Board our custom-built 4WD vehicle and explore the Cape York Peninsula, Thursday Island and the Daintree River. Highlight includes two nights in historic Cooktown.
Day 1. Arrive Cairns
Arrive in Cairns and transfer to your hotel. With the rest of today at leisure, perhaps go shopping, visit the casino or take a stroll around the local markets.
Day 2. Cape York, Thursday Island
Fly from Cairns to Horn Island and enjoy a brief, locally-guided tour. Here, you’ll uncover the natural beauty, hidden treasures and fascinating history of this small island. During World War II a military base was established here which saw 5,000 servicemen and women descend on the island. Then cruise to Thursday Island, one of around 100 islands that make up the Torres Strait Islands. Today, this multi-cultural outpost is home to some 3,000 Torres Strait Islanders. Tonight, enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers and Driver/Guide.
Day 3. Bamaga
Today take a guided sightseeing tour of Thursday Island.
Learn about the history of the region and get a feel for life on a tropical Torres Strait island. Afterwards, cruise over sparkling Endeavour Strait to the Australian mainland and continue by 4WD to Bamaga.
Day 4. Explore Cape York Peninsula
This morning journey to the very tip of the Cape York Peninsula and experience being at the Australian mainland’s most northerly point after a short walk. After taking in sweeping views out over the Torres Strait, travel to historic Somerset, once the official government residence of the cape, then tour some of the local communities of the cape. Afterwards, return to Bamaga Resort and perhaps explore its several acres of beautiful gardens.
Day 5. Fruit Bat Falls, Moreton Telegraph Station
Skirting the Jardine River National Park, today continue through the traditional lands of the Injinoo Aboriginal people. Native title handed much of this area back to the traditional owners, enabling the survival of the distinctive East and West Cape Aboriginal cultures. We travel along some of the original sections of the Old Telegraph Track and stop at Fruit Bat Falls, where there’s time for a swim, then continue to Moreton Telegraph Station located on the Wenlock River. The river flows all year, although the levels can vary dramatically between the wet and dry season. Here, perhaps take a walk to the nearby lagoon or along the river banks.
Day 6. Weipa
After breakfast, depart Moreton Telegraph Station and bypass Batavia Downs on the way to Weipa, on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Weipa is the site of the world’s largest bauxite deposit and is also home to fantastic Barramundi and blue salmon fishing. Enjoy a tour of the Weipa Bauxite Mine before returning to your hotel for dinner this evening.
Day 7. Weipa, Coen, Gulf Country
Drive through Mungkan Kandju National Park, a wilderness of open woodlands, melaleuca swamps and rainforest. Watch for birds around the riverbanks and water lily-covered lagoons. The journey continues to the old goldmining town of Coen, situated on the telegraph line that ran from Laura to Bamaga. After stopping here to explore, continue to historic Musgrave Telegraph Station.
Day 8. Lakefield National Park
Journey into Lakefield National Park, Queensland’s second largest national park. Cross vast savannah plains, woodlands and swamps and keep a lookout for a myriad of bird life. Explore Quinkan Country, ranked by UNESCO as one of the top ten rock art areas in the world and one of Queensland’s best kept secrets. Look out for the dingo ‘leg up’.
Day 9. Cooktown
Explore Cooktown, gateway to the Cape York Peninsula. It was here that James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repairs in 1770 - making Cooktown the first European settlement on Australian soil. Cooktown is a beautiful unspoilt coastal town full of breathtaking natural beauty and fascinating history. During your stay here you’ll visit the James Cook Museum and the cemetery with its Chinese shrine, and discover nature’s powerhouse in the Botanic Gardens. With a local guide from Guurrbi Tours, travel through the dramatic landscape on the outskirts of Cooktown and visit three Indigenous rock art sites, including Rainbow Serpent Cave and the Great Emu Cave.
Day 10. Bloomfield Track
Traverse the Bloomfield Track to Cape Tribulation today, where the rainforest meets the sea. This is the only place in Australia where two World Heritage-listed regions meet. Along the way, visit Bloomfield Falls with an Aboriginal guide. This afternoon take a walk along the beach at Cape Tribulation.
Day 11. Daintree, Cairns
After a delicious fresh tropical breakfast today, farewell Cape Tribulation and travel to World Heritage-listed Daintree National Park. Here, you’ll enjoy a cruise along the Daintree River, watching for saltwater crocodiles and wildlife. After the cruise, follow the beautiful coastal road to Cairns
Day 12. Cairns, Kuranda
Board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and skim over the rainforest. On arrival in Kuranda, spend time exploring this pretty village at your leisure. At Rainforestation Nature Park, watch the Pamagirri Dancers perform, enjoy the Dreamtime Walk, and learn to throw a boomerang. Afterwards, board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a journey through the rainforest to Cairns.
Day 13. Cairns at Leisure
Following a relaxed breakfast, spend the entire day at your leisure to further discover this tropical city.
Day 14. Cairns
This morning your holiday concludes with a transfer to the airport.
