Road conditions??

[Scorcher]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anybody has got any recent news on the road conditions?? Are they open yet, have the maintenance crews started yet, and what are the river levels like (in particular the Archer River) ?

Unless we have a late wet season, Easter is always seen as the start of the tourist period. But with Easter so early this year, I guess that we would still be 3 weeks or more away at the minimum.

Any feedback?????

[ant]

Scorcher,
The roads are 'unofficially' open at the moment. The signs still say the PDR is closed but vehicles are getting up and back.
I went up to Laura for the weekend and there was no water across the road. Archer was .5 when I last checked.

Unless there are any more storms in the next few weeks, I would say it is all systems go.

[Scorcher]

Scorcher,
The roads are 'unofficially' open at the moment. The signs still say the PDR is closed but vehicles are getting up and back.
I went up to Laura for the weekend and there was no water across the road. Archer was .5 when I last checked.

Unless there are any more storms in the next few weeks, I would say it is all systems go.

Thanks Anthony,

9 weeks and counting.

Hopefully the early travellers will leave me a few fish :)

I emailed Aurukun Council regarding this years access to False Pera Heads about 2 weeks ago. No reply as yet. Might have to ring them in the next week or so.

Cheers

[ant]

Scorcher,
Without sounding negative, I do not like your chances of getting in there at the moment.
Phone is the best way to contact them. If you do not have any luck with the council then try either the police or the school as they should also know about access. If it still open, you have to purchase the permits through the council in person.

[Scorcher]

Scorcher,
Without sounding negative, I do not like your chances of getting in there at the moment.
Phone is the best way to contact them. If you do not have any luck with the council then try either the police or the school as they should also know about access. If it still open, you have to purchase the permits through the council in person.

Thanks Ant,

It's just one of the options we are looking at. Plenty of other places to go if access is out !

[Scorcher]

Just wondering if anybody has made the treck up into The Cape yet?? (other than Ant on his Madi-gras pilgrimage to Laura to meet up with Miss Cape York 1950 !)

I would have thought that some of the keen fishermen looking at fishing the early run-off period would have been back by now.

What's doin' ???????????

Scorcher

[campdog]

I cant believe a year has gone since my last trek north. Time goes quick when you are locked in the back yard building gardens all year. I thought I was gaining brownie points for a trip this year.Oh well I suppose I can read about it here.I was really looking forward to the Cape early in the season.

[Nedly]

I was talking with a bloke this morning, usual story:-
He reckons a mate of his mate heard from someone who had just rang the Archer River Roadhouse that they had sold their first burger for the year a week or so ago.

And people wonder how rumours start.

According to the Qld. Gov. EPA web site, Lakefield National Park is still closed, if that's of any help.

[Scorcher]

Kingchevy, where are you???

[campdog]

I was talking with a bloke this morning, usual story:-
He reckons a mate of his mate heard from someone who had just rang the Archer River Roadhouse that they had sold their first burger for the year a week or so ago.

And people wonder how rumours start.

According to the Qld. Gov. EPA web site, Lakefield National Park is still closed, if that's of any help.
I got one there on the 28th April last year and it was made with a frozen old bun. I wanted to but a Archer River Singlet but also too early for the tourist order,was a funny feeling pulling into the roadhouse and not a person in sight.

[batesy]

PDR is rough as guts at the moment. My brother just drove up in his new hilux. No graders on the road yet.

But the road is open - tourists starting to come through to Weipa already.

[Stacky]

We've had no tourists at Lockhart Yet (Chili Beach).
The Wenlock and Pascoe rivers are to deep. In a couple of weeks with no rain it should be good.
We're always the last to open up to the tourists (I think).
Our roads are pretty bad too, after having 160mm in less than 9hrs the other week. Main roads had done a great job on them last year but not much will hold up to that amount of rain.

[Scorcher]

PDR is rough as guts at the moment. My brother just drove up in his new hilux. No graders on the road yet.

But the road is open - tourists starting to come through to Weipa already.

Thanks Batesy,

We're still 6 weeks away from heading up, so I expect that the road crews will be well and truly into it by the time we get there.

Hopefully the Archer River Roadhouse will have fresh (not frozen) buns by then too. It's been too long since my last Archer Burger !!

Scorcher

[Stacky]

I have now heard there is an odd vehicle or two coming through from the PDR and into Chili Beach (Portland roads).
If anyone does attempt this, then be prepared for an extended stay as a bit of rain will bring those rivers up in a couple of hours.
This happened last year and the roads remained closed up until the second week of the June/July holidays.
We're going to do a run over to Weipa/Mapoon next weekend (Anzac W/end) after our Anzac Service in the morning at Iron Range Airport.
We'll probably stop via Archer Roadhouse as it is our closest takeaway shop and i am 'tongueing out' for one of those burgers and a bourbon or two. It's been four months of no bourbon or takeaway food (hasn't helped me with being overweight though) due to being closed in at Lockhart for the wet season. Hopefully it won't rain while we're out or we might be up for a very long extended weekend.
I'll give an update of the road after that.

[batesy]

i am 'tongueing out' for one of those burgers and a bourbon or two. It's been four months of no bourbon or takeaway food

I was talking to Brad from Archer the other day ... apparently, for some reason or other, they can't get hold of any grog until early May.

Looks like you'll have to wait out the extra 200 kms till you get to Weipa.


Only joking ...!!

[Stacky]

Batesy,
That was not a joke, that was cruel.
I am totally releived that you are joking..........66 hrs and 35 mins to go.

[Stacky]

Just crossed from Lockhart to Weipa via Archer and Old Mapoon. All roads are good as long as you drive to the conditions.
I spoke to some contractors this morning who had drove up loaded from Cairns and they said the road is good except the turn from PDR to Lockhart. There is a couple of washouts through this section to be carefull of, overall it is good, considering that dumping of rain we had not long ago.

[Nedly]

Thanks for the info Stacky, great to have a bit of local knowledge.
Though, of course, it will all have changed by the time we get up there.

Would love to be up there now, but circumstances ..........

93 days to go.

[CrocTent_TerryDavida]

Hey Guys!!

The roads are in a lot better condition this year then the beginng of last. In fact it is already a lot drier. Terry and Davida (mum and dad) drove up and had no problems, was a simple drive in comparison to other years. A few tourists have started making there way up although it is still very quiet.

3 Crocodiles have already been relocated from the laradinya which is the swimming hole on turn off to punsand bay. With the heat there are a lot more snakes about as well. My parents found a taipan on there property!!!!

I dont think this will have any major effect on tourist but if you are trying to contact them it might. They have merged as of recent with few changes so are still getting used to things.

The fishing is still great!!!!! I'm so jealous, Cant wait until I travel up in Aug/Sep.

I am at work so need to get off line. But there is not much more news than the roads are improved and that its dry already.

Ill write another update if I hear of anything!

Lexie.

[ant]

Got to love the crocs! Treat any water in the cape as having crocs in it.

[Stacky]

We drove from Lockhart To Archer and back again this weekend. The road has had a quick grade and is in farely good condition compared to even just a few weeks ago (2wd all the way even crossing Pascoe and Wenlock).
Main Roads have also bladed over the road to Chili and Portlands and it is in far better condition.
I heard a rumour that Main Roads is gonna seal the Rainforest section at West Claudie in the Iron Range.

[Scorcher]

We drove from Lockhart To Archer and back again this weekend. The road has had a quick grade and is in farely good condition compared to even just a few weeks ago (2wd all the way even crossing Pascoe and Wenlock).
Main Roads have also bladed over the road to Chili and Portlands and it is in far better condition.
I heard a rumour that Main Roads is gonna seal the Rainforest section at West Claudie in the Iron Range.

Stacky,

How are the tourist numbers at this stage of the season??

Be interesting to see if the spiralling fuel prices impacts to any degree !

Scorcher

[ddr]

Main Roads have also bladed over the road to Chili and Portlands and it is in far better condition.


Was trying to look for that today, how good a condition? Easy 2wdable like the Bypass road? or still need 4wd low?

[Stacky]

Was trying to look for that today, how good a condition? Easy 2wdable like the Bypass road? or still need 4wd low?

DDR,
Easy 2wd drivable from Archer all the way to Chili , Portlands or Lockhart River. I would reccommend locking the hubs in crossing the Pascoe and Wenlock Rivers though, just for precaution. I didn't need to do this, but i do cross em a bit and know the crossings.

Scorcher,
Not many tourists have come in yet, I noticed the first tour bus last Sunday for this season. I reckon it will be getting busy from here on though.