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Cape York is the ultimate
4WD adventure location but not the location you would want to tour
unassisted, especially if inexperienced with difficult terrain. A tag
along tour is the safest way to see the cape. Our tour begins at our
home base, Townsville. We take a leasurely tour west along the original
bullock trail through Thorntons Gap exploring some amazing history as
we go. Our first overnight stop is at the Undarra Lava tubes. In the
morning we take a 2 hour tour of these incredible underground
formations.
We then wind our way up towards the Atherton tablelands to tiny town of
Mt Garnett. From Mt Garnett we detour north following the trail of the
old mining railway line to tiny Lappa Junction where we visit
Australia'a only BYO pub. We camp the night in the grounds of the
Espanol Hotel.
Detouring back towards the coast, we visit Mareeba and the lovely
township of Mt Molloy before heading bush again towards the Palmer
River goldfields. We stop on the banks of the Palmer River. Our bush
camp beside the stream is a quiet place to contemplate the hubub of
activity that would have existed here 100 odd years ago.
From our overnight stop we travel a short distance to a mining ghost
town called Maytown. Travelling northwards again we stop in at many of
the historical sites in the goldfields, before finding our way along
the notorious Laura coach road. This road of just 43 kilometres will
take 7 hours to negotiate but the views are worth it. Some of the best
4WDing on the Cape is on this road.
Once at Laura, we travel first south to the amazing split roack art
gallery, then north again to old Laura. We venture into Lakefield
National Park, where we camp the night. From Lakefield we continue up
the Cape to Bramwell Junction where the Telegraph track begins. Of
course the telegraph track is one of the reasons 4WDers flock to the
Cape, and you won't be dissapointed. Still if your vehicle or you are
not up to the considerable challenge of Gunshot creek, we can direct
you via the bypass. There are several fantaatic swimming and camping
sites along the track.
Once north of the Jardine River, we head first for Bamaga and then on
to
the tip of Cape York. The walk along frangiapani beach and over the
rocks to the tip is worth the trip alone.
The scenic route to our camp provides just a little more 4wd action
prior to our three night stop over at Punsand bay. Our
campsite is along a fantastic stretch of beach where we can
kick
back and relax, go fishing, take a tour to Thursday Island or
Sesia or do whatever takes your fancy.
For some tourists, the trip to the tip is the highlight, but for us, we
continue the adventure all the way back down the Cape again. We detour
into Captain Billy Landing then take the frenchman's track into Iron
Range national park and to Chili beach. Once back at Lakefield you can
go barramundi fishing at Kalpower crossing before we take another
exciting 4wd track via Starke and Wakooka to the coast at Starke River.
From Starke River we wind our way towards Cooktown and the Endeavour
Falls. Our base at the Endeavour Falls Park allows us to meet
our host Willie Gordon who will take us on one of the best aboriginal
rock art tours in the country. From Cooktown we slip southwars again
camping at the Lions Den Hotel before heading down the Bloomfield track
and weather permitting, the CREB track. We travel through the village
of Dainteee and the small township of Mossman to our final destination
Cairns
Travelling
on Cape York without a support vehicle can be dangerous and expensive.
Should you break down while travelling alone, vehicle recovery costs in
the very remote areas could amount to several thousands of dollars. A
new HF radio such as your tour guide carries costs more than the ticket
price for this tour. Save yourself the money, time and hassle- tag
along with David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag Along Tours.
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