Hi Everyone!

We have been on the road now for 3 months and had some great inland and coastal experiences. Will be at Bowen this weekend for the local rodeo then heading onto the tip.  Does anyone have any recent (past week or so) knowledge if it is open and passable? We are going to leave our van and tent it to Cape York and back, anyone else heading up in the next few weeks? Or are we too early with the crossings?

Thanks Fency

Hi Jenny, The best place to get info. on the Cape at any time of year, is www.capeyorker.com The guys there can give you any info. you want. Some of them live up there, so they have up-to-date knowledge of conditions etc. Cheers, Sheba.

It's all open and passable. A few have come back and parked in this park to relax and unwind. The Bloomfield is a little rough, but you'd expect that on a 4x4 track. The tour operators are up and running and it's all go. Even the telegraph track is open. The traffic is still thin, there's plenty of room in this park, and they have a storage paddock if you want to leave your van here, and just take the camping gear up.

make sure you go through the crossing called "shot gun ", we done it from both directions, a good bit of a challenge and excitement. its on the telegraph. Go over to T.I. and look up Neville [Nifty] and Trish at See Hop Trading over from the P.O. they look after you. might get a job there if you want

I think it's called Gunshot, crosses Gunshot creek, Shotgun, Gunshot doesn't matter anyway. I was there in 2004 and couldn't get across as the approach had completely washed out. There is a detour available. Take your time and enjoy the trip, too many people rush it.

Gunshot...

Great pics there Jim. Must be something else to do that crossing i shiver at Fitsroy Crossing hehe

Thanks everyone,
The replies are most informative, yes will look at leaving the van somewhere? And we had just decided to look for work somewhere to prolong our trip ($$$$$$$)

We are a couple aged 46 and 50, is it a trip we can do in the patrol alone or should we find someone to tag along with?  How long should we allow for the trip say to Cooktown and back?  Getting the snorkle fitted to the patrol next week!

This is a slide show from last year.


This is going up Gunshot (video).
The approaches to all of these crossings are different every year.



Even little creeks can hide surprises....(video).
Walk through EVERY water crossing before you drive it.


Cheers,
Peter


-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:55:47 PM

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:56:28 PM

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Thursday 10th of June 2010 01:58:02 PM

Jimricho is right it is Gunshot. You can leave your van at the First City Caravilla (TOP TOURIST) Cairns, for about $35 a week. Catch the Trinity Bay up the top, (working boat) leaves Fridays about 35 passengers.Put the car on, then you only have to drive down the Cape. Ring See Hop, they employ about 25 people, have accommodation, Sell groceries, fruit, vegies, boats, furniture, hardware, and its a fully blown bakery. 0740902186. usually only like to employ couples. Ask for Trish. You will enjoy the experience.

On my trip up the Cape with a group in 2004 we shipped our rigs back to Cairns on the Trinity Bay (Google it to get more info). We had planned to travel back on the boat too but the cabins were booked out so we flew back and "motelled" it for a couple of nights until our rigs arrived back in Cairns. Caravilla (see above) has a secure storage area.