul 16, 2012 at 08:08
Monday, Jul 16, 2012 at 08:08
Hi Ken,
The 240ks was from
Laura RH your 570ks from Archer River RH to
Port Douglas is correct. We did it in a day. Road conditions were good and as I remember it - it was a relatively easy day.
Sorry if I caused any confusion.
Gaz
FollowupID:
766477
Follow Up By: Scotto73 - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2012 at 05:57
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2012 at 05:57
Great area ... perfect for a honeymoon!
I was up there last in 2009 and made this short video -
https://vimeo.com/16300935
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ken w4 - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2012 at 18:13
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2012 at 18:13
G day Scott
Mate how good is that video , just booked our camping last night 2 nights at chilli beach then 1 night in
hann river and then to
hope vale.
After seeing your video i wanna go now, looks awsome. But now thanks to you hahahaha i need to get my hands on a rooftopper tinny.
Any advice or helpful info.
Cheers Ken
FollowupID:
766595
Reply By: ken w4 - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2012 at 18:15
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2012 at 18:15
Thanks every one for there help and advice, I booked 2 nights in chillie beach 1 in
hann river thanks viv, and the to elim beach hopevale.
Can not wait for this trip , getting married and going to the cape couldnt think of anything better.
If any one has any more hints or advice fire away.
Cheers ken
AnswerID:
491157