Cape York

[Pearcey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pearcey]

Re: Cape York

The OTL (overhead telegrapgh line) track is scenic and crosses creeks and rivers

or

The bypass is longer in distance, usually more corrugated but avoids creek crossings and avoids the good spots

That's what I like about this forum, you're a helpful lot, thanks Plucker, I'm going the OTL

Cheers
Pearcey

[Mardi120 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mardi120]

Re: Cape York

G'day all,

Look what happens when you don't read PP for a month, you find that the question you had, has just been asked and discussed.

Im currently planning an 8 week return trip to the Cape from Melbourne, beginning the last week of April. I've been saving the leave for 2 and a half years now and can't wait. The wife and I will be taking our time as our little girl will only be 15 months when we leave, so plenty of stops and site seeing.....unless they take up my offer to fly them into Townsville. (If not Im sure they will on the way back)

We'll be towing our Cavalier off-road camper all the way and plan to travel inland, hitting the coast near Townsville about 6 or 7 days in. We don't have a fixed itinery and plan to spend a week or so with friends in Townsville then take a week or so to get to Cooktown along the coast. From there we will head into the Cape and see how we go on the OTL. If something looks to hairy (like a bad year at gun-shot) we'll take the bypass. Im not keen to travel alone, especially towing the camper, however a mate told me that he just waited in the cooktown caravan park until he met people heading that way. So I was thinking of doing the same if I don't get any other takers.

Unfortunately I can't hold off with my leave until what sounds like 'the families' trip July, but anyone doing a trip that way from mid May to mid June would be great to hear from. We are happy to bend our plans a little to fit with others, as we're just playing it by ear.

The only catch is that I want to have a look at a mate's secret fishing spot near Princess Charlotte Bay where I have been promised I will find landlocked monster Barra for shore based fishing

Cheers,

Mardi

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Re: Cape York

There is plenty to see and do around Cooktown. Lots of beaches to run around on, and museums, waterfalls etc.
The tablelands has heaps to see and do also including the waterfalls, rainforest and other interesting things in that location.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Re: Cape York

G'day
Would somebody like to offer some advice if you've been at that time of year ?
I believe that there's a "chicken track" around the big ones such as Gunshot etc , is this true ?

Cheers

Ross

HI Ross,

I couldn't resist a reply.

I did the Cape in 2008. We did it in a new prado with snorkel and Cooper ST's. Picked the car up the afternoon before we left. DId the 1000 k service the next day. A bit more preparation would have been good. but Diesel Prados were hard to get.

We took three weeks from Sydney return - a bit rushed. I think 4 weeks would really be advised as a minimum from this distance.

Good tyres really helped. The Coopers gave me, a novice confidence as we went down some of the slippery sides to the river crossings.

I thought some pictures are really required on such a thread as this. Seeing as I haven't managed to do a trip report here are a few relevaznt ones -

To answer your question, Yes there is a "chicken route" around Gunshot, but don't be scared of the crossing, as Telstra had blasted a new route through. This is my brothers' disco 2. As you can see its not really that bad., but there are the original drops if you are insane. :twisted:



The two tricky spots were -
The first drop into Palm Creek a km or so after Bramwell Junction. This was the steepest entry, and was sadly the site of my first scratch. :?


The other tricky spot was crossing Nolan's Brook at the end of the track. Here is a picture of a Pootrol that went "bull at a gate" and lost traction. It needed a tow. :lol: I would recommend taking the more difficult entry to the right as it is much shallower. We even dragged my son's Surf through without a snorkel.


If you get a chance I would suggest the Frenchman's track ( a shortcut from Lockhart River to the main road). It has steep sides when crossing the Pascoe


I am envious. I will have to go back again some time in the near future. :P

-Cheers Greg

[Pearcey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pearcey]

Re: Cape York

Hi Greg,

I did the Cape in 2008. We did it in a new prado with snorkel and Cooper ST's

I'm guessing standard suspension....
Just curious, I haven't put a suspension upgrade on yet and there is not much chance before I head up to the cape (as much as I would like to)..how did the standard Prado suspension go?
Cheers
Pearcey

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Re: Cape York

Hi Pearcey
How is your trip planning going?
We have a route sort of marked out, Just need to figure out how many Km per day we need to do, to take in points of interest and camp sites along the way.
Added a couple of accessories to the Prado and doing some tweaking to the camper trailer.
Spoke to My Nephew after Christmas, He and his Bride did "The trip to the tip" Last year and loved it gave us some pointers.
Nick suggested getting a copy of "The adventurers guild to the Cape York" by Ron & Viv Moon, it was kind of their bible while traveling in the Cape.
Cheer for now Troy

[Pearcey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pearcey]

Re: Cape York

Gidday Troy,
That makes you one step in front of us as we don't have a route started yet. I spoke with one of the others last week and we are all going to sit down together when everyone is back. One of them is over the west coast at the moment and should be back in the next couple of days. I've drawn up a list of equipment and I got my snorkel fitted yesterday. TJM, $609. They did a good job. I also picked up an FM modulator for the ipod I got for Christmas. I've been flat out trying to load it. I though I was going great guns then looked to see that I only had about 150 songs....this takes forreeeevvveerrrr. I'm still trying to find some form of toolbox/space case to put up on my roof rack. I want to bolt it to the rack and put in light stuff that I hope not to use, spare radiator/fuel hoses, tyre levers, snatch strap etc. No luck so far. The only ones I've found have all been about 400mm high and I really don't want one that tall. I was hoping to get one about 250-300 max. There is a crowd at Edwardstown that makes marine grad ally boxes that will make one in the size I want but they are a bit exy. Certainly more that a space case, they want about $470.
Looks like we will be leaving on the 3rd July and from one of the others, there should be about 9 cars initially. We will be going via Birdsville where 4-5 of them will peel off to do the Simpson and the rest of us heading via (probably) Cloncurry, Hughenden, Cairns and the Tip. We will probably take about 2 weeks to get to Cairns so that should put us there by about 16-17 July. Then to the Tip and back to Cairns in another good 2 weeks.
Do you have any idea how old the Ron and Viv Moon book that your Nephew took was. If it is a fairly late model job I might hunt one down.
Anyway cheers for now mate
Pearcey

[joey Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close joey]

Re: Cape York

You guys will have a fantastic time up our neck of the woods.

If you have time and are interested im sure the cairns crew would be happy to do a day trip and show you some of the fantastic sites up here..

Invitation is there if you like 8)

cheers Joey

[Mardi120 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mardi120]

Re: Cape York

I wouldn't mind taking up an offer from the Cairns crew if thats alright Joey. Ill be up that way a month or so earlier than Pearcy and want to experience more than the highway and caravan park.

As for the Ron and Viv Moon book, it is the bible of the cape and very user friendly. Everyone I know that has been there has got it and recommends it. Plus they update it every couple of years. Go to http://www.guidebooks.com.au for a look. I almost brought all the books and DVD's they had. Good operators. I think Ron was the editor of 4x4 monthly back in the day and he used to do a fair bit of stuff on Rex Hunts fishing show years ago as well.

[joey Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close joey]

Re: Cape York

No worries !!! send me a pm closer to the date and we will plan a trip or 2....

cheers Joey

[Pearcey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pearcey]

Re: Cape York

Thanks for the invite Joey. Once we've worked out our rough itinery, we'll have more of an idea when we will be there and I'm sure a day or two in Cairns would go down really well.

Thanks Mardi120

As for the Ron and Viv Moon book, it is the bible of the cape and very user friendly. Everyone I know that has been there has got it and recommends it. Plus they update it every couple of years. Go to http://www.guidebooks.com.au for a look.

Cheers
Pearcey

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Re: Cape York

Hi Greg,

I'm guessing standard suspension....
Just curious, I haven't put a suspension upgrade on yet and there is not much chance before I head up to the cape (as much as I would like to)..how did the standard Prado suspension go?
Cheers
Pearcey

Hi Pearcey,

Yes it still has Std suspension. The only time it was an issue was at the Palm creek entry. The scrape came only because the previous vehicle shifted a log right at the bottom, that would have protected me, instead I scraped on it. (and I didn't notice). Possibly a 2" lift would have avoided it, but so would have a little more care.

Some of the side tracks had sand a bit deep, but none caused any issues. You should be fine with std suspension. You will just have to pick your lines a little more carefully.

The one essential is a decent set of tyres "with grip", and as I said previously a snorkel will give you confidence in river crossings.

I also found letting down the tyres to 35 helped soften out the corrugations.

Have a great time

Greg

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Re: Cape York

As for the Ron and Viv Moon book, it is the bible of the cape and very user friendly. Everyone I know that has been there has got it and recommends it. Plus they update it every couple of years.

AFAIK it has been quite some time since Ron and Viv ventured up that way. My sources mention possibly a decade, however the information in the book is fairly current. Most tracks only have a change in corrugations and washouts, but distances would remain the same. No doubt they have maintained communications with the locals up that way and update the book accordingly.

If you read the book as you travel, you will get a good appreciation of the history of the Cape.

IMHO it is worth having whenever you travel up that way.

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Re: Cape York

Thanks Plucker
Tried to source the Guide from Angus & Roberts book shop with no luck, The lass did say that 2008 was the last publication date.
I ended up ordering one from Snowy's Outdoors at Keswick in Adelaide for $26.96
We will plan our Cairns to the Tip leg of our trip armed with the info in the guide book.
cheers Troy

[vk2ss55 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vk2ss55]

Re: Cape York

Greg

Boy you were keen taking the brand new Prado straight up there ! Thanks very much for the info and pic's , maybe we won't need the chicken track after all . My Prado's 9mnths old and already has 30k on the clock but I really don't want to damage it on the trip so will be taking it pretty easy .
Which way did you go up , we're looking at going through Goondiwindi, Roma, Emerald, Charters Towers, Mareeba, Cooktown then Laura and up we go . Did you take the OTT both ways up and down .

Cheers

Ross