Cooktown area in Queensland
 

Wondering if any one might know approximately how much time it would take to drive from the Silky Oaks Lodge in Daintree up to Cooktown and then do the loop up and across to Laura and down to Lakeland on route back to the Lodge. Can this be done in one day and what would the road conditions be like for this type of drive? Many Thanks.

Are you going to the Quinken aboriginal art places near Laura? Have you done any research about them? I have only looked them up once on the internet, but it sounds great. I would like to tag on to this post, if you dont' mind, and ask a question you might be interested in, also: is it easy to get permission to view the two aboriginal sites or do you really need to write to the office in Brisbane to go there? If one drove to Laura, would there be people available to lead tours, and would we need permission if we took a tour?
My apologies for butting in to your post, DJE, but I was so excited that someone else wants to go there, too!
Sally in Seattle

No Problem Sally and please feel free to ask about anything else you wish on this thread.

I don't really know much about this area as I am just starting to research it out so you probably know more than I do about what to see and do. The only thing that I have read so far is that there is supposed to be quite an abundance of interesting rock art in the vicinity. DJE

In one day - NO, don't think so. I have only travelled this road on a bus from Daintree Town, and to the best of my remembrance it was 5 hours from there to Cooktown. It is a dirt road north of Cape Trib unless things have changed.

And with respect, there ain't no point going to Cooktown if you aren't going to stay a night and have a good nosey around.

If you want to check out how many kms it is - and then assume at best 40 km = one hour - you could do worse that visit the qld motoring organisation:

www. racq.com.au

Happy travels.

fuzzylogic,
Thanks for the info and the link to the queensland auto organization. This will be helpful with our planning.

You need to get some Aussie's with local knowledge here. Last I knew, that road was unpaved and very primitive. Subject to wash outs, high creeks/rivers, etc. Most of the vehicles up there are 4 wheel (obviously) with snorkels for the air intake. No way one day, maybe not even two days. I don't think that any rental agency allows their cars up there. Tough place to get to (Cooktown) unless by water or air. But it's been a while since I was there. We got to Cooktown on a GBR 4 day cruise. Stopped for a couple of hours.
IMHO, not worth the horrendous drive if that's the only way to get there.

By the way, stayed at Silky Oaks. ONe of the most incredible resorts we have ever stayed at. You should love it.

The inland road to Cooktown is now fully bitumenised. However the coastal road (the Bloomfield Track) is still a dirt road.

BillJ and Marg,
Many thanks for the additional info. I am doubtful now that we will do the trek to Cooktown. If we just went as far as Lakeland along the interior route would we still be able to see rock art in this area without going further along to Laura? Also could this drive be done to and from SIlky Oaks in a day?

From Silky Oaks to Cooktown take the road from Mossman up to Mt Carbine (the coastal route from Cape Tribulation is 4WD only). The inland road to Cooktown is not only sealed now, its an A1 all weather road. The almost coastal road on Bloomfield Track from Cape Trib to Cooktown is definitely 4WD, just for one there is no bridge over the Bloomfield River and no ferry either, as there is on Daintree River. North of Cooktown you're getting into remote Cape York which is a different story, and you need a 4WD for some of the best Aboriginal rock art in the country (UNESCO listed) is around Laura. For the best here, you'd need a decent guide, Pete Baxendell who is often recommended on this forum can help. He could pick you up at Silky Oaks, but do give him plenty of notice.

DJE, as posted above, we are looking into going to the art sites, also, and have found that Greg at Daintree Air (www.daintreeair.com.au) can work up a fly in plan that also includes a day snorkeling at Lizard and visiting Aboriginal people, staying at a bush camp. If that appeals, contact him. He can customize.
Sally

Thanks Sally and pat for the additional information. It all comes in very handy with trip planning and the contact names are very useful. DJE