We intending to travel to Cap York this winter. We travelling with Caravan, can anyone help us with information. Were is it best to store the Caravan, Which places to visit and overnight stay ect. Thank you very much.
Relax-n said
11:55 PM Feb 27, 2020
We did the trip last year. Stopped at Mt Carbine, $30 p/n, (great value park), they will store your van at no charge if you stop there on way up and back. Its great as it gives you a chance to pack the car, and a good clean up on return.
We tented it from there. Plenty of spots to stop, pending on how far you want to go each day. Hotel / pub rooms, park cabins, station stays and roadhouse dongas are generally available, if you dont have a tent.
And will go back again as we did not spend a lot of time there.
Do your homework first, there is plenty of info on the net. People have different ideas on what to see and do, and it also depends on your budget. We enjoyed Twin Falls, Elliot Falls and Fruit Bat Falls, as well as enjoying the trip to the Cape. There is plenty to see and do.
Road conditions change day by day, just drive careful and to the conditions. And enjoy!
cjt55 said
04:32 AM Feb 28, 2020
Ditto with Relax-n above. We did the Cape in 2017. We left our van at Mt Carbine and took our tent. Be aware of the road conditions and take your time. Plenty of places to stay and the Falls are a must see. Wiki camps will give you all the info you need for places to stay. Make sure you try a hamburger with the lot at Musgrave Roadhouse .... truly one of the best hamburgers I have ever had albeit not the healthiest food. Just take your time and enjoy.
-- Edited by cjt55 on Friday 28th of February 2020 04:33:42 AM
beaul said
09:33 AM Feb 28, 2020
i don't know why you would bother, i went up there many times(work related) miles of boring road with bulldust and shear terror when you enter the creek crossings. do not take a caravan it will never come home. lots of wrecks of cars that didn't make it. boring boring boring.
leajoy said
09:50 AM Feb 28, 2020
new nomads we are going this year as well. We are leaving the van at Mt Carbine as others have suggested and are going to stretcher tent it the rest of the way. You never know we may see you on the way. Enjoy
Hendo said
11:32 AM Feb 28, 2020
Hi New Nomads (Both)
I traveled to the Cape in June 2018 and had a ball. Best trip I have done however I didn't travel on the Telegraph Track as I have to much respect for my D-Max. Saw plenty of others that did and some didn't fair too well, water in fuel, stuffed transmissions, plenty of panel damage.
During my planning I came across on the net "Destination Cape York" by Katrin Holmsten, www-cape-york-Australia.com.
Katrina lives in Bamaga and at the end of each wet seasons she travels the road down to Coen and gives an extensive update on road conditions. The publications also covers things like Preparation & Packing, History of the Cape, Preparing your Vehicle, Places to Stay, Alcohol Restrictions, and much much more. It became my bible.
I based myself at Cooktown but Mt Carbine would good, also Laura.
My first stop was at Coen, behind the Pub, then onto Bramwell Station, a campground on a working cattle station. Great entertainment every night and the most amazing meal you'll come across. From here went onto Seisia Camp Ground. We booked a covered powered sight which was like a three car carport with benched and power, water and amenities close by.
Make sure you take a trip to Thursday Island and have lunch at the Top Pub, the most northerly pub in Australia. Try the Spanish Mackerel its to die for.
When you plan to go out to the tip try and coincide with low tide as you are then able to walk around on the beach which is a mush shorter walk.
One thing I can guarantee is that you wont find your adventure boring.
thanks will check out more on the website. We also have a d-max and will not take any risks.
new nomads said
06:29 PM Feb 28, 2020
thank you, when were you thinking of going. We will go with a tent as well.
Itchyfeet Pete said
06:10 PM Feb 29, 2020
We did the Cape in June 2019 and dragged our semi off road 2008 Supreme Territory all the way to Seisia. Had no problems whatsoever with the van because we stuck to the main roads (no Old Telegraph Track with the van attached), dropped our tyre pressures and drove very slowly whereever the roads were corrugated (mostly between Bramwell Junction and Jardine River because that road had not yet been graded). We chose to stay at Loyalty Beach. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole journey and the destination including Thursday Island.
So, as long as you have a van designed for dirt road driving (not necessarily a serious off road van), lower your tyre pressures, stick to the main roads and drive to conditions you should be fine to take your van.
Cuppa said
07:54 PM Feb 29, 2020
I'm typing this from Cape York. We have only seen a little of the Cape so far, having been flown up from Cairns to Lockhart River, & then a 45 minute drive north to Portland Roads. It really depends on what you want to see & how long you have to see it in as to where you go, but if you are in the least bit interested in bird spotting, or in beautiful beaches then you should take the turn off from the Peninsula development road to come up here. Chilli Beach with it's kilometres of white sand lined with palms, a view out to islands & the rainforest right down to the beach is one of, if not The best beach we have ever been on, & we have been on plenty right around the country. Admittedly we are lucky to have exprerienced totally to ourselves. There are 3 reasons to take the turn off. Chilli Beach is one. Second is the rainforest in the Iron Range NP. The range of birds which can be found there is like nowhere else in the country, many species only exist there , nowhere else in Australia. Camping in The NP is limited, but is the best way to see them, as you would be onsite at the times of day when the birds are active. The third attraction is the neat little township of Portland roads, a place with WW2 history & where we have been living for the past 5 weeks. No shops, a few houses & the 'Out of the Blue' cafe which is reputed to do a tremendous fresh seafood platter. We don't know about that as the owners of the cafe & the self contained rental holiday house next door (Google 'Portland House') are away & we are here looking after both properties for them, living in Portland House (for just a few more days - the 5 weeks has flown by & we have loved it).
Fuel, a small supermarket and an aboriginal art centre in Lockhart River - and a small airport built by US troops in 1942. Quintell Beach just out of Lockhart River (& where the weekly barge brings supplies to) is also a pretty walk.
Close to Chili Beach/Cape Weymouth & Portland Roads is Restoration island where, famously ex millionaire Dave Glasheen (Resto Dave) has lived a solitary & genuine Robinson Crusoe like existence for many years (Google 'Restoration Island') . An interesting character if you get to meet him. (We are visiting him on the island tomorrow morning - a perk of my being the local Postie during our time here meant that we have met him & been invited over).
We will be returning to the Cape later in the year driving our vehicle & towing our off road camper. We have already accepted a return invitation to Portland House, & are very much looking forward to spending the 2020 dry season exploring the Cape.
PS. I second Hendo's recommendation for Katrin's e-book 'Destination Cape York'.
Chilli Beach looking south
-- Edited by Cuppa on Saturday 29th of February 2020 07:56:08 PM
-- Edited by Cuppa on Saturday 29th of February 2020 08:01:36 PM
Thank you very much for your input, we relay appreciate you commence.
Evernew98 said
11:10 AM Mar 1, 2020
beaul wrote:
i don't know why you would bother, i went up there many times(work related) miles of boring road with bulldust and shear terror when you enter the creek crossings. do not take a caravan it will never come home. lots of wrecks of cars that didn't make it. boring boring boring.
Just wow!!
Peter_n_Margaret said
12:00 PM Mar 1, 2020
There are a number of very special areas in Australia. I include The Kimberley, the Pilbara and Cape York amongst them.
Allow lots of time.
Cheers,
Peter
new nomads said
08:45 AM Mar 2, 2020
We intending to travel to Cap York this winter. We travelling with Caravan, can anyone help us with information. Were is it best to store the Caravan, Which places to visit and overnight stay ect. Thank you very much.
In addition to the above: We like bush waking, looking at waterfalls etc. we do like eating fish, but do not fish ourselves. We are differently not taking our caravan. We also would like some information on the availability of diesel and approx. prices of diesel and camping grounds and free camps.
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:56 AM Mar 2, 2020
The ferry fee across the Jardine River includes free camping in the Aboriginal country north of there. There are many great spots that you will find while exploring.
South of there, there are some great spots in National Parks.
Cape Melville.
Chilli Beach.
Pennyfather River north of Weipa is a great spot, but the track in is sandy.
How are you sleeping? Be very careful with crocs. They are in most areas of Cape York and will travel significant distances from water for a snack.
put your vehicle on the working boat out of Cairns then you only have to drive it one way, do the telegraph track, plenty do. it is not a race you will be fine. you must go over to the Torres while up their, spend a couple of nights on Thurs Island. visit Horn Island it has a very good museum then visit the Friday Island pearl farm.
Dunmowin said
10:02 PM Mar 2, 2020
beaul wrote:
i don't know why you would bother, i went up there many times(work related) miles of boring road with bulldust and shear terror when you enter the creek crossings. do not take a caravan it will never come home. lots of wrecks of cars that didn't make it. boring boring boring.
beaul, this is a rite of passage for most grey nomads. Don't knock them.
TheHeaths said
09:23 AM Mar 3, 2020
beaul wrote:
i don't know why you would bother, i went up there many times(work related) miles of boring road with bulldust and shear terror when you enter the creek crossings. do not take a caravan it will never come home. lots of wrecks of cars that didn't make it. boring boring boring.
That is an interesting comment Beaul, and while at first glance I thought it curmudgeonly and not really necessary in reply to someone who is obviously looking forward to the trip, in a way I can see why you may feel that way.
In my working life, I also spent several days a month driving two of the major tourist routes in the Outback, and by the end of 6 or 7 years doing it, didn't want to ever see those road again, nor the places along it. But I think back to the FIRST time I drove them, and I can remember the thought of the unknown and the excitement I felt to be going to places I had only heard about, and I still get that same feeling as Kathy and I plan new trips and roads each year.
These drives are now two of our favourites, being the Stuart Highway, and the roads in the Flinders Ranges. I know the reason it is so much better now is easy. Firstly I am not working, thinking about problems as I head to the destinations, and having little if any time to explore. And secondly, I have a lovely and loving wife to now share the "smelling of the roses" as we take our time and discover new places and things each time we travel these roads. Our credo is simple, with apologies to the writer of a book called "Zen Dog".
"They know not where they're going, for the highway will decide. It's not the destination, it's the glory of the ride!"
So, while I agree that such common trips can make places "boring, boring, boring" when you do it frequently, and are doing it for work, I believe that most people would still get a shiver of excitement and anticipation when they do it for the FIRST time. I suspect even you felt a bit of that the first time you went up the Peninsula.
So Beaul, I hope you find that excitement when you travel, perhaps even on the Cape if you go back and really look for it, and to Tony, and others out there, just go, enjoy yourselves and find your excitement and favourite places as you go.
As I often say to Kathy and others after a trip. We have seen places we didn't enjoy, and wouldn't go back to again, but we are glad we went to all of them.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Tuesday 3rd of March 2020 09:25:42 AM
Cuppa said
10:12 PM Mar 3, 2020
Dunmowin wrote:
beaul, this is a rite of passage for most grey nomads. Don't knock them.
A rite of passage eh? I suppose for some perhaps, although I would have thought that description might apply more to younger 4wd'ers than to many grey nomads. Certainly there many folk who rush up to the tip & back each year just to say they've done it. Just this morning while sitting waiting for a plane at Lockhart River this topic was a point of discussion, with plenty reports of the sort of attitude which, for example, sees folk turn up at Chilli Beach, a substantial drive to get there off the main road to the tip, & look at the view to the beach for 10 minutes, without even getting out of the car, & then turning to leave. Or going to the cafe in Portland roads & asking for a *take way* coffee (which they don't do) because they don't have time to stop & take in the view & the ambience over a cup of coffee. It's hard to appreciate why anyone would travel in this way other than to be able to tell others they have 'done' it, which of course they have, but they won't have 'seen' it nor 'felt' it.
We plan to return to the Cape in a few weeks time driving. There is no rite of passage for us, I reckon we are long past that sort of thinking. We are looking forward to discovering, feeling & seeing country which is different to anywhere else in Australia, different animals, different birds, different cultures & different lives. The 'taster' we have had over the past few weeks bodes well. What I'm not looking forward to is sharing roads with folk in too much of a hurry to notice much around them & who present a risk to my wife & I as well as to themselves & others.
new nomads said
08:19 AM Mar 4, 2020
We fully agree, we have been around Australia 3 time. The last trip took 10 month, seeing places we had not seen before. We will do the same in Cape York.We are not new to travelling with caravan in Australia, just in the grey nomads web site, not knowing how to use it properly. We appreciate all commence and help, as this will be the first time to drive further then Port Douglas.
We intending to travel to Cap York this winter. We travelling with Caravan, can anyone help us with information. Were is it best to store the Caravan, Which places to visit and overnight stay ect. Thank you very much.
We did the trip last year. Stopped at Mt Carbine, $30 p/n, (great value park), they will store your van at no charge if you stop there on way up and back. Its great as it gives you a chance to pack the car, and a good clean up on return.
We tented it from there. Plenty of spots to stop, pending on how far you want to go each day. Hotel / pub rooms, park cabins, station stays and roadhouse dongas are generally available, if you dont have a tent.
And will go back again as we did not spend a lot of time there.
Do your homework first, there is plenty of info on the net. People have different ideas on what to see and do, and it also depends on your budget. We enjoyed Twin Falls, Elliot Falls and Fruit Bat Falls, as well as enjoying the trip to the Cape. There is plenty to see and do.
Road conditions change day by day, just drive careful and to the conditions. And enjoy!
Ditto with Relax-n above. We did the Cape in 2017. We left our van at Mt Carbine and took our tent. Be aware of the road conditions and take your time. Plenty of places to stay and the Falls are a must see. Wiki camps will give you all the info you need for places to stay. Make sure you try a hamburger with the lot at Musgrave Roadhouse .... truly one of the best hamburgers I have ever had albeit not the healthiest food. Just take your time and enjoy.
-- Edited by cjt55 on Friday 28th of February 2020 04:33:42 AM
Hi New Nomads (Both)
I traveled to the Cape in June 2018 and had a ball. Best trip I have done however I didn't travel on the Telegraph Track as I have to much respect for my D-Max. Saw plenty of others that did and some didn't fair too well, water in fuel, stuffed transmissions, plenty of panel damage.
During my planning I came across on the net "Destination Cape York" by Katrin Holmsten, www-cape-york-Australia.com.
Katrina lives in Bamaga and at the end of each wet seasons she travels the road down to Coen and gives an extensive update on road conditions. The publications also covers things like Preparation & Packing, History of the Cape, Preparing your Vehicle, Places to Stay, Alcohol Restrictions, and much much more. It became my bible.
I based myself at Cooktown but Mt Carbine would good, also Laura.
My first stop was at Coen, behind the Pub, then onto Bramwell Station, a campground on a working cattle station. Great entertainment every night and the most amazing meal you'll come across. From here went onto Seisia Camp Ground. We booked a covered powered sight which was like a three car carport with benched and power, water and amenities close by.
Make sure you take a trip to Thursday Island and have lunch at the Top Pub, the most northerly pub in Australia. Try the Spanish Mackerel its to die for.
When you plan to go out to the tip try and coincide with low tide as you are then able to walk around on the beach which is a mush shorter walk.
One thing I can guarantee is that you wont find your adventure boring.
Safe journey
Hendo
thanks for the info, much appreciated
thanks for your help.
thanks will check out more on the website. We also have a d-max and will not take any risks.
thank you, when were you thinking of going. We will go with a tent as well.
We did the Cape in June 2019 and dragged our semi off road 2008 Supreme Territory all the way to Seisia. Had no problems whatsoever with the van because we stuck to the main roads (no Old Telegraph Track with the van attached), dropped our tyre pressures and drove very slowly whereever the roads were corrugated (mostly between Bramwell Junction and Jardine River because that road had not yet been graded). We chose to stay at Loyalty Beach. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole journey and the destination including Thursday Island.
So, as long as you have a van designed for dirt road driving (not necessarily a serious off road van), lower your tyre pressures, stick to the main roads and drive to conditions you should be fine to take your van.
I'm typing this from Cape York. We have only seen a little of the Cape so far, having been flown up from Cairns to Lockhart River, & then a 45 minute drive north to Portland Roads. It really depends on what you want to see & how long you have to see it in as to where you go, but if you are in the least bit interested in bird spotting, or in beautiful beaches then you should take the turn off from the Peninsula development road to come up here. Chilli Beach with it's kilometres of white sand lined with palms, a view out to islands & the rainforest right down to the beach is one of, if not The best beach we have ever been on, & we have been on plenty right around the country. Admittedly we are lucky to have exprerienced totally to ourselves. There are 3 reasons to take the turn off. Chilli Beach is one. Second is the rainforest in the Iron Range NP. The range of birds which can be found there is like nowhere else in the country, many species only exist there , nowhere else in Australia. Camping in The NP is limited, but is the best way to see them, as you would be onsite at the times of day when the birds are active. The third attraction is the neat little township of Portland roads, a place with WW2 history & where we have been living for the past 5 weeks. No shops, a few houses & the 'Out of the Blue' cafe which is reputed to do a tremendous fresh seafood platter. We don't know about that as the owners of the cafe & the self contained rental holiday house next door (Google 'Portland House') are away & we are here looking after both properties for them, living in Portland House (for just a few more days - the 5 weeks has flown by & we have loved it).
Fuel, a small supermarket and an aboriginal art centre in Lockhart River - and a small airport built by US troops in 1942. Quintell Beach just out of Lockhart River (& where the weekly barge brings supplies to) is also a pretty walk.
Close to Chili Beach/Cape Weymouth & Portland Roads is Restoration island where, famously ex millionaire Dave Glasheen (Resto Dave) has lived a solitary & genuine Robinson Crusoe like existence for many years (Google 'Restoration Island') . An interesting character if you get to meet him. (We are visiting him on the island tomorrow morning - a perk of my being the local Postie during our time here meant that we have met him & been invited over).
We will be returning to the Cape later in the year driving our vehicle & towing our off road camper. We have already accepted a return invitation to Portland House, & are very much looking forward to spending the 2020 dry season exploring the Cape.
PS. I second Hendo's recommendation for Katrin's e-book 'Destination Cape York'.
Chilli Beach looking south
-- Edited by Cuppa on Saturday 29th of February 2020 07:56:08 PM
-- Edited by Cuppa on Saturday 29th of February 2020 08:01:36 PM
Thank you very much for your input, we relay appreciate you commence.
Just wow!!
Allow lots of time.
Cheers,
Peter
We intending to travel to Cap York this winter. We travelling with Caravan, can anyone help us with information. Were is it best to store the Caravan, Which places to visit and overnight stay ect. Thank you very much.
In addition to the above: We like bush waking, looking at waterfalls etc. we do like eating fish, but do not fish ourselves. We are differently not taking our caravan. We also would like some information on the availability of diesel and approx. prices of diesel and camping grounds and free camps.
The ferry fee across the Jardine River includes free camping in the Aboriginal country north of there. There are many great spots that you will find while exploring.
South of there, there are some great spots in National Parks.
Cape Melville.
Chilli Beach.
Pennyfather River north of Weipa is a great spot, but the track in is sandy.
How are you sleeping? Be very careful with crocs. They are in most areas of Cape York and will travel significant distances from water for a snack.
Cheers,
Peter
beaul, this is a rite of passage for most grey nomads. Don't knock them.
That is an interesting comment Beaul, and while at first glance I thought it curmudgeonly and not really necessary in reply to someone who is obviously looking forward to the trip, in a way I can see why you may feel that way.
In my working life, I also spent several days a month driving two of the major tourist routes in the Outback, and by the end of 6 or 7 years doing it, didn't want to ever see those road again, nor the places along it. But I think back to the FIRST time I drove them, and I can remember the thought of the unknown and the excitement I felt to be going to places I had only heard about, and I still get that same feeling as Kathy and I plan new trips and roads each year.
These drives are now two of our favourites, being the Stuart Highway, and the roads in the Flinders Ranges. I know the reason it is so much better now is easy. Firstly I am not working, thinking about problems as I head to the destinations, and having little if any time to explore. And secondly, I have a lovely and loving wife to now share the "smelling of the roses" as we take our time and discover new places and things each time we travel these roads. Our credo is simple, with apologies to the writer of a book called "Zen Dog".
"They know not where they're going, for the highway will decide. It's not the destination, it's the glory of the ride!"
So, while I agree that such common trips can make places "boring, boring, boring" when you do it frequently, and are doing it for work, I believe that most people would still get a shiver of excitement and anticipation when they do it for the FIRST time. I suspect even you felt a bit of that the first time you went up the Peninsula.
So Beaul, I hope you find that excitement when you travel, perhaps even on the Cape if you go back and really look for it, and to Tony, and others out there, just go, enjoy yourselves and find your excitement and favourite places as you go.
As I often say to Kathy and others after a trip. We have seen places we didn't enjoy, and wouldn't go back to again, but we are glad we went to all of them.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Tuesday 3rd of March 2020 09:25:42 AM
A rite of passage eh? I suppose for some perhaps, although I would have thought that description might apply more to younger 4wd'ers than to many grey nomads. Certainly there many folk who rush up to the tip & back each year just to say they've done it. Just this morning while sitting waiting for a plane at Lockhart River this topic was a point of discussion, with plenty reports of the sort of attitude which, for example, sees folk turn up at Chilli Beach, a substantial drive to get there off the main road to the tip, & look at the view to the beach for 10 minutes, without even getting out of the car, & then turning to leave. Or going to the cafe in Portland roads & asking for a *take way* coffee (which they don't do) because they don't have time to stop & take in the view & the ambience over a cup of coffee. It's hard to appreciate why anyone would travel in this way other than to be able to tell others they have 'done' it, which of course they have, but they won't have 'seen' it nor 'felt' it.
We plan to return to the Cape in a few weeks time driving. There is no rite of passage for us, I reckon we are long past that sort of thinking. We are looking forward to discovering, feeling & seeing country which is different to anywhere else in Australia, different animals, different birds, different cultures & different lives. The 'taster' we have had over the past few weeks bodes well. What I'm not looking forward to is sharing roads with folk in too much of a hurry to notice much around them & who present a risk to my wife & I as well as to themselves & others.