Page 8 - Ebook Explore Cape York

Explore Cape York 2
When is the Best Time to Head up the Cape?
If you’re not limited by time or holidays, anytime is the best
time! However, if you’ve plenty of time up your sleeve, you
might like to consider the following:

April/May - if the roads are open, you’ll find the creek crossings
on the Old Telegraph Track (OTT) and other tracks higher than
later in the year. The Peninsula Development Road (PDR) and
Bamaga Roads may not have had wet season damage repaired.
The road is more than likely to be passable, however, a little
more care will be required. On the plus side, there will be less
traffic.

June - the temperatures will be more comfortable. Road repairs
will have likely commenced and, depending on the previous wet
season, creeks on the off-road tracks may have started to drop.
Note: there are no creek crossings on the PDR,
Bamaga/Telegraph roads once the dry has commenced – there
may be a little water in some of the dips early in the season.

July - is busy with school holidays underway in all states. The
extra traffic will have stirred up the corrugations, so driving to
the conditions is a must.

August/September – is also busy with creek levels dropping
and pleasant temperatures. The bonus for those a little nervous
about tackling the OTT for the first time, is that there are more
people around. Help abounds, and track repairs will have been
made by those going through earlier.

October/November - the tourist season is waning as are the
creeks. An excellent time for a quieter visit.

December – the temperatures/humidity are rising; however,
tourists are still heading up. The numbers are down but it’s still
a great time to take the trip – one of the better kept secrets.
Do watch the weather as there’s always a chance of an early
wet season.