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Cape York: 25th June - 17th July 2011
It was near the end of the Cape York Trip that our Prado changed from being the "Daily school bus" to being regarded as "The Bushbasher". That was when we stopped worrying about scratches, stone chips, mud, etc.
We completed the entire Cape trip, via the Old Telegraph Line track, returning via the CREB track, with no problems, nothing breaking and no rattles. Being early in the season, the tracks were only just open (Lakefield to Musgrave had opened the day before), and the water levels were still high.
We had prepared by lifting the car 50mm (Bilsteins & King Springs), added a Brown Davis bash plate, a Safari snorkel, various bits of recovery gear, an old "Blue Tongue" air compressor for the tyres, new Mickey Thompson STZ tyres, and Diff breather extensions. An Engel fridge and second battery in the back completed preparations.
That was it. No bulbar, no spotties, no winch, no lockers, no roof rack. And we packed ultra-light. I reckon we had about 200kg of equipment and food with us, at most.
So, brief comments follow for anyone going to the Cape in 2011…
Ellim Beach - Eddie runs nice no-frills camping sites, after long drive from Cooktown and HopeVale.
Lakefield - Only three lagoons accessible easily. OK if you are a birdwatcher.
Coen - just keep going...
Archer River Roadhouse camping - Great spot, just don't turn up on payday - the "locals" are just a little noisy all night…
Chilli Beach - Nice big beach with granite boulders. Constantly windy. Really windy. Must choose a campsite early as everyone goes there. Choose one with some wind protection, otherwise everything gets covered in salt and fine dust.
Portland Roads - very acceptable cafe: "Out of the Blue". Worth heading to for lunch as the seafood is fresh and fantastic.
Frenchman's track - we didn't do it, but two others in our group did and it was apparently not too bad. Many other people doing it as well (with camper trailers).
Weipa - definitely worth a stopover to wash, get food, relax, watch sunset, etc.
Old Telegraph Line southern section -
First crossing (Palm creek) is the worst. Steep in, and rutted/boggy out. The Prado needed towing out here.
Video: http://www.vimeo.com/26559047
Gunshot Creek - easy as - now. The legendary steep drops are now vertical and overgrown. No one does them.
Video: http://www.vimeo.com/26559468
Cockatoo Creek - new National Parks amenities (shelter and toilets) making the campsite very civilised!
Old Telegraph Line northern section -
Twin/Edith Falls - great swimming spot.
Many creek crossings follow, each getting progressively deeper... eg Bridge Creek:
An unnamed one just before Nolans Brook required a tarp over the front (waist deep)
Finally the deepest: Nolans Brook, which was 1.2m deep with a very soft sand base. Attached a snatch strap between the last vehicle over to the next to cross, as a safety line. Only a little water in the car, as it started to float at the back. Rubber bungs in the floor had popped up.
Punsand bay camping - very nice spot, particularly if you get a beachfront site.
5 beaches scenic loop - well worth doing. Very scenic on windswept beaches, with few other cars.
Obligatory photos at the Cape, of course.
On the way back, we visited Vrilya Point campground on the Gulf - very quiet, calm place after the Tradewinds of the eastern side.
Laura - Very good Aboriginal rock art just south of town.
And then back to bitumen roads, and the Lions Den Hotel.
CREB track North to South - just one thing: Don't do it if it looks like / has been / is raining!!! Even when the sign on the Northern gate says "Open"... Wow, that was the steepest slippery clay ascents/descents I've ever tackled… Slid down some slopes. Potentially extremely dangerous. Very pretty rainforest in the rain, however.
So that was it for us this year.
Conclusions -
The standard Toyota front bumper bar did NOT scrape at any point, despite what we were told.
The Bilstein shocks were perfect for our car's weight, etc. They did not "melt" or fail, despite what we were told.
A winch was not needed (but might have given us some peace of mind)
Air Lockers were not needed (but if we did the trip on our own, would have been mandatory, as would the winch).
Very little dust got in - but we left the ventilation on "Fresh" air, with all windows up and the fan on. Do NOT turn the fan off, or go to recirculated air for long periods, or else dust does get in…
The snorkel helped with the water, but needed a foam "sock" on the intake to stop dust.
Diff breathers are essential.
I personally go at 60-90km/h over corrugations because (a) I want to get over them asap, and (b) the tyres skip over the bumps, resulting in far less jarring than going slower. We had many conversations about the pros/cons of doing this, however for my setup, this worked perfectly, and nothing broke.
Lowering tyre pressures does wonders for traction. Like 18psi in mud or for sandy creeks.
Rockslider side steps are a good idea! Standard steps do get a little bent...
Enjoy!
It was near the end of the Cape York Trip that our Prado changed from being the "Daily school bus" to being regarded as "The Bushbasher". That was when we stopped worrying about scratches, stone chips, mud, etc.
We completed the entire Cape trip, via the Old Telegraph Line track, returning via the CREB track, with no problems, nothing breaking and no rattles. Being early in the season, the tracks were only just open (Lakefield to Musgrave had opened the day before), and the water levels were still high.
We had prepared by lifting the car 50mm (Bilsteins & King Springs), added a Brown Davis bash plate, a Safari snorkel, various bits of recovery gear, an old "Blue Tongue" air compressor for the tyres, new Mickey Thompson STZ tyres, and Diff breather extensions. An Engel fridge and second battery in the back completed preparations.
That was it. No bulbar, no spotties, no winch, no lockers, no roof rack. And we packed ultra-light. I reckon we had about 200kg of equipment and food with us, at most.
So, brief comments follow for anyone going to the Cape in 2011…
Ellim Beach - Eddie runs nice no-frills camping sites, after long drive from Cooktown and HopeVale.
Lakefield - Only three lagoons accessible easily. OK if you are a birdwatcher.
Coen - just keep going...
Archer River Roadhouse camping - Great spot, just don't turn up on payday - the "locals" are just a little noisy all night…
Chilli Beach - Nice big beach with granite boulders. Constantly windy. Really windy. Must choose a campsite early as everyone goes there. Choose one with some wind protection, otherwise everything gets covered in salt and fine dust.
Portland Roads - very acceptable cafe: "Out of the Blue". Worth heading to for lunch as the seafood is fresh and fantastic.
Frenchman's track - we didn't do it, but two others in our group did and it was apparently not too bad. Many other people doing it as well (with camper trailers).
Weipa - definitely worth a stopover to wash, get food, relax, watch sunset, etc.
Old Telegraph Line southern section -
First crossing (Palm creek) is the worst. Steep in, and rutted/boggy out. The Prado needed towing out here.
Video: http://www.vimeo.com/26559047
Gunshot Creek - easy as - now. The legendary steep drops are now vertical and overgrown. No one does them.
Video: http://www.vimeo.com/26559468
Cockatoo Creek - new National Parks amenities (shelter and toilets) making the campsite very civilised!
Old Telegraph Line northern section -
Twin/Edith Falls - great swimming spot.
Many creek crossings follow, each getting progressively deeper... eg Bridge Creek:
An unnamed one just before Nolans Brook required a tarp over the front (waist deep)
Finally the deepest: Nolans Brook, which was 1.2m deep with a very soft sand base. Attached a snatch strap between the last vehicle over to the next to cross, as a safety line. Only a little water in the car, as it started to float at the back. Rubber bungs in the floor had popped up.
Punsand bay camping - very nice spot, particularly if you get a beachfront site.
5 beaches scenic loop - well worth doing. Very scenic on windswept beaches, with few other cars.
Obligatory photos at the Cape, of course.
On the way back, we visited Vrilya Point campground on the Gulf - very quiet, calm place after the Tradewinds of the eastern side.
Laura - Very good Aboriginal rock art just south of town.
And then back to bitumen roads, and the Lions Den Hotel.
CREB track North to South - just one thing: Don't do it if it looks like / has been / is raining!!! Even when the sign on the Northern gate says "Open"... Wow, that was the steepest slippery clay ascents/descents I've ever tackled… Slid down some slopes. Potentially extremely dangerous. Very pretty rainforest in the rain, however.
So that was it for us this year.
Conclusions -
The standard Toyota front bumper bar did NOT scrape at any point, despite what we were told.
The Bilstein shocks were perfect for our car's weight, etc. They did not "melt" or fail, despite what we were told.
A winch was not needed (but might have given us some peace of mind)
Air Lockers were not needed (but if we did the trip on our own, would have been mandatory, as would the winch).
Very little dust got in - but we left the ventilation on "Fresh" air, with all windows up and the fan on. Do NOT turn the fan off, or go to recirculated air for long periods, or else dust does get in…
The snorkel helped with the water, but needed a foam "sock" on the intake to stop dust.
Diff breathers are essential.
I personally go at 60-90km/h over corrugations because (a) I want to get over them asap, and (b) the tyres skip over the bumps, resulting in far less jarring than going slower. We had many conversations about the pros/cons of doing this, however for my setup, this worked perfectly, and nothing broke.
Lowering tyre pressures does wonders for traction. Like 18psi in mud or for sandy creeks.
Rockslider side steps are a good idea! Standard steps do get a little bent...
Enjoy!
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