Adventure along the Peninsula Developmental Road

The Peninsula Developmental Road (known as the PDR) is a very scenic journey located in Queensland, Australia. Mud, sand, dust, gravel and dirt corrugations are common. It’s the main transport link on Cape York.

How long is the Peninsula Developmental Road?

The road is 570km (354 miles) long (including the Rio Tinto mine lease), running from Lakeland (also known as 'Lakeland Downs') in the Shire of Cook to Weipa, the largest town on the Gulf of Carpentaria coast of the Cape York Peninsula.

Is the Peninsula Developmental Road sealed?

The road includes a number of unsealed sections over 300km. The condition of the unsealed road is highly variable: mud, sand, dust, gravel and dirt corrugations. It is strongly recommended a 4WD is used to travel on the PDR and any trailers should be built solid enough to handle corrugations and long distances on unsealed roads. The road is closed for up to four months per year due to the summer wet season causing damage to the surface and flooding over low level river crossings. Keep in mind there are plenty of dips that can have large potholes leading into or out of them and after the busy winter months sections of the road can become corrugated. Every wet season the PDR experiences heavy rain and flooding at river crossings.

Is the Peninsula Developmental Road dangerous?

Road conditions are subject to change of weather conditions. Be aware of wildlife. The quality of the Peninsula Developmental Rd and severity of any corrugations will depend on recent weather conditions, how long since sections of the road have been graded and the amount of traffic that the road has seen. Every year on the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) incidents and crashes happen because people don’t drive to conditions. Even in the dry season, storms can cause a rapid rise in waterways along the PDR. The Peninsula Development Road was a fairly difficult 4x4 track in years gone by but due to continued improvements such as the construction of bridges and the road being well maintained it is nothing to see vehicles towing boats and caravans and even a few two wheel drives.