Cape Development Road as far as Lakeland then Cooktown Develoment Road.
This route is dual lane, with the sealing of the Cooktown section being completed in 2005 at the cost of 91 million dollars.
There are some narrow dual lane sections (some with bad shoulders) between the Little Annan River and Cooktown.
0 km (228.0 km) JUNCTION .. with Mareeba to Captain Cook Highway (near Mossman) 1.4 kms north of Mount Malloy .. southern
extremity of the Cape Development Road. That road actually continues ahead, one turns north east for Mossman at the junction.
Back towards Mount Malloy is a single lane bridge, to the south of which, is the popular Mount Malloy (Rifle Creek) rest area.
For details see Kennedy Highway section.
[28.5 km]
28.5 km (199.5 km) Mount Carbine Caravan Park (east) entrance .. actually, original residential quarters for mine.
* Class 2 (fee). 16° 31.74' S. 145° 08.35' E. Hema map 11, C 12.
Usual caravan park facilities, WATER (creek, bit dirty and bore), quiet, OK big rigs, some TV (ABC OK), no CDMA,
but weak coverage available from just west of park water tanks on top of hill in the western corner of grounds.
Fee $16 pvpn powered, public phone. Owner, Robert, gives daily (if enough people interested) guided tour and
interesting talks on area .. particually relating to mining activities past and present.
[0.3 km]
28.8 km (199.2 km) Mount Carbine Caravan Park (west) entrance..
[0.5 km]
29.3 km (198.7 km) Mount Carbine .. roadhouse north side, pub south side. Pub landlord John is friendly to the Vietman Vets and allows
them (and possibly others) to park overnight to the west of the hotel. Patronage of pub appreciated.
* Class 2 with permission. 16° 31.72' S. 145° 07.97' E. Hema map 11, C 12.
No shade, bore WATER from tap at end of verandah, 15m from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs, some TV (ABC OK), no CDMA.
Along that side road to the south is a rodeo type ground with ? possible overnight parking adjacent .. though in open
country and very visible from highway.
[0.3 km]
29.6 km (198.4 km) Large vehicle inspection bays .. both sides.
[15.3 km]
44.9 km (183.1 km) Gravel pit .. south side .. about 30m from highway.
[25.0 km]
69.9 km (158.1 km) Gravel parking bay .. west side, north of bridge.
[29.7 km]
99.6 km (128.4 km) Signed parking .. both sides. East side the better with gravel pit adjoining.
Class 3. 16° 13.23' S. 144° 43.78' E. Hema map 11, C 11.
No shade, rubbish bins, 30m from 100 kph highway, OK big rigs.
[14.9 km]
114.5 km (113.5 km) Junction .. east side is Palmer River Roadhouse.
Class 2 (fee). 16° 06.46'S. 144° 46.61'E. Hema map 11, C 11.
Roadhouse facilities, 100m from highway, OK big rigs, public phone, fee in van park $15 pvpn powered.
To the west of the highway is a gravel pit with track leading further west.
Class 4 (van park opposite!) 16° 06.37' S. 144° 46.55' E. Hema map 11, C 11.
No shade, 50m max from highway, OK big rigs.
[8.5 km]
123.0 km (105.0 km) Gravel pit .. west side.
[7.6 km]
130.6 km (97.4 km) Signed parking .. west side .. road at rear leads down to a gravel pit well off the highway.
Class 2. 15° 48.82' S. 144° 49.44' E in parking bay overlooking gravel pit. Hema map 11, B 11.
No shade, 100m from highway, OK big rigs.
[0.8 km]
131.4 km (96.6 km) Signed .. James Earl Lookout .. east side .. 0.2 km up to parking/circular turning area.
Class 3. 15° 58.48' S. 144° 49.73' E. Hema map 11, B 12.
No shade, rubbish bins, 80m from highway, just OK big rigs.
[14.6 km]
146.0 km (82.0 km) Lakeland .. junction .. Peninsular Development Road .. turn west. Cooktown Develoment Road continue ahead.
Roadhouse, with large gravel parking bay to north, immediately south of this junction .. east side.
Another roadhouse/van park/coffee shop to north west of junction.
[1.9]
147.9 km (80.1 km) Junction (small) .. west side .. signed "airstrip". We parked on the verge near the fence and north of "grid".
Class 3. 15° 50.75' S. 144° 51.22'E. Hema map 11, B 11.
No shade, 25m from highway, OK big rigs, good TV, good CDMA.
Narrow track across grid into airstrip .. ? possible to park overnight near airstrip .. well away from highway.
[6.1 km]
154.0 km (74.0 km) Gravel pit .. south east side .. about 20m from highway.
[14.2 km]
168.2 km (59.8 km) Large gravel pit plus section of old road .. north west side .. about 70m from highway.
[22.4 km]
190.6 km (37.4 km) Extremely large gravel pit ..south east side .. about 70m from highway.
[7.9 km]
198.5 km (29.5 km) Signed parking/toilets .. south side. Appears to very limited and small parking/turning area .. though a
couple of motorhomes/caravans were observed parked. Highway is narrow, so difficult to park and take a look.
Class 2 area, Hema map 11, B 12. Toilets, shade observed.
[0.2 km] Road decends to river.
198.7 km (29.3 km) Causeway across Little Annan River .. rather spectecular gorge.
[0.4 km] Road accends from river.
199.1 km (28.9 km) At top of accent from river are unsigned parking areas on both sides. We stayed in the smaller area to
north of the highway.
* Class 2. 15° 40.73' S. 145° 12.57'E. Hema map 11, B 12.
No shade, 20m max. from highway, OK big rigs (but small area), no TV, no CDMA.
The are to the south of the highway, though under power lines, is quite large with a circular turning area.
[0.9 km]
200.0 km (28.0 km) Junction .. south side .. to Lions Den Hotel, Helenvale, Rossville and on to Bloomfield etc.
Continue ahead for Cooktown.
-----------------------------
0 km turn off to Lions Den Hotel.
[4.1 km] past Helenvale private airstrip, a lodge turn off and various private settlements.
4.1 km Lions Den Hotel. Limited parking for big rigs on road. They appear to operate a van park/lodge.
-----------------------------
(near) MOUNT MALLOY to COOKTOWN .. continued.
[10.8 km]
210.8 km (17.2 km) Junction .. east side .. to Archer Point. Info is there is suitable overnight parking near beach.
Not investigated .. gravel road.
[8.9 km]
219.7 km (8.3 km) Annan River.
[0.3 km]
220.0 km (8.0 km) Signed parking/toilets .. east side .. medium size level dirt area near boat ramp with further camp spots
along track at rear and alongside river .. these spots suitable small/medium size rigs.
Class 2. 15° 31.25' S. 145° 13.39'E. Hema map 11, B 12.
Toilets, some shade, bush fireplaces, rubbish bins, 60m from highway OK big rigs, weak commercial TV, weak CDMA.
There are also parking spots on the northern side of bridge, east side .. actually old road leading to old bridge.
Access around gravel heap .. suit small/medium size vehicles, but close to highway.
[8.0 km]
228.0 km (0 km) Cooktown .. Post Office. Signed "long vehicle parking" in side street opposite.
Most of Cooktown appears to be angle parking, but some "long vehicle parking" spots are signed.
Info from other travellers is that Cooktown isn't friendly re free parking and that signs exist stating $1500 fine
for that offence. Caravan parks appeared (and reported) to be mostly too small for large rigs.
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