Trip Planning - Update

A closer look at dates and timing etc. and we have firmed up some plans.

The trip up to Cairns is now as follows:
Leave early Day 1 - for Bourke. (1040k)
Day 2 - Bourke to Longreach (969k)
Day 3 - Day in Longreach (Stockmans Hall of fame and QANTAS Museum)
Day 4 - Longreach to Cairns. (919k)
--Break in Cairns.
Cape Trip.
Day 1 - Cairns to Cooktown (Via Cape Tribulation) (200k)
Day 2 - Cooktown to Lakefield NP (Possible camping at Hann River Crossing) (200k)
Day 3 - Lakefield NP to Moreton TS (380k)
Day 4 - Moreton TS to Punsand Bay (Taking easy route for most part incl Jardine River Ferry) (270k)
Day 5 - Trip to the tip. (Stay at Punsand Bay)
Day 6 - Back to Moreton TS (270k)
Day 7 - Moreton TS to Chili Beach - (Iron Range NP) Probably a slow trip (120k)
Day 8 - Chili Beach to Archer River RH (150k)
Day 9 - Archer River RH to Port Douglas (240k)
--Break in Port Douglas / Cairns. (8 Nights)
Trip Home
Day 1 - Leave midday for Hughenden (587k)
Day 2 - Hughenden to Mt Isa (521k) - Mine tour (That afternoon or possibly next morning)
Day 3 - Mt Isa to Longreach (647k) - Depending on time might revisit QANTAS museum to see bits missed last time.
Day 4 - Longreach to Charleville (515k) Visit Telescope.
Day 5 - Chareville to Peak Hill (839k)
Day 6 - Charleville to Home (784k) - Stop at Parkes Radio Telescope.

Total Ks 9058.

Planning Links

Punsand Bay

Moreton Telegraph Station

Meluna Station

Route Planning on the Cape

Starting to put a route together.

This is about once we get to Cairns.

Currently thinking something like:

Day 1 Cape Bedford 200ks

Day 2 Cape Melville 190ks

Day 3 Salt Water Creek Camp 160ks

Day 4 Archer River Road House 220ks

Day 5 Chilli Beach 140ks

Day 6 Moreton Telegraph Stn 140ks

Day 7 Seisia via OTT 200ks (Maybe too optimistic)

Day 8 The Tip 35ks

Still working on some multi day stop overs and the route back to Cairns

Links

ExplorOz

Landcruiser Owner Online - LCOOL

Oziexplorer Software

CREB

Looks like the CREB track will be out of the question.

Reasons?

1. Its only just opened for this year so may not be open when we go in Jun/Jul next year.

2. The management of the Daintree don't allow trailers.

Pity - sounded like a worthwhile track to explore.

Might have to think of ways around it.

The Truck

I bought the vehicle in March 2008.

It's a Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series VX Twin Turbo Diesel.

I've had the following bits added.

- ARB Colour Coded Deluxe Bullbar

- Warn XP9.5 Winch

- Lightforce 240 HID spotlights

- GME TX3440 UHF Radio

- 70ltr Auxillary Longranger Fuel Tank

- ARB CKMA12 High Volume Air Compressor

- Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ 4Rib Tyres 285/75/R17

So what is plan?

The current plan is for me to take 4 weeks off work around the school holidays in June/July 2009. My youngest daughter might also come.

I'll take 1 week drive to Cairns with the camper trailer and pick up the balance of the family there.

We'll take 2 weeks to drive to the tip and back to Cairns. Family will fly home and I'll drive back.

To make the drive to Cairns interesting I'm hoping to go via some places of interest like Longreach to check out the Qantas museum.

So far I've mapped a few alternate routes on OziExplorer and used Google Earth to check the terrain etc...

We have two other families interested in coming with us - hopefully they too will be able to arrange the time off.