Cairns to the Daintree and on to Cape York

Gav the monkey in the Daintree

We headed from Cairns to Port Douglas and had a look around - super fancy resorts but a beautiful place. Onward we pressed and stopped off at Mossman Gorge but it was so busy we decided to come back on our way back down. Took the ferry over to the Daintree and drove along until we got to a camping ground in the rainforest where we parked up. We went for a nice walk through the rainforest later that afternoon and saw some wild pigs running through and the forest.  

On the road at a stop on the Bloomfield Track

The next day we decided to head through the Daintree towards Cape Tribulation and did a nice boardwalk through the mangroves where we saw a little blue Kingfisher. After taking a few photos at Cape Tribulation we decided to head on further as it was early in the day and tackle the well known and crazy Bloomfield Track. It was a mission with the trailer - up and down, round and round. Some hills were so steep that it was an almost vertical climb and in low gear 1st it took forever! There was this Asian dude riding his bike up through all these hills with his bike laden with camping gear and supplies. We saw him at around 11am and at around 5pm later that day he drove past us where we had camped up at the Lions Den (well known camping ground on the Bloomfield). Went swimming in a freshwater swimming hole and relaxed at the Lions Den pub with a motorbike tour group where everyone was talking about their 4WD stories of the day. 

Me at Cape Tribulation

Coloured Sands Elim Beach

Windy day at Archer Point

The next day we drove on and checked out Archers Point where there is apparently really good fishing. It was so windy when we got out of the car we almost got blown over. We decided to press on and headed into Cooktown where we stocked up on supplies at IGA, got some fuel and filled our water tanks. A couple we met along the road told us about Elim Beach Coloured Sands so we decided to go north toward Hope Vale and turn east to the beach. We parked up at Eddie’s Campground - an Aboriginal bloke who was the land owner and allowed people to camp on his ground. He chatted to us about a couple who had left him earlier with a car that they had got bogged in the mud and he dragged it out. They told him to keep the car and they hitched a ride back to town. Turns out the car was a hire car and they had already called the campground and reported it stolen, leaving Eddie to clean up the mess - some people!! Set up camp and then drove down the beach to check out the coloured sands. It was amazing - there was this gorge that was above the sand dunes and had red, white, cream, black and grey sands all mixed through it. Gav caught some green tree frogs later that day that were in the toilet/shower area - classic Gav moment. 

Gav and I at Elim Beach - check out Gavs shirt tan!

Gav caught a green tree frog

We packed up early in the morning only to realise that we had packed the car keys in the tent - always a happy moment haha. Unpacked, got keys, repacked and on the road to Cape York. Stopped off at Isabella Falls for a look and then crossed the Normanby River and entered Lakefield National Park. Stopped off at the Old Laura Station - hard to believe that people lived out here in the 1930s in full Victorian Dress! Hard enough wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Drove on through the bulldust to Hanns Crossing where we picked a nice camp spot near the river and went barra fishing... had a few lures taken but didn’t actually catch anything. Spent the next day relaxing by the river, fishing, getting buckets of water and spraying each other with the hose because of the crocs and not being able to dive into the delicious cold water when it was 30 degrees! Drove to a lagoon and took some photos of a few birds and Gav spotted a crocodile in the water so we took a few pics. First croc sighting! It wasn’t long before we spotted another one cruising down the river we were camped up - a bit eerie considering we had filled a bucket up from there not long before. 

Me in front of one of the million termite nests we past on the road north

Woke the next day to a rude surprise - a 3m croc was 20m away from our tent eating his breakfast. Gav dashed out to take a photo and the flash made him splash away into the water - real wake up call and reminded us how careful we need to be. Packed up and made our way to Archer River where we had planned to camp but because it was so dusty we decided to head east towards the coast through Iron Range National Park and camped up at Chili Beach. It smelt pretty bad here - some algae on the beach and there was lots of rubbish which apparently floats in from Philippines and Papua New Guinea. We drove to have a look at Portland Roads which was a nice fishing community and got chatting to some bird watchers who were super excited about their birds. As much as I love to spot a bird, i’m not sure that i’m as keen haha. 

Gav caught an injured ibis

The crocodile that was outside our tent eating breakfast

On we pressed towards the Old Telegraph Line track to see whether we could conquer it. We passed Bramwell Station on the way which is the largest station in Northern Australia 1340km2!! We left here to drive the OTL but unfortunately we only got to drive along a little way and made the first crossing but couldn’t make the next. The bank was so steep and we didn’t have enough clearance or articulation with the weight of the trailer to make it. We decided not to take the gamble and lose our 4WD and trip, and headed back to the Bypass roads, where we headed north to Eliot Falls. Here we got to drive along the OTL for a little bit and did a large water crossing, which I got some good footage of - the water was above the bonnet and hitting the windscreen. We spent the next two days chilling out by Eliot Falls, Twin Falls and Fruit Bat Falls. This amazing swimming holes are freshwater and so deep and clear you can see the sandy bottom. It was a great feeling to have the water on your back after so many days driving in the heat. 

Eliot Falls

Gav at Eliot Falls

Me jumping in at Eliot Falls

We arrived in Bamaga and Seisa the next day, which are the main towns before the Tip of Australia. Parked up at Loyalty Beach campground where most of the 4WD community end up. Great spot, right on a sandy beach with palm trees and crystal clear water. It’s unfortunate you can’t go swimming, because the water looks so appealing. The Torres Strait locals don’t seem to mind, jumping off the wharf near Seisa and swimming in to shore. We went fishing off the same wharf later that afternoon and watched a crocodile cruise past - they just don’t seem to mind! Caught myself a little suckerfish (one of those ones that feed of sharks) and Gav a Golden Trevally, which was a delicious dinner!

The Golden Trevally

We headed to the Tip of Australia and did the walk to the top... it was great to finally get there and experience it. Got some photos, and watched all the people from 4WD tours clamber around the rocks almost falling in the water. Everyone laughs at us because we have a surfboard on the roof but we have a standard line now.. “Yeah we use it to paddle the crab pots out...” The look on their faces is priceless. Did a 4WD around 5 beaches on the east coast of the Cape which was beautiful and found a good free camp at Roonga Point. Have made friends with two German guys, Charlie and Andre who we have been travelling with for the last week. They are lots of fun and have taught us how to play backgammon (geeky.. but awesome!) We are now on the road down south.. planning to head toward Laura, then Chillagoe... we will see. 

Gav and I reach the top! 

Will write again soon, stay safe everyone!

N & G