Getting Here

Travelling to Cooktown and within Cape York Peninsula

SELF-DRIVE This would be one of Australia’s most interesting drives which is being slowly tamed, after years of being wild. The majority of the road between Mossman and Cooktown is fully sealed and most rivers bridged, especially the newly sealed section from Wujal Wujal to Helenvale. There are two main routes north to get to Cooktown. The Mulligan Highway travels inland through Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine, Lakeland and Black Mountain on to Cooktown. This route is open all year round, day and night and is the typical outback scenery with open roads as far as the eye can see. Take caution when driving at night due to wildlife and wandering stock. Check road conditions before you travel, as some rivers flood during the monsoon period from December to April. The picturesque coastal route from Cape Tribulation to Wujal Wujal is an unsealed 4WD track (Bloomfield Track) with the remaining road through Ayton, Rossville, Helenvale, Black Mountain and on to Cooktown now sealed. The Peninsula Development Road from Lakeland to Laura is sealed, with small sections further north to Weipa slowly being sealed. The Bamaga Road to the Tip is unsealed and conditions can change rapidly. Please drive according to the current conditions. CAR HIRE Car hire is available in Cooktown, Coen, Lockhart River, Weipa, Seisia and Bamaga. BUS Trans North offers Cairns to Cooktown daily. Cairns Cooktown Express also offers Cairns to Cooktown daily. There are several bus tour operators for organised groups that depart from Cairns to Cape York.

HANDY HINT:

The Bloomfield Track Route is best driven North to South as the coastal views in this direction are superb

Cape Tribulation view from Bloomfield Track. Image courtesy Tourism Tropical North Queensland

AIR Hinterland Aviation offers their flights from Cairns to Cooktown, Coen, Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw. Daintree Air Services offers charter flight services from both Cairns and their new Cooktown base. SEA Seaswift operates Australia’s last working cargo vessel to carry passengers. MV Trinty Bay travels from Cairns to Torres Strait and back. Travel by private boat or aboard a cruise ship that docks at Cooktown or Thursday Island is also available.

LOCAL TIP:

Check roads before travelling as the road conditions can change suddenly depending on the weather and the surface of the road (sealed or unsealed).