Mahindra Scorpio on the road to Cape York

Cape York Ep 2: 2,200km to Cooktown, Three 4WDs and One Close Call

October 27, 2026

Before you get to the good tracks, you have to get there. In Episode 2 the crew covers almost 2,200km in three days, from Brisbane and the Hunter Valley to Cooktown – the gateway to Cape York.

The run north

Dan sets off in his Mahindra Scorpio, with Ben and Noah joining the convoy in outback Queensland. Along the way there are outback camps, long stints behind the wheel, and the moment that gives this episode its title.

The close call: zero kilometres to empty

Ben's vehicle hits zero kilometres of range – and the next service station is out of diesel. It's the kind of thing that sounds unlikely until it happens to you, and it's far more common the further north you go.

Fuel lessons for remote touring

Don't treat the range readout as gospel. It's an estimate based on recent driving. Headwinds, towing, a loaded roof and long climbs all burn more than the gauge expects.
Fill up whenever you can, not when you need to. Out there, "I'll get it at the next one" is how you end up on empty.
Carry a reserve. Approved jerry cans or an auxiliary tank, stored securely and safely. This is exactly why extra fuel storage was on the list in Episode 1.
Call ahead. Small roadhouses can run out, close early or only stock unleaded. A quick phone call can save you a long wait.
Know your real-world economy loaded. Do a full-to-full fill on the first day of the trip so you know what the vehicle actually uses with everything on board.

Long highway days are hard on vehicles too

Thousands of kilometres at highway speed with a full load is a real test. Before a trip like this, it's worth a fresh service with genuine filters, a look at your brakes (Scorpio front pads, Pik Up pad and rotor kit), and a check of belts and coolant – our Pik Up servicing guide covers the main wear items.