Your average 4WD is adequate for our 14 Day Cape York Tour. No modifications are needed. 

Your vehicle does not need a lift kit, nor special suspension, however, good suspension and tyres are recommended as the roads are rough and can be very corrugated, depending on timing of the tour.

Be prepared to have red dust in all areas after the tour. It gets in… If you really don’t want that, then consider a Hire Vehicle Package.

Mechanical Check

Ensure your 4WD vehicle has been maintained and serviced regularly leading up to the Tour.

Get your vehicle professionally checked and serviced just prior to the tour ensuring all fluids are at correct levels with no leaks. All belts are in good condition also. If they are near due to be changed it may be a good idea to change them early.

Spares & Gear

We recommend that you take a basic spare parts kit. A few essential items to consider are: fuel filter, air filter, radiator hoses, fan belts, spare hoses, fluids, oils, coolant, and variety of fuses and wiring.

A small tool kit is advisable as basic equipment for your Tour Package, but the Guide also carries more tools if needed.

Duct Tape and Cable Ties are handy additions to your kit and can hold things together very well at times. 

Radio Equipment

Your vehicle must have a UHF radio, either installed in the vehicle or a good quality hand-held model.

 If you opt for a handheld, please ensure it’s a 5w-unit. If needed, we can hire one for you. 

Your mobile phone, on most Tours is useless most of the time. Telstra provider is the most reliable but is still very sporadic coverage at best. 

We travel with a HF radio which has a locator ping facility which is sent at the end of every day, so home base knows the Tours location. It also is used in case of emergency and the radio has and emergency option to contact services such as RFDS and local stations urgently if required.

The HF Radio is the most reliable communication method as transmits in all weather and terrain.

Suspension & Tyres

Check your suspension is in good condition, a heavy duty style is a good idea but not essential. Check the health of your battery, mountings are solid, and inspect your wheel bearings.



Ensure the spare wheel(s) are in good condition as they will need to travel many Km’s if you get a puncture/blow out.

Recovery Gear

All 4WD vehicles need to have basic recovery kit, including a snatch strap and appropriately rated shackles.

If you have something like Maxtrax and vehicle winch, that’s even better. Our Lead vehicle has front and rear winches to assist also.

What Else Should I Know?

Pack light, and pack clothes that can handle the coloured dirt, clothes that you don’t mind discarding after the Tour, as they will stain. 

Plan appropriate clothing for the Tour as some nights can get cold, and you’re likely to be exposed to the elements more when camping. 



Cape York Tour can get cold in July, so small amount of warm clothes are important. Day time clothes are a different story, most Tours are warm to hot days and summer clothes are ideal. Quick dry clothes is what many people in the north wear, so it doesn’t matter if you get wet. Also wrinkle free.