16 Day Cape York 4WD Camping Safari Tour

Itinerary

DAY 1 SATURDAY (LD) - Cairns, Laura Area.
Early departure from your Cairns accommodation as we climb the rainforest-shrouded Kuranda Range, through Mareeba to the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve. Join a guided boat cruise and get up close and personal to the resident Jacanas and Pygmy-geese. Pass by the inhospitable ranges of the Palmer River Gold Fields and enter the Laura River valley. Overnight Laura Campground

DAY 2 SUNDAY (BLD) - Musgrave Telegraph Station.
This morning we take a guided walk of Mushroom Rock art site where occupation dates back over 30,000 years, and the images of Quinkan spirits, totem animals and people adorn many of the rock shelters, this area ranks alongside the Kimberly and the Arnemland escarpment as Australia’s most important rock art regions. After lunch we rejoin the development road heading north to our overnight stay at Musgrave telegraph station. Camp with facilities.

DAY 3 MONDAY (BLD) - Coen, Moreton Telegraph Station.
Today we travel through typical frontier cattle country to a welcome fuel and provision stop at the old mining town of Coen. We cross the wide sandy Archer and Wenlock Rivers to arrive at Moreton Telegraph Station, to wet a line for the elusive barramundi and spotlight for the rare Cuscus possum. Camp with facilities.

DAY 4 TUESDAY (BLD) - Telegraph Road, Twin Falls.
A really challenging route today as we ford fast flowing streams and traverse rugged 4WD roads to overnight at the idyllic Twin Falls. Basic facilities.

DAY 5 WEDNESDAY (BLD) - Jardine River, Cape York.
Across the free flowing Jardine River by cable ferry, a brief refuelling stop at Bamaga and onto our northern base camp.

DAY 6 THURSDAY (BLD) - Cape York, Somerset, Horn Island.
An unforgettable day of achievement and interest. We stand at the very tip of our continent. Visit the ruins of Somerset, (road conditions permitting) with pristine beaches and rocky headlands. An afternoon cruise through the islands of Torres Strait to Thursday Island then transfer to Horn Island. Overnight, Gateway Torres Strait Resort.

DAY 7 FRIDAY (BLD) - Horn Island, Thursday Island, Cape York.
Discover Horn Island with a guided tour of the WW2 sites and a visit to the Torres Strait Heritage Museum. This is the largest collection of WW2, cultural and artistic items in the Torres Strait. Transfer to Thursday Island for a guided tour to explore Thursday Island’s fascinating past. Afternoon cruise to our mainland camp.

DAY 8 SATURDAY (BLD) - Fruitbat Falls, Bramwell Junction.
Our journey south begins today. Re-cross the mighty Jardine River, through the wilderness of forests and heath to Fruitbat Falls on the Elliot River and a cooling dip in the rapids and waterfalls before lunch. Via the Kennedy Expedition monument at Heathlands Reserve, to our overnight camp at Bramwell Junction. Camp with facilities

DAY 9 SUNDAY (BLD) - Wenlock River, Weipa.
Travel south to Batavia Downs detour west to the Gulf of Carpentaria through huge cattle runs and Aboriginal lands to the bauxite-mining town of Weipa. Overnight at Weipa Campground.

DAY 10 MONDAY (BD) - Batavia Goldfields, Chuula.
Early morning, Weipa Mine Tour, (own cost), A veritable ‘Oasis in the Wilderness’, providing further contrast to your experience of this last frontier. Before venturing East through pioneer cattle country to the Old Batavia Goldfields. We explore this goldfield were approx 40,500oz of gold was recovered. Overnight camp at Chuula.

DAY 11 TUESDAY (BLD) - Iron Range National Park.
Cross the Pascoe River 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 National Park.

DAY 12 WEDNESDAY (BLD) - Portland Roads, Chilli Beach, WW2 Sites.
An exciting day visiting significant historical sites. Portland Roads, once a vital seaport for miners and the wartime airfields, now affords the locals a relaxed lifestyle in an idyllic tropical setting. Chilli Beach, a truly magical spot overlooking Restoration Island, Bligh’s landing site 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. Overnight Iron Range.

DAY 13 THURSDAY (BLD) - Archer River.
Travel west through lands of the Lockhart River Aboriginal People to rejoin the Peninsula Development Road, then south to overnight at the Archer River. Camp with facilities.

DAY 14 FRIDAY (BLD) - Musgrave, Lakefield National Park.
Via Musgrave we head east towards the Coral Sea where we traverse almost the entire length of the huge bird and wildlife sanctuary of Lakefield National Park. An amalgamation of 3 huge cattle stations, the waterfowl teem in lily-fringed billabongs and huge crocodiles bask in broad river-lakes and lagoons. Camp with basic facilities.

DAY 15 SATURDAY (BD) - Old Laura, Cooktown.
Continuing through Lakefield, past Old Laura Station and over the legendary Battlecamp Range to historic Cooktown. An eventful day of sightseeing and viewing significant landmarks and sites so important to all Australians.

DAY 16 SUNDAY (BL) - Cape Tribulation National Park, Cairns.
We cross the Bloomfield River, through the famous World Heritage rainforest across the Daintree River. Then travel via the scenic coastal road to Cairns and journeys end.