My name is Katrin
- a common
spelling in Europe, but not so common in Australia - so Kat is my short,
Aussie version, if that is easier for you to remember :-)
I started this website in
2009.
I had been getting around the peninsula (and
still am - by now I have spent more than 10 years doing every
single track .. and then doing them all again!) - I love it so much
that I thought I may as
well share my
passion
with you
:-)
I am originally from northern Europe (Estonia and Sweden to
cut the story short), and I
always thought our climate
was way too cold, so I did a lot of
travelling, and finally settled
in the warm and friendly Australia about 20 years ago.
After a first few years in Sydney (and doing the Big Lap around
Australia), I moved to far north
Queensland - where the climate is even warmer, the people are even
friendlier,
and there is even more wilderness and remoteness, which I love!
Me and my
partner live at the Tip
of Cape York peninsula (I
previously also lived in Cooktown),
only about 35km from the
famous sign, and in the midst of a paradise
for boating, quading and
four wheel driving :-)
He is the vehicle recovery guy in northern Cape York, and I love joining him to all his
trips to the Old Telegraph Track (which mostly
happen during the peak of the Dry Season).
During the late Dry, the tracks for this website are done; and
during the Build-up and the Wet Season, I am mostly in the
office, working on the website and updating the books (and
of course I still do that as much as there is time between the trips
during the Dry Season as well).
UPDATE
2016 We now also have two puppies who love the drives, and they are
with us on most of our adventures (UPDATE 2017 travelling with them has
lead to a detailed
Doggie Booklet which is now a supplement of the Destination Guide
:-).
Writing,
editing
and maintaining this website as well as the Destination
Guideis my
full time occupation.
It means I take the time
to do proper, mostly first hand research, to keep the book and the
website updated.
Planning trips was always
my passion,
so I enjoy every minute of it, and I do my best to help you to plan
yours with the Guides :-)
UPDATE 2021 - me and Mark have gone separate ways, but that will NEVER affect my passion or work on the books or this website!
Rather the other way, I am busier than ever :-)
More updates coming as soon as they are available :-)
Get
this 50 pages
guide totally for FREE.
It
contains information that helps you getting started with planning of your trip.
You get to make early-stages desicions such as when to go, how long time you
should take, how to get
there and get
around, where
to stay (general info), what
will it cost..
and a short insight to what is there to see and do in Cape York.
This complete 300 pages
travel guide is all you need before and during your trip. Besides the
background chapters on the peninsula's history and wildlife; and the comprehensive detail about all
the places (down to prices, opening hours and full contact
detail), it has invaluable information on at least 10 four wheel drive tracks,
at least 30 guaranteed FREE
camping spots on the Cape (and at least 150 on your way to
the Cape), at least 40 best
swimming holes, all mapped; as well as practical things -
from fuel, roads, wireless internet and mobile phone reception,
how to deal with the national
parks booking rules; and Aboriginal land entrance and camping permits
and alcohol restrictions - to vehicle preparation and accessories and necessary recovery
gear by my vehicle-recovery-guy partner).
Not to mention locals'
tips on how to spot that croc and palm cockatoo ;-)
If
you liked the books or
this website, let others know about it!
Link to it from your website, your blog, your forum post... Share it on Facebook, Tweet
about it...
Every link helps other travellers!
Thank you for doing the
right thing and letting others know :-)
This site uses British
English, which is the English we use in
Australia.
Disclaimer:
Although
best efforts have been made to ensure that all the information on this
website is correct, this site is not to be blamed should there be a
mistake.
This is the ORIGINAL Cape York Travel Guide run Locally on the Peninsula.