4x4 car rental in Cairns for Bloomfield Track

Submitted: Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 19:15
ThreadID: 117875 Views:3453 Replies:8 FollowUps:6
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Hi,

I have been looking for a 4x4 to rent which is allowed to drive on Bloomfield Track for two weeks. All which I found are booked or not available.

I have checked all big rental companies but they usually don't allow to go off road with their cars.

I'm not looking for anything fancy like new Patrol or Landcruiser but old, good, real 4x4 car: Wrangler, old Patrol, old Landcruiser or similar.

Apart from getting from A to B I would like also to have fun driving real of road car, not modern SUV.

Can anyone advise on any rental company in Cairns for decent off road car?

Thanks
Michael


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Reply By: Member - Bigred13 - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 08:35

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 08:35
Hi Michael,I have not used them ,but try Wicked Campers in Cairns,not big fourby's but they do allow off road ,and camping with it ,looks like Subaru though.
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Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 09:51

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 09:51
Michael,

We drove the Bloomfield track last year and you cold do it in a Ford Focus I reckon. Unless you want to do some of the offshoots like the CREB, where youll definitely need a 4b, the Bloomfield track is basically a dirt road. Sadly
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Follow Up By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:27

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:27
Second to that Bonz. The track should be renamed a road to reflect it's upgraded surface. There is a new crossing - in 2011 - of the Bloomfield River. Most of the creek crossings have been filled in and graded and all the steep hills are concreted. There is no challenge left and it certainly won't take two weeks to travel - more like a few hours from Emmagen Creek to the Bloomfield. Trouble is that Emmagen and one other creek might be a bit deep for small or medium car. Check out all the pix in places. The CREB is genuine 4WD and could still be closed this soon after the Wet and even if open its a greasetrap...... W
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Follow Up By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:32

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:32
Woobadda Creek is the deep one. Check pix in the place link... W
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Follow Up By: Member - Tony F8 - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 12:53

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 12:53
The new bridge over the Bloomfield is not completed yet, will be soon, also if you check the Douglas Shire webpage it is stating that the Bloomfield track is only accessible by high clearance 4wd's, and the northern approach to Cowie Range is not concrete as the southern apprach is. I don't know where you got your info from Warrie, but mine is first hand.
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Follow Up By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 18:53

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 18:53
Tony -- So now they are going to build a bridge!! The crossing in 2011 was newish then as it was not there in 2008 when we did it.It was well above the water level we had in September '11. The 2011 crossing was high in the middle but lower at the western end so the strong flow went there and had washed it out somewhat.
Also I would suspect that concreted sections are done so as they are steep. Leaving the less steep approaches as gravel. This may well apply to the Cowie Range. If you have a pic of the gravel section perhaps you could post it in Places.
As for Douglas Shire, on their web page the road report for Bloomfield Track is two months OUT of date being dated 16/03/2015. It refers to trees blown down by a cyclone and will be reopened for normal traffic - whatever that means - in a few days.
More usefully for the original poster the CREB is closed for 2 weeks from 11th May, so he has a week to go...... W
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Follow Up By: Member - TonyV - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 22:02

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 22:02
Wujal Wujal bridge opened in late 2014, the causeway is still there, but now unuse, except by the locals to fish from.

There is a new bridge further south on the climb up Cowie Range.
It is classified as 4WD so 2WD will not be insured, even though they may be able traverse the track without issue.

I drive the Bloomfield often, in wet conditions Cowie Range can be slippy and gets rutted.

Main closures are from tree falls after high winds or cyclones.

The CREB when dry is not a hard track, locals will drive the CREB and return via the Bloomfield in a day, although a night at the Lion's Den makes a great weekend.
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Follow Up By: Member - Warrie (NSW) - Monday, May 18, 2015 at 18:07

Monday, May 18, 2015 at 18:07
Thanks TonyV. Give it a few more years and the Cowie Range will be concreted - maybe. My point being that as the years pass more and more upgrades to tracks/roads take place and sooner or later its just a 2WD road. With the new bridge the Bloomfield is nearly there.

I tried to do the CREB and Bloomfield in a day in 2011 starting at Daintree village. But the CREB was too slippery at the Daintree end but dry and dusty at the northern end. Pity as it would be a fun drive as a round trip. It's on the bucket list..... W
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Reply By: hanlonm2014@icloud.com - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 14:36

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 14:36
Hi Michael,
we did the Bloomfield track back in 2006, so this info is a bit old. However we hired a brand new Nissan Patrol from one of the big rental companies (possibly Avis or Hertz - cant remember. What I do remember was it has less than 50km on the clock.
When I said I wanted to take it along the Bloomfield Track, they had no problem with this. The track isn't that difficult, most of the tough parts have concrete. The only thing to watch for is mud on the edges and drop offs around bends, and on coming traffic going to fast ( cowboys).
Maybe the hire companies have changed their minds, but the trip from Cape Tribulation to Cook Town is one of our great memories when we toured Qld.

Cheers
Mike
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Reply By: michaelwrc - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 15:00

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 15:00
Thanks.

I have heard that it is not very challenging but looking at YT videos of Wobbada creek crossing Focus might be not enough...

Anyway I'm looking for real old school 4x4 car to drive Bloomfield Track and have fun as well. Wrangler or Landcruiser 76 Series would be perfect also to experience the car itself.

I'm waiting for responses from 1300_Meteor and Sargent who offer recreational and utility vehicles.
Has anyone used them before?

Michael
AnswerID: 553878

Reply By: Winner W - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 21:38

Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 21:38
Avis and Budget shows a Pajero or two available. Thrifty states only their 4wd to be taken on unsealed roads and no other cars in their fleet.
Good luck.
AnswerID: 553904

Reply By: Shaver - Monday, May 18, 2015 at 14:34

Monday, May 18, 2015 at 14:34
Sugerland Car Rentals !
AnswerID: 553918

Reply By: Member - wicket - Monday, May 18, 2015 at 16:40

Monday, May 18, 2015 at 16:40
give these folks a try, 4wd specialists
http://www.travelcar.com.au/
AnswerID: 553927

Reply By: michaelwrc - Monday, May 25, 2015 at 20:20

Monday, May 25, 2015 at 20:20
Hi,
thanks to all for reply.

I finally booked Pajero from Budget. They allow (at least it's not forbidden) to take their 4x4 to Bloomfield track. But according to T&C cannot cross any water... interesting....
but seems like I have no choice on dates when I need the car.

Pajero has 700mm safe water level crossing - should be enough during dry days.


Michael.

AnswerID: 554221

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