It takes a lot of effort to drive to the tip of Aussie, but it is very much worth the effort.
Certainly not a weekend adventure, or even a week - you really need to allow sufficient time to drive to long dusty corrugated roads that lead here, and back.
The indigenous name for the very tip of Cape York, which is also the northern-most point of Australia is Pajinka.
The following websites have some useful information for your visit:
A great place to stay, relax, enjoy
After successfully arriving at the tip, you may well need to spend a few days here recovering. In planning your trip, you may also want to factor in some time for repairs, I was lucky enough to not need any, but many vehicles making the journey up and back were not so fortunate.
Where to stay?
There are a few options for accommodation up near the tip, many being caravan/camp sites.
I had heard there was quite a risk of theft at a couple of the sites closer to the very tip and that the camp sites there can be very busy, requiring you to book in advance.
As I had not really planned on when I might arrive, I had not made any advance bookings and wandered in to Alau Beach Camping site and was fortunate there was space to stay.
This is the link useful information about the site: Alau Beach Campround - Cape York Information & this link here: Alau Beach Campgrounds | Umagico QLD (facebook.com)
Finding your way to the campground is a bit of an adventure all on its own as the signage if very poor, but once you are there you will be pleased you made the effort.
The grounds were quite full the days I stayed there, but I also had a sense that the site was a well-kept secret.
The prices were really affordable, the facilities while not flash, were kept clean and functional and there was even a pool!
I used the few days I spent at the site to do a thorough check of my vehicle, tighten a few bolts here and there and generally relax and do nothing = perfect.
The water looks enticing, but of course this is croc territory, so don't even think about going in!
Driving to the Tip
Depending on where you camped, you can expect at least a 40km drive to Pajinka from your location. I am a bit of an early bird and was glad I was as there is limited parking near the tip and it can get quite busy. My new friends Leigh and Steph from GrizzlyNBear Overland had the great idea of driving up to see the dawn, I wish I had thought of that! You can see their journey here: The end of the road and the end of an epic adventure!
Slight drizzle on the morning I went to the tip, which means red mud splattered all over Lulu!
Being a 'destination', I was quite surprised the 'road' was not bitumen. It was in fact a rather narrow dirt track that in the rain had a couple of decent sized puddles that were almost like river-crossings!
Just look how stunning it is up there, even with the rain approaching.
Thanks once again for sharing the journey with me.
