Our Cape Tribulation, Bloomfield to Lakefield National Park Trip
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Our Cape Tribulation, Bloomfield to Lakefield National Park Trip
Early October 2014 we packed our camper and loaded it onto our Patrol and headed off on our trip which we had been planning for a couple of months. I would like to thank Cuppa, P4trol, FNQGU and Apollofish for their tips during our planing stage.
After a drive of about 17k from the ferry we booked into the Lync Haven Rainforest Retreat which has camp sites set in the rainforest. 3_3_Lync_Haven_Camp.JPG
The owners Scott and Jodie make visitors feel very welcome and Scott usually does a crocodile feeding every day. 4_Doris.JPG
We can also recommend their restaurant which has many excellent selections on the menu.
With there being plenty to see and do at Cape Tribulation we ended up spending six days camped at the Lync Haven Rainforest Retreat.
We were also lucky enough to have this visitor come to our camp site. 12_Close_Encounter.JPG
Then it was off for the challenge of the Bloomfield Track. No sooner had we left the bitumen and it started to rain. Fortunately it did not last for long so our decision to push on was good. Rain.JPG
(some photos are a bit fuzzy as they are stills taken off a video)
The causeway across the Bloomfield River which many people spoke about and I was looking forward to crossing is now gone, replaced by a bridge.
While at Bloomfield we then took time out to visit to the Bloomfield Falls. 14_Bloomfield_Falls.JPG
We then headed off to the Lions Den Hotel. The road from Bloomfield is nearly all bitumen except for a couple of kilometres of gravel. 16_Lions_Den_Hotel.JPG
After all we heard about the Lions Den it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. Having to step through the cow pads at night, showers that left a lot to be desired and their add (still on their web site) which advertises meals seven days a week but when we went up on a Monday night for dinner we were bluntly told that the kitchen is closed on a Monday but we could have pizza. We passed on that. Who has ever heard of pizzas where you are charged extra for olives and alike! Fortunately we had plenty of supplies in the camper.
While camping at the Lions Den we took a drive out to Home Rule Rainforest Lodge for a visit. Home_Rule.JPG
We were greeted at the entrance by the owner, Hal who invited my wife and I in for a cup of tea . We spent some time with him chatting about the Wallaby Creek Festival which is held there, his hydro electric scheme that supplies all his power and his time spent flying planes. The trip out was well worth our time and thanks Cuppa for the tip.
From the Lions Den we made the short trip to Cooktown. 21_Cooktown.JPG
There we spent a couple of days doing the tourist bit.
While at Cooktown we camped at the Cooktown Orchard Caravan Park which just happened to be behind The Italian Restaurant. For those who love fine Italian food this restaurant would have to be the best.
Next day we left civilisation and headed for the Hann Crossing Camp site in the Lakefield National Park. First crossing on the Battle Camp Road was the Normandy River. 41_Crossing_the _Normandy_on_Battle_Camp_Road.JPG
The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to harrythomas For This Useful Post:
2TROLLFAM (6th November 2014), 4bye4 (6th November 2014), Bob (6th November 2014), Cuppa (6th November 2014), DX grunt (6th November 2014), GUtsy ute (6th November 2014), jack (6th November 2014), P4trol (6th November 2014), pearcey (6th November 2014), phtest (9th November 2014), Sir Roofy (6th November 2014), the evil twin (6th November 2014), TPC (6th November 2014)