Cedar Bay National Park

It is for fit and experienced walkers only as the tracks are quite demanding.

It is hilly, the walks are long - most take more than one day meaning you'll have stuff to carry.


Cedar Bay is beautiful, its southern end is also home to the remote and expensive Bloomfield Lodge.
   

Both the lodge and the whole bay are not accessible by car. 

The lodge has boat and plane access, while the bay is only reached by walking unless you have a boat and want to do it that way.
   

The walks that actually get you to the bay are long, one takes definitely more than one day, the other you could possibly squeeze into a very long day but is it fun to rush and what if something takes longer than planned and you have nowhere to sleep. Both bay walks are best done carrying a tent and planning an overnight trip - there is nice camping.
   

Gap Creek Track

The shorter one of the walks that take you to Cedar Bay is the 6km Gap Creek Track. It starts about 11km south of Rossville on the eastern side of the Rossville Bloomfield Road, and is the only walk that crosses the heart of the national park and is inside the park the whole time.

It is a hard walk, crossing creeks and having steep climbs and descents. You first descend down to Gap Creek and cross it, before climbing up to a spur, then down again to a next gully to cross Flowing Stone Creek. Then there are smaller climbs and descents before you come to a large fig tree and after that there are two tracks to cross the Centre Garden Creek. Soon after that you are in the Cedar Bay, remember crocodiles.
   

Home Rule Track

The longer one of the two is the 17km Home Rule Track that starts on the grounds of the Home Rule Rainforest Lodge in Rossville. This track is actually inside the national park only in its last section - most of the time it's on private land, owned by the Home Rule Lodge owners who are happy to let you camp if you let them know.

The track is first quite broad, and crosses a few creeks, then gets narrower before you get to Slaty Creek. After Slaty it climbs to Black Snake Rocks (known for red bellied black snakes). After that the track descends and goes to the beach in Cedar Bay.
   

Home Rule Falls

The shortest walk, and actually not inside the national park, but not to miss while you are in the area. It is only 2.5km long and takes you to the beautiful Home Rule Falls, which also is a great cool swimming hole.

That said the track is not to underestimate. Level in the beginning, only with roots and rocks on the track, later it crosses a hill that is steep enough that it's not grandmother stuff. There are a few spots you pretty much climb, and hold into trees to not to slide. Great length for a good exercise run, and the falls are beautiful.

Plan Your Trip... the FREE Cape York Travel Pocket Guide

Get this 50 pages guide totally for FREE. It contains information that helps you getting started with planning of your trip. You get to make early-stages desicions such as when to go, how long time you should take, how to get there and get around, where to stay (general info), what will it cost.. and a short insight to what is there to see and do in Cape York.

Plan and Bring to the Trip... the full Destination Cape York Travel Guide

This complete 300 pages travel guide is all you need before and during your trip. Besides the background chapters on the peninsula's history and wildlife; and the comprehensive detail about all the places (down to prices, opening hours and full contact detail), it has invaluable information on at least 10 four wheel drive tracks, at least 30 guaranteed FREE camping spots on the Cape (and at least 150 on your way to the Cape), at least 40 best swimming holes, all mapped; as well as practical things - from fuel, roads, wireless internet and mobile phone reception, how to deal with the national parks booking rules; and Aboriginal land entrance and camping permits and alcohol restrictions - to vehicle preparation and accessories and necessary recovery gear by my vehicle-recovery-guy partner). Not to mention locals' tips on how to spot that croc and palm cockatoo ;-)

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