Thread: Cape york.

depends on where your leaving from.

itd be a couple of longish days or one really long day to push it from brissy up past townsville where you start to get to some of the nice sites that are easy to get to and providing you dont dally on the way to each of the camp sites and stay off the stuff that will seriously slow you down you could do the cape by doing one day drive to site and explore after lunch stops all the way.

then on the way back do the same and catch some of the ones you missed or if there was something you especially wanted to do you could spear on to that, stay a night do it as a day outing and head on again the next morning.

you wouldnt see as much as youd like but youd see enough to say youd done it.

thered be very little fat on the time budget tho if something went awry.

From memory you should be right if you stick to the primary touristy routes and dont go the adventure offroad tours type trip.


best of luck

Will,
I wouldn't go hard with a 17month old along, you'll be stopping for feeds, nappies, crying, etc etc etc to make it an enjoyable trip I would allow at least 3 weeks from Noosa to the tip and back. As Dave just mentioned, there are a fair amount of interesting places along the way to see, take your time and enjoy them. No need to rush, the Cape isn't going anywhere anytime soon...
We saw heaps of southerners doing the old rush to the top and back to say they've 'done the Cape' to their mates at work next week. (Don't laugh, One bloke in an 80 series left Melbourne, drove almost non stop to the tip, and was planning to be back in Melbourne after only 14 days total on the road. Idiots)

JC

Depends on what you want to do, if you just want a pic of the family at the tip and a quick look around you have heaps of time, after all its only a dirt road.For the record I've done the tip and back in 8 days ex Brisbane, but I like driving.

Ok, thanks guys. I have just managed to get 2 more days for the trip so 17 days should make it not so much of a rush.

Next question is, can i do the trip in my wifes 06 forester XT.....Will the car handle it?

Reason is purely cost of fuel. The disco is a V8 and will probably do around 15-20 litres per hundred for the trip and the Forester about 9-13.

Things i would like to see are

1: Wepia and surrounds

2: fruit bat Falls

3: OTL ??? (Maybe if it has not rained for weeks)

4: Iron Range NP-Wenlock river

5: Chilli beach

6: The top.

The Forester is not bad on rough tracks but obviously lacks the clearence
(200mm), less when loaded.

Idealy I want to do the OTL on the way up and take my time. ?Then gun it back on the main drag.

I dont want to be the guy who drowned his nice shiny car and is the talk of the town, but am not afraid to dive it to its limit. Better to know now!

All advice welcome By the way will any one be up there between 4th - 21th

May need a gentle snatch.

Originally Posted by willvine

Ok, thanks guys. I have just managed to get 2 more days for the trip so 17 days should make it not so much of a rush.

Next question is, can i do the trip in my wifes 06 forester XT.....Will the car handle it?

Reason is purely cost of fuel. The disco is a V8 and will probably do around 15-20 litres per hundred for the trip and the Forester about 9-13.

Things i would like to see are

1: Wepia and surrounds

2: fruit bat Falls

3: OTL ??? (Maybe if it has not rained for weeks)

4: Iron Range NP-Wenlock river

5: Chilli beach

6: The top.

The Forester is not bad on rough tracks but obviously lacks the clearence
(200mm), less when loaded.

Idealy I want to do the OTL on the way up and take my time. ?Then gun it back on the main drag.

I dont want to be the guy who drowned his nice shiny car and is the talk of the town, but am not afraid to dive it to its limit. Better to know now!

All advice welcome By the way will any one be up there between 4th - 21th

May need a gentle snatch.

Will.

I'm stunned.

Please do not entertain the thought.
You will get to Weipa I'd say OK, but the rest...?

The Subaru will end up on a flat tray, and you and your family will be renting a Troopie or similar to continue your holiday.


Take the Disco, the cost of fuel will be less than the long term damage wreaked on the Suby.

Forresters are excellent vehicles, but not designed for the tracks of FNQ. Even the fully braced + caged rallycars break up from fatigue after no time! And they are BUILT to take it.

JC

Hello,

Just in response to your question. I would take the V8 Discovery. The extra money you spend in fuel would be less than the damage done to the Forrester. I have not been up this year, but made the trip last year. The better road was the OTL below Fruitbat falls. The bypass road was the worst corrigated road I have ever driven on, and in a fully loaded Forrester, you would destroy the suspension. I made the trip in Aug last year ( Read Cape York Long with Photo's).
As for the 17 Days, It would be pushing it to do it in that time, but could be done. Even if you don't get all the way to the tip, there are some wonderful places to see and do. Ron and Viv Moon's book on Cape York is an excellent reference to the area, and has lots of maps.
Good luck on your Journey,

Cheers,
Ken

i have a 18 month old son and i think u would not end up enjoying the trip once you hit the corrugations but theres lots to see and do around fnq u could take your time and be more comfortable just having a look around cooktown cape flattery,elim beach,bloomfeild,cairns,tully,wallamen falls,mission beach and the tablelands if u havent been there before .they all have great camping spots with good amenities to keep the boss happy

as above dont even think about the subee......do the old tele track or u will miss a great part of the trip....better than hours on corrugations.



ummm.....watch nolan brook....beautiful but deep

we did it this time last year in 23days(i think),including a 5 day break shooting on a property near coen,and 3 days with friends at weipa

if u dont have a roof rack& keep speed at or under 100k's,fuel economy will be better


good luck

cheers


cheers