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 11: JARDINE RIVER CAMPSITE TO PUNSAND BAY

Back-track a little this morning to find that turn-off you made a note of yesterday arvo. It’s a slow but easy 15km or so out to the PDR from here, then a quick run up the main dirt track to the Jardine River Ferry. Pay your fee at the office (be aware they close for a couple of hours over lunch, and knock off around 5pm) then it’s about another 45km into Bamaga from here. If you need it, top up fuel at the BP servo at Bamaga and then head north for Punsand Bay Campground. Stop in at the Croc Tent to say g’day, buy a little keepsake as a memory of the trip and pick up a copy of their mud map that shows all the tracks including the Five Beaches run. It’s a little more expensive than other camping, but take a look at where you are, this place is absolutely stunning!

Distance travelled: 200km

Rough fuel cost: $70

Camping fees for the night: $17/person per night (unpowered campsite – absolute beachfront’s a little more)

Ferry fees: $99 (single vehicle) $129 (trailer)

DAY 12: THE TIP AND FIVE BEACHES RUN

Assuming you’re still working on a limited time-frame, then this is a day where you’ll get to explore the very Tip of Australia! Start with a morning’s drive up the Roma Flats Track north from Punsand Bay. It’s challenging, rocky, rutted, sandy in spots and there’s a $500 fee for vehicle recoveries, but give it the same sort of care you’d give the Tele Track and you’ll be right, watching out especially for the sandy bits. It’ll put you out right near the Tip, so have an explore and get the obligatory photo at the sign. For the arvo, take the opportunity to go for a drive out to Sommerset and do the Five Beaches Run. It’s wild, remote and incredibly scenic, before dropping back into Punsand Bay for the night. And if you’re wondering, the wood-fired pizzas (usually on most nights during peak season but call to be certain) are worth every cent. This place might be heaven on earth.

Distance travelled: 150km

Rough fuel cost: $80 (lots of low-range work on the Five Beaches Run)

Camping fees for the night: $17/person per night

To be continued…