Australia’s Bloomfield Track in North Queensland is a challenging off-road experience characterised by steep grades, river crossings and breathtaking scenery. This 33km stretch of unsealed road through the ancient rainforests of the Daintree National Park takes four-wheel driving enthusiasts from Cape Tribulation to Wujal Wujal, making it a great day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas.
Brief History of the Bloomfield Track
After the Amazon Rainforest, Australia’s Daintree Rainforest, located in North Queensland, is the second largest tract of virgin rainforest in the world. It is estimated to be over 110 million years old. The traditional custodians of the Daintree area, the Kuku Yalangi Aboriginal people, lived in the region for thousands of years. Over this time a well-worn coastal foot track was established between Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal, on the Bloomfield River. With the arrival of white settlers during the 1800s, this was upgraded to a packhorse track to support mining, logging and agricultural activities in the region.
In 1983, the current Bloomfield Track was opened amidst great controversy. National and local protests over the track’s development through the pristine Daintree Rainforest put the area into the national and international spotlight. While protesters were unsuccessful in stopping the track’s construction, they did create a groundswell of support for conservation in the region. Consequently, the Daintree Rainforest was placed on the Wet Tropics World Heritage list in 1988. Today, the Bloomfield Track remains an unsealed road suitable only for 4WD vehicles.
Best Time to Drive the Bloomfield Track
The Bloomfield Track is an unsealed road which starts at Cape Tribulation, 80km north of Cairns, and heads north to the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal on the Bloomfield River. There are steep grades along the way, especially through the Cowie and Donovan ranges, and the terrain can be rough, boggy and slippery, particularly after rain, so be sure to have a snatch strap or tow rope and shovel for bogged vehicles. The best time to drive the Bloomfield Track is during the dry season between June and October. During the wet season the track can be inaccessible.
Those planning to make the journey should check rain and flooding forecasts prior to departure. Creek crossings can be treacherous after heavy rains and prone to flash flooding which puts drivers at risk of being stranded between creek crossings or being washed from the crossing altogether. If in any doubt about safety, do not attempt to make the crossing. For information about the condition or closure of the Bloomfield Track, check the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) website for updates.
For those visitors to the region who would enjoy this type of adventure but do not have a 4WD or have limited four-wheel driving experience in challenging terrain, then 4WD safari tours are available through a number of operators out of Cairns, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation. They offer a choice of half or full-day tours. Some 4WD hire companies permit travelling on the Bloomfield Track in their hire vehicles but seek authorisation before setting out. No permits are required to travel on the track.
Facilities and Accommodation on the Bloomfield Track
Facilities on the Bloomfield Track are limited so take sufficient fuel, food and water for the journey. The last fuel stop prior to starting the Bloomfield Track is at Wonga Beach, south of Cape Tribulation, and once on the track, at Ayton just north of Wujal Wujal.
A variety of accommodation is available at Cape Tribulation to include camping sites, holiday homes, B&Bs and resorts. Accommodation along the Bloomfield Track itself is limited and can be booked out during peak periods, so it is best to book accommodation well in advance. Hayley’s Cabins and Camping at Ayton provides camping sites, fixed safari tents and cabins. At the top end of the market is the luxury Bloomfield Lodge resort located near Ayton on Weary Bay. Further north on the coast road, budget accommodation is available at Home Rule Rainforest Lodge in Rossville. If travelling on to the historic township of Cooktown, about 60km north of Ayton, visitors will find a variety of accommodation available there.
Crocodile Caution
Throughout the Bloomfield Track, and the greater North Queensland region, dangerous saltwater, or estuarine, crocodiles inhabit coastal waterways, freshwater and saltwater inland waterways and lagoons. When in the area it is vital visitors observe warning signs and only swim where recommended. It is also recommended that visitors to the area seek local advice about crocodile habitats when fishing, boating or camping. Particular care is required when checking creek and river levels before crossing in 4WDs.
Sally Piper - Sally Piper is a published writer whose fiction and non-fiction has appeared in Australia and the UK.
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