#2: [06-Feb-05]

11-Mar-2002 -- We were staying in Cairns and decided to make a quick attempt on this confluence. Heading east from Cairns toward the Atherton Table Lands, we stopped in Mareeba (the last town of any size in the direction of the confluence) and asked at the local tourist office about the condition of the dirt road that would be the final leg of the drive. One person there said that a 4-wheel-drive truck was needed. The other was slightly more hopeful saying that a car might make it but it depended on the weather and when the road was last graded. They were unclear about who owned the land on which the confluence rested but said access shouldn't be a problem.

So we continued down the nice paved road to Dimbulah and turned off onto the Mount Mulligan road. Quickly the pavement gave way to dirt and gravel. In general, the road was extremely bumpy and slow going but our small car had not problem making it the 50km or so to the point closest to the confluence: S17 E145 01.854. We set out across the pasture but before long it became clear that because of hilly terrain and heat we wouldn't make it to the destination within our available time and water supply. We gave up at S17 E145 01.228. This confluence is definitely reachable under the right conditions. The area was beautiful with green hills, streams, large wild kangaroos, termite mounds and extreme quiet isolation (we didn't see another person beyond Dimbulah).

Advice to future travelers:

Leave plenty of time for a slow drive and slower hiking than you might anticipate.

Wait for dry cool weather

Bring plenty of water

Wear long pants and boots