What an exciting but practical tour programme. Perfect for the holiday maker who wishes to combine the speed and scope of air travel with a comprehensive overland visit to the prime destinations of Cape York Peninsula. Commence with a 4WD expedition from Daintree rainforests and Cooktown in the South to Iron Range National Park on the East Coast then to the Gulf of Carpentaria on the West Coast then the Torres Strait in the North, followed by a spectacular aerial reconnaissance to our least disturbed wilderness, its deserted coastline, adjoining reefs and islands.

Highlights

Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Track Historic Cooktown Lakefield National Park Iron Range National Park Chilli Beach Portland Roads Batavia Gold Fields Weipa Telegraph Rd Twin Falls Bamaga Free Day for Options Cape York "The Tip" Historic Somerset Flight Bamaga to Cairns

Pioneer Graves at Historic Somerset

Itinerary

Cooktown

DAY 1 THURSDAY (LD)
CAIRNS, CAPE TRIBULATION , COOKTOWN AREA.
Early morning pick up from your Cairns accommodation. Through the pristine Daintree Rainforests and over the soaring verdant heights of the Bloomfield Track to Cooktown. A step back in time as we explore the historic old port.

DAY 2 FRIDAY (BD)
LAKEFIELD NATIONAL PARK.
A morning of sightseeing and viewing significant landmarks and sites so important to all Australians. Via the rugged Battlecamp Range, pioneer cattle stations and the old coach road to arrive at the massive wildlife haven, Lakefield National Park.

DAY 3 SATURDAY (BLD)
MUSGRAVE, COEN, ARCHER RIVER.
Historic interludes as we visit the last old Telegraph Station, Musgrave, and the once vibrant gold rush town of Coen, before reaching our overnight stop at the Archer River.

DAY 4 SUNDAY (BLD)
IRON RANGE NATIONAL PARK.
Cross the Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers before entering Iron Range National Park via Tozers Gap.
The park features the largest area of tropical lowland rainforest remaining in Australia. Rare fauna and flora include cuscus, palm cockatoos, eclectus parrots, green pythons, palms and orchids. There is also impressive coastal and mountain range scenery. Overnight camp in Iron Range.

River Crossing

DAY 5 MONDAY (BLD)
PORTLAND ROADS, CHILLI BEACH, WW2 SITES.
An exiting day visiting significant historical sites and breathtaking coastal scenery. Portland Roads, once a vital sea port for miners and the wartime airfields, now affords the locals a relaxed lifestyle in an idyllic tropical setting. War time gun emplacements are silent sentinels around the headland, some are homes to the locals at the 'Roads. Chilli Beach is wide and long and fringed with palms. A truly magical spot overlooking Restoration Island, Blighs first landing point in 1792. We explore and learn about the gold workings of the 1930's and the area around the airfield at Iron Range where there were major military installations. Anti-aircraft batteries, air raid shelters, the bakery complex and hospital site are a few to visit. Overnight camp at Chuula.

DAY 6 TUESDAY (BLD)
BATAVIA GOLDFIELDS, WEIPA.
Travel West to visit the old Batavia (Wenlock) Gold Fields, an abandoned mining town. Then travel North by West across Piccaninny Plains and boundless savannah to Weipa, on the Gulf of Carpentaria. A veritable "Oasis in the wilderness" and providing further contrast to your experience of this last frontier.

Female Eclectus Parrot, photo courtesy John Young Wildlife | Chilli Beach near Portland Roads

DAY 7 WEDNESDAY (BD)
WENLOCK RIVER, MORETON STATION.
In the cool of the early morning, an optional Weipa Mine Tour (own cost, as is lunch). With the Gulf of Carpentaria behind us, we pass through huge cattle runs to arrive at the fast flowing Wenlock River. Perhaps a cooling swim before setting up for our overnight camp at Old Moreton Telegraph Station.

DAY 8 THURSDAY (BLD)
TELEGRAPH RD, TWIN FALLS.
A really challenging route today as we ford fast flowing streams and traverse rugged 4WD tracks to overnight at the ideallic Twin Falls.

Old Wenlock (Batavia) Goldfields

DAY 9 FRIDAY (BLD)
JARDINE RIVER, PUNSAND BAY.
Across the free flowing Jardine, a brief refuelling stop at Bamaga and then onto our northern base camp.

DAY 10 SATURDAY (BD)
THURSDAY ISLAND.
Today's highlight is a cruise through the island dotted Straights to explore legendary Thursday Island. A conducted bus tour is available (own cost, as is lunch) and is most enjoyable and informative. Afternoon return to camp on the mainland.

We made it - The Tip

DAY 11 SUNDAY (BLD)
CAPE YORK, SOMERSET.
An unforgettable day of achievement and interest. We stand at the very tip of our continent. Visit the ruins of Somerset the once grandiose "Singapore of the Pacific" (road conditions permitting) with pristine beaches and rocky headlands.

DAY 12 MONDAY (BL)
CAIRNS.
A more leisurely morning, with perhaps a stroll along the deserted beach before a 4WD transfer to Bamaga for the flight to return to Cairns. Hotel transfers on arrival in Cairns completes your holiday.

Ack Ack Battery | Green Amethyst Python (Scotty Templeton)

This tour is also available in an air/overland configuration with reverse itinerary (includes overnight stay in accommodation on Horn Island).

• DAY 1 - SUNDAY (LD) Cairns-Horn Island
• DAY 2 - MONDAY (BD) Thursday Island-Punsand Bay
• DAY 3 - TUESDAY (BLD) Cape York-Somerset
• DAY 4 - WEDNESDAY (BLD) Twin Falls
• DAY 5 - THURSDAY (BLD) - Wenlock River-Moreton
• DAY 6 - FRIDAY (BD) - Weipa
• DAY 7 - SATURDAY (BLD) Iron Range
• DAY 8 - SUNDAY (BLD) Chuula
• DAY 9 - MONDAY (BLD) Archer River
• DAY 10 - TUESDAY (BLD) Coen-Musgrave-Lakefield National Park
• DAY 11 - WEDNESDAY (BD) Cooktown
• DAY 12 - THURSDAY (BL) Cape Tribulation-Cairns

2010 Fares & Departure Dates

June, July, August Twin Share $2870.00 per person Single Tent supplement $77.00 May, September, October Twin Share $2670.00 per person Single Tent supplement $77.00