Cape York is marketed as Queensland's last frontier and possibly one of the last ones in Australia. It is probably more famously known as hosting Australia's most northern tip. Stretching 1000km north of Cairns, the peninsula itself is close to the size of the UK. Between January and April, during the wet season, it is almost out of bounds apart for those who live there, who even then rely on courage and helicopters to keep themselves in beer, fuel and everyday provisions. But when it starts to dry out, it is a 'must have a go' destination for all serious four wheel drive enthusiasts, who take on the challenge of the Old Telegraph Track, which snakes its way up The Cape to the tip On first glance, at the beginning of the journey, you may be mistaken for thinking that the next 1000km will all be corrugated and dusty roads surrounded by bush and trees and not much else. There are however many hidden treasures including: heritage telegraph stations and cattle stations, which provide a well earned watering break or overnight stop in the bumpy journey; crystal clear rivers and water holes, perfect for swimming in; beautiful beaches that overlook the Torres Strait Archipelago, which become great places to watch the sun set and every now and then you are surprised by the flora and fauna that keeps popping up when you least expect it. Cape York is a place that we have both wanted to visit for a long time, its remoteness to the rest of Oz an attraction in itself. La Dolce Vita might seem like she is well equipped but she certainly isn't up for the journey to the top. Infact even people who have their own 4WD prefer someone else to drive, rather than potentially wreck their own vehicle. So we decided to take a trip to the top with Billy Tea Bush Safaris. Fourteen Days of camping out in the bush and exploring a place that we really didn't know a lot about. Below is a highlight of the many many photos that we took and we hope that it paints a picture of our adventure, one that we thoroughly enjoyed but one we would like to repeat next time in our own 4WD!!! |
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| 'Taipan' was to be our mode of transport for the next two weeks. |
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| This is Rob. Our host,steering wheel attendant (driver), chef, ornithologist, flora and fauna expert, DJ, head bar man, and the man behind the success and fun of our trip. |
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| The roads were long, dusty and corrugated. |
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| In two weeks, we covered nearly 2000km of unsealed roads. The traveling however wasn't fast due to the condition of the roads. |
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| Our accommodation was surprisingly roomy, well air conditioned and the views were awesome, especially the sky at night. |
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| On our first day we were treated to some of the oldest examples of Aboriginal artwork in Queensland. A red dingo - at Split Rock, just south of Laura. |
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| The red turtle (LHS) outlined in white has been painted over an older human figure, also in red. Many other superimposed figures can also be seen on this wall. |
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| Due to the extended wet season this year, there was still quite a bit of water about. |
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| Brahmin Cows are a popular choice of cattle stock on The Cape, due to their tolerance of very hot and dry conditions. They can also be known to wander onto the local airstrip too! |
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| STUCK - number one. A grader supposedly upgrading the road, slowed us down considerably when we got stuck in the sand. Fortunately it also came in handy in pulling us out. |
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| Our first tip when four wheel driving - carry a chain saw - comes in very handy when reliant on cooking on an open fire. (By the way this tree is dead!) |
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| THAT'S GOLD!!! Castlemaine XXXX is like water on the Cape. |
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| Alternatively you can always cool off in the local waterhole - if there aren't any Crocs!! Archer River. |
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| Sunset at Archer River - also a signal that it is Beer O'clock. |
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| This is what can happen if you think you're game enough to cross a fast flowing river in the wet season! |
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| When it's dry, the stations and communities half way up The Cape, rely on Road Trains for their goods. For the other half of the population, many goods arrive by boat or people can make a 2000km return trip to Cairns. In the wet, helicopters become one of the only options! |
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| Cane Toads are a major problem across the north of Australia - this one looks like it has been flattened for a while!! |
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| OK - Wenlock River is in the background. Look at the height of the sign Claire is pointing to......... |
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| ........ when it rains it pours!!!!! |
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| Termite mounds are everywhere across The Cape. A female termite can lay thousands of eggs everyday and in her lifetime has millions of babies!! |
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| Some mounds are built over 80 years, to a height in excess of 2 meters. |
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| Our idea of a bush toilet was locating the nearest tree - this was quite luxurious! |
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| Every day we got up at 6.30am. This will be the only time you see Linds smiling this early in the morning!! |
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| We were all looking forward to our smoko break at Fruit Bat Falls. |
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| The water was so clear and refreshing and too high for Crocs to spoil all the fun. |
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| Dave tries to convince Rob that it would be safer to dive, than jump off the waterfall. |
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| It was great to relax without worrying what nasties might be in the water. |
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| This is a Pitcher plant, which attracts its prey into the bottom of the plant with sweet nectar and then when its prey is trapped inside, it closes its lid and then begins to digest!! |
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| Green ants make their nests by sticking lots of leaves from the same branch together. Aboriginals crush up green ants to clear up blocked sinuses. They also say that if you lick their abdomen it tastes like citrus. |
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| So Linds gave it a go! |
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| In fact we both did and their bottoms did taste like citrus and it didn't ruin our appetite for lunch either! |
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| The Jardine River, the final gateway to The Top. Before the ferry was operational, people would rope together plastic drums to make rafts to get vehicles across. However there was just one problem...... |
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| LARGE CROCS!!! |
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| Infarct we were told that this ferry driver had been employed after the last operator had been eaten by a Croc!!! |
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| The colourful ferry wheelhouse could distract you from Croc watching! |
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| Looking across Torres Strait from Loyalty Beach Campground at The Top. |
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| We finally made it. At the most northern tip of Australia - all in one piece! |
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| The most western point of mainland Oz is the only we haven't been to now!!! |
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| The view from the Tip of the untouched beaches, made all the corrugations and kilometers we had travelled all the more worthwhile. |
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| It doesn't matter where we go, we can always get a good curry. Dave, Linds and Sam did a great job and even the chapattis' were cooked over the fire! |
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| Finally we came across an elusive green frog. |
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| He appeared quite relaxed, crossing his arms as he sat on Lindsay's arm. |
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| Or perhaps he was a she?! Which ever, it was very photogenic! |
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| It was just one wildlife experience after another. |
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| We rudely interrupted a black headed python basking in the late afternoon sun. |
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| The first time Claire had ever handled a snake that big!! |
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| We had heard a rumour that the fishing at the Tip was good. |
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| Head for those birds!! For once the rumours were true. The sea was almost boiling with tuna and spanish mackerel. |
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| Claire looking very chuffed after catching the biggest spanish mackerel of the day. |
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| And we won't say no to some cray fish too!! |
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| We caught enough fish to feed us for 8 meals. The crayfish was particularly delicious. |
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| Sunset over the Torres Strait. |
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| Our journey back down south took in some of the Old Telegraph Track. We chose to take the by pass at this section. |
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| Our next stop was the Eliot River, with the water source artesian and high enough to keep the Crocs away. |
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| We set up camp for a couple of days. |
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| Twin Falls was the jewel in the crown of our stay on the Eliot River. |
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| We spent a lot of time cooling off in the refreshing and clear water. |
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| We had seen a lot of photos of watering holes but it's not until you actually visit one as beautiful as Twin Falls, that you realise just how lucky you are to be there. |
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| We took a wander up the river...... |
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| ....and found a 30ft drop that got the adrenalin pumping... |
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| ....and lots of water in your head. |
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| We then came across another great spot - Savo Falls. |
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| And the plunge hole was very refreshing . |
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| We then got back on the road and the rain added some excitement at Cockatoo Creek. |
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| This little turtle popped up to see what all the commotion was about. |
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| At Captain Billy's Landing, the rain fell and it felt like the sun was a long way away. |
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| Usually we pay approx $1.30pl for diesel but up here you pay for the remoteness. |
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| The Ulysses Butterfly is one of northern Queensland's most recognisable and beautiful butterflies. |
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| Just being artistic! |
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| The Palm Cockatoo is a treat to see in the wild and even harder to get on camera. |
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| Let's go off road. Cox Creek provided us with our biggest challenge so far. |
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| It was time for the winch to come out - at last!! |
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| Even Rob sunk in the mud and was slip sliding everywhere. |
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| Linds cheers on Rob, as if he hasn't done it before!! |
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| Ok - so we thought this was funny! |
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| Some real cowboys - mustering cattle near Weipa. |
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| When we arrived at our camp site in Weipa, we were confronted with 200 children participating in an AFL tournament. They were camping right next to us and were probably the best behaved children ever! |
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| If someone did have a sex change in Coen, then the whole town would be talking about it! |
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| Lakefield National Park is a haven for wildlife on The Cape. |
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| This Jabiru took flight over Low Lake as we ate lunch. |
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| Infarct Steve Irwin was tagging crocs at the same time we were visiting Lakefield National Park. Linds and I had so hoped we would somehow bump into him. We both thought he was great. |
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| The environment at Red Lilly Lagoon, was a million miles away from the dry, dusty conditions we had been used to as we had driven further north up The Cape. |
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| Cooktown would be our final night's destination. |
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| Captain Cook could probably have benefited from this lighthouse when he arrived in 1770. |
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| Many heritage buildings still remain in Cooktown. |
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| And this was the spot where Cook landed all those years ago. |
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| We had a few bevvies to celebrate a very fun two weeks on the road. |
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| And then packed the bus for the final time. |
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| Happy Campers - One of our final stops at Bloomfield Falls, north of Cape Tribulation. |
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| Would you believe it? On our last day, on our way home through the Daintree National Park, we finally got to see an adult Cassowary (endangered)- a great ending to a wonderful trip to one of Australia's last frontiers. |
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