A trip to the Tip of Cape York is becoming ever more achievable to more and more grey nomads as massive road infrastructure spending in the region continues to make an impact.
The $237.5 million Cape York Region Package (CYRP) Stage 2 has recently reached two significant milestones, and it’s all bringing the ‘ultimate adventure’ that bit closer.
Construction of the 90-metre-long Saltwater Creek bridge – located on the Peninsula Developmental Road next to Musgrave Roadhouse, about halfway between Laura and Coen – is now open to motorists. The bridge replaces the low-level causeway, boosting flood resilience along the route.
And the completion of the sealing of a stretch of road from Merluna to York Downs is another significant milestone, with more than 200 kilometres of the (PDR) now sealed.
Bitumen is covering more and more of the Peninsula Developmental Road. PIC: Queensland Government
Once CYRP Stage 2 is complete, only 145 kilometres of the 571-kilometre PDR will remain unsealed.
The Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said it showed the Government understood the importance of safe and reliable road infrastructure in the remote region.
“Anyone who knows Cape York will understand the Peninsula Developmental Road will always be prone to flooding and closures,” she said. “The construction of the first bridge under this package is a positive step towards easing floodwater levels and road closures during the prolonged wet season each year.”
And the Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, said the improvements would help people spend less time behind the wheel, and more time enjoying a great lifestyle.
“Peninsula Developmental Road is a key connector for the Far North, so it’s great to see we’re continuing to hit milestones, making the road safer and more resilient,” he said. “Projects like these aren’t just about improving our road network – they’re also supporting good, secure jobs for Queenslanders.”
The continued advance of the bitumen tends to attract mixed reviews from grey nomads … depending on their rig and their appetite for adventure.
Many say they enjoy their ‘creature comforts’ and so would welcome a sealed road all the way to the tip.
But others believe the ‘old’ corrugated journey was a destination in itself.
When the funding for these improvements were first announced a few years ago, grey nomad Chris Muller mourned the fact it was ‘coming to this’.
“We towed our off-road van all the way to the top in 2015,” he said. “… the adventure experience will be lost forever when all the multitudes arrive … so glad we did it the ‘hard way’ when we could!”
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When the road is sealed, the lack of infrastructure and accommodation at the top end is not going to cope with the huge influx of travellers
From small acorns,the road will bring tourists that bring money that create business and infrastructure. Hopefully the hotel chains don’t see it as an opportunity but I suspect they eventually will.
This happened in WA the road to Cape Leveque was recently sealed and the local Land Council closed off the accommodation because it was unable to handle the increase in tourists
Totally correct. Look at what has happened on the Gibb River Rd. Created employment.
Upgrading the roads is a vital link for the communities, providing much needed access for safe travel and emergency services ! To be able to travel when required, the closure of roads with small amounts of rain causes cancellations of getting to medical providers and supply necessary resupplies !
Agree 100% Mark, the majority also agree. Those “super adventurer” types can expand their thinking to find one of the many other tracks to their liking around the country.
I agree also Mark, as I’ve said there’s still the old Telegraph Track!
After doing the trip to The Cape this year, I would welcome the new roads as it will allow people like my Mum who has severe Athsma to be able to reach such a beautiful location without worring about having an Athsma attack along the way from all of the dust. It will reduce the carnage of vehicles that couldn’t make the trip to the top. I also believe it will bring more dollars into communities that rely on the support of people travelling. As long as the area is not built up and stays a sleepy little area I can’t see why it is a bad thing.
I agree, to want it to remain un accessible to the majority is pretty self centred.
So happy for the locals. Completion 20 years ago would have been nice. Might consider a “trip to the tip” now without wrecking my van.
How did the pioneers manage They were real old type folk to day the modern man needs air con. mob phones insect repellent gps. 12v fridges ect or they wont travel.
Not entirely true Kevin. I would be quite happy to do the trip in a vehicle without air con and phones, just like we did in “the olden days”. If you are so anti progress, perhaps you should undertake the journey with a horse and wagon and get back to us!
Got back from the Cape a month ago…yes the PDR is quite bad in parts but mostly is fine considering the type of surface. Drive to conditions will keep you safe. There is some resistance from one or two communities as they like their isolation the way it is, and by sealing the road all the way will definitely change that…and not necessarily in a good way…
Stupid article, just shows the snobery of some people “we did it when it was dirt” big deal, more infastructure=progress
Progress, at what cost? Progress usually brings greed, pollution, exploitation, not to mention a decimation of local resources, among many other negatives. Not everyone wants to see Australia covered in smelly, black, sticky, asphalt that brings thousands of people who have no care or thought for the natural state of things.
Unfortunately, all all of what you say is a grim reallity nowadays. Nothing stays the same in a progressive society, there is always going to be pros & Cons.
I remember well crossing the Nullarbor prior to its sealing. It certainly was an adventure but not one I wish to experience again.The”smelly, black, sticky asphalt” is a blessing, as it will be elsewhere.
We enjoyed taking our Jayco 23 ft.to the top.its how you drive, back in 2016 and we still have it about to do another trip down south when rain settles was lots of fun brother in law took his van up there as well
Great. Will need more low cost camp grounds, so lets start planning now.
Can’t wait till it is fully sealed. So much easier on the car. There is lots of “offroad” stuff to do once you get there.
I’ll bet, those who want the Penisula Developmental Road to remain dirt, have got sealed all weather roads to their front doors. They only want others to suffer the corrugations on their trip to town.
I’m wondering what the ulterior motive could be. It’s a lot of money to spend on a road that goes to nowhere, or a road for grey nomads .
This road is not for Grey Nomads it is for defence rapid movement with the oncoming war
Mate, your right on the Money, well said.
Top point
Glad we done it back in 97’ the journey was a great adventure in itself crossing the wenlock was a thrill by itself at least we can say we did it the harder way
My “boyfriend” suggested a camping trip to Cape York in 2010. What an adventure! He proposed as we got our photos taken & I was in shock…we were 55yo…..68 now & still camping. Love adventure! Loved the tip will do it again!
It would me great to travel on the made road, without wrecking your vehicle and caravan.
I am actually looking forward to the bitumen. My wife and I have severe back & hip problems so this will make it easier to fulfil one of our bucket list items.
About time. Can’t wait to try it.
As a seventy five year old I would be extremely happy if there was not one dirt road left in the country corrugated Tanami. Etc it’s the 21st century
More people also means more litter and more rubbish on the sides of the road also alcohol going into communities but of course no grey nomad would do that would they
The most litter we saw in 1990 on our trip to the Cape was at a bend named; Britz Corner; where tourists not driving to conditions, flipped their Hire Vans at an alarming rate spewing contents all over the bush.
There is still plenty of dirt / off-road tracks that come off the main road for those who don’t want to be “spoiled” by having good roads. Those of us in the far north are ecstatic that being stuck for weeks between flooded creeks during wet season is becoming a thing of the past.
If it’s unacceptable for roads in the cities to be unreliable dirt tracks, why is it acceptable for us in the regions?
Don’t forget, the PDR goes to Weipa, not Pajinka. If you want corrugations there’re plenty on that last three hundred kms up from the ‘Y’ and no commitments or funding to seal. As mentioned earlier there are plenty of ‘adventure’ tracks around. The communities would love all weather access, however that’s a long way away yet.
I did the PDR unsealed. It was an adventure for sure but I would be more than happy to see it sealed. Besides the real adventure was the return trip via the Telegraph Track. That will never be sealed in our lifetime. It will test all 4WD’s and the drivers.
I wonder how long before they put a toll on it
I’m looking at it another way. How many more caravan parks will be opened? The old free camping VS caravan park debate will continue as they take money from the stations and existing caravan and camping grounds, just as they do from motels and pubs now.
Will OUR right to choose freecamp be taken away further?
I’m sympathetic to those who would prefer the adventure & challenge of the old track, but I’m sure there will be heaps of other challenging routes for them to explore in this great country of ours. that while we still own most of it.
Having said that, for myself, I would probably love to do the Cape Trip in my Semi off-road Caravan withoutcwooring about destroying my Van & Tow rig. Understand it will partially commercialise the trip but that said, it will be great for the people who live there and rely on road transport as a regular supply chain.Besides for those that still want the adventure trip than use the old Telegraph Track that I did many moons ago in a series 2 landrover with a 202 holden red motor fitted along with the other mods we needed.Now that was a true adventure, No satnav, CB Radio up there was mostly useless.No support Vehicle.
Well done Qld Govt for your foresite, progression is a must.
Sealing the road will encourage more people to drive to the tip just say that they’ve done it.
They won’t really experience much of the peninsula though because most of the more interesting & beautiful places are on side roads far away from the main road.
They’ll mostly see endless kilometers of savannah woodland & not much else.
Does not appear to be a good reason not to seal, shows no regard for the communities and required transport for their support. It is not all about one’s perception of what is or is not more interesting eh. Good on those that are just satisfied to “drive to the top just to say they have done it”.
Great that all the softie type grey nomads will be heading to F’nQ instead of disturbing my preferred areas of the rest of OZ !!!
Chris T
Yes you can destroy the journey and then the adventure some places are better left alone I can only imagine what going to happen next up there god help us
It would be great for the road to be sealed, for those that can’t afford the big rigs and the expensive 4wd to tow it. Australia is for everyone to enjoy.
Fantastic. We did it years ago and we did a bit of damage to the car. And we drove carefully with tyre pressure down. We saw heaps of damaged vehicles. Locals will love a sealed toad. We lived in Marble Bar and were so happy when the road there was sealed. The ruff necks didn’t want it sealed but they only drove on it a couple of times in their lives. We did it evety werk
Sealing it will create employment opportunities for the communities. Hey you still have the Telegraph Track and Gunshot for those who want a challenge.
We lived up there for 3 years and the solitude was both a blessing and bad for your mental health when you couldn’t go anywhere for months. There is a good airport At Weipa where you can fly out daily to Cairns which came in handy to just “get out of town and do some retail therapy”
There is no real need to seal the whole road, much of it is 100km/hr and straight.
The Archer river crossing was always one of the last parts to open and we used to drive down for a day trip to watch the idiots driving through fast flowing water that was sometimes halfway up the doors!
Risking everything because they didn’t want to wait.
Some areas need flood proofing, I agree, HOWEVER this is a wilderness area and I feel that it will be destroyed forever by the people who don’t live up there and don’t care about protecting it for their children and grandchildren to enjoy.
Perhaps rather than focusing on what the tourists want or don’t want we should be asking what the local population want. Do they want a bitumen road up the Cape with the resultant influx of travellers, particularly grey nomads? Excessive tourists have had a negative impact on many idyllic destinations around the world, and making it easier for the general population to access this sensitive area can only have one result for the locals. The destruction of the reason they decided to settle in the Cape in the first place.
Fantastic, and about time. Hurry up already and seal the last 145km.
There is always the OTL
We did our trip to Cape York in 1995. We camped in our tent along the way.
It was a fabulous adventure back then, and a real sense of achievement when we finally stood at the rusted sign at The Tip to have our photo taken.
It is sad in a way that eventually the trip to the Tip won’t be the great adventure it once was, but I can see the that the development of the road will benefit many people in a good way.
The problem for all those who think sealing the road to CY is going to diminish the travelers experience or that it opens the North-East corner of Australia to more and more [unwanted] tourism is, for them, fast becoming a reality. Whatever you think about this, is not going to change the inevitable influx of good, well-meaning and deserving travelers who until now could not have conceived of crossing this off the bucket list. Yep, we are going to have to live with it; and maybe, just maybe this might turn out to be one of the great infrastructural projects that will in turn open up some other remote areas of the country to the generations in front of us. Weve been saying for years that the armchair kids of today need some encouragement to explore beyond their own backyard – maybe this will help them too. Let it be said, we are all Australians and none with a heart to explore should not be excluded by the 4×4 technology that our current road infrastructure demands.
The Government can upgrade the Cape by-pass road that has little traffic flow while the Killer Bruce Highway is still killing motorists. How long will it take for the triple road trains to break up the bitumen – I recon about 10 minutes the way the Queensland roads are made.