Rossville Bloomfield Road

It is the northern part of the coastal road between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown.

While the coastal road to Cooktown is known to be "harder" than the inland way (Mulligan Highway through Lakeland), this is the easier half of it.


The harder half of the coastal road is the Bloomfield Road, which starts in the southern end of the Helenvale Bloomfield Road.


This road is mostly sealed and doesn't require a four wheel drive vehicle, while the Bloomfield Road does require high clearance.

 
Helenvale
From the north to the south, the road starts just south of Black Mountain National Park (south of Cooktown). 

You first pass by the turnoff to Mungumby Lodge, and then you come to Helenvale - a small community mostly known for its famous and historical drinking hole - Lions Den Hotel.

Rossville
South of Helenvale is the turnoff to the road to Shiptons Flat, and further south is Rossville - a tiny rainforest village on the Helenvale Bloomfield Road. 

There is a Town Hall, a Museum, a Marketplace, and a road to Home Rule - the home to the popular yearly Wallaby Creek Festival, and the track to Home Rule Falls.

Cedar Bay National Park
Cedar Bay National Park is south of Rossville, and while you do drive through the national park, the only land access to the actual Cedar Bay is by walking. 

There is a longer bushwalking track that starts at Home Rule, and a shorter one - Gap Creek Track - further south.

Ayton
Further south is Ayton - a small community in a beautiful green rainforest setting, with a historical marker, a camping ground, and a grocery store along the main road through. 

On other tracks is more though, including a beach and the mouth of Bloomfield River.

 
Bloomfield and Wujal Wujal
South of Ayton you come to the Aboriginal community Wujal Wujal, Bloomfield Falls and the famous Bloomfield Road that takes you to Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation. 

Its best thing used to be the Bloomfield River crossing, now (2014) there is a new bridge, and a second one being built.

Helenvale - Lions Den Hotel

Lions Den Hotel is the most popular thing on the Helenvale Bloomfield Road.

It is south of Cooktown, on the coastal road.

It is one of the so-called "classic" old Aussie pubs, but in fact nowadays it is more touristic than classic.



A bit like Daly Waters in the Northern Territory, it is a colourful old establishment done up to look good and covered in all sorts of memorabilia.



In any case, if you're on your way past the Lions Den Hotel, it is definitely worth stopping for some photos.



Or have a refreshing coldie and a good look around,
   

... and they also make nice pizzas :-)


There is a fair bit of stuff to discover both inside,



... and outside the building.



And in the back, there is a swimming hole :-)

Rossville

Rossville is a small township on the Helenvale Bloomfield Road.



It is south of Helenvale and the famous Lions Den Hotel, and north of Cedar Bay National Park.



It is a small community with a Town Hall,



... a market place, and a road to Home Rule - the home to the popular Wallaby Creek Festival in late September every year.



But better than anything, it is the start of the short walk to the beautiful Home Rule Falls,



... and the long bushwalking tracks (17km) to Cedar Bay through Cedar Bay National Park.

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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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