The Captain Cook Highway

Truckin Around Oz

30 July

When Captain James Cook sailed up the east coast of Australia way back in 1770, his famous ship Endeavour had to negotiate a dangerous passage though the Great Barrier Reef.

Captain Cook would never have imagined that in the future Australia would become a great nation and that a highway in the far north would be named after him.

The 65km Captain Cook Highway runs from the Cairns outer suburb of Smithfield to Mossman and many trucks negotiate the route every week. But whilst the drive offers amongst the most scenic views anywhere in Australia, it is also rated one of the country’s most dangerous.

I have driven the highway numerous times and you have to be careful not to be distracted by the views of the azure Coral Sea, golden sand beaches and mountain scenery which is both spectacular and enchanting. The highway includes approximately 25km of winding road with numerous warning signs pointing to the possible dangers.

Unfortunately some drivers don’t read – or if they do, ignore the warnings. There are at least four roadside monuments to people who have died whilst negotiating the stretch.

The highway is constantly busy with many tourists and caravans travelling it on the way to Mossman Gorge, the Daintree National Park and further on to Cape Tribulation. Add in motorcycles, buses and of course trucks, and it becomes patently obvious that care needs to be taken.

**This lot can’t blame a truck for slowing them down**

Many truckies, mainly from Cairns use the highway to supply busy Port Douglas, which is 10km before Mossman. There is a lookout along the way which offers some of the best views you would find anywhere. Some days you’ll see hang gliders floating on the air currents which makes the scenery even more spectacular.

But please, don’t look at the scenery while you’re driving. You may well end up being on another of those roadside monuments.