A Ridiculous amount of Fun.

I must say that for anyone who owns a 4wd in QLD, the Cape trip is like a rite of passage into 4wd manhood. Apart from the challenge of machine against nature, if you come out the other end with a vehicle that is still drivable, you are guaranteed to have had the most fun you could have ever dreamed of.

After hanging out at the top of australia for a while we headed south and checked out the mouth of the Jardine River. As you can see below it was a little soft and eventually we stopped going forwards. Fear not, the max tracks came down from the roof rack and we were going again in no time.

I have realised that a long wheel base with limited articulation and a heavy load results in lots of 3 wheel action. The poor navara was consistantly negotiating creek entries & exits on 3 wheels. Kirsty wasn't too sure about that but I was loving it.

Under advice from many different travellers and locals that spoke of the 19 drowned engines this season, terrifying stories of water logged interiors and many tears that followed as people tried to cross the northern creeks, we bypassed the deep crossings heading north. But after we had crossed the ferry over the Jardine heading south we had a meeting and decided to do what everyone, including what our guide book suggested not to do, and that was hit the OTT heading south. This turned out to be the best decision we made all year.

Nolans crossing was our first victim, and after walking it and finding the holes we put on the tarp and away we went. There were still echoes of the screams of anguish from the day before when a cruiser drove straight in without looking and got stuck in the hole. The water level rose inside the car until he eventually got it snatched out in reverse only to run into the bank and add some panel damage to the bruised ego and soggy carpet. Both our cars got through without drama.

It's a horrible sound as the exhaust burbles under water and this distinctive swamp aroma drifts in through the vents, but a great adrenaline rush.

Next we hit Logans crossing which was a little deeper again and much wider but again we fitted the tarps and carefully made our way through. The Hyundai definitely got a lot of second looks to make sure they really were seeing what they thought they had seen.

The log bridge over cypress creek really is a buzz. Getting bogged is something you can handle. Having a bridge collapse under you is a horrible thought, fortunately it held together for us.

Cannibal creek put us to the test. Narrow entry into a deep but narrow crossing with a tight turn into a steep slippery exit. Both of us took a few goes to get up and the max tracks came out again to give that extra bit of traction as the front left wheel came off the ground.

Go the nav.... We timed this well as two troopies towing trailers had just spent 1.5 hrs winching themselves up this bank before we arrived.

The final test was coming out of Palm creek. We could smell the ice creams at Bramwell junction only 3km down the track but the nav just couldn't get traction up the steep ledge, even with the max tracks. So out came the winch and up we went. Victory was ours.....

If you had diff locks, you would most likely claw your way up this crossing, but I just couldn't find the button to engage them.... The winch worked well.

For dad this crossing was where he stamped his authority... unfortunately for me and the nav. With max tracks in just the right places he had his first attempt as we all watched and with opposite wheels off the ground he stopped in the same place I did. We all took a photo and turned to get the winch setup. Only a few moments later I spun around as I heard the Terracan revving to see it launched off the ledge come crashing down on the side steps as it bottomed out and then bounced up the bank. Needless to say dad had a smile from ear to ear and a chest bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger as he jumped out of the car triumphantly. Mum was horrified by the crunching sounds that came from the car. But needless to say, and I quote "dear it was worth it to beat Jonno..... and the side steps are only a little bit bent". So the Hyundai conquered the OTT North and South.

The OTT....on the way up!

We're back from our 2009 Cape York Adventure and still smiling.

Had an absolute ball and can't wait to try it again.....soon.

As you'll see, lots of challenging 4 wheel driving which had the boys debating and discussing and reliving all the best bits late into the night. As per usual, the photos just don't do any of this amazing trip justice....nor do words for that matter. But they help us relive a brilliant couple of weeks and hopefully give you a taste of what's up there in the north, waiting for you to explore and experience.

As to the big question....would the Terracan survive??? You'll have to wait for the next post...."The OTT......on the way down!"

BTW, a big shout out to our Carry-Me-Camper buddy: Wayn'o from Weipa. We passed Wayn'o on the bypass track at Gunshot. The brave lad had given it a red hot go, but sadly on that day, no go. Funniest thing....he knew us! He's been following our blog! Small world! Thanks for your feedback Wayn'o. You're a legend!

And now....the proof is in the pics...................

Preparing the first crossing...Palm Ck. If you can survive this one, you can do 'em all. Maybe?

The Nav takes on crossing one. That drop is much steeper than it looks and the fine white dirt on top takes away your traction, so be prepared to s-l-i-d-e.

The Nav's through....now the Terracan has a go. Phew! Made it! We're off to a ripper start on the OTT.

The first wet creek crossing....Ducie Ck. One of the easiest and dirtiest. No swimming here.

Jon makes it through Gunshot.....not in the Navara though. We decided to give the poor girl a day off, after all, we still have a few months of traveling left to go.

The entry to Cockatoo Creek.....which is followed by dodging the holes in the creek bed....then avoiding the ruts and the rocks on the exit bank. Great fun!

The reward for surviving the southern section of the OTT......2 amazing days at Eliot and Twin Falls. Fantastic swimming.

How lucky are we? We had delightful Fruit Bat Falls to ourselves for the afternoon.

The exit out of Canal Creek was pretty soft and sloppy. 3 attempts on this slope and we got through. Meanwhile, Dad had crossed further east in the Terracan and couldn't make it up the bank. So, he had to reverse back into the creek, do a 12 point turn and cross back onto the south side, before trying a different route.

Crossing the Jardine River by ferry is more expensive, but it's safer! Funniest moment: the guy who sells you your ticket asks what make of car you have. Dad told him a Hyundai Terracan and he just looked blank. Never heard of it! We wonder if we just made history....The first Hyundai to the Tip!

Made it! What a great feeling! I want to do it again....and again....and......

Jon's pretty happy we made it to the Tip too!

It's God's own country up here.

In the Beginning

As promised, here's a couple of photos of the first few days of our trip north from Cairns.

The Crew - Nathan, Dad, Mum (Litzow), JVI & KJVI : Rex's Lookout on the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns and Port Douglas.

Beautiful Mossman Gorge....a great place to cool off.

Noah Beach in the Daintree Rainforest.

On the way to Cooktown. The Lions Den Hotel was established in the 1800s to serve travellers and then tin miners living and working up north.

Jon's BIG catch (he he!)

Delicious dinner with great friends in Cooktown.

The Trek - the first few days

Lakefield National Park would be beautiful in the early dry. For us, in the late dry, it was a place to breeze through fairly quickly. But historic homesteads, loaded mango trees and lagoons teeming with bird life, as well as the European tourist crashing his motorbike in the bulldust pit right in front of us, made for an entertaining day of driving.

Up through Coen and out to Chili Beach in Iron Range NP we drove. CB has to be one place most people would consider 'paradise' to look at. White sandy bay lined with coconut trees, clear water lapping oyster-laden rocks….very nice! But who knew paradise could be so windy??? Mum and Dad had to do a 2.30am shift of their tent just to get a break from the constantly flapping fly. But we really enjoyed the 2-day break out there on the east coast.

Next it was a 5 hour drive across the state to the other side…Weipa in the west. We arrived to smoke-filled skies and a really hot Sunday afternoon. But there was a pool….ahhh! Relief! A one night stay in town was followed by Maureen’s wonderful town and mine tour. We got to see the bauxite mining process ‘up close’ and see where the raw material that Jon works with in Gladstone every day comes from.

Back on the Peninsula Development Road and with the Old Telegraph Track firmly in our sights, we could feel the excitement building. The real adventure was about to begin. The dream was about to become a reality. And the question we had asked as we left Cooktown was about to be answered.....

Old Laura Station in the middle of Lakefield NP. Looks mighty dry now, but lots of green mangoes on the trees.

Kalpowar Crossing in Lakefield NP. The brave fishermen took on the barra and crocs....

and lost.

Day 2 and the UHF antennae is stuffed. Oopps. The rot that started in Kakadu has truly set in. Fortunately we were still able to be in contact with our 4WD buddies 'TC2'....that'd be the 2 in the Terracan.

The boys get into the oysters at Chili Beach in Iron Range NP on the east coast opposite Weipa.

Chili Beach....windy but beautiful.

Strange critters in the NP up this way:))

Our campsite in Weipa.

Bauxite mining near Weipa.

A memorable day in Weipa....Nathan calls to tell us he is getting married to Tatiana.

Let the (Fun &) Games Begin!

As Mum and Dad Van Itallie departed, Mum and Dad Litzow arrived….with (Kirsty’s brother) Nathan in tow. With the full team now assembled, our Cape trip was ready to begin.

We enjoyed the winding roads through the Daintree rainforest as they took us into a new Top 5 campsite….Noah Beach (just south of Cape Tribulation). Nestled under a rainforest canopy and only metres from the white sand and azure waters of the ocean, this was a perfect base for a bit of Fathers’ Day exploring in the area. We even found a nice, croc-free swimming hole to enjoy.

The Bloomfield Track has to be one of Australia’s top drives for those lucky enough to own a 4WD. It winds its way through rainforest on the edge of the east coast, offering stunning views out over the reef and ocean. Creek crossings, an ice-cream stop at the famous Lion’s Den pub and a waterfall swim in a ‘local secret’ were some of the highlights as we made it to Cooktown.

We had a great 2-night stay with ex-Gladstone friends David and Emily. Jon caught his first fish of the trip….so what if it was a tiny herring to be used for bait! Cooktown has a very colourful history and it was great to stand in places where Captain Cook had stood over 200 years before us and enjoy a lovely dinner over the water at D & E’s favourite restaurant ‘Cook’s Landing’.

We farewelled Nathan before hitting the road for Cape York….just the Terracan and the Navara, and the question: “Will we make it to the tip of the top in one piece?” (Actually the Navara drivers thought no such thing, but they did wonder how the Hyundai would go.)

PS...Taking too long to load photos with only 2 bars of service, so you'll have to check back in a week or so to see them....sorry:(

Surprise!!

The mobile phone rang just an hour after we’d set up for our week-long stay at Ellis Beach – north of Cairns. Mum Van I was on the line and asked if we’d like to join her and Dad for dinner. What in the world?? Turns out she and Dad had just flown into Cairns and were headed our way for a 3-night stay in a unit at Ellis Beach. What a treat! We had 3 lovely days and nights of catching up with family, enjoying the beach, swimming in the pool and sampling some of the fine food on offer at Palm Cove. Thanks guys for our birthday dinner and the memories of our Ellis Beach surprise.

Looking north up Ellis Beach.

Enjoying our pool for the week.

Full moon rising over Double Island.

Mum and Dad Van Itallie drop in for a visit.

A Little Gem

Halfway between Cardwell and Tully and just 20kms off the Bruce Highway we discovered Murray Falls National Park. Tropical rainforest, cascading waterfall, invigoratingly fresh water...perfect! And a bargain at $5/person/night. We hiked, swam and relaxed...oh and ate Jon's delicious pancakes for dinner. So the question I asked in NT as we swam in crystal clear freshwater rivers and rockpools: "Do we have anything like this in QLD?" has been answered: "YES WE DO!"

Gotta Love This Life

In Mount Isa today but ummmm....which way should we go next??? The original plan was Normanton, then Cooktown, finally Townsville.

Mount Isa Mines stand just on the edge of downtown Isa. Funniest thing. At least we had the winds blowing the right way for our visit....no foul mine odours heading our way.

Richmond waterpark...no I didn't just push the button and watch it run. I jumped in ,clothes and all, closely followed by my brave husband.

Lunch on The Strand in Townsville with Jim and Marie. Thanks guys!

Taking in the action at Dairy Farmers' Stadium in the 'do or die game' for the Cowboys.

Sadly, they died.

Sitting in Mc Donald's on Wednesday morning in Mount Isa, I was reading the Courier Mail. And discovered that the Broncos were to play the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday night. 'Let's go!' says my ever-spontaneous husband. Half an hour later, we'd booked internet tickets using Maccas free Wi-Fi and hit the road for the 900km journey to the game. We travelled the Flinders Highway through all sorts of exciting towns....Cloncurry, Richmond, Julia Creek, Hughenden, Charters Towers and discovered a few more of the delights Australia has to offer. Bomb bunkers aplenty in CT, muttaburrasaurases in H, artesian spa in JC and a fun little waterpark in dry old Richmond of all places. The road itself was pretty flat and boring but the many l-o-n-g (and wobbly) road trains and plenty of big road kill certainly added some interest to the trip. Our arrival in Townsville on Friday was to a wonderful lunch and some sightseeing with Jim and Marie....the owners of the company Jon worked for for 8 yrs in Gladstone. They were headed to the game that night too. Small world! For the record, the Broncos won.....which sadly, ended the Cowboys season for 2009. Better luck next year boys!