Cape york july-august 2012

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

Yes the bride and I (well wife of 37 years) did make it to the top and like everyone have the photo to prove it



And this is one of the three guys, Richard on the left, myself in the middle and Mike on the right...so 120 / 150 / 120



Last "stop" on the way home was at Milaa Milaa Falls in the Atherton Tableands, nice spot have to go back someday




And sadly my wife said "the dirt HAS to go" so on the way home at Airlie Beach it did (here we are about to spend a fortune at some car wash)

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

Awesome trip and great report!!

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

All up we did 6500 Kms in a little over 3 weeks....I fast tracked from Brisbane to Cairns but had a bit of a slower trip home, stopping at Airlie Beach for 3 nights for a bit of R & R in a nice cabin (boy was it a change from camping).

All up the Prado did 11.8 litres per 100K, not bad when you consider what I have on the roof. Diesel cost us $1150.00, and roughly we spent $3500.00 on the whole trip BUT that did include Thursday Island, and we had a nice dinner out in Cairns, Cooktown, Weipa and Loyalty Beach.

Would I do it again???

In a heartbeat, but I'd change a few things,

Longer at Cape Tribulation

Less or NO time at Cooktown

Kalpowar could be a 2 night stay if you had time (we had 1)

Chilli Beach is about right for 2 nights BUT you could do 3, we also included a trip to Portland Roads (great coffee in the cafe there) plus a visit to Lockhart River to see the WW2 airport.

Def stay a night or more on the OTT

Loyalty Beach is a great spot, the 4 nights there was just right...the dinner on the beach at there little restuarant was good as well, not 5 star but good service and not expensive.

I haven't mentioned the other spots we stayed but Archer River Roadhouse is a good spot, we also visted Moreton Telegrapgh Station which loked nice and we did stay at Laura on the way (behind the Pub)...ok but nothing to write home about.

I am sure we missed spots up there BUT we did what we could do in the time we had.

Hope you have enjoyed the report, happy to answer any questions people might have.

Cheers

Mark

[blkd4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close blkd4d]

Great trip report Mark well done. I did the cape last year and hopefully up there again 2014 and like you said I would go back now if I could . I done the whole tele track with trailer and I would do the whole lot again . You missed a little not doing the northern half but can see you had a great time .

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

Yeah mate we did miss a bit not doing the Northern bit, to be honest I would have loved to do it but my travelling companions weren't too keen so we gave it a miss....the good thing though is when (not if) I go back I'll probably take my son in law (80 series Cruiser) and he won't want to miss a thing...so something left for a return visit.

There were many trailers, with just the two us, and a 2 minute Black Wolf Turbo tent I can be up faster than most with a Trailer anyway....maybe a T-Van with just the fold down might beat me but I don't need the space so opt for a tent.

Anyway please you enjoyed it, takes a bit of time to do these but fun to see peoples reactions.

I did one last year as well for my Simpson Crossing!!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Brings back a lot of memories, great pics Mark!

Can't wait for a return visit myself.

Cheers Andrew

[rally1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rally1]

Hi Mark
I am glad you had a enjoyable time up there. I remember seeing you at the big 4 at Cooktown. We were camped near you - we
had 2 120's, a colorado and landcruiser ute - 4 went up 3 came back - guess which one didn't - the holden.
cya

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

Yeah Rally I remember you guys.....ha didn't take long to guess whuch one had the drama's!!

We had 3 nights at Cooktown....jeez it was windy wasn't it!!

We stood out a bit being 3 Silver Prado's, had loads of people say "you in a club or something"....all good fun, it's a bugger being back at work let me tell you!!

[Mickmick Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mickmick]

Hi Mark

Great report!

Thanks for your reply about modifications on the other cape York thread. I'm also in Brisbane and have had most things done at ARB coopers plains. Regarding the suspension/lift, where did you get yours done?

Thanks
Mick

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

Mick

Much of my work was done by Coopers Plains as well BUT I used Southside Suspension for the Bilsteins / King Springs / Air Bag set up.

Only a young guy, but knowledgeable and good prices as well.

He worked for a bigger company and went out on his own, he was probably looking for business then maybe different today (if he's even still around).

I can reccomend the set up I have, great shockies, and they don't seem to get overly hot (although in a seperate report I have started for my CSR trip in 2013 someone suggest they will), and the Air Bags add a level ride to the mix as well (no saggy bums).

I am happy and have done,

Birdsville Track
Oodnadatta Track
Simpson Desert Crossing
Flinder Ranges and up to Arkaroola (and that's a "nice" road)
And Cape York this year

And so far so good, so they are doing the job to this point!!

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

Great report Mark. We have also recently been to Cape York. We went 8 years ago & did all the old OTL. This time we were by ourselves so just stayed on the PDR but had a look at some of the OTL for memories sake.
We looked at Palm Creek. Whilst we were there about 4 4WD's came along & none were prepared to go north down Palm Creek.
Wondering how you got along doing Palm Creek?
On our trip I only found 1 who had done Palm Creek,
Willy

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

The entry into Palm Creek was scary BUT in fact no worse that the entry we did into Gunshot, slow and steady was the aim. The young guns in front of us charged through and up the other side at a rate of knots, but low range and slow and steady was workable.

Having never been up there before some have said that it was worse this year, some said better....so I can't really answer that question.

We approached the part of the OTT we did in a different way to many, slow, steady and without trying to "be hero's"....given that I am approaching 60 and my mates are over 60 that's exactly as you would expect.

I am a little dissapointed that we didn't do the northern section BUT we had made our mind up NOT to do Nolans regardless so it was just as easy to exit at Elliott / Twin Falls.

I'd love to do it again (and probably will being Queensland based).....I would def do the whole lot, bar Nolans if that was the case.