Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Anyone Drive To The Tip Of Cape York ?

Has been an idea in the back of my head to consider doing so one day. My last trip to the area I spent a few days in Cooktown and did a day trip to Laura and back ... in a Getz no less ;) and thought a trip to the top would be quite an adventure. This was in September and things were pretty dry, but the drive was quite a rollercoaster at times. Arriving in Laura, I did get a few double takes with my choice of transportation ... and one shop owner ask me if I was taking my Getz to the top :p !

Any FTers do the trip to the tip of Cape York ? Comments / Experiences ?

No FTer shares "the dream" ?

No FTer shares "the dream" ?Look at the stats for this forum -- nobody reads it! If you really want an answer, try a more popular forum. But as it can't be used in a MR and represents real tourism adventure, it isn't a suitable FT topic :)

Yeah, a hot nuts post on the UA forum would have 1000 posts in under 24 hours ....

:p

I'll run across various accounts of the trip on other sites from time to time. Just checking good 'o FT.

No FTer shares "the dream" ?

I want to do this (drive around the entire coast of Australia) but it takes a lot of time, and I need my main residence to be in London until 2014 at least.

I could combine it with an MR if I can get a 4x4 one-way rental from BNE to ADL and include a drive around NZ as well.

I want to do this (drive around the entire coast of Australia) ...

Now you're talking !!!

Ran into a guy on a flight to SYD years ago that was doing the drive from Darwin to Adelaide with his wife and two others and it sounded pretty fun.

Of course, that was before $100/bbl oil ...

:(

... but it takes a lot of time, ...

Therein lies the problem

Sounds like a blast, and it is on my list of Australian experiences.

I have driven from Perth to Broome, from Melbourne (ferry to) Devonport to Hobart, from Brisbane to Cairns, and from Sydney to Brisbane. All in one-way rental motorhomes booked through http://www.standbyrelocs.com/. This ended up being cheaper than the cost of fuel any other way (as they paid a fuel stipend, and the ferry costs!).

Maybe this won't work for Cape York, but it's worth considering. They often have Cairns -> Darwin relocations available. It would probably mean a couple long days driving to 'catch up' from a side trip to Cape York.

OK ... just a baby step on the way to the tip of Cape York that got me dreaming the dream !

;)



From my day trip, Cooktown to Laura, Sep 2009:

Cooktown Lighthouse
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj580/run26385/Cape%20York/IMG_1283.jpg

"The Dream"
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj580/run26385/Cape%20York/IMG_1202.jpg

Laura Roadhouse
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj580/run26385/Cape%20York/IMG_1254.jpg

As far as I was prepared to go in a Getz. The signs in the distance are red for a reason. (Laura, edge of town)
:D
http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj580/run26385/Cape%20York/IMG_1255.jpg

2 minute video, on the way to Laura - cam in one hand, driving with the other, shifting with my knees. Reminder: its a GETZ !
:)

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj580/run26385/Cape%20York/th_MVI_1257.jpg (http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj580/run26385/Cape%20York/?action=view&current=MVI_1257.mp4)

Any FTers do the trip to the tip of Cape York ? Comments / Experiences ?
No, but I'd love to ... perhaps one day ... (in the dry season!).

Why not try doing a Google search as I did when researching that for part of a bicycle adventure?

I actually met a fellow fromTasmania who went up to the tip of the Cape with his bicycle and single-wheeled BOB trailer. he eventually circled Australia on his bicycle and trailer, and even went from Kalgoorlie NE thru Laverton etc on the "Gunbarrel Highway" to Uluru.

Some folks (like Aboriginals) do that trip via Laverton in cars...

Why not try doing a Google search as I did when researching that for part of a bicycle adventure?
...
What makes you think I didn't ?

:)

but I always like to check on FT too ... never know what type of experiences I'll hear about.

I can see the bike thing working .... but definitely only in The Dry ... unless he pulls a small boat behind the trailer.

I bet the biker loved it when the big mining trucks go by. It wasn't very fun in my little car as they don't stop/slow at all and the dust they kick up completely blocks your vision in all direction. I just pulled over to allow the air to clear.