THE ROAD TO CAPE YORK
THERE is a lot of country en route to Cape York Peninsula that most travellers miss because they fail to do their research or are on a strict schedule. Chillagoe, 144km west of Mareeba – the gateway to the Cape – is one such spot. Here, one can unwind and explore mining ruins and the surrounding limestone karsts and caves, many of which are in the Chillagoe and Mungana National Parks. The town has a population of more than 300 people, which is bolstered by mine workers at the Mungana copper mine to the west. There is ample camping and accommodation available in town. It’s best accessed from Mareeba, via the Wheelbarrow Way (Burke Developmental Road), which is sealed apart from about 15km or so. It can also be reached from Normanton and Karumba, via the BDR.
THE SOUTHERN ROUTE
THE most adventurous routes to Chillagoe are from the Kennedy Developmental Road (KDR), north of Greenvale, and onto Gregory Developmental Road to Einasleigh; or, better still, keep heading west
