There are two routes to Cooktown from the south , one is the coastal route from Cape Tribulation via the four wheel drive-only Bloomfield Track , and the inland route which is sealed all the way via the Peninsula and Cooktown Developmental Roads. If you have a four Wheel drive then you can do both (one north and the other south).If not then the inland route is the best bet.The inland route skirts along the western side of the Great Dividing Range and stoically retains its outback character whichever season you travel in. Its about a four and a half hour drive from Cairns to Cooktown and the road travels through rugged cattle trodden land and climbs two ranges.
Mount Molloy is the start of the Peninsula Developmental Road. , This town has reduced, in size, greatly, since the gold and cooper mining days, and today consists of a pub, barley, post office and cafe. In the cemetery you can find the Irish prospector, James Venture Mulligan, who was the first to find gold in the Palmer and Hodgkinson rivers. Mr. Mulligan then bought the town bar, where he died from injuries he sustained after braking up a bar fight.
Just a short drive out of town, you will come across Abattoir Swamp Environment. Although the name does not sound pleasant it is a beautiful wetland area that is blanketed in lotus flowers and popular with bird watcher and campers. Mount Carbine, is about 30 kilometers northwest of Mt Molloy. If you want to rest you can stay at the Mt Carbine Hotel. This hotel is infamous for an old Brahmin bull, that frequented the bar to drink beer. Mount Carbine Village and Caravan Park, just south of the pub, has self contained cabins, a large pool and playground.
In Mount Carbine, about 30 kilometers northwest of Mt Molloy you can stay in the Mt Carbine Hotel. This is infamous for an old Brahmin bull that used to come into the bar and drink beer !There is also the Mount Carbine Village and Caravan Park which is a large bush property south of the pub and has self contained cabins and a large pool and playground. The road continues north reaching the Palmer River and then after another 15kms you come to Lakeland. Lakeland is in the fertile volcanic basin of the Laura Valley .It produces cereal, grains, sugar and coffee.The Lakeland Coffee house serves the fabulous Laura Valley coffee and snacks plus you can fill your car up too.
Fifty kilometres past Lakeland is the Annan River Gorge with a natural swimming hole and waterfalls. The last interest point on your way to Cooktown is the the beautiful Black Mountain National Park. It has thousands of stacked, square, black granite boulders that were formed 260 million years ago by magma intrusion below the surface. From here you have about another thirty kilometers and you will be arriving at Cooktown.
Mount Molloy is the start of the Peninsula Developmental Road. , This town has reduced, in size, greatly, since the gold and cooper mining days, and today consists of a pub, barley, post office and cafe. In the cemetery you can find the Irish prospector, James Venture Mulligan, who was the first to find gold in the Palmer and Hodgkinson rivers. Mr. Mulligan then bought the town bar, where he died from injuries he sustained after braking up a bar fight.
Just a short drive out of town, you will come across Abattoir Swamp Environment. Although the name does not sound pleasant it is a beautiful wetland area that is blanketed in lotus flowers and popular with bird watcher and campers. Mount Carbine, is about 30 kilometers northwest of Mt Molloy. If you want to rest you can stay at the Mt Carbine Hotel. This hotel is infamous for an old Brahmin bull, that frequented the bar to drink beer. Mount Carbine Village and Caravan Park, just south of the pub, has self contained cabins, a large pool and playground.
In Mount Carbine, about 30 kilometers northwest of Mt Molloy you can stay in the Mt Carbine Hotel. This is infamous for an old Brahmin bull that used to come into the bar and drink beer !There is also the Mount Carbine Village and Caravan Park which is a large bush property south of the pub and has self contained cabins and a large pool and playground. The road continues north reaching the Palmer River and then after another 15kms you come to Lakeland. Lakeland is in the fertile volcanic basin of the Laura Valley .It produces cereal, grains, sugar and coffee.The Lakeland Coffee house serves the fabulous Laura Valley coffee and snacks plus you can fill your car up too.
Fifty kilometres past Lakeland is the Annan River Gorge with a natural swimming hole and waterfalls. The last interest point on your way to Cooktown is the the beautiful Black Mountain National Park. It has thousands of stacked, square, black granite boulders that were formed 260 million years ago by magma intrusion below the surface. From here you have about another thirty kilometers and you will be arriving at Cooktown.
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