Should mention, it is blacktop all the way, some of the Lynd Highway between Charters Towers and the Lynd turn off is single lane, you could get around this by using the Bruce Highway (coastal) all the way up to Cairns or Port Douglas then heading up the range and following signs for Cooktown.

Any dirt/gravel roads I went on were purely for fun/exploration or to get to camp grounds and do not need to be travelled. There are many places to stay, you could do pubs or motels all the way.