Your Guide to Travelling Cape York

Cape York Peninsula offers a unique and rewarding experience, but preparation is key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip.

Here’s some tips and useful information to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable adventure to the Tip:

The dry season (May–October) is ideal, offering cooler weather and accessible roads.
November, while quieter, is still a good time to visit, though not all services may be available.
You can expect busier roads during school holidays – but don’t worry, you won’t find a traffic jam. Only about 60,000 visitors each year make the trip to the top.
Drive time from Cairns to Bamaga, via the ‘main road’, is about 14 to 15 hours depending on road conditions.

Service Your Vehicle: Ensure your vehicle has been serviced and is in excellent condition before setting off.
Insurance and Cover: Ensure your vehicle insurance and roadside assistance are up to date. Consider swapping your standard roadside assistance to comprehensive – you won’t want to pay by the kilometre to be towed out!
Navigation Caution: Stick to main roads and avoid “shortcuts” on mapping apps that can lead to dangerous 4WD tracks.
Check Your Kit: Spare tyres, recovery gear, and basic tools are essential for remote travel.

Drive Considerately: Allow faster vehicles to overtake to prevent accidents.
Expect Changing Conditions: Roads may vary from sealed surfaces to rough gravel or dirt, so drive cautiously.
Flood Safety: Never risk crossing flooded roads without checking stability and current strength.

Water: Carry plenty of drinking water and stay hydrated. Many areas have a limited treated water supply, and kindly ask that you conserve water use and only fill what you need to use for your stay.
First Aid: A comprehensive first aid kit can be lifesaving in remote areas.
Extra Provisions: Bring sufficient food and fuel as supplies are limited in many areas.

Stay sun-safe with hats, sunscreen, and comfortable clothing.
Only limited medical facilities are available at Cooktown, Weipa, Bamaga, and Thursday Island—plan accordingly.

Fire Safety: Never leave campfires unattended and always extinguish them with water.
Cultural Awareness: Learn about and respect local customs. Check out the NPA Tourism Booklet for helpful tips.
Alcohol Laws: Strict rules apply in Cape York communities—know the regulations before you go (you can read more in the NPA Tourism Booklet).
Leave nothing but footprints and tyre tracks!

Remember, you may be 1000 or more kms from the closest regional town, at times that means having to wait much longer than normal for parts or supplies, weak or no phone signal and slow internet speeds.
Fuel can be few and far between so plan your trip to map out the fuel stations and roadhouses along the way.

Visit the Cape York Camping FAQ page for common questions and answers.
To choose your route, and discover things to do on Cape York, visit the Explore Cape York Guide website.
More information on how to be a thoughtful traveller can be found on the TTNQ Cape York Guide.

Cape York is an incredible destination that rewards thoughtful preparation. Plan smart, travel safe, and enjoy the journey!

Looking to store your van?

There are several caravan parks in the Cairns, Tablelands and Daintree region which offer van storage (terms and conditions may apply), including:

Please contact the individual park for availability and terms.