Cape York Peninsula
A paradise to visit but keep it safe !

Visitors pour onto the Cape York peninsula from all sides every dry season with dreams about to become a reality but some turn sour.

Cape York Peninsula is outback Australia, it is remote, services are not as easy to find as in more populated areas and its roads are subject to flooding in the wet season.

Therefore your trip of a lifetime should be well planned, well researched and all the rules followed.

If you do this then you will have the trip that you have dreamed of for years and you will do it in safety for the benefit of all occupants of your vehicle.

The simple rules to follow are (but not limited to) as follows:

• Drive a well prepared and serviced vehicle
• Carry the spares recommended by trip preparation experts
• Do not "run out" your old tyres, they must have at least 70% tread left.
• Do a Global 4wd sand or bush course with your partner before you travel
• Lower your tyre pressures, to recommended levels for your vehicle, as soon as you reach the dirt or sand roads
• When you lower your tyre pressures then you must lower your driving speed
• Speeding is the main cause of accidents in the outback, especially the Cape
• If the speed limit is 100kph and you are traveling on good Cape York roads, your maximum, yes, maximum speed should not exceed 80kph
• On the corrugated sections, slow down because traction is lost as tyres "bump" from peak to peak on the corrugations
• Maximum speed on corrugated sections should be around 40kph
• Don't worry if you are late into camp but plan your stops for short scenic days
• A good itinerary is to stop at Mareeba the night before you depart for the Cape
• Next night would then be Laura after visiting the Quinckin Aboriginal rock art at Split Rock Reserve. Roads can be rough here
• Drive slowly up past Mary Valley Station to Musgrave Station for lunch and a rest before continuing on up to Coen for an early stop. Rough roads !
• Refuel, resupply and continue up the Overland Telegraph Line Track to the turn off to Chilli Beach and Portland Roads before camping at Chilli. Stay an extra day and take in the beautiful far northern east coast of Australia
• Have a late start and return west until you reach the turn off onto the Frenchman's track back to the OTL
• A place for a good rest is Bramwell Station which is located at the junction of the DCS Road and the continuation of the Overland Telegraph Track
• Travel up the OTL not the DCS road because the Telegraph Track contains all the picturesque scenery that you have come so far to see. Don't miss it, please!
• The Department of Community Services Road (DCS Road) is just long distances of rough, corrugated single lane tracks that are driven too fast. Be very, very careful on the DCS road because of tourists in a hurry. Slowly here
• It is not like "Pitt Street" on the Cape but it is quite busy during school holidays in June so plan ahead with your stops
• From Bramwell Station continue north on the OTL and visit all the creeks and water holes the are shown in Ron and Viv Moon's Guide to Cape York book
• Camp near a creek for the night. Cockatoo, Dalhunty, Gunshot are all ok for the night
• Visit Fruit Bat Falls on your way to Twin Falls (Elliot Falls) for the night. Have an enjoyable swim
• Continue on the OTL but where the DCS Road joins the OTL the road can be very rough all the way to the Jardine River
• Drive slowly and take photo breaks
• Cross the river on the car ferry and continue north to Bamaga and Red Island Point, Seisia. Pronounced saysha
• You have made it so enjoy the top.
  
  There are lots more tips on Cape York travel and many of these are covered in other parts of this website but we recommend that you undertake a Sand Driver Training Course with Global 4wd so that you are prepared for your adventure.
  
  Written by: Ralph Martell Veteran and expedition leader of 16 Cape York Expeditions.