Cape York – Terry’s Dream
For years Terry has planned to go to Cape York, he read every magazine, listened to every person who had embarked on the adventure and watched every video produced, so it was his dream. But I have to say the adventure was simply marvellous.
It’s rough, dusty and a long way, but its Australia, unique and captivating and I enjoyed it beyond my wildest dreams.
Cairns, first stop, stored the caravan, shopped and did all the last minute checklists.
Then we set off. On up the coast through Mossman, Daintree Village and out first camping night is in the Daintree National Park (Cape Trib), truly where the forest meets the sea and managed a photograph on the beach at sunrise.
The next day on the Bloomfield Track, we linked up with another Nissan couple and stopped at the Bloomfield Falls and of course the Lions Den Hotel. The Bloomfield Track is a challenging 4WD track, quite testing in parts, but very beautiful.
On to Cooktown and did the Jim Cook history bit. Then on to Old Laura, amazing what our first pioneers endured, and on to Kalpowar Crossing in the Lakefield National Park and camped by the river. It is a great set up, we lit a fire, had Billy tea, sausages, potatoes in the fire, salad on a table set up under the stars.. Right on dusk an eagle put on an amazing aerodynamic show for us for about 20 minutes. Not five star, a million star experience
On to Musgrave Station, a coffee break and we inspected this amazing Toyota van (Not a 4WD) covered in paintings from around Australia that were outstanding, with a sign ‘artist in residence’. We talked to this couple for sometime and then asked the inevitable question, only to find they came from my hometown of Narooma, and knew my dad and my brother very well.!!!!!!!
Then on to Archers River, where we camped on the sand in the river, don’t think the crocs like it there. We joined some people around the campfire from the Northern Territory.
The next day it was on to Weipa, where we ran into our painted van people again, and joined them in the club to watch the rugby match. The sunsets at Weipa were magnificent; it was when we were watching a sunset that Rodney Liddell author of the Savage Frontier began talking to us. He was very interesting and outlined some of the Capes history for us.
Off again, next day through Batavia Downs, Morton Telegraph Station, Bramwell Junction and on to the Old Telegraph Track. The crossings were many and varied and now the Old Telegraph Track has many corrugations. We chickened out of the Gunshot, took the by pass road, but did return from the other end to have a look. All the guys love the gunshot.!!!! I reckon they should have a practice car there for the guys to play with.
Camped that night at the Dulhunty River, where there was a mini waterfall. We shared a camp with some lovely people that we caught up with again in Seisia.
On we journeyed, battling the creeks and corrugations, but the reward of the end of this day was worth it, Fruit Bat Falls, caught a bike group having a bath!!!!!oops!!! Then the ultimate reward, Elliot and Twin Falls. We loved the tranquility of this place so much we stayed two days, making the most of nature’s waterfall as our natural spar. We had a campfire cooked bread and could not think of anything better in the world.
Then on our way again, to Seisia and we decided to stay at Loyalty Beach.
The history in this area of the Jardines and the Torres Strait Island people is fascinating.
There is a historical display in the information center at Bamaga, giving a great insight into the history of the Cape.
We really enjoyed Thursday Island and the highlight was a” private” tour of the Cultural Centre by one of the young local people, who was well educated, but still held some of the old black magic beliefs. These islands form a very strategic part of Australia.
We find our friends from Arimdale and Gold Coast that we camped with at the Dulhunty River. We also run into the blue artist van from Narooma coming back from the Cape.
The next day it was up to the Cape where we put a rock on the remembrance rock pile, in memory of Terry’s parents, our dad and our brother in law Kenny, who we found out had passed away that day. He had been very sick for some time. But now we are very sad. Reaching the Cape has mixed emotions for us.
Its time to leave the top and head home…..1 300 more corrugated kilometers to attack.
Captain Billy’s is on our agenda, but it is a very wet and windy day, so we give it a miss and head for Morton Telegraph Station. If you want a real trip back in time and you want to remember how your grand parents did it…. then this is the place. Old chip heaters fire the showers and generators provide the light. The is a huge old stove in the coffee area. Terry had a go a barra fishing, but no luck. We had a beautiful time camping under the huge mango trees.
Then on to the Coen River, a great tranquil place. We watched some whistling kites for a long time in a tree protecting their nest and the fledgling young.
Then on to Palmer River Telegraph Station, Mosman to explore the area, and back to Cairns and the caravan.
This is a trip Terry held as a dream of for a long time and it was everything we dreamed of and more. Just pure Aussie magic.
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