DAINTREE AND COOKTOWN

Lee and I have always wanted to go to the Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation. Believe me we were not disappointed.

We left Cairns along with Trish, Mat and Paddy who decided they would come with us to try out their new car top camper. It was great to have the "locals" with us as they knew exactly where to go. We drove through the Daintree and Cape Tribultion and were lucky as Trish and Mat said they had never seen the top of the mountains before because they were usually covered in clouds, but today it was clear.

As everyone knows the Daintree is one of the world's oldest rainforests and has been added to the world heritage list. Thank goodness for that. It is amazing. You actually feel like you are in another world. The rainforest really does come down to the sea. The beaches are beautiful and the amount of different species of plants is amazing, would love to have some in my back garden!!

We then drove up the infamous Bloomfield Track. This is a 4WD track which runs from Cape Tribulation almost to Cooktown. It is also the road that the greenies tried to block several years ago. For Lee and I it was one of the best 4WD tracks we had ever been on. Quite challenging, lots of hairpin bends, hills, rivers to cross and all dirt.

We stayed about half way at the Lions Den which is a nice little campground near the river, no crocs there. The next day we drove to Archer Point as Mat had seen it from the air on his various trips to the Cape (he is a pilot for Australian Customs). What a lovely spot. Apparently owned by the aboriginals but you can camp there at the moment for free! Probably won't last though as they will start charging people to go on to their land. Anyway it was a lovely spot.

We then drove on to Cooktown which as we all know was where Captain Cook and his crew discovered in 1770. A lovely old town with some beautiful old buildings. Unfortunately Trish, Mat and Paddy had to head home and go back to work but Lee and I had a look around Cooktown then headed to Archer Point and stayed the night. It was a bit blowey and raining so we took off the next day up the Bloomfield Track again to Cape Trib. Had a nice day walking along the beach, drinking coffee etc.

We then camped at Daintree Village the night and headed off to Port Douglas for a swim and some lunch on the beach. After a good look around there we drove up to Mt. Molloy which is an old copper mining town at the top of the Rex Range. Had a great meal at the pub there and camped overnight then headed back to Cairns the next day.

A great 5 days away without the van, we love camping in our car.

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Part of trip: The Kimberleys

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