Old Coach Road, Cape York? Cooktown camps?

We expect to leave Mutchilba within the next couple of weeks to head up the Cape.

We are considering taking a 'back' route to Laura instead of the PDR, (& will then spend a few weeks in the Laura /Cooktown area, as we are volunteering at the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival at the beginning of July).

Thinking of going via Chillagoe & Mt Mulgrave station (have done that part before with Tvan) to Maytown & driving the Old Coach Road (between Maytown & Laura). Interested whether anyone here has driven it & what thoughts are on towing the Tvan Maytown to Laura?

Also, we've looked at the maps & identified a number of bush/coastal spots we think we can camp around the Cooktown area to chill out & 'kill' a couple of weeks, but if anyone has first hand experience of good spots in the area please share, (publicly or via PM).

G`Day Cuppa.
Did that track a few years ago now and if I remember it took us some thing like six to seven hours.
One bloke had a camper trailer. All got through but would advise travle with company. Just in case.

Will check my files to make sure we are talking about the same track .

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Originally Posted by pearcey

G`Day Cuppa.
Did that track a few years ago now and if I remember it took us some thing like six to seven hours.
One bloke had a camper trailer. All got through but would advise travle with company. Just in case.

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Thanks Pearcey, we had every intention to be driving it alone, but by chance a young NZ couple we got to know up on the Cape rocked up here last night in a new to them '94 80 series 1Hz Toyota wagon & are keen to accompany us. Haven't travelled with others for many years, but they are pretty laid back & in no rush so we are quite looking forward to it. Reckon we may take several days on the track & camp up on the Laura River somewhere. (Assuming we can get across the Mitchell).

Maytown is very interesting, lots for stuff to see and search out. A book called, The River of gold, is about the folks who traveled from the coast, opened up the country, settled and mined Maytown. Well worth the read ,thats if you can still get it.
If I was to go back I would be doing a bit of camping at Maytown and really search the place. Not interested in finding gold just the history.