I guess going to the most northern point on the Australian mainland is a bucket list kind of activity. Nonetheless, that’s our goal for today. But there’s a lot of beautiful country and a heap of history to see on the way.

Cape York Peninsula

We took the back road (of course) from Seisia (on the west side of the Cape York Peninsula out to Somerset, where you can look out to Albany Island. About five years ago John paddled to New Guinea across the Torres Strait and this is where they left the mainland. They spent their first night over on Albany Island. The road out to here changes from open wooded grasslands to thick rainforest in a wink. We found ourselves driving through tunnels of trees, just like the Daintree rainforest. And then suddenly you’re on the coast. This area is called Somerset where the Jardine family established a settlement and refuge for passing ships in the 1800s. They also attempted to make a go out of farming the land. It is hard to believe anyone actually thought this was possible given the thick forest. It is virtually impenetrable. Small wonder they failed.

We visited the ruins of Somerset, and some historical graves at Somerset beach.

Somerset Beach

From there we followed the lesser used track (you’re getting used to the way we travel now) and popped out of the bush onto the beach.

East coast of Cape York Peninsula

We helped a family pull their Landrover Discovery out of the sand (no amount of shopping at ARB was going to save them from their bog) and continued south along the beach. The coast was rugged and speckled with pandanus palms. And windy. Really windy. Blow a dog off a chain windy. We found our way back to the main road and then headed north – as far as we could go!! The road winds around through one of the prettiest rain forest areas until we found the rest of humanity in the car park. But this is where a bunch of 4WDers just make their own rules – we all just parked on the beach.

Getting some credibility with our red dust by now.

I was obviously pleased it was low tide, which made a very picturesque setting looking out at the Torres Strait.

Not a croc to be seen.

We wandered around the point at the low tide, and there it was – Cape York. It was windy and you could see the ferocious current scooting through the gap between the mainland and York Island just 150m off the coast. There’s a polite passing around of cameras so everyone gets their group photo. So here’s ours….

Cape York – with the footy.

From here we took the “impassable when wet” road given that it wasn’t wet (although I’ve heard it’s still raining in Cairns). Both Fergus and Harry had a go at driving (sitting in front of John) off road, and Ferg negotiated a creek rather well. I remember sitting on Dad’s knee and steering the car as a kid, but maybe the streets of North Balwyn were easier than this!

We stopped at Punsand Bay where the camping ground is about 200 times better than the one we are staying at in Seisia. If you ever come this way – stay at Punsand Bay Camping Ground. We treated ourselves to an ice-cream and a dip in their pool (we don’t have one in Seisia). We stopped at Wroonga Point where we could see Possession Island. That’s where Captain Cook put a flag up and claimed the east coast of Australia for Great Britain. There were some campers there who had seen quite a few crocs in the water below where they were camped. So far our trip is croc free. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad one