Bloomfield Track

Bloomfield Track

Driving along the Bloomfield Track, September 2009
Map
General information
TypeRural road
Length30 km (19 mi)
Opened1984
Major junctions
North endWujal Wujal
South endCape Tribulation
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The Bloomfield Track, which is also known as the Coast Road or officially, the Cape Tribulation-Bloomfield Road, is a controversial four-wheel-drive road in Far North Queensland, Australia. The road's construction through untouched wilderness was the cause of protests and blockades in the early 1980s.[1]

The road was completed in 1984, connecting Cape Tribulation to Cooktown. This route is an alternative to the Mulligan Highway further inland.[2] It passes over the Donovan and Cowie Ranges.[3] To reduce the environment impact the road was designed with few switchbacks and bends on the climbs resulting in patches of steep gradients over the ranges.[3] The track itself is 30 km in length.[citation needed]

The road is only partially sealed and may be impassable after heavy rains. Access to Bloomfield Falls and the aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal is provided by the road which also crosses the Bloomfield River. Tourism along the Bloomfield Track has been popular. Visitors are drawn to the pristine rainforest, swimming holes, creeks and beaches.[4]

  1. ^ Mounter, Brendan; Staley, Phil (25 December 2018). "Wet Tropics — how Queensland's Daintree rainforest was saved". ABC Far North. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  2. ^ Lee Mylne (21 September 2009). "The new rush". News.com.au. News Corp Australia Network. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b "The end of the road". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Digital. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  4. ^ "Coast Road". Cook Shire Council. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.