This is part of a series of articles about how to have TWO EPIC WEEKS IN THE CAPE FOR $1500! If you haven’t read the first part we recommend heading back to Part 1 and reading through for an absolute cracker of a time up in wild and wonderful Far North Queensland!

DAY 2: ARCHER POINT TO ELIM BEACH

Today’s an opportunity to go for a run up into the incredible coastal inlet of Cooktown. Restock on any supplies needed and brim up the fuel tank before heading up to the famous Elim Beach and the coloured sand dunes. This is a privately-run campground right on the water. It’s also the kind of spot you could easily park up for a week and kick back in your Adventure Kings Swag or Adventure Kings Rooftop Tent at, but if you’re on a tight time-frame then one night’s better than none!

Distance travelled: 80km

Rough fuel cost: $30

Camping fees for the night: $10/person per night, kids under 12 free

DAY 3: ELIM BEACH TO KALPOWAR CROSSING

Lakefield National Park is one of the most scenic spots up the Cape, and that’s saying something! In the space of an hour you can go from crossing creeks, to savannah grasslands, to full-blown wetlands with acres of huge flowers blooming. Today’s an easy run up into Kalpowar Crossing campground, which is roughly halfway up the Park. There’s cold showers and a dunny block if you want to wash a bit of dust off, or you could use your Adventure Kings Shower Kit or your Kings Portable Camp Toilet and there’s good fishing to be had off the causeway, but be warned – there’s big resident salties down there most days.

Distance travelled: 300km

Rough fuel cost: $80

Camping fees for the night: $6/ person per night

DAY 4: KALPOWAR CROSSING TO PRINCESS CHARLOTTE BAY

This morning’s run up through the top half of Lakefield runs through some absolutely epic grassy plains that stretch for more than 10km, littered with termite mounds the entire way. You’ll quickly come to the intersection of the PDR (Peninsula Development Road, the main dirt road up the middle of the Cape York Peninsula), at Musgrave Roadhouse. Top up the tank here and shoot about 80km north on the PDR to the Port Stewart turn-off (well signposted). It’s an easy hour’s cruise east out to Princess Charlotte Bay, camping at Bathurst Head right on the stunning beach.

Distance travelled: 200km

Rough fuel cost: $60

Camping fees for the night: $6/person per night

To be continued…