hi to fellow nomads , as a newbie do anyone know of locations or how to find the locations for diesel fuel from cooktown to the gulf. I have a long range dual fuel tanks on
my patrol and not sure if I also need to carry extra fuel with me or not, as I have been told that any extra fuel you carry on the outside of your vehicle either on roof rack or
in jerry can holder must now be enclosed in a lockable caged like carrier or its a $120 fine by road traffic inspectors in Queensland as told to me by a 4x4 accessories sales
rep recently. I am looking at heading up that way from brizzy about march/ april any help on fuel locat
Fuel should not be a problem during daylight hours, there are plenty of "Road Houses". Your biggest problem at that time of year could be the roads. Quite often they are still closed from the wet. (Tourist traffic).
Don't believe everything that sales people tell You.
Mate I went up there 2013 & never got out of the front tank. There plenty of fuel stops. The cost varies greatly at the Jardine crossing it was $2.93 but 1 hour up the road at Sesia it was
$1.95.
You'll have more trouble with the corrugations but if you ring the croc tent they can give you an update on road conditions.
If, by gulf, you mean plces like Karumba or Normanton, no problems. There are plenty of roadhouses at convenient distances.
If you mean you are going right across the Gulf region - that is, Burketown to Borroloola? There are some roadhouses, but it would pay to phone ahead and check that the ones at Doomadgee and Hells Gate are operating and have the fuel you want. If Hells Gate is open, you only have something like 320kms to Borroloola - but you may use more fuel than usual over that section.
West of Normanton, it is mostly unsealed road. Quality wil vary, depending on how much damage was done in the wet and when the graders go through.
March/April: again, depending on the size of the wet season, some roads may still be closed at that time of year - especially if there has been a late cyclone go across. You will just have to wait and see, closer to time. Issues west of Normanton will be the Nicholson crossing at Doomadgee, and the Robinson River crossing in the NT.
to wendyv, mike, and allan thanks guys for your help will certainly check out the roads conditions once I reach cooktown. I may even stay bit longer in cairns once I get there
to again check whats the roads are like before going any further. And yes I thought The 4x4 sales rep was trying to sell abit of nonsence oh well its his lost ha ha again
We went to the tip of the Cape in 2012. Plenty of fuel stops, road was in good condition but then again it had just been graded and they were still working on it. We took our van to Laura and left it at the hotel for a very small fee. It was a great trip meant to be for three days in a tent with our four legged friend and ended up there for a week as we done the clutch in our faithful Nissan Patrol. $4000.00 later we left, we did get to the tip signage as we did manage to hire a Toyota tray back. all paid by RAC. we had to stay in the tent in a caravan park because of our dog, otherwise RAC would have paid for a cabin. The biggest rip off up there is the Jardine river crossing which cost us well over $100 return each crossing took 55 seconds, and don't get there at lunch time we sat on the barge for half hour while they had lunch. It may have changed since then but I dought it.