For those looking for a great 4 x 4 trek this is a full 3 Day trip if you are based in Cairns. I have started the log from the Laura Intersection of the PDR & the Main Street. Remember - It is all of 8 Hours to drive the 75km from Laura to
Maytown! so all up it would be around 12hrs drive from PDR back to Mulligans Highway.
1) Get an early start as it is a big day! Get yourself to Laura.
2) 1.8Km - Laura to the Jowalbinna turnoff.
3) 350 meters - Veer right (Show Grounds intersection)
4) 25k - Little Laura river & good lunch spot. (See Photo)
Lilttle Laura
5)4.8k - Take junction to left after grid
6)1.4k - Left Turn on to Old Coach Road (4k from Jowalbinna)
7)200 Meters to Little Laura Crossing - Steep Banks
8)2.8km - First Cutting with erosion & small creek (See Photo)
Ist Cutting
9)400 Meters - 1st Rock Climb (See Photo)
Rocky Hill Climb
10)1.6km - More Rock Road (See Photo)
Rockbar Road
11)12.64km More ups and downs to the Palmer River Sign (See Photo)
Reserve Sign
12)100 Meters Turn Left (signposted)
13)2.7Km Top of Range
GPS Mark S15/54/545 E144/17/450. There is a flat area here to camp with views though it is rocky ground. You can do the next tricky 300mtrs or so and get a flat grassed area near a creek to camp.
Day 2
14)200m - Top of Range Rock Bar & Chineese Pick Cutting (See Photos)
Top Of Range Rock Bar
Cutting
Pick Marks on Cutting Rocks
15)100m- Sharp RH Bend and into bad washout (See Photo)
Watch the Washout
16)2.5Km - Folders Hotel Site Sign - Continue on I suggest
17)3.0Kn - Down we go into creek (See photo)
down the Hill we go
18)400mtrs - Exit from Creek
GPS Mark S15/56/687 E144/16/912 (See Photo)
Through and Up with some good washouts
19)4.5km - Mine site & Cross the river
GPS Mark S15/58/806 E144/16/912
20)1.4K - Steep Rock Climb to PSM99442 & Great Views
GPS Mark S15/59/460 E144/17/136 (See Photos)
1.4Km Rock Climb
View from PSM 99442 Hill
21)2.6kM Down from here to the North Palmer Branch
GPS Mark S16/00/616 E144/17/529 (See Photo)
North Palmer Crossing
22)800m - Turn Left Camp Ground to right (Fees Payable)
23)200m - Turn Right - Chinese Cemetery (4km Return)
Maytown now 6.1Km
GPS Mark S16/01/030 E144/17/732
24)1.9Km - Louisa Mine (See Photo)
Louisa Mine
25)2.2Km - Dog Leg Palmer River Crossing Junction, You must do a 3.2km Return Trip from here to get to
Maytown GPS Mark S16/03/074 E144/17/350 (
Maytown Photo)
Maytown Center
26)Back at Dog Leg Sign - 1.1Km to Ida Mine/Maytown/Palmer Sign
27)6.7Km to Palmer River Dogleg Crossing End of Day 2 and Camp on River Bank
Maytown Side. Palmer River Stations owns the other side.
GPS Mark S16/05/536 E144/19/367(See photo)
Dog Leg Crossing - Camp other side
Day 3
28)3.9Km - Dam crossing (See Photo)
Track over Dam Wall
29)68.6Km - Exit to Mulligans Highway 2.5Km North of
Cooktown Shire Sign.
GPS Mark S16/14/190 E144/43/603. It takes 3.5hrs to drive this section from Dogleg to the Highway.
30) Off Home we go!
