Nominate your top 5 or 10 Cape Spots

[bingham]

Afternoon all, and i am sure it has been done before and i have searched along these lines and nothing specific to what i'm chasing.

So hoping i can get a few people to simply list their to 5-10 hot spots in the cape. We will have 2 weeks cairns to cairns so a little fast but can only do what we can do.

5 fairly capable trucks coming and a few winches incase we go looking for trouble!

Also a night or 2 at a pub or farm stay to chase some backpackers then pigs would be sweet aswell and not necessarilly in that order.

From these hot spots i shall work a starting itenery.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[barney]

1. Pennefather River and beach run - great fishing, lovely drive, crocs....
2. Canal Creek - lovely accessible little freshwater swimming holes and plunge pools, would visit Twin Falls first, then camp at the Canal Creek crossing
3. Thursday Island - do the day trip, stay the night if you can afford it, Torres or the Grand Hotel, great cultural experience, drink with the locals, go to Bourbon St nightclub if you want a huge night!
4. Lions Den Hotel - might find your backpackers here!?
5. Vrilya Point - magic, quiet, fishing.....(bit of a drive in - you may not have time)
6. Wenlock Falls - but you need permission, which you won't get, only letting locals in I think....good 4wd track to get there, 10-15 metre drop, good fishing

[Scorcher]

Gee, only my 5 favourites hey ??

Some of my past favourites are either no longer accessable, or have limited access via permit systems, so I'll stick to places that are easily reached.

1) Vrilya Point - fishing, crabbing, great views, great landscape. A great place to settle in for either a few day's or a few weeks of R&R or fishing frenzy. Only a few hours detour off the main track north, but well worth it.

2) Everything north of the Jardine River - Old plane wrecks & relics, so many creek & river areas to fish, magnificent views, The Croc Shop, and unbelievable sunsets.

3) The falls - Twin Falls, Canal Creek, Fruitbat Falls. There is something for everybody, whether it be lying back in the soothing plunge pools or diving into the rapids & floating downstream. A great way to spend a relaxing day.

4) The Wenlock River - so many nooks & crannies to explore, whether it be by trekking off the beaten track, or just flicking a few lures around the fallen trees & logs around the bridge pylons.

5) Weipa & it's surrounds. A great place to set up a base camp at the Paxhaven Camp Grounds, and spend a few days doing day trips around the area. And of course there is the Pub and Bowling Club.

That's enough for starters...

Happy Tripping :D

Scorcher

[yetti]

gday all,

obviously there are plenty of great options all over the cape. my best suggestion is - don't try to fit too much in!! Over the years living here, and working with travellers, the most common comment is that they are proper knackered! my next question to them is "where have you been?" and most of the time the response is "everywhere". For mine, you should treat your first trip as a reccy for your next. It seems most tourists have been everywhere, but seen nothing, and by the time they get home...they need a holiday!

For what its worth, I put together an article for the upcoming CapeYorker Mag a story on exactly what your asking - Cairns to Cairns in two weeks. It should be out in 6 weeks, so if you can wait, hopefully it helps. If you need send me a msg and i can send it too you.

Cheers

[plucker]

yep I agree, 2 weeks is the ideal reccy trip to work out where you will go the next time you have 4 weeks off.

[bingham]

cheers all for your input, i have cut and pasted all feedback and took it to pre trip meeting and took some notes. Keep them coming anyone else.

Cheers