Access and Safety
Access and Safety
Traveling in remote areas of Cape York requires preparation and planning. The weather, road conditions, wildlife and access to communications can all influence a visitor's experience. Cape York also has permit systems to reach some areas and restrictions on where alcohol may be moved and consumed. This page offers advice on ensuring your visit is a safe and pleasurable experience.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service website has advice on preparing for your visit.
www.flyingdoctor.net/travelinfo.htm
Climate and weather
Roads and rivers
Access and permits
Communications
Shopping and supplies
What not to take
Wildlife to take care around
What to do in an emergency
Climate and weather
The weather on Cape York Peninsula is generally divided into the Wet and Dry seasons. From December to March the area can be deluged by heavy monsoonal rain depressions, with associated cyclonic influences. Travel by road can be limited but year round access is possible by air and sea.
The dry season contributes less than 20% of the annual rainfall. Towards the end of the year lagoons and swamps dry up, smaller rivers stop flowing and bushfires become a dominant feature of the parched plains and open woodland.
Summers are hot and humid with temperatures reaching between 33° to 36°C in the height of summer. In the middle of the dry season in July, temperatures fall to an average minimum of 21°C in the north, dropping below 10°C at night. Daily variations at any time of year however seldom exceed 15C.
Bureau of Meteorology
www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/cyclone
Roads and Rivers
Most journeys on Cape York are measured in time rather than kilometers, depending on the state of the road, the weather and the condition of the vehicle. The Cooktown Development Road to Cooktown from Cairns is now fully sealed and drivable most of the year by conventional vehicle. From Cooktown to Weipa (560 km) the Peninsula Development Road is mostly dirt and gravel and is impassable during the wet season.
Dust, corrugations, unfenced cattle and wildlife are potential driving hazards, and can be difficult to see at times. Rivers on Cape York can rise rapidly and caution should always be exercised when crossing rivers and attention should be paid to depth meters at crossings. Many creek crossings are without bridges and should be approached slowly, even when dry. 'Dip' signs (where present) provide advance warning to slow down. Some of these 'dips' are very deep and should be approached cautiously.
May through to October is the optimum time to travel to the tip as many roads and most tracks become impassable for extended periods between late November and April. Always check current road conditions before setting out.
The 300 km branch road to the northernmost 'tip' of Cape York is not as maintained. If traveling into this area, it is recommended that the 'bypass' roads be used as an alternative to the Telegraph Road. These begin 40 km north of the Wenlock River crossing at Moreton, and avoid very rough sections of the original access track, which followed the now dismantled telegraph line. However, narrow sandy stretches with limited visibility still require extreme caution to avoid collisions or loss of vehicle control.
4WD vehicle is the only transport recommended for reliable travel away from these main roads. Caravans should not be towed beyond Lakeland, and only the sturdiest of trailers with heavy-duty suspension and hitching mechanisms should be taken into the area.
Cook Shire Council Road Status
www.cook.qld.gov.au/council/Roads/currentstatus.shtml
Royal Automobile Club of Queensland
www.racq.com.au
Access and Permits
Many Cape York Peninsula roads cross properties which are private holdings. These are not available for public access without prior permission from the relevant landholders. This situation may be (but is not always) indicated by gates or signage and boundaries should be respected at all times.
Access through lands under Aboriginal control is generally restricted to the main roads, which connect the various community centres. Signs regarding access on National Parks or other protected areas must be observed. Penalties apply where offences are detected.
People wishing to visit areas of Cape York Peninsula on Aboriginal land should first contact the council offices to find out about permit requirements and entry conditions. The communities page gives detailed information about each community. Please be aware that the services listed can change without warning and it is advised to check with the individual community if you have any queries regarding what is currently available.
Communications
All of Cape York is covered by satellite phones, with CDMA coverage largely available in and around most communities. Conventional mobile phones will not work except in large centres. Most of the Cape has UHF Radio coverage and it is wise to have one installed in your vehicle. CDMA mobile phones will be phased out by 2008 as Telstra phases in its ‘Next G™ network’ which promises to match all current CDMA signal areas.
The easiest and cheapest way to keep in touch is to make the public telephone your friend – every road house has one but payment methods vary between phonecards, credit cards or cash. To stay in touch set up a voicemail service before you to the Cape and check your messages at public telephones as you go.
Shopping and Supplies
Fuel, ice, bait and most standard supplies are available at the small townships and roadhouses situated at intervals along the Cooktown and Weipa roads and also at the Aboriginal Community stores or service stations.
There are supermarkets, post offices, chemists, doctors and newsagents in Weipa and Cooktown. Aboriginal Communities all have post offices with varying services available. EFTPOS is available in most areas though sometimes its use can be affected by extreme conditions.
What not to take - alcohol is restricted in some areas
Since 30 December 2002, restrictions on the type and quantity of liquor that can be brought into various remote indigenous communities have been gradually implemented in Queensland.
Alcohol Management Plans have been developed by Community Justice Groups and contain recommendations for declaring all or part of a community area either a ‘Restricted Area’ and/or a ‘Dry Place’.
People who live in, or are planning to visit, travel through or pass near a community which they feel may have restrictions should ensure they are aware of the laws. Bag checks can and will happen and severe fines apply if people are caught.
Limited beer and wine are available at various locations. For detailed information by community visit the Queensland State Government website
www.liquor.qld.gov.au/Indigenous/Alcohol+Management+Plans
Wildlife to take care around
When traveling and camping in remote areas it is wise to be wild life aware. Cape York and its waters is home to a wealth of animals and plants, some of which may present danger to humans including snakes, feral pigs, spiders, crocodiles, marine jellyfish, sharks and some toxic or stinging plant species.
Crocodiles
Cape York Peninsula is home to estuarine crocodiles. Rivers and some fresh water lagoons provide an ideal habitat for these species. Care must be taken when boating, fishing as crocodiles are territorial and defend their area especially during mating and nesting seasons. Crocs spend the majority of their time underwater though they can be seen basking on the sand or mud banks in the sun whilst the water temperatures are cooler. Swimming is not recommended and signage must be observed. Do not camp close to water that crocodiles inhabit, take care when launching boats and do not clean fish at the water edge. Always observe crocodile warning signs.
www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife
Jellyfish
Marine Stingers are present in the ocean and water along the northern coastline and islands from October through to May. Although may be present anytime of the year. Swimming is not recommended in these waters during this time.
If stung:
- Treatment must be immediate.
- Domestic Vinegar kills the stinging cells of the jellyfish, flood the stung area for half a minute to render the stings harmless.
- If there is no vinegar handy, you can help the victim by picking off any clinging tentacles with tweezers or your fingers - but don't get stung yourself.
- Mouth to mouth resuscitation or CPR may be necessary because the toxin quickly affects breathing and circulation. It is also necessary to apply a compression bandage. If live tentacles remain on the body, apply pressure immobilisation only above the sting. And of course, get medical help as soon as possible.
Snakes
Cape York is home to a number of harmless and harmful snakes. The Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) sometimes referred to as the Common Brown Snake is a particular resident of Cape York that you don’t want to meet. The snake has highly toxic venom, which can cause death.
If you someone in your party is bitten by any snake, take the following steps:
- Identify or be able to describe the snake, but only if it can be done without significant risk for a second bite or a second victim.
- Move the affected limb as little as possible to delay absorption of the venom.
- Safely and rapidly transport the victim to an emergency medical facility unless the snake has positively been identified as harmless (nonvenomous). Remember, misidentification could be fatal. A bite without initial symptoms can still be dangerous or even fatal.
- Provide emergency medical care within the limits of your training.
- Remove constricting items on the victim, such as rings or other jewelry, which could cut off blood flow if the bite area swells.
- If you are in a remote area in which transport to an emergency medical facility will be prolonged, you should apply a splint to the affected limb. If you do apply a splint, remember to make sure the wound does not swell enough to make your splint a tourniquet, cutting off the blood flow. Check to make sure toes and fingers are still pink and warm, that the limb is not going numb, and that pain is not getting worse.
But Do Not:
- Cut and suck. Cutting into the bite site can damage underlying organs, increase the risk of infection, and does not result in venom removal.
- Use ice. Ice does not deactivate the venom and can cause frostbite.
- Use electric shocks. The shocks are not effective and could cause burns or electrical problems to the heart.
- Use alcohol. Alcohol may deaden the pain, but it also makes the local blood vessels bigger, which can increase venom absorption.
- Use tourniquets or constriction bands.
In an emergency
As in the rest of Australia if you have access to a telephone you should dial 000.
If you are traveling in outback Australia and are in an emergency medical situation contact the Flying Doctors on your HF radio as soon as possible. They will give you advice and make arrangements to fly in to provide medical assistance.
www.flyingdoctor.net/travelinfo.htm#IN%20AN%20EMERGENCY
Overseas travellers are advised to have travel insurance.