Towing our 21.6ft van (on road). How is the route from Port Douglas to Cooktown? Then travelling from Cooktown to Mt Carbine to leave our van prior to heading to Cape York. Would also appreciate advice on the best route to take from Mt Carbine to Three Ways (NT)...then up to Darwin. I am not familiar with these areas and would appreciate any advice of from those who have.
Ubif said
07:43 PM Jul 15, 2017
can not help with Mt Carbine to NT
but Port Douglas to cook town is ok if you go up the Rex Range
to Mt Malloy and join the Main road to Cooktown. Rex Range
is short but tight but no problem monitor Ch40 for sugar trucks
and then happy days to Cooktown check out the Museum is good
also Gardens enjoy your stay.
regard Mark
wendyv said
07:56 PM Jul 15, 2017
Port Douglas to Cooktown? You can travel from Mossman, up the range to Mount Molloy, and thence to Cooktown. All sealed. The range section is a climb, and bendy in parts - slow, but quite do-able. If you were thinking of the more direct route along the coast (Bloomfield Track), forget it. 4WD, part unsealed, and not for towing your sort of van. Your post actually suggests you were considering this route - nup.
If you are set up to camp without van (for Cape York), and have a 4WD vehicle, maybe - to avoid backtracking for van storage - you could do as we did and leave van stored at the coast (in our case Wonga Beach). We then went up the range via Mount Molloy to Cooktown. From there via Battlecamp road and Lakefield NP to the Cape. On the return journey, came down the Bloomfield Track back to the van at Wonga Beach.
From Mt Carbine to Three Ways. Mareeba, Atherton, Ravenshoe, Mt Surprise, Georgetown, Normanton, Burke and Wills RH, Cloncurry, Mt Isa, Camooweal, Three Ways. All sealed, though a few sections of single lane bitumen only. Quite a bit of interest along the way. Atherton Tablelands, Mt Surprise area, Mt Isa - all worth spending time to explore. From Normanton is worth detouring to visit Karumba - or doing that as a day trip from Normanton. If you feel a little adventurous, could go west from Burke & Wills Roadhouse, through Gregory Downs, to Adels Grove and Lawn Hill National Park. Last 45kms to Adels is unsealed, but usually able to be done - slowly - with ordinary van. Conventional suburban cars do it. You would have to backtrack to B&W, which makes it a long side trip, but Lawn Hill area is one of the real jewels of Australia.
After Three Ways - most travellers visit the Daly Waters Pub and overnight there. Mataranka worth a stay. Katherine ditto - for Gorge tour. Edith Falls (campground) for falls. Adelaide River - war cemetery etc. You should visit both Litchfield and Kakadu Nat Parks while up that way. Could go from Pine Creek, via Kakadu, on way north, then return from Darwin down highway, with side foray to Litchfield. Or VV.
cjt55 said
08:23 PM Jul 15, 2017
Thank you Mark and Wendv ...very much appreciated. That is why this site is wonderful.
-- Edited by cjt55 on Saturday 15th of July 2017 08:24:40 PM
macka17 said
11:27 AM Jul 16, 2017
Plenty of advice for that area. A lot do it nowadays.
I ain't been there for 10\12 yrs now.
Catholic church. Beautiful alter. Wharf. We used to catch barra and such off the side. Quick cook on bank . Did.Dins.
Don't forget the Cemetary... LOTS of OOOOld headstones there. and go through to rear of to the Chinese Section.
They were originals too. As well as the white man.
Feeling fit. WALK up to the lookout. Chuckle. I did. Once. (40 yrs ago)
After that. Etty Bay for a SUPER Burger.
1 for 2.
Douglas. the fleet. if in Marlin season.
There's a nice beach there too. Going in to it.
And NEVER go past Cape Trib(ulation) beach. Probably the best beach walk in Australia. Head North.
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 16th of July 2017 11:29:09 AM
cjt55 said
08:41 AM Jul 17, 2017
Thanks macka17. Just the few replies has given me the info I wanted. Currently in Port Douglas and checked out the road up the mountain on the way to Mount Carbine. Steep, but nothing the tug can't handle. Secret as usual is take it slow and easy.
macka17 said
10:58 AM Jul 17, 2017
Yea.
Last time we were up there.
they were still sealing the last section of the load.
Went up in a Navara High lift 2 wh drive Ute. ('99 model) and 12.ft 6in rear door van.
Bloomfield.
It was HAIRY on a dozer.
Don't go up there unless a decent 4wd and some experience.
There (were) some steep angles and drops.AND SLIPPY.
Interesting though.
matildatraveller said
02:36 PM Jul 17, 2017
Hello Col,
Just adding my 2cents worth, from experience. I travelled through to Darwin from Cairns last July and took the SAVANNAH WAY HIGHWAY over the GDR range to Mareeba and onto Undara to visit the Lava Caves. (Well worth the tour and a great o/nite stopover) From there I kept going across the top (via bitimun road all the way) heading to NORMANTON. The Savannah Way continues through to BURKETOWN through to BROOME VIA Borroloola. However it is a very rough and dusty 600km+ dirt road all the way from BURKETOWN to Daly Waters on the Stuart Highway, so I opted to drive southfrom Normanton along the MATILDA HIGHWAYvisiting the BURKE & WILLS ROADHOUSE along the way to met up with highway#1 at CLONCURRY.
From there I travelled west to Mt Isa and Camooweal and stayed at the BARKLEY ROADHOUSE caravan park ( highly commend for an o/nite before heading onto the 3 Ways.
But please do take a 14km detour south, and stopover at the DEVILS MARBLES BUSH CAMP. It has toilets and an OMG fantastic scenery!!! ($7.00 honesty box situation) From there it is plain sailing North taking stops whenever needed (the Camp 8 book ir WIKI CAMPS APP shows all the bush camps) I recomend BANKA BANKA STATION as an overnite stopover! No power but hot showers and a lovely green and quiet camp.
Safe travels and take it easy, friendly advise:- remember to stay away from the , they are three (3) bogies long and travel fast enough, in most cases to doodle along behind them... from Gwynnie @ matildatraveller
matildatraveller said
02:55 PM Jul 17, 2017
Hello Macka......... how's things going? You may be interested to know my 1996 Toyota Hilux 4x4 tray top has now an 'ACTIVE CAMPER'fitted and has just arrived into Adelaide from travelling through Longreach,Windorah, Bedourie, Birdsville via the Dimantina National park, then onto Cordillo Downs, Innamincka,Tiboorburra, Bourke, Wilcannia, Broken Hill and Mildura. I am heading back to Queensland in two weeks to return to warmer weather.. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Too cold in SA! from Gwynnie @ matildatraveller
Towing our 21.6ft van (on road). How is the route from Port Douglas to Cooktown? Then travelling from Cooktown to Mt Carbine to leave our van prior to heading to Cape York. Would also appreciate advice on the best route to take from Mt Carbine to Three Ways (NT)...then up to Darwin. I am not familiar with these areas and would appreciate any advice of from those who have.
but Port Douglas to cook town is ok if you go up the Rex Range
to Mt Malloy and join the Main road to Cooktown. Rex Range
is short but tight but no problem monitor Ch40 for sugar trucks
and then happy days to Cooktown check out the Museum is good
also Gardens enjoy your stay.
regard Mark
If you are set up to camp without van (for Cape York), and have a 4WD vehicle, maybe - to avoid backtracking for van storage - you could do as we did and leave van stored at the coast (in our case Wonga Beach). We then went up the range via Mount Molloy to Cooktown. From there via Battlecamp road and Lakefield NP to the Cape. On the return journey, came down the Bloomfield Track back to the van at Wonga Beach.
From Mt Carbine to Three Ways. Mareeba, Atherton, Ravenshoe, Mt Surprise, Georgetown, Normanton, Burke and Wills RH, Cloncurry, Mt Isa, Camooweal, Three Ways. All sealed, though a few sections of single lane bitumen only. Quite a bit of interest along the way. Atherton Tablelands, Mt Surprise area, Mt Isa - all worth spending time to explore. From Normanton is worth detouring to visit Karumba - or doing that as a day trip from Normanton. If you feel a little adventurous, could go west from Burke & Wills Roadhouse, through Gregory Downs, to Adels Grove and Lawn Hill National Park. Last 45kms to Adels is unsealed, but usually able to be done - slowly - with ordinary van. Conventional suburban cars do it. You would have to backtrack to B&W, which makes it a long side trip, but Lawn Hill area is one of the real jewels of Australia.
After Three Ways - most travellers visit the Daly Waters Pub and overnight there. Mataranka worth a stay. Katherine ditto - for Gorge tour. Edith Falls (campground) for falls. Adelaide River - war cemetery etc. You should visit both Litchfield and Kakadu Nat Parks while up that way. Could go from Pine Creek, via Kakadu, on way north, then return from Darwin down highway, with side foray to Litchfield. Or VV.
Thank you Mark and Wendv ...very much appreciated. That is why this site is wonderful.
-- Edited by cjt55 on Saturday 15th of July 2017 08:24:40 PM
Plenty of advice for that area.
A lot do it nowadays.
I ain't been there for 10\12 yrs now.
Catholic church. Beautiful alter. Wharf.
We used to catch barra and such off the side.
Quick cook on bank . Did.Dins.
Don't forget the Cemetary...
LOTS of OOOOld headstones there.
and go through to rear of to the Chinese Section.
They were originals too.
As well as the white man.
Feeling fit.
WALK up to the lookout. Chuckle.
I did. Once. (40 yrs ago)
After that. Etty Bay for a SUPER Burger.
1 for 2.
Douglas. the fleet. if in Marlin season.
There's a nice beach there too. Going in to it.
And NEVER go past Cape Trib(ulation) beach.
Probably the best beach walk in Australia.
Head North.
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 16th of July 2017 11:29:09 AM
Last time we were up there.
they were still sealing the last section of the load.
Went up in a Navara High lift 2 wh drive Ute. ('99 model) and 12.ft 6in rear door van.
Bloomfield.
It was HAIRY on a dozer.
Don't go up there unless a decent 4wd and some experience.
There (were) some steep angles and drops.AND SLIPPY.
Interesting though.
Hello Col,
Just adding my 2cents worth, from experience. I travelled through to Darwin from Cairns last July and took the SAVANNAH WAY HIGHWAY over the GDR range to Mareeba and onto Undara to visit the Lava Caves. (Well worth the tour and a great o/nite stopover) From there I kept going across the top (via bitimun road all the way) heading to NORMANTON. The Savannah Way continues through to BURKETOWN through to BROOME VIA Borroloola. However it is a very rough and dusty 600km+ dirt road all the way from BURKETOWN to Daly Waters on the Stuart Highway, so I opted to drive south from Normanton along the MATILDA HIGHWAY visiting the BURKE & WILLS ROADHOUSE along the way to met up with highway#1 at CLONCURRY.
From there I travelled west to Mt Isa and Camooweal and stayed at the BARKLEY ROADHOUSE caravan park ( highly commend for an o/nite before heading onto the 3 Ways.
But please do take a 14km detour south, and stopover at the DEVILS MARBLES BUSH CAMP. It has toilets and an OMG fantastic scenery!!! ($7.00 honesty box situation) From there it is plain sailing North taking stops whenever needed (the Camp 8 book ir WIKI CAMPS APP shows all the bush camps) I recomend BANKA BANKA STATION as an overnite stopover! No power but hot showers and a lovely green and quiet camp.
Safe travels and take it easy, friendly advise:- remember to stay away from the , they are three (3) bogies long and travel fast enough, in most cases to doodle along behind them... from Gwynnie @ matildatraveller
Hello Macka......... how's things going? You may be interested to know my 1996 Toyota Hilux 4x4 tray top has now an 'ACTIVE CAMPER' fitted and has just arrived into Adelaide from travelling through Longreach,Windorah, Bedourie, Birdsville via the Dimantina National park, then onto Cordillo Downs, Innamincka,Tiboorburra, Bourke, Wilcannia, Broken Hill and Mildura. I am heading back to Queensland in two weeks to return to warmer weather.. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Too cold in SA! from Gwynnie @ matildatraveller