Hit the road today after five nights at amazing Elim Beach. I will be returning there anytime I am in the area. This picture is the crossing of the Laura river on Battlecamp Road between Hope Vale and Laura. Battlecamp Road is mostly dirt with some stretches of corrugations but a lot of it has recently been graded. The temperature certainly cranked up as I came inland.
I'm afraid that I was very disappointed with the cultural centre in Laura, and the cost of going to see some of the local rock art is over the top, for me anyway. $100 and $160 per person with a minimum of two people ... which makes it tricky when you are travelling alone.
I'll be visiting Split Rock tomorrow, which is about 12km south of Laura, to see some of the rock art there and then I'll head back north to Lakefield National Park and camp at Kalpowar Crossing most likely.
This map shows you the area. It's about 130km from Elim Beach to Laura via Battlecamp Road. With a couple of stops and diversions it took me a couple of hours at my slow, trundling pace. Cooktown is shown on the map, and it is 320km north of Cairns.
Here's a shot of Elim Beach. Eddie Deemal owns this piece of paradise. He's about 80 and gets a bit of help from his sons who pop in from time to time. More about Eddie another day.
Is the trip from Cooktown to Hope Vale, Elim Beach then to Laura suitable for a novice to undertake in a rented 4 WD?
ReplyDeleteHi, Apologies for the delay in replying
ReplyDeleteThe trip was certainly very easy when I did it, and the quality of the road should hold up well. However it can change very quickly when the heavy rains start and I believe it is raining up there now. It would be best to check with the locals as you travel around. Cooktown to Hopevale should be no problem. Cooktown direct to Laura will also be fine. The roads from Hopevale to Elim Beach and Hopevale to Laura could suffer from very heavy rain.