Experience one of the world’s iconic off-road journeys with one of the passionate and experienced Cape York Adventure guides.
4WD tours with Cape York Adventures are personal. Experienced guides will make sure you see all the best places. Itineraries are flexible, and you as the guest will get to do what you want. You will see all the highlights of the Cape: Cooktown, Lakefield National Park, Lotus Bird Lodge, Lockhardt River, ‘The Tip’ and Thursday Is. And of course a 4WD trip with Cape York Adventures gives guests access to fishing trips and further exploration around the top of the Cape by boat.
This is a very special experience and Cape York Adventures make (almost) everything possible. You can even leave your vehicle in Cairns and travel in ours. Now that makes Cape York easy!
Sample Itinerary:
Day One: Depart Cairns and travel across the northern Tablelands to Mareeba, Mt Molloy and Mt Carbine before stopping at Lakeland Downs for coffee. On to Cooktown for a look around the area prior to settling in to comfortable motel accommodation and a cool drink before dinner.
Highlights: Black Mountain, Grassy Hill, James Cook Museum, Cooktown Cemetery, Botanic Gardens and Mt Cook. You can see as much or little as you want!
Day Two: Departing Cooktown, you travel on 4wd roads through Lakefield National Park seeing the waterways and billabongs that create this special Park. Lakefield National Park is Queensland’s second largest National Park and features spectacular wetlands and extensive river systems. It is home to threatened species: Red Goshawk, Lakeland Downs Mouse and Spectacled Hare-wallaby. The National Park has areas of Aboriginal cultural significance, especially Hann River and Kalpowar crossings as well as old homestead sites from later settlement. The waterways have Barramundi, Low Lake is known for its birdlife and lotus lilies form a carpet at Red and White Lily lagoons. This evening is spent at Lotus Bird Lodge which is a highlight of the trip. Beautiful self-contained cabins overlook a private billabong filled with lilies and attracting birdlife in abundance. Wallabies often visit at sundown while you relax on the veranda of the restaurant with a cool drink.
Day Three: Say goodbye to Lotus Bird Lodge and travel into Musgrave Roadhouse (originally a Telegraph Station) then to Coen. Travelling out to the coast you pass through Iron Range National Park and cross the Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers. Relax this evening at Portland Roads approx 50 kms north of Lockhart River. There are creeks and islands around Portland Roads and the beautiful Chilli Beach which has white silky sand that is untouched for more than 5 kms. Fish for coral trout, barramundi or mangrove jack. On a low tide collect black lipped oysters for entree. Spend time bird watching in the National Park, the unspoiled Chilli Beach and the Portland Roads area. Lockhardt River is known for Aboriginal artwork.
Day Four: The next part of the journey takes guests from Chilli Beach to Weipa. You will cross the wide sandy Archer River and arrive in Weipa early afternoon. After a comfortable night ‘in town’ guests travel north again to visit Bramwell Station. This is the most northerly working cattle station in Australia and a fantastic outback experience.
Day Five: Today, guests enjoy the wonderful Fruit Bat and Twin Falls. A swim at these waterfalls in the cool and clear water is always a highlight. Completely relaxed, guests journey north again to cross the Jardine River by car ferry. The Jardine River is Qld largest perennial river and the only human habitation along the river is the ferry. From the ferry crossing it is a short run into Injinoo in the Northern Peninsula Area (the top of the Cape) and onto Bamaga and Seisia.
Visit ‘The Tip’: that most northerly point of the Australian mainland. 40kms north of Bamaga (and Seisia) a day at The Tip includes a visit to historic Somerset, Lockerbie (homestead and rainforest) and Fly Point. Frangipani Beach is one of the Cape’s most beautiful. Thursday and Horn Is are a boat ride away, 20kms from the mainland. Horn Is has the Heritage Museum and WWII history and Thursday Is (TI) is the administrative centre of the Torres Strait. It is a multicultural and historic township. On a day trip with Cape York Adventures you will wet a line on the way and maybe even catch dinner. You can also visit Roko Is Pearl Farm (and yes, you can buy direct from the farm). Guests may enjoy a fishing trip with Cape York Adventures or visit the Jackey Jackey mangrove river system or the mouth of the Jardine River area. You can visit nearby tropical islands fringed with coral reef and marine life.
Return options include: 4WD, fly direct Bamaga to Cairns, Horn Is to Cairns or travel by passengers carrying cargo ship. Please speak to us about your options.
Please Note: This is a sample itinerary. Each itinerary is arranged for the individual guests. You can spend more or less time in any area. Options not discussed here include visiting Port Douglas, Daintree National Park, Cape Tribulation, Laura and the Split Rock Aboriginal Art Site.
Details: All meals and accommodation is included. Accommodation across the Cape varies and can be basic. All accommodation is clean and comfortable, twin share or double. The different styles of accommodation is a part of the journey and experience of visiting the Cape. If guests have preferences for accommodation, please speak to us prior to your trip. Trips depart Cairns (or surrounding area) and can be scheduled any day from April to December. January to March is limited by the weather – please speak to us.
Vehicle: Cape York Adventures use a Toyota Landcruiser Stationwagon and carry a maximum of 4 guests. Larger groups can be accommodated, please ask.
A 4WD trip with CYA is arranged for the individual guests, so it is suitable for almost anyone who loves the idea of exploring the Cape.
What to Bring: Light weight long sleeve shirts and long pants are ideal. There are a few insects that bite and the sun will burn, so protection suitable for a hot climate will make your trip far more comfortable. Personal items – toiletries and camera. Next G phones will have reception limited to the towns: Cooktown, Laura, Coen and Bamaga and it will be limited within these areas as well.
Please email or phone to arrange your ideal trip.
