. I'm in! I will be in FNA next year, so could help with arrangements from "the top end". Just for those interested, if you don't want to drive both ways, there is a barge from Cairns to Seisia (leaving Cairns on Friday afternoon, arriving Seisia Monday morning), or, alternatively, leaving Seisia Monday morning and arriving Cairns (I think- will have to check) Wednesday. For prices, check: Seaswift.com.au. I believe bookings are fairly full in the dry season, so don't delay in making early arrangements. Werner
PS. I will be driving from just about the most South-Westerly part of Oz to the most North-Easterly point of Oz in early January. Only about 6000km, then on barge from Cairns to Seisia, as all roads will be closed due to wet season!

 

And then there were two

Will let the folks at VW know early this time... once we firm the dates

 

Im hoping to be there late August in the Patrol with the few patrol blokes.

 

Not taking Treg to tow Patrol?

 

lol
Treg is stock as a rock with allterains on and no air suspension.
So Patrol might be snatching few so called Land Cruiser country vehicle's
and any tregs that get stuck....

 

On a trip a while ago I saw the the same merc GL pull two landcruisers out... And both these cruisers were the usual with suspension lifts and running MT's

Well we might see you enroute then... And either pull or get pulled out. Should be fun nonetheless

 

Singh, you haven't said when...... Dry season obviously, but we won't be back in Qld until mid-June ( having done Ningaloo/Pilbara/Kimberley etc ). Mind you, after nearly 3 months on the road there may be an Aussie Swag camper going real cheap, but if all is well, we could conceivably link the cape in as an extension to our trip. Dub

 

Late June or July sounds good. It would certanily be a baptsim of fire for my new new Treg! I think I would opt for safer Cape York trails though. Not sure what you had in mind....

 

Hi Dubby, Stevie
Yes definitely the dry season..ofcourse. I'm easy with the dates within that window and happy to finalise a period that suits all.
The idea would be too have a safe, exciting adventure similar to all other times.
Hope you guys can join!

 

hey Singh

Having just done the Cape we did the trip in August. Not too many people about. I'll send you our intinerary separately. We set up bases at Bramwell Junction and Eliot Falls and did the southern and northern sections of the OTL as day trips. Even at that time, be prepared for some deep wading eg just going into the Eliot Falls camp was at least 600mm. Some places along the OTL are deeper than that. The bypass roads while filled with corrugations and bull dust are traffic-able by most soft-roaders and even sedans if you take it easy.

By way of example, check my facebook page for video of me and a mate doing Palm Creek, just north of Bramwell Junction. That's probably the worst of the OTL. There are even easy tracks through Gunshot.

I think doing one of the legs on the ship is probably a good idea as it means you miss out on doing 1000km of crap roads twice.

And once you've done it, you probably won't go back. It's a hell of a long way to see not much other than dry euc forests and roadkill. But, hey, you gotta sign it off in the task book of life.

Cheers

Bob

 

hey Singh

Having just done the Cape we did the trip in August. Not too many people about. I'll send you our intinerary separately. We set up bases at Bramwell Junction and Eliot Falls and did the southern and northern sections of the OTL as day trips. Even at that time, be prepared for some deep wading eg just going into the Eliot Falls camp was at least 600mm. Some places along the OTL are deeper than that. The bypass roads while filled with corrugations and bull dust are traffic-able by most soft-roaders and even sedans if you take it easy.

By way of example, check my facebook page for video of me and a mate doing Palm Creek, just north of Bramwell Junction. That's probably the worst of the OTL. There are even easy tracks through Gunshot.

I think doing one of the legs on the ship is probably a good idea as it means you miss out on doing 1000km of crap roads twice.

And once you've done it, you probably won't go back. It's a hell of a long way to see not much other than dry euc forests and roadkill. But, hey, you gotta sign it off in the task book of life.

Cheers

Bob

Hi Bob have you got a link to it,
markus

 

Hi Markus, here you go - bobzed57's Library | Photobucket

Click on the Palm Creek one. Only two of us did the leg, the other three vehicles did the bypass. A couple of creek crossing later Gemma had water lapping at the windscreen, but this was more because of her 'momentum'. The crossing would have been 700 - 800 deep.

Cheers

Bob

 

nice one Bob...i see you still have the video from sunny corner there! was good fun

 

Hi All,
Every year we do one big ClubTouareg trip/gtg - after Camerons Corner, Lake Eyre, Simpsons Desert, Canning Stock, etc its now time to take on Cape York.

Some of us have discussed doing this in the past so after another chat with Werner have decided to kick this off so we can check who all are keen to head up north in 2013.
We can then start to work out the details re exact timings, based on everyones availability and the best suitable time, the route, etc, etc.

So who's keen? Surely we can get some T3 owners to join this time

Cheers
Singh

We did Cape York in June/July of this year, just fantastic, having missed it out in 2010 when doing the big lap. Have to admit we wimped out of the OTT having camped at Bramwell Station and driving the 4 Km's up the OTT to Palm Creek (the first creek) and watching folks being winched out. Lots of panel and side step damage. The RACQ guys told me they recovered 38 rigs just in July so serious thought rather than peddle to metal needs prevail. However, I was thinking of towing our Ultimate camper when making the decision to take the bypass road and now know the best thing to do is leave the camper at Bramwell and just take the Treg up the south leg of the OTT (aprox 40 Kms) and take the bypass back to Bramwell. If you leave Bramwell at 8 am you can be back at camp by 4 pm with good stories to tell. Then take the camper to Eliot Falls and camp and repeat on the north OTT section. However you may need to bypass Nolans Brook as was way too deep this year for anything without a snorkle. We will certainly go back and do the OTT but with a group like yourselves and leave the camper at Bramwell taking the tent and circle back later. We did do the log bridge over to Arilya beach, heart in the mouth stuff but a must do. In summary all good and we will do it again, but take in the OTT next time.

Cheers,

Richard

 

We did Cape York in June/July of this year, just fantastic, having missed it out in 2010 when doing the big lap. Have to admit ...l certainly go back and do the OTT but with a group like yourselves and leave the camper at Bramwell taking the tent and circle back later. We did do the log bridge over to Arilya beach, heart in the mouth stuff but a must do. In summary all good and we will do it again, but take in the OTT next time.

Cheers,

Richard

Thanks Richard, hopefully you can join the group here, your experience and company would be helpful and pleasure

 

Bob and Richard, thanks for sharing your experience - great write-ups! Personally, I think that September/October is the better time to go. Pro's: lower water levels in creeks, less travellers. Con's: warmer (much warmer), tracks more damaged by previous travellers. Only my thoughts.

 

Bob , thanks for that link, it brought a few memories back. The entrie to palm creek still looks as bad as befor. We had a bit less water as we traveled later in the year, so would be travellers please take note. Hey it takes a long time to wear that rock down

 

Hi Singh,

I am in 100%. Can you lock in a date and duration, I need to allocate time. My only exception is that I will no longer be driving the almighty V10 Touareg!

I take delivery of the first 2013 Disco 4 with the new 8 speed box. During the first half of 2013, I will be adding a number of after market accessories and hope to try them out getting used to a new driving position and vehicle ability, hopefully very little set backs.

Bob, saw your Top end trip and video in the disco, pretty good feedback from Jemma at the drop.

Did you have the airbag lifter rods in place, there was a bit of underbelly hits I could hear?

Anyway, I am not going to miss out again, CSR is still heavy on my mind.

If the Disco 4 is as good as my trusty V10, I will be a happy camper.

Regards

Gerald

 

Hi Gerald.

No mods, straight out of the box (I looked into LLAMS and the extenders and thought for the one or two times I'm going to do the rough stuff, it wasn't worth it). The hairiest part of Palm Creek was how close the left hand side of the car came to the rocks and clay. The bounce noise could have been anything, although the only evidence was a small dent in the long range tank.

Gemma and Doris, the two ladies you hear talking on the video, were not getting in the car while we did the drop to the creek. After that they were all good.

Everything wasn't all goodness and light on the trip. On the northern section of the OTT, my air suspension compressor failed which meant a 25km reverse journey in access height. It's amazing how far you can go with only 150mm of clearance. Only needed the winch once. The car did get a ride from Seisia back to Cairns on the ship and Gemma and I flew. Disappointingly, LR doesn't consider it necessary to inspect the compressor during service other than does it go up and down. Luckily we had extended warranty and NRMA premium.

Enjoy the trip. As I say, you've got to do it, but for mine, I rather do the Flinders again.

Cheers

Bob

 

Hi Singh,

I am in 100%. Can you lock in a date and duration, I need to allocate time. My only exception is that I will no longer be driving the almighty V10 Touareg!
hits I could hear?

Anyway, I am not going to miss out again, CSR is still heavy on my mind.

If the Disco 4 is as good as my trusty V10, I will be a happy camper.

Regards

Gerald

G'day Gerald,
Great to hear from you as usual, look ahead to another adventure mate.
Lets work on firming the date.
Sorry to see the the v10 go and the new 4Xmotion not suiting your requirements.
Cheers
Singh

 

Hi Gerald.

No mods, straight out of the box (I looked into LLAMS and the extenders and thought for the one or two times I'm going to do the rough stuff, it wasn't worth it). The hairiest part of Palm Creek was how close the left hand side of the car came to the rocks and clay. The bounce noise could have been anything, although the only evidence was a small dent in the long range tank.

Gemma and Doris, the two ladies you hear talking on the video, were not getting in the car while we did the drop to the creek. After that they were all good.

Everything wasn't all goodness and light on the trip. On the northern section of the OTT, my air suspension compressor failed which meant a 25km reverse journey in access height. It's amazing how far you can go with only 150mm of clearance. Only needed the winch once. The car did get a ride from Seisia back to Cairns on the ship and Gemma and I flew. Disappointingly, LR doesn't consider it necessary to inspect the compressor during service other than does it go up and down. Luckily we had extended warranty and NRMA premium.

Enjoy the trip. As I say, you've got to do it, but for mine, I rather do the Flinders again.

Cheers

Bob

You always have your fair share of 'adventures' on top Bob!!

 

How does Sept/October sound to everyone? of course we'll have to try and avoid the school holiday period.

 

No Treggers putting their hands up yet? Some info re one-way trip on ship Cairns-Seisia or vice versa. In high season (May to end October), no ensuites available for the one way trip. Shared cabins with shared bathrooms - $950 per person if 1 person/cabin, to $600 per person, if shared, with 4 pax per cabin. Vehicle transfer is $800 per vehicle. Last time I was up there, diesel was $2.50 per litre. Singh, I think we can make an exception and allow Gerald to join us with his Oldsmobile-thingy?

 

Hi Werner, I think we should have 4/5 treggers like every other time, just the right number.
As for Gerald, yes exception will have to be made.

 

Werner, still a maybe but can't commit entirely. Depends on the earlier 15K 3-4 month trip to the Kimberley, Pilbara etc, so expect to be back in Briz by end of July. Will keep ears open tho. Gawd, retirement is good! By the way... Olsmobilly, I thought it was a Morris.
Dub

 

you guys are hard on Bob.



its a Tata ...............hehe

 

How does Sept/October sound to everyone? of course we'll have to try and avoid the school holiday period.

Singh,

If we can do September, then I am a starter!

Stuart.....

 

Great to know Stuart, cant see why we cant do it in September. Lets start planning our route!

 

Seasonally, Sept is normally a safe weather period FNQ, as in well before any wet season. Having said that, Sept 2010, it started raining SE Qld and was a prequel to the 2011 floods! I reckon statistically on records, Sept would be pretty safe all the same. Take into account there is still lingering damage from Yasi and as we speak, ex-TC Oswald has done a dump up there and we are still in the 2013 wet season, so roads/bridges may still clobbered as the monsoon and TC season become highly active.

 

Will have to keep a close eye on conditions like any other trip around oz. fingers xssd!

 

Cape York

Michele and I have been wanting to do an off road trip to the Cape for more years than I can remember but have always been let down by the support crew...we are in!!!!