Cape York 24/4 to 4/6

An early pack up and refuel saw us on the road from Cooktown shortly after nine. Our first priority was to return along the Mulligan Hwy. to Lakeland to put the van in storage while we took off on our trip up the cape. With securing the van taken care of it was time for morning tea before our departure on the road to Laura. This road is now newly sealed and it seemed like in no time we were at the ‘Split Rock’ aboriginal art site. With a short climb up the escarpment we were marvelling at this unique and ancient, well preserved Quinkan style art. 

Split Rock Art Site

Then on to Laura for a quick look around and a loo break at the shady park. From here on we would not see too much sealed road and although, in general the road conditions were quite good, the dust was very apparent which meant keeping quite some distance between vehicles – thank goodness for C.B. radios so we could keep in contact each other. Lunch was taken at Hann River and then on to our first overnight camp at Morehead River just south of Musgrave telegraph station. Here we put up our tent for the first time in ages and even in the heat we had our camp completely set up in little more than 30 minutes, leaving plenty of time to gather firewood before sunset, Brian even managed some fishing in the river. He didn’t manage to catch anything substantial but did manage to snag his lure in an overhanging tree, which meant an interesting retrieval process was undertaken. After dinner we sat round the campfire for while before retiring for a peaceful night’s sleep under canvas.

Morehead River Camp

I am afraid to keep describing our trip up the cape in detail would take too long and be much too boring so let me summarise and then let the pictures do the talking. In total it took us 12 days to go up and back. Day two saw stops at Musgrave, Coen and Archer River before an overnight in Weipa. Day three we travelled via Batavia Downs with stops at Moreton telegraph station and Bramwell Junction before the start of the infamous ‘Old Telegraph Track’ or the OTL as it is sometimes called. This track is totally un-maintained and has become very rough and overgrown. We made it through the first creek crossing without drama but unfortunately found the next, Palm Creek, quite a different story. After much sizing up I decided to give it a try but unfortunately was not able to climb out the other side and needed Brian’s assistance to retreat doing a fair bit of damage to my vehicle in the process. This took a lot of time and it was soon late afternoon so we decided to make camp right beside the track. Never mind, with a campfire BBQ dinner and a few drinks around the fire the dramas of the day were soon forgotten.

Palm Creek

Al prepares dinner

While Sue watches the fire

Day four saw us retreat back to Bramwell Junction to travel up the southern bypass road to reach one of the highlights of any trip up the cape, Fruit Bat Falls and then on to Elliot Falls for our overnight camp. 

Bramwell Junction

Fruit Bat Falls

Enjoying the waters below the falls

Elliot Falls

Twin Falls

Sue & Petra get a massage at Twin Falls

Day five we travelled on to Vrilya Point on the western coast of the cape for two idyllic nights camped on the beach just metres from the water, but not before a few more creek crossings on the OTL

Crossing Canal Creek

On the way to Vrilya Point

 You could never tire of the beachcombing and watching the sunset into the waters of the gulf each evening.

Our camp at Vrilya Point

Nice catch Brian !

Wreck on beach at Vrilya Point

Toasting the sunset over the gulf

On day seven we crossed the Jardine River ($129 for a 40 metre ferry ride) and then on to Bamaga and finally Seisia for three nights at the Loyalty Beach campground. During this time we drove and then walked to the very tip of the Australian continent where we toasted the occasion with a nice chilled bottle of wine before exploring the ruins of somerset and inspecting some of the plane wrecks of WWII.

On the way to the Tip

Clearing the track

We made it to the tip

Time to celebrate

Checking our bearings

 Then a day trip to Thursday Island and lunch in the most northerly pub in Australia (with a couple of nice cool ales – of course) The return journey was made without any detours (except to Elliot and Twin falls for a lunch break and a swim) and so only took three days. Overnight camps were taken at Wenlock River and Morehead River before collecting the van from Lakeland and then on to Mt. Molloy and another fabulous burger from the café and then overnight once more at Rifle Creek rest area just out of town. Early the next morning we farewelled Petra and Brian as they had pressing commitments further south. It was a little sad to say goodbye as we had really enjoyed their company on our adventure to the tip of Australia.