Things we "MUST" see on the way to the Cape

[idlegossip]

Ok everyone,

Need some ideas on things we must see in July on our trip to Cape York with the myswag crew. We will be leaving Melbourne on Sat 18th June to be in Cairn by Thursday 23rd July with 1 day reprieve before meeting up with everyone else. Still haven't decided if we will take the Newell Hwy through Dubbo, Moree, St George, Emerald, Charters Towers to Townsville then straight up or the Kidman Way through Griffith, Cobar, Bourke, Charlesville, Hughenden to Ravenshoe then onto Cairns.

Have done the Newell Hwy 11 years ago and that was a good drive then. Is one way better than the other? There is about 200 klm difference one from the other so there isn't a major saving in Klm's. Will have the ankle biters in tow so need places that are really good for kids.

So please give us your suggestions and help us plot our course. And any suggestions to safe & free overnight camp spots would be appreciated. We plan to snake our way back down along the coast over the following 3 weeks and we will visit a lot of the coastal places, and heaven help me if we don't go to the theme parks in Brissy/Gold Coast,  but again any good free campsites would be appreciated. I have the Camps 5 book as a reference and will check that out also but would rather hear the good stuff from other swaggers.

Also While I am at it is are there any other Mexicans that will be going to the myswag Cape York trip this year?

Looking forward to some good advise.

Thanks

[kochy]

If you are travelling to Charters Towers instead of going to Townsville go north to the Lind and then on to the Undara Lava Tubes check them out on the web.

[JethroT]

Hi guys,

We stopped in a Chillagoe and enjoyed a tour through the limestone caves.

There is also plenty to see on the Atherton Tablelands The fig tree, crater lakes, dairy museum and Tinaroo dam to name a few.

Regards
Geoff

[coffs camping]

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104258706751029732139.00000111022f218d3aa45

J

[Kit_e_kat9]

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104258706751029732139.00000111022f218d3aa45

J

Or you could look here

Kit_e

[idlegossip]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Will look into the Undara Lava Tubes. I am thinking of coming through Atherton Tablelands on the return trip before cutting back out to the coast around Innisfail and then cruise down the coast.

From memory there is/was a great coffee place around Mareeba. Does anyone know if it is still there? Also for memory, there was the Emerald cave at Atherton??? Is that correct or do I need to get back on the turps to rectify my memory!!!!

Will do most of the other place along the coast eg - Airlie Beach (Totally love that place), Bundy, Hervey Bay (Fraser Island) , Coffs, Port Maquarie etc, etc.

Will also look at all the "BIG" things to see along the way. The ankle bitters should love that I hope.

Still looking for other suggestion if people have any.

Thanks

[jclures]

The Coffee Works, Mareeba.
http://www.coffeeworks.com.au/

The Crystal Caves, Atherton
http://www.crystalcaves.com.au/location.htm

You might find this place off interest.
Herberton Historic Village
http://www.herbertonhistoricvillage.com.au/history.html

[NewcastleKnight]

Nice Coffee liquor at Mareeba!!

[BigDougie]

Also Skybury Coffee near Mareeba, http://www.skybury.com.au/ and Jaques Coffee, http://jaquescoffee.com/ not bad either.....just for options,
Oh and Gallos cheese and chocolate near Atherton http://gallodairyland.com.au/ is worth a visit....

Big D

[duggie]

Hi , As Jclures mentioned the Herberton Historic Village is a fantastic place to visit, If there any campers/swagers who are coming to Herberton to visit I do have plenty of room for a couple of C/Ts if you require a place to stay for the night, just PM me. cheers duggie

[kochy]

If you are travelling between Lakeland  and Laura there is some great Aboriginal art work in the hills at Split Rock it is right beside the road and clearly marked well worth seeing also visit the cultural centre in Laura.

[yogi]

Try here for the kids

http://www.australiasdinosaurtrail.com/

Plus the million other things you can do in Winton !!!!

yogi

[jclures]

Yogi I go out to Winton two or three times a year, I have never found the million of other things to out there, other than swatting the millions of flies they have at times.
But it is worth seeing some of the sights though, I haven't been to Old Cork Station yet, that is on my to do list.

[idlegossip]

Some great suggestion there from everyone.

Now to nail down the way we will travel and how we can incorporate as many of these suggestions into our itinerary. This will be the hard bit.

Thank you and keep them coming.

Duggie, thank you for the offer to stay for a night. I will see how we will travel and let you know closer to the time. Very much apprieciated.

That is what I love about myswag, everyone is willing to help others out.

[yogi]

jcclures ....... You got me there I was exaggerating just a little as there's probably only about ½ a million things to do

[Darcy7]

I know its not on your planned path but I highly reccommend going to the west lower corner of the Cape and stay a few days in Karrumba.  What a beautiful place...!

We went from the west accross the centre to Musgrave and up to the Cape from there.  We travelled into some very remote areas on tracks that only existed on 50 year old army maps. It was sensational.  Saw some awesome country and it was so remote, we barely passed anyone along the way.

But I would live in Karrumba....

[Hoyks]

I'm told Canarvon Gorge, just north of Roma, is worth a look. Just remember, in a lot of the parks here you need to pre-book a site. It is frowned upon to just turn up and pitch a tent.

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/carnarvon-gorge/index.html

[scoot]

I'd like to have a look here either before the trip starts or after on the way back. I knew the creator of this place years ago when he was selling bugs in Japan and know he's devoted his life to it. Must be interesting even if you are not into insects. I wasn't until Steph explained some of the ones he had with him, his passion is infectious. Kids might like it. Or not.

http://www.daintreecoast.com/tour_details.php?tid=13

http://www.daintreemuseum.com.au/

Scoot

[RichardW]

FWIW a couple of trip reports from 2006 and 2009.
Have Fun.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~rwindeyer/Trips/CY06.pdf
http://members.iinet.net.au/~rwindeyer/Trips/CapeYorkCaperp.pdf

[TroyE]

if your on the coast road, just north of rocky is the bat caves with camping ground, we stayed there in may 09 on our way south, did a tour of the caves (with our 3 1/2 year old @ the time) had a ball climbing in the caves and bat spoting

http://www.capricorncaves.com.au/

Troy