Cape York Travel Forum

Hello
I am backpacking around Australia at the moment and have met with a couple of mates of which one has bought a 4WD to travel up to the top of Cape York. He has got no 4 WD experience and Im wondering how safe this will be. If you can give any advice it would be great!!
Cheers
Overlanda

If you drive soon through the 'winter' (dry) months it will be easier as many roads are impassible in the summer 'wet' season.
But it's a hell of a long way - you will need to stock up on provisions and spares of everything - better read up, buy a guide-book and detailed maps, they are available in book-shops. If you can team up with another 4WD or 2 travelling the same way it's a lot safer too. Get some practice along the way too before you reach Cooktown and beyond.

I would asvise a 4WD course before tackling that trip. Not too bad in winter, impossible in summer but for experienced hands only.

Hi Overlanda
i have lived in Weipa on the west coast of the cape and have driven that complete distance twice and streches of it many times. It is a grea part of Australia. I would suggest tag along with one of the many other 4wds you will meet along the way and i mean MANY. start looking for a place to camp around 3-4 pm as sometimes you will find the camp grounds along the way full.
Please do not drive at high speeds as many drivers do and end up rolling their vehicle and injuring their passengers and wrecking their trip. Dont forget to take plenty of water with you as it is avery dry part of the world not tropical as some believe
Have fun and engoy your trip

It's a relatively good road these days but the main danger is from the driver getting too complacent, or too "adventurous" and taking risks. One of the most common accidents in 4WDs is single vehicle roll-overs.

Don't know how the road situation is, please have a check before in Cairns before you go up. If rivers are flooded etc don't think to get over there. If you get to Iron raneg, you need at least a bit of expierence with 4-wd as this is a very worst and dangerous road!
Please have a check on my VT travel site, and you'll see some Cape York info!

Regards,

Justin

Some basic advice in addition to the above. If you do get into trouble do not under any circumstances leave the car... you will be easier to spot by rescue vehicles and will have shelter. Make sure someone is aware of your itinerary, and can, if necessary raise the alarm if you have not appeared when you were supposed to.

Hope all goes well. I'd love to do something like that one day!

What we did is mention at every roadhouse, archer river roadhouse for example to mention we travel up to iron range and we would return in 3 days. When we arrived back the first thing came out their mounths how quick we made our way back. But remember when I travelled up there it was october just before the wet and everything was almost bone dry there. After periods of rain it is inaccesible!
If the road is flooded you cant get thru there!
Roads are bumpy and some times some large holes are in the road so be carefull when driving.
It's a hell of an adventure and you should experience it, but knwon what things can happen on the way!
Carry a lot a water with you and food supplys!

Regards,
Justin