Travelling in North Queensland with a Slide-on Camper

[harrythomas]

Is there anyone who has driven their tray back with a slide on camper fitted from the Daintree to Cooktown via the Bloomfield Track or from Cooktown to Musgrave via Lakefield Road. I would like to give it a go in October and I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried it.

Thanks

[Cuppa]

It’s hard to see much detail of your rig in your avatar pic, it might help if you posted a larger pic. From what I can make out it does look very tall. I haven’t driven the Bloomfield track, but have ridden it on a motorcycle. It is a track which in the dry was ‘easy’ on the bikes, but I would imagine there would be some sections which could be tough going if wet. From memory there are tight sections where trees overhanging could be potentially be a problem with the height of your vehicle, but maybe others who have been up that way more recently might have better recollection. it was ’08 when I was up there. None of the creek crossings had steep entries or exits. Depths would vary according to weather. The steeper hills have concrete strips laid for traction, so they wouldn’t be too difficult, but there was one particular hill I recall which had deep ruts & potholes leading up to a blind & narrow corner. (no concrete). On the bikes we had the ‘luxury’ of keeping left, but I recall thinking I wouldn’t want to be bringing a bigger vehicle through here & meeting someone coming around the corner in the other direction. You would use 4wd & low range.

People tow trailers up there, so it’s not in the ‘super hard’ category, but I do wonder if you might struggle with height.

Whether you end up going up to Cooktown via the Bloomfield Track or via the bitumen (both are great) make sure you allocate a couple of nights camping at ‘Home Rule” accessed from Rossville, just south of the Lions Den. A really top grassy camping spot with rare access to the real Daintree rain forest (without boardwalks & railings), & great swimming at a beautiful forest waterfall.

[P4trol]

Missed that camping spot, Cuppa. I was there late last month (june). Towed a box trailer. It was wet and muddy on some of the hills. The main problem I found was people barrelling up and around the narrow bits too fast. Then large convoys.

Some of the hills need care. Several had large potholes all over the place. More had mud ruts. I have a 2.8, so was in low range first.

The only larger Creek was on the southern side. It had largeish rocks in it. One bloke broke his trailer Springs - and was swapping it with the spare he carried.

If you can find a place to pull over, take the time to walk up/down a creek for a better view of the rainforest.

[Cuppa]

I was there late last month

So do you think my memory of height clearance being a possible issue for harrythomas is correct?

Home Rule (http://www.home-rule.com.au/index.html) is where the annual Wallaby Creek Music festival (http://www.wallabycreekfestival.org.au) is held.

[P4trol]

Not from what I remember. I have a roof rack, and boxes/spare tyre on the roof. Didin't come near needing to worry about hitting anything above. There were of course some vines hanging down here and there.


Edit: I think this was the creek I was talking about.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/lawrence2003/DSCN1608_zps3b6e7271.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/lawrence2003/media/DSCN1608_zps3b6e7271.jpg.html)

Here's a view of some of the track. This view is looking down a creek. From the left, the road goes through another creek (which flows into the one you can see. Then the road goes up a short way with a close left bend, down to where I'm standing. Then up the hill. I think there was a surface up this one a bit like a boat ramp.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/lawrence2003/DSCN1560_zpsf4c181f5.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/lawrence2003/media/DSCN1560_zpsf4c181f5.jpg.html)

This photo is a bit dodgy. We were trying to show the potholes. Now potholes like this aren't unusual. It's just that these were on the slope of the hill. Bit hard to convey in a photo, but it was steep here.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/lawrence2003/DSCN1575_zps48f20cb5.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/lawrence2003/media/DSCN1575_zps48f20cb5.jpg.html)

Find a spot to pull over! We backed into a creek.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/lawrence2003/DSCN1558_zps0a3f8f9a.jpg (http://s10.photobucket.com/user/lawrence2003/media/DSCN1558_zps0a3f8f9a.jpg.html)

[Cuppa]

These two entries & pics from my blog may be of interest.

http://www.cuppa500.com/_Big_Trip/Entries/2008/9/30_Entry_12_-_Daintree%2C_Cooktown_%26_Music.html

http://www.cuppa500.com/_Big_Trip/Entries/2008/10/10_Entry_13_-_Cooktown_again,_Chillagoe_%26_the_Tablelands.html

[harrythomas]

Thanks for the information, Cuppa.

The rid is 3.1m so it is fairly tall. Hopefully I have posted a larger picture. Still learning how to use the forum.

46741

It is the creek entry and exits that I was really worried about but it sounds like they are not too bad and as we are planing to go in October which is normally dry the may not be too deep.

Home Rule sounds like a good place to spend some time.

[harrythomas]

The photos look great P4trol. Thanks for your input regarding the height but I think that I will need to take some care.

[harrythomas]

Read both your blog entries Cuppa and found them excellent reading,

[FNQGU]

The coast road from Daintree through to Cooktown is fine for entry and exits of creeks etc. In October you won't get anywhere near the amount of traffic on the road as in June/July/August/Sept either. There are a couple of narrow winding sections as mentioned.

The track can be a bit cut up as you get nearer to the Bloomfield River crossing and Wujal Wujal. It is just rough if it hasn't been graded, but otherwise shouldn't trouble you. The road North of Wujal is good all the way to Cooktown.

To cross over to Musgrave Station, you take the Battlecamp Road, and then turn North into Lakefield NP itself, coming out at the far Northern side, before heading West to the Peninsular Development Road. Again, no issues for your camper there that I can think of. There is an easy creek crossing at the Northern end of the park that may have a low-ish few trees, but I think you'd be right anyway. The road to Musgrave from the Park was upgraded 2 years ago and was like a highway. Same as Battlecamp Road. Heaps of bitumen sections now and easy driving.

[harrythomas]

Hi FNQGU.

Thanks for the input especially the information on the Lakefield NP. I have had no luck finding and information on the Lakefield Road in my searches.

[FNQGU]

The Southern entry to the park is not far from the Laura end of Battlecamp Rd. It is well signed, you can't miss it if you are coming across from Cooktown.

[P4trol]

That section of road was the best I have seen on my trip.

The section from Laura to Musgrave was the worst.

[jack]

Hi FNQGU.

Thanks for the input especially the information on the Lakefield NP. I have had no luck finding and information on the Lakefield Road in my searches.

Hi harrythomas,

Try this site for updated road conditions http://www.cook.qld.gov.au/web/guest/current-road-status You can select Lakefield Rd from the options on the left.

Enjoy the trip

[harrythomas]

The Southern entry to the park is not far from the Laura end of Battlecamp Rd. It is well signed, you can't miss it if you are coming across from Cooktown.

Thanks for the information FNQGU as we are planing heading that way after Cooktown.

[harrythomas]

Hi harrythomas,

Try this site for updated road conditions http://www.cook.qld.gov.au/web/guest/current-road-status You can select Lakefield Rd from the options on the left.

Enjoy the trip

Have looked at the site Apollofish and I think that I will find it very handy. We are really looking forward to the trip, thanks.

[harrythomas]

We have just returned from our trip and thanks to those who contibuted to this post.

I have put a post of our trip up in the touring sub-forum "Our Cape Tribulation, Bloomfield to Lakefield National Park Trip"

Thanks,
Harry.