Cape York & Torres Strait Adventure

Reiseverlauf 2026

1. Tag 1

   Cairns

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   Welcome to Cairns! Or Gimuy, in the language of the Traditional Owners of the land on which Cairns is now located. This is the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the gorgeous Daintree Rainforest. Your adventure officially starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at your hotel, where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive in Cairns with time to spare, why not check out the Cairns Botanical Gardens or simply wander the waterfront promenade, popping into a local bar. After the meeting, maybe head out with your group for a dinner.
   It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
2. Tag 2

   Cairns to Cape Tribulation to Rossville

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   Today, you’ll take the Daintree ferry to the UNESCO World Heritage area of Cape Tribulation, which sits within the ancient Daintree Rainforest. When you arrive, head out on a short nature walk and immerse yourself in the sounds and smells of the forest, keeping your eye out for local birdlife. Daintree is over 135 million years old, making it the oldest rainforest in the world! Stop at a lookout and enjoy the beach scenery, then hop into your 4WD truck for a drive along the iconic Bloomfield Track – also known as the Coast Road, this track takes you from the cape through the forest’s many creeks. After, carry on to Rossville for the next two nights, overlooked by Kalkajaka (Black Mountain).
   Your total travel time today will be approximately 6.5 hours. Please make sure you have your headlamp ready as you will need it to find your way around camp. Please also note that there is no wifi and no phone reception here. Charging options are limited, so it is recommended that you bring a power bank.
3. Tag 3

   Cooktown to Laura, Queensland

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   Fuel up on breakfast this morning, then meet with your local Aboriginal guide. Attend a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, then take a bush food and medicine walk as your guide tells you stories about the land. You’ll learn more about Country and boomerang throwing as your guide shares some handmade artefacts. Soak up your opportunity to connect with the land. Later, head to Cooktown, stopping at the Cooktown History Centre along the way. Here, learn about the significance of Cooktown and what role it played in Aboriginal history. Return to Rossville for another night.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
4. Tag 4

   Coen to Archer River

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   After breakfast, make tracks for Rinyurru Lakefield National Park. Your first stop is Isabella Falls. Then, step back in time at the Old Laura Homestead, which dates back to 1879, and immerse yourself in one of the park's most historically significant periods. Then, head to Red Lily Lagoon to spot the waterbirds and pink lotus-lilies that carpet the lagoon. After a short walk, you’ll carry on to another peaceful lagoon, where a hundred-year-old mango tree marks the site of a historic family homestead. Have lunch on the North Kennedy River, then visit the termite mounts and grasslands of Nifold Plains. Arrive at Musgrave Roadhouse in the late afternoon – a typical Outback Roadhouse on the eastern side of the Cape York peninsula – where you’ll spend the night.
   Your total travel time today will be approximately 8 hours. Lakefield National Park is in a basin that drains very slowly after the wet season. Access depends on whether roads are passable, and the official opening times each year can be as late as the end of July. On this trip you’ll visit Lakefield National Park as soon as it opens after the wet season. If the park is still closed on your departure date, you’ll travel north on the main Peninsula Development Road to Musgrave Roadhouse instead. If this happens, you’ll have the opportunity to take a self-guided walk to Quinkan Country’s rock art in Laura – included on the Australian Heritage Estate and listed by UNESCO as one of the top 10 rock art sites in the world.
5. Tag 5

   Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park (CYPAL) to Chilli Beach

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   Depart the roadhouse in the morning and head to Coen – a rural town on the eastern side of the Cape York peninsula. From here, you’ll continue north to Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park – the largest area of lowland tropical rainforest in Australia – through Cape York’s wilderness. Stop at Mount Tozer viewpoint and take a short walk for views of the mountain that rises in the distance. Continue to your accommodation and settle in for the next two nights.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours. Tonight's accommodation is remotely located and you will need your headlamp to find your way around the property at night.
6. Tag 6

   Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park (CYPAL) to Lockhart River to Wenlock River

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   Start your day with a spot of bird watching in the rain forest – if you’re lucky, you may spot the elusive palm cockatoo, red-bellied pitta and yellow-billed kingfisher. Next, visit Chilli Beach – a long, sweeping beach, popular for fishing and birdwatching. Chill out under the swaying palms and take in the remote beach landscape. Continue to the small coastal community of Portland Roads. This remote tropical outpost is a historical site framed by mangroves and famous for its small local cafe. If it’s open, maybe sit down for a coffee and a snack. Next up is Lockhart River Arts Indigenous Corporation – established in 1995, the artists of Lockhart River Art Centre have been recognised for many years as ‘The Art Gang’. Return to your accommodation for another night in the Iron Range.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
7. Tag 7

   Weipa to Wenlock River

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   Make tracks for Weipa. If open on the day of your visit you’ll be able to check out the Western Cape Cultural Centre, where you can learn about the history and culture of the region. Next up is today's highlight: Hop on a boat cruise to see Cape York from the water – look out for saltwater crocodiles sunning themselves on the muddy riverbanks and the numerous bird species that live in these waterways and mangroves and learn about the local culture and wildlife habitats.
   Your total travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours. Please note that the Western Cape Cultural Centre may be closed on some departures.
8. Tag 8

   Shelburne to Apudthama National Park (CYPAL) to Seisia

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   Today is a long travel day on rugged gravel roads, heading north towards the tip. You’ll stop along the way at Wenlock River – the location of the Moreton Telegraph Station, which was part of the Cape York Telegraph line, completed in 1887. You’ll then visit Fruit Bat Falls, which sits within Apudthama National Park. These lush falls are a beautiful spot for a nature walk and a swim. After, carry on to the Jardine River ferry for the journey to Bamaga – home to the most northerly mainland community in Queensland. You’ll spend the next three nights here.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
9. Tag 9

   Seisia

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   Today, you’ll drive to the northernmost point of mainland of Australia – Pajinka, better known as Cape York. It’s a short but very scenic walk to ‘The Tip’, and you will be able to see the islands of the Torres Strait from here. Once you cross this mighty spot off your bucket list, carry on exploring the area. Depending on road conditions visit Somerset Beach or Fly Point for a beach visit and some photos, trying to spot the resident turtles. Time and weather permitting, there is also the option to head over to Albany Island, traditionally known as Pabaju, a hidden gem just off the coast. Then, search for plane wreckage from World War II – located throughout Cape York near former Allied air bases. These are a reminder of how close the fight really was to Australian shores. Later make your way back to Bamaga for the night.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
10. Tag 10

    Thursday Island to Seisia

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    This morning, you’ll take the ferry to Thursday Island – an archipelago of about 274 small islands in the Torres Strait, known as ‘TI’. This gorgeous archipelago is rich in Indigenous culture, history and natural beauty, and when you arrive, you’ll have a cultural activity with a local Torres Strait Islander guide. Learn more about the culture of the Torres Strait Islander people on a guided walk along Bayo Beach, surrounded by swaying palms. After some time for lunch, jump back on the ferry back to Bamaga where your adventure comes to an end.
    Today's ferry ride takes approximately 1.5 hours one-way, and can be quite choppy – if you’re prone to seasickness, make sure to have some seasickness tablets with you. The Department of Agriculture restricts certain items from Thursday Island to mainland Australia. It will be your responsibility to check that the items you’re carrying are not prohibited. Your trip comes to an end upon arrival back at our hotel in Bamaga. There are two options for departure from Cape York: You can either remain on Thursday Island and catch a local ferry across to the airport on Horn Island (additional cost) from where there are daily flights with Qantas back to Cairns. We recommend you book a flight after 3pm to make the most of your time on Thursday Island. Alternatively, you can return with your leader back to Bamaga, which also has an airport. There are afternoon flights with Skytrans heading back to Cairns. Please note that flights are not included in the trip price and you will have to book them well ahead of time. Once booked, please make sure you let us know the flight details. Please carefully read the finishing point instructions in the Essential Trip Information document for detailed information. Please note that you will need to check out of your accommodation this morning. You can store your luggage at reception, or if you fly out from Horn Island you will take your luggage with you to Thursday Island, where there is a possibility to store your luggage until your flight departure.