Cape York Adventure Holidays

The top of Cape York provides a holiday experience that is enjoyed by fishermen, photographers, birdwatchers, hikers, explorers and anyone who loves nature and the outdoors. Every holiday is planned for the individual and every guest enjoys personal attention: go snorkelling, fishing, hiking, exploring, learn indigenous culture and history, WWII history and memorabilia, See the great barrier reef, tropical islands, wilderness, rainforests, crocodiles, barramundi, turtles, dugongs, birdlife...

We offer holidays in the most unique part of Australia. Our guests can be as active or relaxed as they like because our small groups mean personalized service. (Of course if there are a few of you we cater for larger groups as well).

Based at the top of the pointy part of Australia, a typical weeks' visit will begin with a scenic flight over the wilderness Cape York Peninsula and the Great Barrier Reef as you travel from Cairns to Bamaga. The trip takes less than two hours and you arrive at Injinoo/Bamaga Airport where you are met for transfer to your accommodation which is approximately 15 minutes away on the coast at Seisia or Loyalty Beach. Guests settle into their beachside accommodation before enjoying a sunset cruise or a relaxing drink enjoying a spectacular sunset.

One day you can explore the west coast of the top of the Cape. This is the start of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Wooded headlands run from Seisia to the north bank of the Jardine River, including Muttee Head the site of a WWII base. You need to look carefully for the submerged pylons from the wharf which were still visible a few years ago. Travelling up the Jardine River you experience a pristine river environment. There are palms along the banks that are only found here. The water is clear although it is tannin stained. The southern bank is a long sandbank that is the start of the Gulf savannah which runs down the west coast. Travelling further along the coast you pass Crab Is, a large sand island that is the world's largest rookery for Flatback Turtles. This coastline and island is also home to many large saltwater crocodiles. 

The north-westerly winds of the wet season wash up a lot of debris along the coast and early visitors can find some interesting artifacts if they beachcomb these beautiful, white sand beaches. 

Another day can be spent in the mangrove maze that is the Jacky Jacky creek system. Hundreds of interlocking, untouched creeks drain onto the east coast of the Cape. Crocodiles live here in proliferation. Crabs and barramundi are also found, along with hundreds of types of mangrove tree, some that don't grow anywhere in the world but here! Only the mouth of the main Jacky Jacky creek offers a small opening in the mangroves, upstream there is no break to the mangroves and mud. This is a fantastic day exploring a place that has little sign of humans.

You could spend several days cruising and exploring the nearby Torres Strait islands: Possession Is, High Is, Daymon and Medler Is', (still returning to comfortable accommodation each night). The largest of these islands, Possession Is, has a monument to Lt. Cook, it is on this islands on August 22, 1770 that he claimed the east coast of Australia in the name of King George III. It has been home to a gold mine, a port for pearlers and is the final resting place for at least two people whose graves are still evident today. The view from the top of the hill is spectacular. Each of the other islands has its own attraction and all are fringed with living coral reefs and clear, tropical waters. These islands provide an opportunity to snorkel the coral reef that fringes them in shallow water.

From the Possession Is area you can travel onto visit either ‘The Tip', Australia's most northerly point and travel on down the east coast if the weather permits, visitng the Great Barrier Reef, the Mt Adolphus Is group of islands, Albany Is and the historic site of the Somerset township

Or you may choose to visit Thursday and Horn Is. These islands are the administrative centre of the Torres Strait, visit the Heritage Museum, learn the WWII history and see the indigenous artwork on Horn Is before heading to Thursday Is (TI) to enjoy a counter meal and experience this multicultural place. Local taxi drivers provide a great personal tour of the island, showing you all the sites and giving you a feel of what life is like on the island.

You can take a 4wd tour one day, experiencing rainforests, bush tracks and traveling to ‘The Tip' or even a remote billabong.

Cape York is also a great destination for families:

John is a family man himself and knows that the most fun is when all the family is occupied and happy. A holiday at the top is not only a chance to relax and have fun but also to learn and appreciate the undisturbed wilderness of the Cape and coastline. The top of Cape York is a holiday experience that is enjoyed by all the family. The activities available for the adventure holidays are fine tuned so that everyone can participate.

During a visit guests may see:

Wildlife- crocodiles, turtles, dugongs, birds, fish.

Different eco-systems- wilderness, rainforest, gulf savannah, pristine rivers, beach coast, tropical islands, coral reefs.

Historical sites- history comes alive as you visit sites on the mainland and islands: WWII, pearl industry, gold mines & graves.

Indigenous history and culture - understand more about the original inhabitants of this area, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

European history - discover where the very earliest explorers first reached the great southland.

Activities are tailored to the family, options include:

Snorkelling coral fringed tropical islands

Fishing rivers, creeks and blue water

Exploring- tropical islands and wilderness mainland coast

Walking or hiking inland to lagoons or a waterfall (seasonal)

Viewing wildlife, discovering animal tracks

Beachcombing pristine white sand beaches

Visiting Thursday Is, Horn Is, museums, lookouts

4wd day trips to the most northerly point of the Australian mainland (or go by boat)