hI GUYS ,PLANING A BIG TRIP UP TO THE CAPE YORK .HAVE YOU BEEN AND WHAT CAN TO TELL ME TO MAKE OUR TRIP ALL THE BETTER. IS CAMPING A PROBLEM AND IS THERE A LOT OF FREE CAMPS
Kind Regards
old Jack no7 said
05:46 PM Mar 1, 2016
SORRY ,FORGOT ,WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OUR CARAVAN 21 FT SEMI OFROADER
bill12 said
06:12 PM Mar 1, 2016
Leave your van at Laura, and tent it to the top. The cape dev road is 700klms of corrugations and potholes, and will destroy all but the strongest van.
Hewy54 said
06:19 PM Mar 1, 2016
We visited the Cape in 2013.
Our friends towed an offroad camper trailer that only made it to Laura, where they left it and camped to the cape.
We towed a Kimberley Kamper that made it easily. There were people who took offroad caravans to the cape.
From Laura up expect to run into 100's of km of heavy corrugations. You would not be able to access many of the features (twin Falls OTT).
Do not know of any free camps as much of it is in national parks.
Will probably get lots of arguments here, but if you have a semi offroad van there are going to be many places that access if difficult. I would not tow a van to the cape.
gooba53 said
09:09 PM Mar 1, 2016
Have to agree. We went to the tip in September 2015. Left the van at Laura. Intended to tent at stations etc but the body didn't like it. Stayed in cabins. Expensive, $100 a night for a cabin but it was our choice as we couldn't tent and didn't want to turn back.
Hope you get there and over to Thursday and Horne Islands.
Cheers Dianne
-- Edited by gooba53 on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 09:10:49 PM
Henry1 said
10:15 PM Mar 1, 2016
I was planning a trip to weipa towing our caravan but If I can only go as far as Laura I may have to give it a miss I don't like the idea of tenting ( those days are gone )
Hewy54 said
10:23 PM Mar 1, 2016
Most of the road to Weipa is reasonable. Weipa is a mining centre so the roads are OK.
Henry1 said
10:32 PM Mar 1, 2016
Hewy54 wrote:
Most of the road to Weipa is reasonable. Weipa is a mining centre so the roads are OK.
Thanks Hew54
gooba53 said
10:44 PM Mar 1, 2016
sorry trying to delete this.
-- Edited by gooba53 on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 10:51:43 PM
-- Edited by gooba53 on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 10:52:28 PM
old Jack no7 said
11:04 PM Mar 1, 2016
Hi guys ,looks as if we are camping, borrow our kids blow up bed and ruff it a bit ,we leave Perth in May going via Cape York on the way to Camberra for the National Rally of Vanners
A BIG THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:04 AM Mar 2, 2016
Lots of off road and semi off road caravans go to the Cape.
It is just another dirt road and the condition varies with the traffic, the grader and the weather. You simply need to drive at speeds that are appropriate for the road condition and your van.
There are many fantastic camping areas.
North of the Jardine, the ferry fee also gives you unlimited camping. South of the Jardine there are some great national park areas.
Lots of off road and semi off road caravans go to the Cape. It is just another dirt road and the condition varies with the traffic, the grader and the weather. You simply need to drive at speeds that are appropriate for the road condition and your van. There are many fantastic camping areas. North of the Jardine, the ferry fee also gives you unlimited camping. South of the Jardine there are some great national park areas.
Would you compare the Cape rd to the Gibb river rd I have done the Gibb in a campertrailer and I reckon I would do it in my van
Bass said
03:21 PM Mar 2, 2016
Been a member here for ages , just haven't had much to say. we went to the cape in June 2015 towing an off road trailer, done the OTT on way up main road way back. we have a dirt road van 19' and were going to take that up to the top this year and stay for few weeks but alas, chemo will have me at home for 6 months. when we were at loyality beach there were many vans from Kedrons down to road going Jayco's. WHEN WE WERE THERE it wasn't that bad the development road was pretty good in fact there were a few sections of the OTT that had worst corrigations than the road. 2 vans were parked up in a clearing whilst their owners went into fruit bat falls etc. Cooktown through lakefield national park is van friendly with a fantastic camping area at the Kalpower crossing. As peter and Margaret said common sense drive to conditions, lower tyre pressures and enjoy. there are a few places besides the road north of bramwell junction where you can pull over for the nite. we'll be vanning it to the top in 2017. Cheers warren
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:12 PM Mar 2, 2016
Henry1 wrote:
Would you compare the Cape rd to the Gibb river rd I have done the Gibb in a campertrailer and I reckon I would do it in my van
It really depends on the day and no one can predict what it will be like the days you are there.
Either can be corrugated or either can be great, for all or for part. Usually it will be a mixture.
Both need care and attention and will be dusty.
Cheers,
Peter
old Jack no7 said
11:15 PM Mar 2, 2016
Thanks guys for all the imfo and opinions
Desert Dweller said
07:59 PM Mar 3, 2016
Leave your van in Cairns or Cooktown & enjoy the camping experience in a tent. Don't try to be a hero.
rob wood said
10:48 AM Dec 31, 2017
Any body been to the cape in 2017 would like some info please
Rob from mackay
hI GUYS ,PLANING A BIG TRIP UP TO THE CAPE YORK .HAVE YOU BEEN AND WHAT CAN TO TELL ME TO MAKE OUR TRIP ALL THE BETTER. IS CAMPING A PROBLEM AND IS THERE A LOT OF FREE CAMPS
Kind Regards
Our friends towed an offroad camper trailer that only made it to Laura, where they left it and camped to the cape.
We towed a Kimberley Kamper that made it easily. There were people who took offroad caravans to the cape.
From Laura up expect to run into 100's of km of heavy corrugations. You would not be able to access many of the features (twin Falls OTT).
Do not know of any free camps as much of it is in national parks.
Will probably get lots of arguments here, but if you have a semi offroad van there are going to be many places that access if difficult. I would not tow a van to the cape.
Have to agree. We went to the tip in September 2015. Left the van at Laura. Intended to tent at stations etc but the body didn't like it. Stayed in cabins. Expensive, $100 a night for a cabin but it was our choice as we couldn't tent and didn't want to turn back.
Hope you get there and over to Thursday and Horne Islands.
Cheers Dianne
-- Edited by gooba53 on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 09:10:49 PM
Thanks Hew54
sorry trying to delete this.
-- Edited by gooba53 on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 10:51:43 PM
-- Edited by gooba53 on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 10:52:28 PM
A BIG THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT
It is just another dirt road and the condition varies with the traffic, the grader and the weather. You simply need to drive at speeds that are appropriate for the road condition and your van.
There are many fantastic camping areas.
North of the Jardine, the ferry fee also gives you unlimited camping. South of the Jardine there are some great national park areas.
The Cape is croc country. I would not camp in a tent personally.
www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/11/1097406503145.html
Cheers,
Peter
Would you compare the Cape rd to the Gibb river rd I have done the Gibb in a campertrailer and I reckon I would do it in my van
It really depends on the day and no one can predict what it will be like the days you are there.
Either can be corrugated or either can be great, for all or for part. Usually it will be a mixture.
Both need care and attention and will be dusty.
Cheers,
Peter