Silver Plains

But it is not an abandoned one.

People still live here, and it's a friendly mob who welcome you to their property (please note not all is free, more on that lower down the page).


Over the years people have come here to camp, fish, hunt and birdwatch from all over Australia, and sometimes even overseas.


And yet it is a remote, little known place not visited by many Cape York travellers (who are doing the whole peninsula on one trip).
  

You are welcome to drive through the property, and the track is all dry if you are travelling well enough into the Dry Season.
   

There is some bird life around the waterholes, brumbies (wild horses) running around,
   

... and a few gates to open and close,
   

... before you come to the Silver Plains homestead.

After that there are a few different areas on the Silver Plains property.
   

Crossing the airfield takes you through some termite mound country ...
   

... to some camp spots such as Smiley Camp,
   

... and finally to some salt plains and Breakfast Creek - a good spot for fishing (if the tide is right!).
   

Back at the homestead, following the track north and turning east at a four-way crossroad,
   

... following the fenceline takes you to another little spot along the Breakfast Creek, and more salt plains. 
   

And finally, back at the four-way intersection, turning west, or continuing north, takes you to a loop track,

... that takes in Melanie Camp,
   

... as well as some nice camping spots on Massey Creek.
   

If you drive across,
   

... and continue after Massey, you come to another, smaller creek to cross, 
   

... and more salt plains (which must be what once gave the homestead its name).
   

There is one more thing. To get out of the Silver Plains, you can use a different track from the one you took in.
   

It is a little more adventurous than the main road was, and it takes you past a few more areas, such as Dinner Creek.
   

Please note that camping is not free, the latest prices, constantly updated (as well as the updated contact details to this station), are all in the Destination Guide.

Plan Your Trip... the FREE Cape York Travel Pocket Guide

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.

Plan and Bring to the Trip... the full Destination Cape York Travel Guide

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 ;-)

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