We are seeking information on getting to Cape York through Cairns - mainly conditions of roads and type of vehicle required to traverse through to Cape York. Also best time to travel there. Thank you
wendyv said
03:59 PM Dec 20, 2014
From Cairns, the inland route via Mt Carbine, is a good sealed road all the way to Cooktown.
After Cooktown, you need a vehicle that will stand up to lots and lots of corrugations. Long kms of big corrugations. That said, delivery trucks etc go regularly to Weipa, and some of the "locals" drive ordinary cars.
The "main" road - mostly unsealed - goes via Laura, Musgrave, to Bramwell Junction. There are some water crossings that should be fairly low, once the road is open after the Wet, and some are now culverted. From Bramwell, the Bypass roads are the "normal" roads. The alternative OTL Track north definitely requires a sturdy 4WD vehicle, good skills driving same, and good recovery gear. People do tow camper trailers on it, but the welding services at Weipa and Bamaga also do a roaring trade in the season!
There is a ferry service over the Jardine River. The fee for this is also a permit fee for access to the lands north of the Jardine.
The best time would be after the graders have been through!! Seriously, it is hard to say, because of the unpredicatable nature of the Wet season. If it has not been a huge wet, I would say May into mid June. From mid-June to about mid July is school holidays and there is the hassle of meeting up with other drivers who are in a hurry and do not drive to the conditions. Plus camp areas busy. After that rush dies down, the weather is pleasant and it is not too dry and dusty into early August, but the roads are likely to be more corrugated. From about Sept, up north, it starts to get hot, dry and dusty.
FraLyn said
04:33 PM Dec 20, 2014
Thank you Wendy for the detailed information. We are considering travelling in mid August. Just getting all the information together so we are prepared for the trip.
Peter_n_Margaret said
05:54 PM Dec 20, 2014
The road is bitumen to Laura.
Plenty of conventional vehicles and caravans make the trip.
If you hang around down south a bit until the roads are "Open to all vehicles" it will indicate that the road is dry and the graders have virtually finished their job. Go then.
Early is also the best time. The waterfalls are their best and the country looks great after the wet.
Later is hotter, dryer, dustier and rougher.
Even if the roads are "bad" they will still be passable with your motorhome. You may just need to slow down a lot more to look after the vehicle and tyres.
Cape York is a great destination and you don't need to be a "gung ho" 4WDer to have a great time there.
We too are heading up to "The Tip" next year, however we have decided that we will treat ourselves to a tour from Cairns run by Oz Tours out of Cairns. It is an 8 day fly/overland or sea/overland, or maybe in reverse with everything provided - good accommodation and all meals. It was recommended to us from the point of view that if anything goes wrong with your own gear it could possibly cost just as much to repair/retrieve your gear as the tour costs. The vehicle they use is a 4WD air cond. bus.
We will be leaving our van and vehicle in storage at one of the caravan parks up there - this is a service they provide obviously for a fee, but at least we know they will be safe whilst we are away.
If you would like the details try: www.oztours.com.au OR Ph: 1800 079 006
For some reason the website doesn't want to 'play' this afternoon.
Just another thought for you to consider.
Cheers
June
wendyv said
09:13 PM Dec 22, 2014
Several very good tour companies do tours up Cape York, usually in a drive/fly combination. Outback Spirit is one company with a great product. (I have no connection but have seen them in action)
Repairs and retrieval are very expensive - and inconvenient - on the Cape. As I mentioned, welding services are in great demand. I suspect tyre services too!
Some travellers drive one way and pre-book to go back on the "barge" that services the communities from Cairns. This takes vehicles too. Others have to go back by barge even though they did not plan to!
I know a couple who went both ways from Cairns on the barge. It gave them a chance to visit Thursday Island, briefly, and they loved the boat trip.
With a tour group you are limited to the main attractions only.
FraLyn said
03:22 PM Dec 24, 2014
Thank you all for the information.
We will do some more research and consider all the pros and cons of either hiring a 4WD camper from Cairns or do a combination tour as suggested.
We are seeking information on getting to Cape York through Cairns - mainly conditions of roads and type of vehicle required to traverse through to Cape York. Also best time to travel there. Thank you
After Cooktown, you need a vehicle that will stand up to lots and lots of corrugations. Long kms of big corrugations. That said, delivery trucks etc go regularly to Weipa, and some of the "locals" drive ordinary cars.
The "main" road - mostly unsealed - goes via Laura, Musgrave, to Bramwell Junction. There are some water crossings that should be fairly low, once the road is open after the Wet, and some are now culverted. From Bramwell, the Bypass roads are the "normal" roads. The alternative OTL Track north definitely requires a sturdy 4WD vehicle, good skills driving same, and good recovery gear. People do tow camper trailers on it, but the welding services at Weipa and Bamaga also do a roaring trade in the season!
There is a ferry service over the Jardine River. The fee for this is also a permit fee for access to the lands north of the Jardine.
The best time would be after the graders have been through!! Seriously, it is hard to say, because of the unpredicatable nature of the Wet season. If it has not been a huge wet, I would say May into mid June. From mid-June to about mid July is school holidays and there is the hassle of meeting up with other drivers who are in a hurry and do not drive to the conditions. Plus camp areas busy. After that rush dies down, the weather is pleasant and it is not too dry and dusty into early August, but the roads are likely to be more corrugated. From about Sept, up north, it starts to get hot, dry and dusty.
Thank you Wendy for the detailed information. We are considering travelling in mid August. Just getting all the information together so we are prepared for the trip.
Plenty of conventional vehicles and caravans make the trip.
If you hang around down south a bit until the roads are "Open to all vehicles" it will indicate that the road is dry and the graders have virtually finished their job. Go then.
Early is also the best time. The waterfalls are their best and the country looks great after the wet.
Later is hotter, dryer, dustier and rougher.
Even if the roads are "bad" they will still be passable with your motorhome. You may just need to slow down a lot more to look after the vehicle and tyres.
Cape York is a great destination and you don't need to be a "gung ho" 4WDer to have a great time there.
I would also strongly recommend this event. www.lauradancefestival.com/
Cheers,
Peter
Thank you Peter n Margaret for the information
Cape York main road.
There are a number of places in remote parts where I would take the Coaster we have now, but Cape York would not be one of them.
-- Edited by wendyv on Sunday 21st of December 2014 03:05:20 PM
Thanks again Wendy for the photographs. We will not be taking our motorhome to Cape York, may look at hiring something from Cairns.
bkmcl.wordpress.com/2013/05/
We too are heading up to "The Tip" next year, however we have decided that we will treat ourselves to a tour from Cairns run by Oz Tours out of Cairns. It is an 8 day fly/overland or sea/overland, or maybe in reverse with everything provided - good accommodation and all meals. It was recommended to us from the point of view that if anything goes wrong with your own gear it could possibly cost just as much to repair/retrieve your gear as the tour costs. The vehicle they use is a 4WD air cond. bus.
We will be leaving our van and vehicle in storage at one of the caravan parks up there - this is a service they provide obviously for a fee, but at least we know they will be safe whilst we are away.
If you would like the details try: www.oztours.com.au OR Ph: 1800 079 006
For some reason the website doesn't want to 'play' this afternoon.
Just another thought for you to consider.
Cheers
June
Repairs and retrieval are very expensive - and inconvenient - on the Cape. As I mentioned, welding services are in great demand. I suspect tyre services too!
Some travellers drive one way and pre-book to go back on the "barge" that services the communities from Cairns. This takes vehicles too. Others have to go back by barge even though they did not plan to!
I know a couple who went both ways from Cairns on the barge. It gave them a chance to visit Thursday Island, briefly, and they loved the boat trip.
With a tour group you are limited to the main attractions only.
Thank you all for the information.
We will do some more research and consider all the pros and cons of either hiring a 4WD camper from Cairns or do a combination tour as suggested.