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LAKELAND CARAVAN PARK

WHAT TO DO

LAKELAND is not only a great place from which to begin your journey to the TIP of Cape York but also to explore it's southern reaches. Take a daytrip from Lakeland in any direction and you can see world renowned Aboriginal Rock Art sites, places of historical significance and natural beauty, great fishing spots or just escape a quiet bush walk. If you want to freely explore the Cape York wilderness then we can make it easy for you and look after your caravan, car or trailer and any other precious items for as long as it takes you. How ever, if you just want to stop, rest and refresh then sit back and relax in our peaceful, green park, watch a DVD for free, try a Laura Valley coffee over the road or stroll to the local for a coldie and dinner.

CAPE YORK PENINSULA

Humans, being what we are, love to reach the TOP - be it the top of a mountain, the top of your class and why not, the top of Australia. Besides the elation of standing at the TIP. A trip to Cape York has so much to offer with over 200,000sq kilometers of wilderness to explore. With a great diversity of landscapes you can enjoy, fabulous fishing, birdwatching, bushwalking, camping, swimming and just relaxing. The Peninsular Developemental Road, which begins at Lakeland is mostly a good dirt road with patches of bitumen to Weipa. North of Bramwell Junction 4wd enthusiasts can take the challenging Old Telegraph Track or the easier Bypass Road to avoid most of the creek crossings. With so much to see and do in Cape York it is hard to say how long your journey to the Tip will take, two weeks allows you to do it at a comfortable pace, but longer if you can. Some people return year after year to go to their favorite spots or to explore a different part of the Cape, it is truely a fascinating wilderness. For your convenience you may store your caravan, vehicle, cold goods or any other precious items at Lakeland Caravan Park so you can travel unemcumbered over the dirt roads of Cape York.

SPLIT ROCK and the QUINKAN CULTURAL CENTRE

The Quinkan region with it's world renown collection of Aboriginal Rock Art is less than an hours drive from Lakeland. You may take a self guided walk around the rock escarpments of Split Rock or a guided tour of the more extensive galleries. The fabulous views of the Laura valley and beyond alone are worth the hike. At Laura you will find the Quinkan Cultural Centre which showcases the Aboriginal culture and the rich pioneering history of the region. It also offers information on the many regional attractions, local rock-art tours and the National Parks of the Cape.

BATTLE CAMP ROAD  

For an interesting daytrip from Lakeland begin by taking the to Laura and in less than an hour will come to Split Rock. Take the moderate walk up the escarpments to view these Aboriginal Rock Art sites, allowing approx 2hrs. Continue on to Laura and visit the Quinkan Cultral Centre to learn of the rich Aboriginal and Pioneering heritage of this region. From Laura the road can get rough and is mostly suited to 4wd only. Branch off the Peninsular Developmental Road and head towards the  Lakeland National Park and the Old Laura homestead, only 28km away. Explore tha old homestead and yards and then drive through the lower reaches of Lakfield. The lagoons in the park are home to prolific birdlife, along with freshwater and estuarine crocodiles and barramundi. Continue your drive through the picturesque hillsides clad with grasstrees and cycads to reach the refreshing cascades of Isabella Falls and futher on is the Endevour Falls. Head south  now into Cooktown with its many attractions and then back to Lakland. The round trip is 290km which you can easily do in a day or enjoy a night two stopover along the way.

MAYTOWN

For more adventurous 4wd enthusiast a drive out to Maytown is a great day or overnight trip. From the air Maytown is 55km southwest of Laura and used to be accessed by road from ther too. That is a really difficult track now so today the main access is via a track just south of Palmer River, only 30mins south of Lakland. Road conditions need to be checked before departure. Established in the Palmer River goldrush era of the 1870s, Maytown was the business centre of the north. It flourished over the next two decades with the gold production of the Palmer fields second only to Ballarat. The decline of Maytown came with the bank crash fo 1893 and the subsequent closure of most of the Palmer mines. Today only a few relics remain of the orginal town with plaques laid by the Hisorical Society to mark the ruins of the once bustling town.

THE BLOOMFIELD and the CREB TRACK

Beautifil rainforest and coastal scenery can be enjoyed with a drive through the Bloomfield Track and back by the same route or via the even more challenging Creb Track. Depart Lakeland and heads towards Cooktown  just pass the Annan Gorge turn south to Helenvale.You will pass the infamous Lions Den Hotel, onto Wujal Wujal and the Bloomfield Crossing. From here on we recommend 4wd only as there are several steep inclines and creek crossings to negotiate. The track will take you over rainforest clad hills with some spectacular views of the coast and nearby reef, down into Cape Tribulation.  The drive from Cape Tribulation through to Daintree has a lot to offer the daytripper or a stay a night or two in one of the many accommodation options. You may return via the Bloomfield Track or continue on to Daintree from where you can link up with the Creb Track or take the highway route back up the Rex Range. The Creb Track cuts its way inland through the spectacular world heritage Daintree region and will bring you back to Wujal Wujal. It is for experience 4wd drivers only and not advisable to do on you own, permission may also be required. Return to Lakeland for a well earned cold drink and dinner at the Local.