Road to Cooktown
Submitted: Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:10
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Cazzo
Is the road from
Cairns to
Cooktown all bitumen, and is it suitable for to take a caravan across it.
Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:34
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:34
If you go via
Mareeba, it's all sealed.
You can take a van.
AnswerID:
220000
Follow Up By: Cazzo - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:49
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:49
Thanks for the info will be going up in June.
FollowupID:
480576
Reply By: alex100 - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:34
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:34
The road from
cairns karanda
mareeba mount maloy mount carbine
lakeland cookttown,is allbitumen and not a problem for a van. The other road the bloomfield trak is mainly dirt from cape trib and I would not tow a van along it.
AnswerID:
220001
Follow Up By: Member - andrew G (VIC) - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 12:21
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 12:21
Gda Alex100 you said the road was bitumen and ok for a van we are going up at same time. Taking an offroad van woud that van go up the other dirt rd ?? would like to get away from all bitumen for a few days..Rig is o6 Pathfinder and Regent extreem 17ft van 16inch wheels etc built like a tank Heavy.....
FollowupID:
480705
Follow Up By: Gerhardp1 - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 14:36
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 14:36
Andrew the road via
Daintree and
Cape tribulation is sealed as far as Cape Trib. From there to just past the Lion's Den Hotel it's gravel with several VERY STEEP sections for which you would definately need to use low range. The steepest
hill going north is concreted as it's too steep to get traction on the gravel. I was towing a camper trailer (less than 1000kg) with the Jackaroo auto and it made it in high range first but the foot was flat and I was hoping I wouldn't have to stop to select low range.
Friend with Pioneer camper trailer in 60 series with 350 chev and TH700 auto had to go for low range to get up.
With your heavy van, you might find yourself losing traction going up and going down you would have extremely white knuckles as
well.
Oh - and there is no
sign to tell you you're there - by the time you realise it's the one, you're on the steep bit and it just keeps on going with no relief.....
FollowupID:
480731
Follow Up By: alex100 - Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 00:20
Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007 at 00:20
Andrew if you want to do some dirt head north from
cooktown to lakefield nt/park ,you can go by the battel
camp rd its dirt all the way, or
lakeland downs then
Laura dirt from
laura, give yourself some time to enjoy. always get road report from
lakeland n/parks of"s I think rangers are very helpful.Gerhard1 described the trak from D/tree wel, I have done it many times,and think it dangerous for any thing too heavy towing that is. it is very slipery when wet,best enjoyed as a day trip.
well werth doing.
FollowupID:
480854
Reply By: growler - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:47
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:47
yeh the road is good but i wouldnt go this time of the year
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220007
Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:53
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 20:53
Mate in
Cairns is braking out the scuba gear at the moment, to get down the street :)))))
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Eric from Cape York Connections - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 21:41
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 21:41
Sure Is
All the best
Eric
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Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 23:23
Monday, Feb 05, 2007 at 23:23
Hope you can fit in doing the
Cape Tribulation drive without the caravan, as a day trip - or 2 days and take a tent. I know people have, but i don't think it wise to take a caravan on it. As the replies say, the inland road is bitumised and good (except after heavy rain!). A steep pull out of
Cairns either via
Kuranda or the Gillies road (i think that is what it's called).
A few years ago, my daughter was working for main roads in
Cairns and emailed me beaut photos of a huge wash out on the Gillies road. I don't have it now as that computer crashed. Never know what you'll meet in the wet.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Bros 1 - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:22
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:22
Cazzo,
You can also go north of
Cairns along the scenic drive, then turn left just before
Mossman and go over the range to meet the other sealed road just north of Mt Molloy. Turn right and
Cooktown here we come. All bitumen last time i was up that particular road. You would have to find out if it is not too steep for a van, we only had a boat trailer. I could not imagine that it would be any steeper than the Gillies or
Kuranda. You can have a look at
Port Douglas on your way as
well.
Cheers,
Bros.
AnswerID:
220119
Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:51
Tuesday, Feb 06, 2007 at 09:51
If anything Bro 1 the Rex Range Road out through Cassowary is shorter and less steep than both the
Kuranda and Gillies Range roads. But you are right that heading up the
Cook Highway out of
Cairns and then the Rex is a very pretty drive.
Cheers
Pete
FollowupID:
480676
Reply By: Member - andrew G (VIC) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 10:31
Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 10:31
gda guys thanks for the advice think i will be leaving van behind and take the tent sounds like a very steep section of road leading out.
AnswerID:
220547