Melbourne to Cape York 2017

mark daly

New Member
Just wondering if anyone is going to Cape York this year?

Wanted to know best time of year, months etc..

We have Nissan Patrol with winch, mud tyres, snorkel - the lot! with off road camper trailer.

Our friends have cancelled on us at the last minute. Can you do it solo?

Mark
 

Blue_haired_man

Well-Known Member
Just wondering if anyone is going to Cape York this year?

Wanted to know best time of year, months etc..

We have Nissan Patrol with winch, mud tyres, snorkel - the lot! with off road camper trailer.

Our friends have cancelled on us at the last minute. Can you do it solo?

Mark
G'day, best time of year is the dry season, may-October.
I was up there a few years ago in july, heaps of solo travellers, and still warm enough for a swim at the waterfalls. There's enough people heading through around that time of year I wouldn't have a problem with going solo and a good chance you'll find someone to tag along with. We went during school holidays, the other vehicle was two teachers so we had no choice and I can definitely recommend against that. Everywhere was packed!
Cheers Leo
 

underdog

Well-Known Member
My girlfriend and I will be doing it solo throughout June in a well-equipped Pajero. Will be leaving Newcastle on the 3rd June and have to be home again by the 21st June. Might bump into you up there somewhere.
 

boobook

Well-Known Member
The problem with the Cape is too many people, not too few. Doing it by yourself will be ok.

You will keep reminding yourself on the way ( and especially back) that it's a looooooooooooooog way. Depending on your situation, seriously consider hiring a 4wd and offroad camper from Cairns. I would definitely do it that way if I'm ever silly enough to do the Cape again. I recon if you add everything up, including wear and tear of your vehicle, the cost is not a lot different to towing all the way up and back from Melbourne. It also gives you a week extra on the Cape.

If you do drive, make sure you go to Longreach and pre book to go on / in the 747 at the Qantas Museum.
 

Mr Rum

4x4 Earth Legend
The wife and I will be headed to The Cape this July/August.

My holidays start a week before hers, so I'll be driving to Cairns and picking her up from the airport, and the current plan is to meet my parents and brother at Bramwell Junction on the 10/7 and Head up the OTT, and then on to the tip.
My brother just started a new job and doesn't have much leave, so he'll be parting with the rest of us at this point and heading back via the Developmental Road, while the rest of us are just going to make up the return trip as we go, probably parting ways at some point to finish our holiday solo.

My wife would probably prefer that we were going solo for the whole thing. This is how we usually travel, however my family hasn't done anything adventurous together in over a decade, so we're giving the whole travelling with others thing a go.

When you say you're going to The Cape, do you intend to explore the whole lot, or were you just planning on doing the OTT to the tip?

I only ask, because it seems everyone has a different idea of what "doing the cape" means, and I don't want to assume anything.

My girlfriend and I will be doing it solo throughout June...
...have to be home again by the 21st June.
I'll probably hit you up for some info when you get back then, because I'll be leaving home less than two weeks later.
 

6speedmanual

New Member
So i went to the Tip of Cape York solo, just me the driver, in 1 car. Took the developmental road easy option all the way and at Bramwell took the bypasses of the OTT. Zero water crossings save a small puddle about 10km from the Tip on Pajinka road, which doesn't really count.
 

Marck

Well-Known Member
I have just booked in for 3 weeks up that way. Departing Brisbane on the 4th. Driving 2 massive days to Mareeba and starting our trip from there. No plan past that point yet but hope to have it nutted out in the next couple of weeks.
 

80lover96gxl

Moderator
Heading up from Adelaide late August with 6 vehicles. May hit you guys up for some info before departure.
Have a great trip everyone.
 
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