Review: CREB Track

Some points to consider after our visit 2 Sept 11: Heading S to N from Daintree village there is one battered old sign re track open/closed then it's 12 km of 2WD through cattle farms to the ford on the upper Daintree R. Cross a few paddocks and gates on the flat then arrive at the first hill and the slippery orange clay.This is where you must decide to proceed or not.
The rainforest shades the track so it is slow to dry out. A rainshower of only a few mm and the track is again a greasepit. We went in about 3km with new Bridgestone ATR's but traction was almost non-existent with the tread filling with clay. Twice on the way out all 4 wheels were locked as we slid at walking pace 30m downhill. At least the river crossing cleaned it off.
Heading N to S there is no signposting at all at the turnoff a few km N of Wujal Wujal and only a piece of iron with China Camp painted on pointing up the next turnoff. Here the track is in a rainshadow and it was dry and dusty. This will lure in the careless traveller who will proceed into the rainforest. If he gets up the first range he can slither to the bottom but then be trapped as it may be too steep and slippery to ascend the second range or to turn back. A long wait or an expensive rescue may be needed as happened to two vehicles the week before....W