North of Cairns to Cooktown
Rossville & Black Mountain (Kalkajaka) National Park
Nestled between rainforest and rugged peaks, Rossville Retreat offers a peaceful base for exploring cultural tours with Traditional Owners, while nearby Black Mountain’s striking boulder formations hold deep cultural significance and rare environmental wonders.
Valleys of Culture and Stone
Rossville Retreat is the starting point for tours with Harold “Mooks” Tayley, a respected Traditional Owner sharing stories, cultural knowledge, and bush skills. Just north, Kalkajaka (Black Mountain) National Park rises in dark granite domes and boulder fields, an awe-inspiring site rich with stories and ecological rarity. This region blends tranquillity, cultural immersion, and striking natural beauty.
Storytelling
Guiding for Generations
By Harold “Mooks” Tayley
Harold “Mooks” Tayley has been guiding visitors for more than three decades. After years working around Mossman Gorge, he has returned to country to share bush medicine, bush foods and cultural knowledge through guided tours. For Mooks, passing on this knowledge is about keeping culture strong and making sure younger generations learn language and traditions. He takes pride in teaching visitors at Rossville Retreat practical skills for living with country, while building a future that ensures culture is celebrated and never lost.
Photo Gallery
Stone and Country
Rossville Retreat and the looming presence of Black Mountain are places where culture and nature intertwine. Here, stories are carried in the landscape, and visitors are invited into a living connection with country, legend and spirit.
Experiences
Key Experiences
Experience cultural storytelling and guided walks that connect you to country, before seeing the nearby striking landscape of Black Mountain.
Harold “Mooks” Tayley
Guided cultural tours out of Rossville Retreat exploring bush foods, medicine plants, local history, and Traditional Owner perspectives on country. Discover More
Black Mountain (Kalkajaka) National Park
Striking granite boulder formations with rare plants and wildlife, and a place of cultural importance with stories passed through generations.
Travel and Preparation
Rossville is reached via the Bloomfield Track or Mulligan Highway. Black Mountain is visible from the highway, access within the park is restricted to protect cultural and environmental values.
Bloomfield Track
A scenic but challenging 4WD route between Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal, with steep climbs and creek crossings. Suitable for experienced drivers in dry conditions.
Respect for Cultural Sites
Both Rossville and Black Mountain are culturally significant. Visitors should follow the guidance of Traditional Owners and avoid restricted areas.
Guided Tours with Mooks
Book in advance through Rossville Retreat to ensure availability. Tours can be tailored for small groups and focus on cultural interpretation of the local area.
Wildlife Viewing
Look for Godman’s Rock Wallabies on the boulders and Wedge-tailed Eagles circling Black Mountain, wallabies in nearby forests, and diverse birdlife around Rossville.
Access to Black Mountain
There are no walking tracks into the boulder fields. Visitors should only view the mountain safely from lookouts along the Mulligan Highway.
Crocodile Safety
Both saltwater and freshwater crocodiles inhabit waterways throughout Far North Queensland. Obey warning signs, keep well back from the water’s edge, and never swim in rivers, estuaries, or coastal areas unless clearly designated safe.
Places to visit
Other locations in this region
