Must Do's in the Cape

[Coza]

What do you guys think are the must do's thing's up and around the cape. Apart from Fishing and 4WDriving.

I've got on my list

Palmer River Museum
A stop in at Merluna Station
Mine tour out of Weipa
a look at Fruit bat falls and Eliot falls
A swim at the Jardine river ferry NOT
Photo at the tip
a Look around at the old relics and things around Bamga/Somerset
a Good look around Cooktown and the light house
Sip on a beer at the lions den hotel.
look at the roaring meg falls
and mossmen gorge.

Also a Camp fire and a laugh along the way.

[batesy]

Mossman Gorge is definitely unmissable. So is the Lions Den.

In Cooktown:The museum there is fantastic - the history of the town is incredible. Also stop in at the old bank in the main street - they also have a historic display.

Check out the monuments around town. There's one dedicated to Mrs Watson from Lizard Island, you'll find out more about her story in the museum. Of course, there is also Cook's monument just down from the Bowl's Club in the main street.

Other possible places to make a quick visit to around town are: Finch Bay (down past the botanic gradens), the old gunpowder magazine near the wharf (oldest structure in the Cape) and of course, Grassy Hill (the lighthouse).

Out of town you can go visit Elim coloured sands near Hopevale (It's a beach drive and I think it's a real gem personally). Permit required from servo in Hopevale, 10 bucks from memory.

Along the PDR, stop at Split Rock Aboriginal Art site - A few Kms short of Laura - short walk up the escarpment.

Quinkan Cultural Centre at Laura is a great place to learn some of the local history - cattlemen, miners, indigenous. The place is only a couple of years old and you can have a cuppa too.

Hann River crossing is an interesting place to see. So too is the old laura homestead in Lakefield National Park.

Musgrave for a beer/rum/burger - also a bit of info under the old homestead where everyone eats their meals.

Archer River - swim and camp. Archer burger.

Chilli Beach. The drive out through Iron Range National Park is great.

The OTL - because it's what the Cape is all about.

And of course all the falls etc that you mentioned.

Bamaga Historical Centre near one of the servos up there - interesting history about the town and its inhabitants.

I think you've pretty much got stuff covered - only time will decide what you can do.

[Coza]

You come through with the good's every time Batesy thanks mate that's a big help. I think I have read about a few of the thing you mentioned. Like you say time is the killer But if I work on Cape time I should see it all or if it's that layed back will it take twice as long to see every thing. If it's any thing like the Forum Clock we will be 12hrs late every where or looking at everything in the dark, now i'm lost

[batesy]

It's not behind ... We're so advanced up this way, that we are 14 hours ahead of you lot...!

[Coza]

So the fishing charter I booked for the 4 of sep is really going to be on the 3, now your just being silly.

[batesy]

Cape York Confucious say: if you drink enough rum ... time stands still ... but you fall over.

[Nedly]

Don't forget 'The SExchange Hotel' at Coen.
I think Black Mountain should also be on the list, though if your at the Lion's Den ............

[Nedly]

Hey Batesy, what is there to do in Weipa on a Sunday?
Are things open during the tourist season or does the place close for weekends?

Our itinerary has us arriving in Weipa on a Saturday with a rest day on Sunday.

I've also read somewhere that you should be in Cooktown on a weekday as it closes for the weekend, is this correct?

Thanks

[Coza]

Don't forget 'The SExchange Hotel' at Coen.
I think Black Mountain should also be on the list, though if your at the Lion's Den ............

Now you mention them Nedly they to were on my list to well done thanks for the reminder.

[batesy]

The problem with the list thing is deciding what to keep off it.

Also, what one person finds interesting, another may find dull as dishwater.

Take me for instance: I bitch and moan and whinge about everything at home, but when I travel I'm always high on excitement. Just driving into any town thrills me. I guess that's why we all travel - for new experiences.

I look at a place like Cooktown and I get interested in the Gold Rush era - when the joint was rocking with 35,000 people, 90 hotels - a real frontier town. Fellas rocking up with a dream of getting rich quick - fellas probably just like myself. Everything is gone now, the town is almost a ghost town in comparison. Check the pics at the museum or old bank to see the way things were. Once inside the displays will prompt you to see other places, like the Chinese cemetary. Thousands of Chinese ventured off into the Palmer in search of gold, along with everyone else, in 1873.

See the cemetary and the museum, then you want to see where all those mad buggers were heading .... which means you end up 200kms away at the Palmer River. This place is amazing simply for the country around you - how the miners got in there with horse and dray, boilers and stampers is beyond me.

Once you visit the Palmer, you take a sticky-beak around, camp etc, then possibly stop in at the Palmer River Roadhouse. Gold Fever creeping in the whole while, then you want to find out about Batavia or Wenlock Goldfields which means heading north ....

Can you see how this all begins to consume your travels?

The Cape is like that ... it's not any richer in history than many other places in Australia. It's just different. Mainly because the environment and isolation must have been so tough (still is), yet strangely captivating.

Sorry for the essay fellas ... I get excited by the 4wdriving, the waterfalls and the fishing like everyone else ... but there's something else about doing a trip to the Cape. I think you end up identifying with those hard-minded bastards from yester-year - Men and women. You end up doing something that most people only ever talk about doing.

Now, who wants to sign up for a Cape Yorker Tag-along tour?!!! History, 4wd, fishing ... and plenty of bulls--t!! :)

[YOYO]

HEY BATESY,

One of the above post said whats open on sunday at weipa. My question is WHAT is at weipa. Mentionj things even though you might think are usless like what kind of shops, parks playgrounds etc.

[batesy]

Weipa ... largest population on the Cape.

Full of four-wheel-drives and mine workers.

We have a population of about 3500. One shopping centre - nothing fancy, just a woolworths, bakery and a few other retail outlets.

All your services are available here. Post Office, Bank, chemist. Any repairs, accomodation, restaurants, Police, hospital, etc.

On a Sunday the town is dead. The only shops that are open are the newsagents, video store and bakery (between 12pm and 7pm).

Things to do. I think they run the mine tour on a Sunday (I'll check and post details), there is dawn busters golf for anyone who wants to part-take.

The pub is open - they have a deck area that is very relaxing indeed.

The bowls Club also serves up great food in their restaurant.

What else? I'd probably suggest a quick trip out to Vyces Crossing. This swimming spot is a quick thirty minutes out of town and is definitely well worth the visit. Anyone that is interested, just let me know and I'll tell you directions.

More info here: http://www.weipatownoffice.com (http://www.weipatownoffice.com/)

Also http://weipa.biz (http://weipa.biz/)

......

[YOYO]

Most importantly whats the fishing like at that creek

[batesy]

Dunno... don't know anyone who ever fishes it. Flows like crazy, can't even stand up in it. It's just a great swimming hole ... the fishing is another half hour or so up the creek.

[Coza]

What else? I'd probably suggest a quick trip out to Vyces Crossing. This swimming spot is a quick thirty minutes out of town and is definitely well worth the visit. Anyone that is interested, just let me know and I'll tell you directions.


......

Direct away

[campdog]

The problem with the list thing is deciding what to keep off it.

Also, what one person finds interesting, another may find dull as dishwater.

Take me for instance: I bitch and moan and whinge about everything at home, but when I travel I'm always high on excitement. Just driving into any town thrills me. I guess that's why we all travel - for new experiences.

I look at a place like Cooktown and I get interested in the Gold Rush era - when the joint was rocking with 35,000 people, 90 hotels - a real frontier town. Fellas rocking up with a dream of getting rich quick - fellas probably just like myself. Everything is gone now, the town is almost a ghost town in comparison. Check the pics at the museum or old bank to see the way things were. Once inside the displays will prompt you to see other places, like the Chinese cemetary. Thousands of Chinese ventured off into the Palmer in search of gold, along with everyone else, in 1873.

See the cemetary and the museum, then you want to see where all those mad buggers were heading .... which means you end up 200kms away at the Palmer River. This place is amazing simply for the country around you - how the miners got in there with horse and dray, boilers and stampers is beyond me.

Once you visit the Palmer, you take a sticky-beak around, camp etc, then possibly stop in at the Palmer River Roadhouse. Gold Fever creeping in the whole while, then you want to find out about Batavia or Wenlock Goldfields which means heading north ....

Can you see how this all begins to consume your travels?

The Cape is like that ... it's not any richer in history than many other places in Australia. It's just different. Mainly because the environment and isolation must have been so tough (still is), yet strangely captivating.

Sorry for the essay fellas ... I get excited by the 4wdriving, the waterfalls and the fishing like everyone else ... but there's something else about doing a trip to the Cape. I think you end up identifying with those hard-minded bastards from yester-year - Men and women. You end up doing something that most people only ever talk about doing.

Now, who wants to sign up for a Cape Yorker Tag-along tour?!!! History, 4wd, fishing ... and plenty of bulls--t!! :)

People say to me-why do you want to go back to Cape York again ,and i jut say I love the place, but your words here describe why I love the place.
Thanks

[batesy]

Direct away


Sorry Coza, I forgot all about this post.

Vyces Crossing lies a little north of Weipa.

Leaving Weipa you head north across the Mission River bridge. This is the road to Mapoon/Pennefather etc. The bitumen road out of town will end after a couple of dozen kms at the entrence to the Andoom Mine. From here you follow the sign to Mapoon along the dirt road. Take this dirt road for a few Kms (10-20km, not real sure on exact distance!). Keep your eye out for a small sign that indicates 'Vyces Crossing' to the RIGHT... IGNORE THIS SIGN...!

Travel a few kms further on until you come to a larger RIGHT hand track. This one is far more direct and much much quicker. Follow the track until you hit the water.

I'll see if I can clean these details up a little over the next week.