Cape York Thursday Island Daintree Rock Art Cairns Tour

Day 1 – Cairns to Laura and the Quinkan Rock Art

Cape York Thursday Island Tours – Depart Cairns 7:30 am and travel through the rainforests and the Atherton Tablelands via picturesque Kuranda and Mareeba via the Palmer River area famous in the gold rush days, to the Laura Dance Festival site (time at festival available if dates match – biennial event). You can choose to spend the day here, or travel the short distance to the Quinkan Rock Art Reserve, and an afternoon tour of this amazing rock art site. Overnight Laura or Hann River Roadhouse options near Lakefield National Park BLD

The Cape York tour provides incredible opportunities to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and culture of the region.

Rock Art Walks – Explore some of the Quinkan Aboriginal Rock Art at the Split Rock art site or the Quinkan rock art at Jowalbinna in Queensland’s premier rock art site The area includes –

• Giant Wallaroo – “The Cycle of Birth and Death”: Spectacular landscapes and paintings on a walk into Pine Tree Creek valley and up to the opposite escarpment wall.
• The Brady Creek Escarpment – “Many Clans, Many Totems”: Includes Death Adder, Honeymoon Cave, Red Lady, Garfish Sorcery and Tent Shelter rock art sites, near refreshing Brady Creek.
• Emu Dreaming – “The Emu Ancestor enters the Land”: An accessible site featuring ancient abstract engravings and occupation evidence.
• Yam Dreaming – “The Archaeologists’ Choice”: A fascinating archaeological dig site on fertility ceremonial grounds, involving a challenging walk and climb into the site (available for exclusive touring only).

Day 2 – Peninsula Developmental Road and the Old Telegraph Track

Continue your journey on the Cape York tour, departing up the Peninsula Developmental Road for the Old Telegraph Track (OTT) heading for Cape York.

On the Cape York tour, you’ll discover stunning views and breathtaking landscapes.

Day 3 – Jardine River, Seisia and the Tip of Cape York

Depart Weipa to the OTT, crossing the Wenlock River.  After a stop at the Moreton Telegraph Station, we turn off the OTT to the Bamaga Rd and enter the Jardine National Park and the Heathlands. Be entranced by the unusual change in the landscape. The Heathlands is a vast area of 2 metre high wet and dry heath vegetation which live side by side and is home to an abundance of wildlife. Enjoy a break at Eliot Falls before we cross the notorious Jardine River. We pass through the administrative centre for the region, Bamaga to Seisia, the “Gateway to the Torres Strait”.

Today we also travel on to the farthest northern point of Australia to stand on Australia’s northern most tip at Cape York , view the numerous islands of the Torres Strait, and the meeting place of the Arafura and Coral Seas. Overnight Punsand Bay Resort, or  Cape York Peninsula Lodge Bamaga, BLD

Day 4 – Thursday Island and Horn Island

At 8 am depart by fast cat ferry for the 1 hour 10 min ride to Thursday Island, passing Friday and seeing Wednesday Islands enroute. Thursday Island is known as Waiben, meaning ‘no water or place of no water’. In 1877, TI  was an administrative centre for the Torres Strait Islands established by the Queensland Government. In the early days over 1000 Japanese pearl divers were operating here. In 1880, Thursday Island acted as a defence post for Australia and old cannons remain on the Island. On TI, a 1 hour island tour is included, highlighting local history and landmarks, then free time to enjoy the Torres Strait Islander cultural centre, and pearl, souvenir or window shopping. After lunch, (own cost) the return ferry departs at 2:30 from Engineers Wharf, arriving approximately 3:40. Enjoy free time this afternoon till dinner. Alternatively, from Thursday Island you can join the included Horn Island tour, which visits WWII sites including a WWII museum. This tour meets the last & only return ferry, so it does not leave time to look around Thursday Island. If you choose, you can also stay overnight on Thursday Island and join us early next morning (overnight stay at additional cost) BD Overnight Punsand Bay Resort, or Cape York Peninsula Lodge Bamaga, Cape York

Day 5 – Fruit Bat Falls and Captain Billy’s Landing

Heading south we visit the WWII aircraft wrecks of Bamaga, and skirt the Jardine River National Park, take the Jardine River crossing then a rest stop at Fruit Bat Falls.  We take the road to the coast to visit the beach at Captain Billy’s Landing located on the east coast, and arrive Moreton Telegraph Station (or Bramwell Station)  for a few yarns, a great meal and overnight. BLD

Day 6 – Bramwell Station to Hann River Roadhouse

Experience Cape York tour highlights at Bramwell Station before heading to Hann River Roadhouse.

Day 7 – Lakefield National Park to Cooktown

Today we explore Lakefield National Park. The park is home to threatened species including the red goshawk, Lakeland Downs mouse and spectacled hare-wallaby. Hann and Kalpowar crossings are two of the many significant Aboriginal cultural sites found in the area. Barramundi abound here if you are feeling adventurous, and many waterbirds inhabit Low Lake. Enjoy this rich nature and great waterholes for swimming. Arrive Cooktown late afternoon for overnight. BLD

Day 8 – Cooktown to Cairns via the Bloomfield Track and Daintree

Cooktown to Cairns via the Bloomfield Track & Daintree Rainforests. The Daintree Rainforest encompasses an area of approximately 1,200 square kilometres, from the Daintree River north to Cooktown and west to the Great Divide, representing the single largest block of tropical rainforest in Australia. The area protected under World Heritage listing covers an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres, stretching from Townsville to Cooktown 75 per cent of which is tropical rainforest, an area equivalent to about the size of Sydney. We explore and discover the magic of rainforests on our Daintree Rainforest Discovery centre walk.

The Cape York tour offers unique experiences not found elsewhere.

We delve into history on the Cape York tour, exploring the amazing landmarks that define this region.

We depart Cooktown via the coastal road (4WD only) and witness Black Mountain National Park, home to mysterious Aboriginal legends. We visit the heritage-listed Lions Den Hotel built in 1875, then spectacular Bloomfield Falls at the Bloomfield River crossing.  This track was the site of many protests and the Daintree Blockade in 1983. The Bloomfield track takes us to Cape Tribulation and on to the ferry to cross the Daintree River. Time permitting, we travel through Mossman and visit Mossman Gorge, and a side trip via Port Douglas. Overnight Cairns. BLD

Day 9 – Tour ends in Cairns

Tour ends in Cairns after breakfast 10:00 am. Enjoy relaxing time in Cairns or flights home or join us to travel from Cairns to Darwin via the Lost City, Undara Lava Tubes and Savannah Way Tour

As we conclude the Cape York tour, reflect on your adventure and the memories made.