Cape York

Hi Steve
Thankyou for the info, your idea is one to think about. How far is it from Cairns to the Cape?
Richard

Same as Scrubby said, Mt Carbine Caravan Park. Nothing flash but clean and friendly. Gets you a bit closer as well, which you might appreciate on the way back.
Ditto for free storage as long as you stay one night both ways.
Cheers
Joel

Hi Scrubby
Appreciate that, no problems getting to their with a big van? How many nights if any do you need to camp on the way from Cains to the Cape?
Thankyou
Richard

G`day Richard,
It is a bitumen road to Mount Carbine and not a difficult drive.
If I recall correctly it is a bit less than 700 kms and about 11 hrs from Mount Carbine to Weipa and we spent one night camped between.

May I suggest that you use the "Get Directions" information which is in the "Places" section in the left end of the blue bar at the top of this page.
I also recommend that you buy a copy of Ron & Viv Moon`s booklet " Cape York an Adventures Guide" it has endless info for anyone considering a Cape York trip. It is available from the ExplorOz Shop (also on the blue bar at top of page) and is well worth the cost.

Enjoy,

Scrubby.

I'll be travelling from Cairns to Bamaga from Thursday. Invariably we leave Cairns around 8 - 8:30, and camp at Charlie's Mine at Coen around 4 p.m. ($15 vehicle and two people). Next day we arrive at Bamaga mid afternoon.
If you're leaving from, say, Mt Carbine you could easily make Archer River or even Moreton. I find Archer in particular quite crowded during the dry season but there's always room for one more.

Hi ,
we did it in 2010 on our lap of 32000km from Perth
left our 18 foot van at Lakeland caravan park ,nice park , good ablution block and clean .
friendly people
most of the people there are on there way up or on the way back
so chat to all you can, fuel opp the van park, 800k to the tip from there so we did it there and back on the fuel on board 1650k all up
we stayed at archer river Loyalty beach and Pusand bay
one town had dirty fuel so ask where people fuel up
we only drove at 80k not much traffic on the road but it was a good gravel road most of the way
top trip a must do
Alan

Hi Alan,

You left your van at lakeland? Do you think you could have taken the van all the way to the top?

I am planning my trip & was looking at that option, going via Wiepa?

Sorry to steal your chat Richard.

Cheers Tony

Hi Tony,
to wiepa wasn't too bad after that it gets rough at times
saw a few vans in pusand bay but saw some major damage to
broken A frame and broken suspension components
im glad i left mine at Lakeland made it a bit more of an adventure
Alan

The road varies depending what part of the season you are travelling, how much work has been done on the road, how much rain and how much traffic - the only constant about this road is that you don't know what it is going to be like until you are on it. That said by next season the high level bridge on the south side of Laura should be completed as to the bitumen pavement into Laura. There are sections of bitumen further north and there seems to be more of these each time I go up there (about every 3 years). IMO the road north of Laura remains unsuitable for caravans that aren't built to off road standards. Sure you can take one but it certainly won't be the same van at the end of the trip and good luck getting all the dust out.

That sums it up pretty well Patrol22.

Many thanks to all for the info.
Regards
Richard