Maytown to Laura track

[aquilla1]

Hey guys,

Just going through final planning for our club trip in July, and a little fuzzy on the Maytown to Laura, then on to Chillagoe.

Currently, the day plan is:
- D16 - Musgrave to Jowalbinna
- D17 - Jowalbinna to Maytown
- D18 - Maytown to Chillagoe

I have heard rumours around of private property closures of tracks etc, and obviously don't want to upset locals (especially the ones carrying 12 guage) and looking at the route through.

At the moment, I have us coming out of Maytown to the South, crossing Palmer River, and following the track West though Freda Mine to Palmerville Station, then heading south on Palmerville road, through Mount Mulgrave, then picking up the Burke Dev road through to Chillagoe.

Question - is this the best way through, and can we get through this way?

Thanks for help.

Cheers
Peter

[Nedly]

The road through Palmerville Station is closed to the public.
Give the ranger at Chillagoe a call, this area comes under his juristriction, he (she) should be able to give you the latest info.

I'd also check on Jowalbinna, give them a call if you haven't already done so.
Maytown to Jowalbinna took us (3 vehicles) about 3hrs in '07.

Which club are you with?

[aquilla1]

Thanks for the info Nedly - will be certain to give them a buzz.

Moreton Districts, based in Kallangur.

www.mdorc.org.au

[aquilla1]

Just had a chat with the information Centre at Chillagoe - yep - plans could well be met with a 12 Guage shotty... There is a dispute between a land owner and the council, and is not in a hurry to fix. So ends up the best way is out through Maitland Downs, then down to Mareeba, then in to Chillagoe. The guy was saying our plan was definately the better way to go, if you can avoid the land owner.

Cheers
Peter

[Nedly]

Through Palmerville is supposed to be a nice drive, but I don't like the taste of lead.

The drive out through Maitland Downs isn't too bad either, easy going all the way in '07, hope it's the same this year.
The maps show a route from Maytown down to Dimbulah Rd, just west of Mareeba, but I don't know anything about this track. You'd need to do a bit of research before attempting this route, it might have a similar 12 gge seal of approval.

[ant]

The road through Palmerville Station is closed to the public.
Give the ranger at Chillagoe a call, this area comes under his juristriction, he (she) should be able to give you the latest info.

I'd also check on Jowalbinna, give them a call if you haven't already done so.
Maytown to Jowalbinna took us (3 vehicles) about 3hrs in '07.

Which club are you with?

Jowalbinna is not operational this year (2009) so if you were thinking of stopping in there, best to make other arrangements.

[Nedly]

Jowalbinna is not operational this year (2009) so if you were thinking of stopping in there, best to make other arrangements.

With Jowalbinna out of the equation you now have a bit of a problem. Musgrave to Maytown would be a big days drive, Musgrave to Laura a short one.
BTW, you need a permit to visit Maytown, these can be organised through the EPA (Nat. Parks) and must be paid in advance.

[aquilla1]

Yeah, we were looking at that last night. That and 2 vehicles coming with us have trailers, and I have heard the Maytown track is not recommended for trailers...

May look at doing a run Musgrave to Palmer River, then just do a day run into Maytown to have a look and back to Palmer River that night. Trailers can stay at Palmer River that way. Any thoughts from the floor?

Cheers
Peter

[Nedly]

Yeah, we were looking at that last night. That and 2 vehicles coming with us have trailers, and I have heard the Maytown track is not recommended for trailers...
Not knowing how the trailers are set up, or the experience of the drivers, I would tend to agree.

May look at doing a run Musgrave to Palmer River, then just do a day run into Maytown to have a look and back to Palmer River that night. Trailers can stay at Palmer River that way. Any thoughts from the floor?

Cheers
Peter

Palmer River R/H to Maytown to Palmer River R/H in a day is certainly doable if the weather is kind, might be a bit different if it's wet.
I suggest you talk with the people at the Roadhouse, they should be able to give you the latest on track condition etc.

[aquilla1]

Not sure on the trailers set up themselves, but both trailer vehicles are very experienced - they play comps...

Chatting to one of the other guys last night, this may be the option we go with.

Thanks for the info Nedley - local knowledge is oh so handy, especially when we haven't been there before.

Cheers
Peter

[Redback]

This is very helpfull as we were planning a similar trip through Maytown, we also have 4 campers in our group, 2 of them I don't think are very experienced or seasoned travellers so this may alter our plans as well.

Our alternative was to camp at Jowelbinna and do a day trip to Maytown, looks like that is out as well, guess we'll need to re-think this part, we might just head to Chillagoe we'll see what the others say.

Baz.

[aquilla1]

OK, so I know Jowabinna camping is out, however in the Cape York Bible (Ron and Viv's) it mentions camping just outside the reserve near Jowabinna - does anyone know if this is Jowabinna or it is an available spot?

In saying that, if we do our thoughts of in to Maytown for a day trip, be it a long day, but we can ditch some gear (especially trailers) to do the trip easier... Or skip Maytown altogether and do an extra day in Chillagoe (Not my pref option...)

Yikes - realised last night it is less than 2 weeks to go. Itinery for those interested is as follows...

4-5 July - single vehicles travel to Cairns (Campers leaving earlier this week)
6 July - in Cairns
7 July - Cooktown (hopefully via Creb but unlikely, so through Bloomfield)
8 July - Cooktown - Bathurst Bay (Looking at Coast option, if not via Lakefield)
9 July - Bathurst Bay
10 July - Bathurst Bay - Lakefield
11 July - Lakefield - Coen
12 july - Coen - Chilli Beach
13 July - Chilli Beach - Bramwell Junction (via Frenchmans)
14 July - Bramwell - Elliot Falls
15 July - Elliot Falls and area
16 July - Elliot Falls - Punsand Bay
17 July - Punsand Bay
18 July - Loyalty Beach
19 July - Loyalty Beach
20 July - Loyalty Beach - Moreton Telegraph
21 July - Moreton Telegraph - Weipa
22 July - Weipa
23 July - Weipa - Musgrave
24 July - Musgrave - Jowabinna (or Palmer River)
25 July - Jowabinna - Maytown (or daytrip to Maytown)
26 July - Maytown - Chillagoe
27 July - Chillagoe - Porcupine Gorge
28 July - Porcupine Gorge - Longreach
29 July - Longreach
30 July - Longreach - Roma
31 July - Roma - Brisbane


So Geoff, provided you are around between the 17th - 20th, I will drop in and say hello!

[Brigalow]

OK, so I know Jowabinna camping is out, however in the Cape York Bible (Ron and Viv's) it mentions camping just outside the reserve near Jowabinna - does anyone know if this is Jowabinna or it is an available spot?

In saying that, if we do our thoughts of in to Maytown for a day trip, be it a long day, but we can ditch some gear (especially trailers) to do the trip easier... Or skip Maytown altogether and do an extra day in Chillagoe (Not my pref option...)

Yikes - realised last night it is less than 2 weeks to go. Itinery for those interested is as follows...

4-5 July - single vehicles travel to Cairns (Campers leaving earlier this week)
6 July - in Cairns
7 July - Cooktown (hopefully via Creb but unlikely, so through Bloomfield)
8 July - Cooktown - Bathurst Bay (Looking at Coast option, if not via Lakefield)
9 July - Bathurst Bay
10 July - Bathurst Bay - Lakefield
11 July - Lakefield - Coen
12 july - Coen - Chilli Beach
13 July - Chilli Beach - Bramwell Junction (via Frenchmans)
14 July - Bramwell - Elliot Falls
15 July - Elliot Falls and area
16 July - Elliot Falls - Punsand Bay
17 July - Punsand Bay
18 July - Loyalty Beach
19 July - Loyalty Beach
20 July - Loyalty Beach - Moreton Telegraph
21 July - Moreton Telegraph - Weipa
22 July - Weipa
23 July - Weipa - Musgrave
24 July - Musgrave - Jowabinna (or Palmer River)
25 July - Jowabinna - Maytown (or daytrip to Maytown)
26 July - Maytown - Chillagoe
27 July - Chillagoe - Porcupine Gorge
28 July - Porcupine Gorge - Longreach
29 July - Longreach
30 July - Longreach - Roma
31 July - Roma - Brisbane


So Geoff, provided you are around between the 17th - 20th, I will drop in and say hello!

G'Day Aquilla1,Wowww looks like a real wizz of a trip comming up for you.:cool:
Just a little bit of imfo that could help you I see you are leaving your run into Bathurst a bit skinny.
Cooktown to Bathurst along the coast will take you all the best of 2 days...great trip with camping spots on the Starcke and Jeannie rivers...and the run out through Kalpower to Lakefield a good day in its self.
Cooktown Kalpower to Bathurst will also take you 2 odd days and this depending a bit on barramundi creek and what nick it is in.
The run back out to Kalpower you can do in a day and even move through Lakefield further...the only bit if you go Kalpower/Bathurst is doubling up on the same track...and it can be quite chewed up and thick deep sand at times, and pulling campers you could spend a bit of time in low second gear...
All in all,take a bit of care and you should do OK.:cool: :D

[aquilla1]

Thanks for the feedback Brigalow.

Interesting - we had originally discounted the coast route for that exact reason, however were giving information from a recent trip that it should be a day trip. The same for round the lakefield direction - should be a day's run.

Certainly don't want to knock your advice - does any one else have some input there?

I guess worst case we spend the 2 days, doing as far as possible on day 1, so we can get to bathurst as early as possible on Day 2. Note we are staying at Cape Melville, not Combe Point.

Thanks again for the feedback - allways good to get different views.

Cheers
Peter

[Brigalow]

Thanks for the feedback Brigalow.

Interesting - we had originally discounted the coast route for that exact reason, however were giving information from a recent trip that it should be a day trip. The same for round the lakefield direction - should be a day's run.

Certainly don't want to knock your advice - does any one else have some input there?

I guess worst case we spend the 2 days, doing as far as possible on day 1, so we can get to bathurst as early as possible on Day 2. Note we are staying at Cape Melville, not Combe Point.

Thanks again for the feedback - allways good to get different views.

Cheers
Peter

No worries my friend,thats what we are here for...:cool: :(
Still if you are gonna fly low you should manage it in a day..hmm just checked my old "ron and viv bible" and yep...around 4 and a bit hours from Cooktown to Kalpower,then 4 odd hours to Wakooka and 2 and a bit to the beach..and thats without a ham sandwich or pit stop...:oops:
Keep us informed and let us know how you go.

[Nedly]

OK, so I know Jowabinna camping is out, however in the Cape York Bible (Ron and Viv's) it mentions camping just outside the reserve near Jowabinna - does anyone know if this is Jowabinna or it is an available spot?

In saying that, if we do our thoughts of in to Maytown for a day trip, be it a long day, but we can ditch some gear (especially trailers) to do the trip easier... Or skip Maytown altogether and do an extra day in Chillagoe (Not my pref option...)



Not sure about the camping "just outside of the reserve", I'll check on the book and see what they're talking about.

As for a day trip into Maytown, from Jowalbinna area with an earlyish start it is definately possible, depending on track & weather conditions of course.
You should have enough time to have a good look around, though I know it won't be enough.
In '07 it took us about 3 hours from Maytown to the Jowalbinna road junction.
Grab some maps of the area, just gives you a little more confidence. I'll check the ones I used and let you know.

Les

[Brigalow]

Thanks for the feedback Brigalow.

Interesting - we had originally discounted the coast route for that exact reason, however were giving information from a recent trip that it should be a day trip. The same for round the lakefield direction - should be a day's run.

Certainly don't want to knock your advice - does any one else have some input there?

I guess worst case we spend the 2 days, doing as far as possible on day 1, so we can get to bathurst as early as possible on Day 2. Note we are staying at Cape Melville, not Combe Point.

Thanks again for the feedback - allways good to get different views.

Cheers
Peter

G'Day Peter,I just wondering how the trip went?
Did you end up going into Bathurst and how was the track?

Just chasing a little bit of feed back mate.

[aquilla1]

Firstly my apologies for incredibly slack and idle - I have been flat out playing catch up with work since the trip.

Overall comments on the trip - the dust sucked, the corrigations sucked, the dust sucked, the broken radiator sucked, the dust sucked, did I mention the dust?

However, already missing the place like mad - 4 weeks is not enough time - and the first day back in Brissy, really fealt like a daze...

On the trip, well that part. When we went up, they had closed Cape Melville National Park for some reason, (Lack of Rangers I think) so we were technically not allowed in. We tried to get to Bathurst Bay from the western side, but after following 2 dead end tracks, (and I got a ribbing, something about 3 GPS's in the car and we still got lost) we ended up at the Headland at Princess Charlotte Bay. It was a long day, partly because of the 4 hours return on a track that just dissappeared, however we got from Endevour Falls Caravan Park to Princess Charlotte in the single day. We did stop in at the old Laura homestead, and lunch was at the ranger station.

In saying that, we were a fairly organised group and all fairly experienced, so that probably had something to do with it as well. I believe if we had headed the original plan to Bathurst Bay via Lakefield, it could be comfortably done in a day with a reasonable group. I am not sure about via Starke though.

Cheers
Peter

[Brigalow]

Firstly my apologies for incredibly slack and idle - I have been flat out playing catch up with work since the trip.

Overall comments on the trip - the dust sucked, the corrigations sucked, the dust sucked, the broken radiator sucked, the dust sucked, did I mention the dust?

However, already missing the place like mad - 4 weeks is not enough time - and the first day back in Brissy, really fealt like a daze...

On the trip, well that part. When we went up, they had closed Cape Melville National Park for some reason, (Lack of Rangers I think) so we were technically not allowed in. We tried to get to Bathurst Bay from the western side, but after following 2 dead end tracks, (and I got a ribbing, something about 3 GPS's in the car and we still got lost) we ended up at the Headland at Princess Charlotte Bay. It was a long day, partly because of the 4 hours return on a track that just dissappeared, however we got from Endevour Falls Caravan Park to Princess Charlotte in the single day. We did stop in at the old Laura homestead, and lunch was at the ranger station.

In saying that, we were a fairly organised group and all fairly experienced, so that probably had something to do with it as well. I believe if we had headed the original plan to Bathurst Bay via Lakefield, it could be comfortably done in a day with a reasonable group. I am not sure about via Starke though.

Cheers
Peter

Glad you made it back in one piece...that battlecamp track is quite renouned for them little sucker corrigations.
Did you get a chance to throw a line in the Annie river while up in the Princess Charlotte?easy fishing of the high banks ...now there are good barra in there,oh as well as a croc or two but pretty good boat entry into the river.
Better luck next run,and if your been there once then the bug has bitten and you will want more..:D :)