Page 14 - Ebook Explore Cape York

Explore Cape York 8
CREB Track
The CREB Track, once the service track for the old powerline from
Cairns to Cooktown, is now part of the Cape York experience for
the more adventurous.

10km north of Daintree Village is the Daintree River crossing, the
starting point for the ‘notorious’ CREB track.

In the 1950s the Cairns Regional Electricity Board (CREB) blazed a
trail for the construction and servicing of a new power line to
Cooktown. The track became redundant in the mid '80s with the
opening of the coastal Bloomfield track. It's now a 'must do' for all
adventurous 4WDers.
71km in length, the first challenge is crossing the Daintree River –
at times, an unnerving experience. When heading up from the
southern end, the first half of the CREB has only two directions –
up or down – both of which are very steep and can be rough.
Typically, you’re looking at a top speed of 15-20kph. For a halfway
break a stop at the top of Red Hill (Big Red), to take in the views,
is well worth your time.

You will make it towing a camper trailer, but it may be hard going.
The universal advice is not to travel the track when it’s wet, and for
a very good reason - the red clay surface becomes very, very
slippery, you could liken it to driving on ice.

Having pointed out the negatives, any half decent 4WD should
have no trouble traversing the track in the dry - it really isn’t
particularly difficult.

Check with the Douglas Shire Council to ensure the track is open -
sometimes not before July or August - before venturing forth. It
can become an expensive exercise if your vehicle needs to be
recovered.