Suggestions - please

[Lynz and Nath]

Hi all.

Well I've finally started to make our itenerary for our trip this year and am keen for any suggestions as to what else or where else we should visit whilst up in the Cape!
The dates are not set in stone as we have 4 months from the start of this trip to get from Cairns to Tassie so any ideas on the length of stay at each place will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance Lynz



Thur 23rd Sep Cairns - Daintree - Camp at Noah beach (Canopy surfing)

Fri 24th Sep Cape tribulation - Elim beach - camp 1 night

Sat 25th Sep Cape trib - Helenvale - Grand final day - (LIONS DEN HOTEL)

Sun 26th Sep Helenvale - Rest day

Mon 27th Sep Helenvale - Cooktown - battlecamp - old Laura - Coen

Tue 28th Sep Coen - Via Archer - Start of Old Tele track

Wed 29th Sep Camp on old Tele track 4 nights (Camp at Gunshot/Nolans???)

Sun 03rd Oct Elliot falls/ fruitbat falls - camp 1 night at Elliot falls

Mon 04th Oct Elliot falls - Jardine river crossing - Loyalty beach

Tue 5th Oct Loyalty beach

Wed 6th Oct Loyalty beach - (Fishing charter if possible - Ocean)

Thurs 7th Oct Loyalty beach

Fri 8th Oct Loyalty beach

Sat 9th Oct Punsand Bay - (Camp 5 nights)

Sun 10th Oct Punsand Bay

Mon 11th Oct Punsand Bay

Tue 12th Oct Punsand Bay - Thursday island trip (Maybe)

Wed 13th Oct Punsand Bay (Fishing charter - River)

Thur 14th Oct Punsand Bay - Somerset

Fri 15th Oct Somerset - Captain billy landing

Sat 16th Oct Captain billy landing

Sun 17th Oct Captain billy landing

Mon 18th Oct Captain billy landing - Chilli beach

Tue 19th Oct Chilli beach

Wed 20th Oct Chilli beach (Try fishing off beach)

Thur 21st Oct Chilli beach

Fri 22nd Oct Chilli beach - (this is as far as i've got so far)

[dingo]

I would cut 1 day out of the OTL and try and do the CREB track.
Stay at Noah Beach then back track through Daintree and up the CREB to Lions Den

Ahh this could be hard as you want to be at the Lions Den for the Grand Final, solution, leave a day earlier

Mon 27th Sep Helenvale - Cooktown - battlecamp - old Laura - Coen

I will say that the road you intend to take was , in 2009 the worst road we encounted on the trip and was the cause of changing plans to go via Kalpowar and Violet Vale and finishing at Musgrave in a 2 day trip from Lions Den
The road was washed out , rutted, and disastrous corrugations.
Due to a few things breaking /failing we had to turn off at Old Laura , go to Laura for repairs and then ended up only getting to Hann River Roadhouse at approx 7:30pm. in 1 day.
The way you suggest is approx 380km
The way I would go would be approx 330km
If I did it again I would go from Lions Den - Lakeland - Laura- Cohen

Also I would stop short at Musgrave approx 100km shorter or continue to Archer River a further 60 odd km . My opinion is these two places are better than Cohen to camp at and my pic is Musgrave, but Archer is 60 odd k's closer to the OTL

On my journey I meet others that came up the same way I did and reckon they wouldn't go that way ever again.
The section from Old laura to laura is upkept so people can visit Old Laura Station but the other bit from the turn near Hope Vale to Old Laura is a real killer and time consuming and not kept very well.


Wed 29th Sep Camp on old Tele track 4 nights (Camp at Gunshot/Nolans???)

Don't forget to stop at Moreton and talk to Ranger Kathy to find out what the creeks ahead are like.
And then fuel up at Bramwell.
I would continue to Cockatoo Creek, better camping , Gunshot was like a tip last year and not fit to stay at on the Northern side.

[geoffjy]

Don't forget to stop at Moreton and talk to Ranger Kathy to find out what the creeks ahead are like.


I heard that Kathy and her husband will be driving tour buses for Loyalty Beach this year. Im not sure who the new rangers will be.

[yetti]

gday lynz and nath,

your itinerary looks pretty good to me.

only thing i'd change are your fishing times. The only charter from Punsand bay is a bluewater gig,(me) so you might be better off doing your estuary fishing while your based at Seisia to save you the travel (ring Jay Arnold 40693919, he's the bloke you want). All the bluewater charters will pick you up from Punsand Bay.

please don't think i'm trying to score your business, just might save you an extra couple of hours of corrugations!!

cheers,

Bat

[Lynz and Nath]

gday lynz and nath,

your itinerary looks pretty good to me.

only thing i'd change are your fishing times. The only charter from Punsand bay is a bluewater gig,(me) so you might be better off doing your estuary fishing while your based at Seisia to save you the travel (ring Jay Arnold 40693919, he's the bloke you want). All the bluewater charters will pick you up from Punsand Bay.

please don't think i'm trying to score your business, just might save you an extra couple of hours of corrugations!!

cheers,

Bat

No worries at all Yetti, thanks for that. That's exactly the kind of info I'm after. As we have never been up there we have no idea where the best places to fish are so thanks again and will see you in about 8 months hopefully!
Lyndsey

[Lynz and Nath]

I would cut 1 day out of the OTL and try and do the CREB track.
Stay at Noah Beach then back track through Daintree and up the CREB to Lions Den

Ahh this could be hard as you want to be at the Lions Den for the Grand Final, solution, leave a day earlier

Mon 27th Sep Helenvale - Cooktown - battlecamp - old Laura - Coen

I will say that the road you intend to take was , in 2009 the worst road we encounted on the trip and was the cause of changing plans to go via Kalpowar and Violet Vale and finishing at Musgrave in a 2 day trip from Lions Den
The road was washed out , rutted, and disastrous corrugations.
Due to a few things breaking /failing we had to turn off at Old Laura , go to Laura for repairs and then ended up only getting to Hann River Roadhouse at approx 7:30pm. in 1 day.
The way you suggest is approx 380km
The way I would go would be approx 330km
If I did it again I would go from Lions Den - Lakeland - Laura- Cohen

Also I would stop short at Musgrave approx 100km shorter or continue to Archer River a further 60 odd km . My opinion is these two places are better than Cohen to camp at and my pic is Musgrave, but Archer is 60 odd k's closer to the OTL

On my journey I meet others that came up the same way I did and reckon they wouldn't go that way ever again.
The section from Old laura to laura is upkept so people can visit Old Laura Station but the other bit from the turn near Hope Vale to Old Laura is a real killer and time consuming and not kept very well.


Wed 29th Sep Camp on old Tele track 4 nights (Camp at Gunshot/Nolans???)

Don't forget to stop at Moreton and talk to Ranger Kathy to find out what the creeks ahead are like.
And then fuel up at Bramwell.
I would continue to Cockatoo Creek, better camping , Gunshot was like a tip last year and not fit to stay at on the Northern side.

Thanks for all that info, much appreciated!
Lynz

[Hooley]

Hi,

Itinerary looks good to me! (not that I'm an expert though!)

Regarding the Old Laura to Coen section I drove that route (via Hann River crossing) in September last year and it was all fine. Some rough corrugations yes but nothing worse than anywhere else we encountered on the trip. Theres some lovely lagoons along the way as well that were nice to stop at for a while.

Cheers
Chris

[Grahame M]

Hi Bat,

I sent you an email tonight asking if you knew of a good fishing charter at punsand bay, unfortunately i didn't know that you ran fishing charters. Many appologies. Would it be possible to look you up when we are there in July & maybe book a charter,

Thanks,

Grahame.

[yetti]

gday graham,

yeah mate i run a charter, but i wasn't trying to sell anything, hopefully just be helpful. i do bluewater fishing...spanish macs, tuna, queenies, GT, trout etc. I'd be happy to help if thats what your after, however if your more into estuary fishing, ie barra jacks etc... i can highly recommend jay arnold of cape york peninsula fishing (4069 3919), feel free to drop my name. if bluewater stuff is what you would like to do i'd be happy to help. click the link below and see the photo gallery etc to see what my gig is.... and drop me a line, 0429 388 780, or 07 4069 1395.

cheers,

BAT

[geoff.hardiker]

Hi Lyndsey,

The Cooktown museum is worth a look if you have the time.

Regards
Geoff

[the tractor]

i recommend the dulhunty as a camp spot if your there early in the day. great water, and nice spot without rushing to gunshot which is often chockers by the time you get there