bloomfield and creb tracks

Geeza100

You can go up one track and back on the other in one day from cairns.
As far as doing it alone, not really a drama when the creb is open, as there will be a few vehicles using it at the moment.
Main thing is check what the weather will be doing. You do not want to be there if it starts to rain.
See my post on thread 61166 for further info

cheers
mark

Gezza,

The Bloomfield Track is "easy" in ideal conditions.
I drove it and created the Treknotes available under the Treks folder in a hired Hyundi Santa Fe.

Now, having established that, there are other issues to consider when attempting the trek.

Firstly, if it's raining, or has rained for a period beforehand, the big issue is water volume in some of the creeks/rivers you need to cross.

Secondly, an additional factor is that a couple of river crossings may be impacted by tidal conditions and be made difficult to cross.

Basically, if little rain has fallen in the area prior to your trip, you just head off, but when getting to a crossing, observe other vehicles if they attempt the crossing and notice how deep the water is.

Have a read of the treknotes for both the Bloomfield and Creb tracks for further information.

Bill.

We travelled the Bloomfield Track in October travelling from Cape Trib to Cooktown.

We were in a TD5 Disco and towing a off road camping trailer.

Only had one problem, approaching a steep asscent but that was more driver error then the track.

When we did the track it had been extremely dry for some time and the dust was unbelievable. We only crossed over one decent water crossing the rest were all but dry.

I found the notes on this site extremely helpful and they prepared me for what I was going to experience.

I was there in November 2007.

The Bloomfield track is pretty easy and really the only thing to watch is the very slippery mud and shallow creek crossings.

The CREB track was open when I went through, however was just after the first cyclone, so we didn't do the southern half due to local advice, but ended up driving out to Roaring Meg Falls and back. The northern section is much drier and is relatively easy, apart from the rocky track from China camp out to Roaring Meg (only 2km anyway).

Had I been in my own 4WD i would have attempted the whole CREB track, but been in a rental Patrol erred on the side of caution.

If you're coming up from Cairns, I'd recommend getting up to Cape Tribulation or Daintree by the first night (as there is a lot to see on the way) and then driving up the Bloomfield Track and around back on the CREB track or visa versa. Just remember to ask the ranger at Mossman for track conditions and obtain a permit to go out to Roaring Meg Falls.

The CREB track is very steep in sections and has no concrete base like the Bloomfield track has on the steep sections, so expect it to be extremely slippery with ANY rain.

Good Luck, Will.

We did the Creb two weeks ago on bikes, there were 4wd's stuck at the bottom of the first big hill coming from Daintree Village as we struggled over the top. Was a little misty rain and turned it into slippery red clay, like riding on ice.

I wanted to do it on our 4wd trip to the Cape in 2006 but it was closed after cyclone Larry. I wouldn't even bother taking my 4wd unless the weather had been fine for a while.

Still want to do it in the 4wd one day.

Steve G