Must See Camping Spots

[OzGazza]

Hi all,

I'm hoping you guys can help me.

Planning first trip to the tip next June/July (2009) and trying to choose places to stay.

We are completely self contained with a well equipped Landcruiser and Off road camper trailer.

We have 2 weeks and want to see as much as possible without rushing so we will not be able to see everything.

I'd appreciate any advice including photos. Mainly interested in good scenery and sheltered camping spots.

I know this can be subjective - but it our opinions I'm interesting in.

Thanks in advance.

Gaz

[xina]

Hi Gaz,
Have you looked through all the forum sites yet ? I think you'll find some of the info. you're after is already available.
Welcome by the way,
Cheers,
xina.

[geoffjy]

Two weeks is not a great deal of time and you will only be able to stop briefly at spots. Where are you leaving from?

[OzGazza]

Two weeks is not a great deal of time and you will only be able to stop briefly at spots. Where are you leaving from?

Its 2 weeks on the cape - Cairns to Cairns. The rest of the time is getting there and back.

[OzGazza]

Hi Gaz,
Have you looked through all the forum sites yet ? I think you'll find some of the info. you're after are already available.
xina.

Thanks xina that's what I thought but maybe my typical man's look wasn't good enough - some pointers as to where to good info is would be helpful.

Thanks

Gaz

[geoffjy]

Its 2 weeks on the cape - Cairns to Cairns. The rest of the time is getting there and back.


Thats a little better than but you are still pushed for time and wont see a lot of things. What are your interests? Nature? History?

[xina]

Sorry Gaz, I think the best thing to do would be just go into every thread, and scroll down all the headings on each page. Click onto the ones that seem relevant. Might take a while, but it's the best way, as sometimes we get sidetracked from the original theme of the thread. Good hunting.
Cheers,
xina.

[barney]

Hi Gaz,
Just a few suggestions from me of "must sees", that you maybe could do in a couple of weeks.......you will be busy!
The Daintree and Bloomfield Track, stopping at Roaring Meg Falls (permission!), Lions Den, and Cooktown - a least one night in Cooktown. Then across to the PDR, Coen, Archer River (overnight for a burger). Across to Weipa for a day or two, for a mine tour, (they've stopped them at the moment, give the caravan park a ring) and a fish at the Mission River bridge. Further north around Mapoon and Janey Creek is great fishing but you probably won't have time to appreciate it! Up through Batavia Downs short cut to PDR, then on to OTL, overnight at Bramwell or Eliot and Twin Falls. You night need a few nights for this next section, depending on how much you want to appreciate the crossings and creeks. Or as an alternate route you could also check to see whether the Stones Crossing track north of Weipa is then open. It's closed at the moment, but there are rumours the Cook Shire might look at reopening it.....Phone the council before hand or check out their website. On to Jardine River, Bamaga, Seisia, Punsand Bay, The Tip! Punsand Bay is great to camp at - pool and beers. The ferry trip to Thursday Is and Horn Island is well worth the money, have a chat to Vanessa at the Gateway Resort on Horn, she is a wealth of info. The A-Frames at Sesia are also nice - Geoff could tell you more about them. Captain Billy Landing if you have time! Somerset if you are into history. On your way south (again if you have time) you should look at Chilli Beach, Portland Roads and Iron Range, but watch the weather! We have had a bit of rain just recently and the road is a bit choppy around the roadworks, although it should be finished by the time you come up next year - we had a little out of season rain earlier in the year also, so check before you go in. You can go in Frenchmans and back out the southern Portlands Roads Track.
Well, that has hit my highlights....you will be pushing it, and will have to leave some things out, but should have a great time nonetheless.
Purchase the Moon's Cape York Book ASAP - gives good, realistic estimates of travel times.
Cheers!

[plucker]

I believe 3 weeks is better than 2, and 4 weeks is much more idealistic.

Remember that the Cape is as big as Victoria, with a few less roads.

Barney got it right by saying if you get time, which may happen a bit. He also noted lots of good spots.

[xina]

Barney is a SHE, Plucker.
Cheers,
xina.

[plucker]

Sorry Barney, my mistake.

[barney]

No worries!

[batesy]

Gazza, this is just a personal opinion, but I really love Canal Creek.

Swimming is safe, close to Twin Falls and Eliot Falls. Some good camping if you can beat the crowd. Also, it marks the start of the second section of the OTL ... which, again in my opinion, is the best drive in the cape. Others will surely disagree with me here.

Another favourite for me is Palmer River Goldfields - only because I was dragged there ever weekend during my childhood and the memories are great.

You can lose yourself down some very remote creeks in there - again the swimming is safe ... although I think you may not have the available time for this area. Plus it pays to have a really good topo map to go exploring. Oh, beware the man with the rifle and bad temper if you travel from Palmer River Roadhouse access road!

[geoffjy]

Oh, beware the man with the rifle and bad temper if you travel from Palmer River Roadhouse access road!

Batesy's back. Glad to know your still alive mate. Hows the book going?

I have heard stories about the guy with the shotgun you mentioned Batesy. Or at least i think its the same guy. Who is it?

[Roger]

...Oh, beware the man with the rifle and bad temper if you travel from Palmer River Roadhouse access road!

Hey Batesy. Do you mean the guy with the rifle and the bad temper at the Palmerville Station (the one who shut down access from Palmerville to Maytown) or are there 2 grumpy guys in the area? We managed to pass through Palmerville Station unscathed but is there another one we need to look out for?

Cheers

Roger

[barney]

Another favourite for me is Palmer River Goldfields - only because I was dragged there ever weekend during my childhood and the memories are great.



Batesy - did you ever do any gold fossicking around that area? Ever heard of anyone striking it rich with a gold detector?

[Nedly]

Batesy - did you ever do any gold fossicking around that area? Ever heard of anyone striking it rich with a gold detector?

This area is now a Conservation Reserve, fossicking is not permitted.
From memory you are not even allowed to enter the area with panning/mining equipment or metal detector in your possession, if you are caught it would be a substantial fine.
Much of the area is still mined though, by people that have the appropriate mining leases.