8 Day Fully Accommodated Quality Tour to Cape York and Torres Strait Islands – Exclusive to six passengers – Drive North/ Fly South (Code: OADF)

Type: Tours - Cape York Accommodated Tours

Starting from Cairns or Port Douglas and beginning at the historic settlement of Cooktown, Cape York Peninsula is a vast area of unexplored wilderness, magnificent National Parks, sacred Aboriginal sites, unexplored rain forest, rugged mountains and beautiful wetlands. Cape York is a land of climatic extremes where the creeks run dry or 10 feet high.

You will travel with nationally qualified Tour Guides who have extensive touring and driving experience and are committed to providing you with more than just a 4WD tour.  You have a maximum guest / guide ratio of 6:1.  You will travel in a safe, modern, air-conditioned 4WD vehicle.  For this accommodated tour you will stay at the best accommodations available to ensure your comfort and enjoyment. Make sure you check all the tour inclusions of this tour to see why the price is a little more than others.

Departure Dates for 2011: All the following tours are guaranteed to depart on the follow dates with a minimum of three passengers and road conditions permitting. Some dates below may already be booked out, such is the popularity of these tours and the limited number of departures available. This tour also operates in the exact reverse on different dates to those below.  Click here to see the dates and itinerary of the reverse itinerary. (Fly  North/ Drive South)

•  5 July - sold out
  
•  7 Aug - 1 place left
•  9 Sep - Full
•  11 Oct - 6 places left.

Click here to see Departure Dates for ALL the Cape York Tours in 2011.

Click here to see Departure Dates for ALL the Cape York Tours in 2012.

How to Book: A Deposit of 20% per adult is required to confirm your place with the balance due 49 days before departure. Bookings made within seven weeks of the travel date must be paid in full within 72 hours. The minimum number of people per trip required for the trip to run is 3. The maximum number is 6. You can book online via the rates table below or call + 61 7 4036 3562 from overseas or 1800 681 685 from within Australia.

More Information: If you love bush walking, four wheel driving, wildlife, fishing, bird watching or camping then Cape York is the place for you. Located at the northern-most tip of Australia, Cape York Peninsular is a wild and sparsely populated area that is only accessible through the dry months of May to October. A holiday to Cape York can be an amazing experience, something that you will remember forever. So come and discover this ancient and beautiful land with us! Learn about Aboriginal culture, customs & their traditional way of life. Visit ancient art sites and shelters that reveal more than 40,000 years of Aboriginal occupation. View beautiful waterfalls, rugged gorges, swim in crystal clear rock pools, and photograph unique scenery and wildlife. While enjoying the experience from remote bush camping sites or comfortable wilderness lodges. Why not come with us on a 4WD adventure of a life time through this ancient and beautiful land for an outback experience that you will never forget.

All fares include meals as per itinerary code: (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch and (D) Dinner. (En) = Ensuite, (SB) = Shared bathroom.

Day 1:  Cairns to Cooktown  (L / D / En)

Your adventure begins.  We will pick you up from your accommodation in Cairns before the start of our journey into one of the last remote areas of Australia, the Cape York Peninsula.  We travel along Queensland’s version of the great ocean road before moving inland to the sugar town of Mossman on the edge of the world famous Daintree National Park.  Further along we cross the Daintree River, home to numerous crocodiles, by cable barge and make our way along the coast to Cape Tribulation where the rainforest truly does meet the sea.  After a break for lunch we leave the tarmac roads behind and traverse the Bloomfield Track through some of the most magnificent rainforest in Australia.  At the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal we cross the Bloomfield River, stopping at Bloomfield Falls where we will be met by members of the Walker family, traditional owners of the area.  Then it is on to the historic Lions Den Hotel for an afternoon ale before making our way into Cooktown, our destination for today.  Discover the history of Cooktown as you stroll the Esplanade and meet Linda at the Croc Shop, a real life Crocodile Dundee.  After a visit to the James Cook Museum you will be amazed by the view from Grassy Hill Lookout, where Cook encountered his first Gungaru (Kangaroo).  * Sovereign Resort (L / D / En)

Day 2:   Cooktown to Coen (B / L / D / Sb)

Leaving Cooktown we travel south to our first stop at the Black Mountains followed closely by the Little Annan River Gorge.  Continuing on we pass through Lakefield Downs, once a major peanut growing area now renowned for its coffee plantations.  Our next stop is Split Rock to view some of the world famous Quinkan rock art before a short drive into Laura and the Quinkan Cultural Centre.  From Laura we leave the Peninsula Development Road (PDR) and travel into Lakefield National Park.  At 537,000 hectares (1.25 million acres) this is Queensland’s second largest National Park.   Open savannahs, water lily covered billabongs and a mosaic of forest types support a diversity of wildlife and birds and a large population of  salt water crocodiles.  Time permitting we will try to catch a Barramundi in Saltwater Creek.  We rejoin the PDR at Musgrave Station Roadhouse, one of the original telegraph stations before continuing on to the former gold rush town of Coen, our overnight stop. You may want to spend some time in the Coen Historical House or meet the locals and fellow adventurers at the sExchange Hotel.  The beautiful Coen River is the place for a dip to cool off after a day on the road.  * Coen Guesthouse / Exchange Hotel (B / L / D / Sb)

Day 3:  Coen to Portland Road (B / L / D / Sb)

Today we cross the Archer River, one of Cape York’s largest river systems.  With its headwaters in the Great Dividing Range on the eastern side of the Cape this magnificent river flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria on the Western Cape. Prepare to be amazed when you view the flood level marks on the side of the Archer River Roadhouse.  Once again we leave the PDR for a side trip crossing both the Wenlock and Pascoe rivers on our way to Portland Road and the beautiful Chili Beach.  Situated in the Iron Range National Park, Australia’s largest remnant lowland rainforest - this is a refuge to some unusual wildlife species only found here and Papua New Guinea.  Some of the interesting wildlife species include the Green Python, Spotted and Common Cuscus, Tree Frogs, Monitor Lizards and Cassowary’s, as well as a myriad of bird species, many of which can be viewed from the verandah of our accommodation at Portland House.  Time to break out the fishing rods and try our luck, the beach is Portland House’s front yard.  From the beach you could catch a Mangrove Jack, Coral Trout, Barramundi or Trevally (just to name a few).  Or, you may prefer to relax on the verandah with a book from the owner’s extensive natural history library.  * Portland House (B / L / D / Sb)

Day 4:  Portland Road to Moreton (B / L / D / Sb)

After a leisurely start we make our way back to the PDR and continue north to Moreton Telegraph Station, another of the original Telegraph Stations.  Situated on the banks of the Wenlock River, Moreton is a green oasis steeped in the history of the pioneering days of Cape York.  Take a leisurely walk along the tree lined banks of the river where clear water flows over a sandy bottom, watch for Archer Fish as they shoot insects off low branches with jets of water or just sit and enjoy the sounds of the abundant birdlife that inhabits the river valley.  Our accommodation for tonight is set amongst a beautiful Eucalypt forest, the perfect place for an after dinner campfire while watching for the abundant insectivorous bats (Little Bentwings and Sheath Tails) that inhabit the area.  * Morton Telegraph Station (B / L / D / Sb)

 Day 5:  Moreton to Cape York (B / L / D / En)

Today we take on the Overland Telegraph Line (OTL).  Soon after leaving Moreton we come to Bramwell Junction and the last remaining sections of the original OTL.  Our first challenge for today will be Palm Creek with its almost vertical approach and a steep rutted departure. The OTL is a place to slow down and take time to enjoy the magnificent wilderness that we are traveling through. Further up the track we stop at the Delhunty River for a morning tea to be remembered.  Rejoining the PDR we continue on to Fruit Bat Falls for a refreshing swim followed by a visit to Twin and Elliot Falls.  Continuing north we cross the mighty Jardine River, one of the largest fresh water flows in Australia, before arriving at our beach front accommodation on the tropical shores of the Torres Strait.  * Punsand Bay Resort (B / L / D / En)

Day 6:   Cape York Touring (B / L / D / En)

There is a lot more to Northern Cape York than just visiting the Tip (Pajinka).  During World War II this area played a strategic role in the defence of Australia and today we will visit some sites that are a reminder of that era and the men and women who committed to that effort.  Starting at Jacky Jacky Airport we visit the wreck of a Beaufort Bomber and the remains of the American base that it operated from.  Then it is off to the DC3 wreck that crashed, with no survivors, on approach to the runway.  Muttee Heads is our next stop where the radar tower stands as a silent sentinel to the past.  This part of the journey also takes us to secluded beaches and the mouth of the Jardine River.  At almost a kilometer wide it truly is a site to behold.  Today’s journey also takes us through the various communities that were established by Torres Strait Islanders who moved to the mainland after WWII.  Each of these communities is named for the Island that was their original home.  This afternoon we finish off the day with sundowners on the beach and hopefully a magnificent Torres Strait sunset.  * Punsand Bay Resort (B / L / D / En)

Day 7:  Thursday Island and Horn Island Touring (B / L / D / En)

An early start today to catch your private charter boat for a trip through the Torres Strait to Thursday Island.  The Island has been populated for thousands of years by the Melanesian Torres Strait Islanders, who named the Island Waiben, thought to mean 'no water or place of no water', owing to the scarcity of fresh water on the island. In 1877, an administrative centre for the Torres Strait Islands was established by the Queensland Government By 1883 over 200 pearling vessels were based on the Island.  During World War II, Thursday Island became the military headquarters for the Torres Strait and was a base for Australian and United States forces. As a result, the Island was bombed by the Japanese in 1942, which saw the evacuation of civilians. Following the conclusion of the war the Island tradition of ‘no footwear’ was reinstated in respect for the ancient spirits believed to reside in the Island.  Your journey today will also take you to Horn Island and the Heritage Museum.  * Punsand Bay Resort (B / L / D / En)

Day 8:  Cape York to Cairns by Air. (B / L)

Today it is off to Cape York, named by Cook in honour of the Duke of York.  Properly known as Pajinka, commonly referred to as ‘The Tip’, whatever you call it, there is a magical feeling to stand at the end of our continent and know that there is no-one further north than you on mainland Australia.  On the way we pass through Lockerbie Scrub, isolated pockets of monsoonal rainforest more at home in Papua New Guinea than Australia.  We also visit Somerset, the failed Singapore of the Pacific, established by the famous (and sometimes infamous) Jardine family.  We complete the day with a drive along the Northern beaches interspersed with craggy headlands and giant termite mounds that stand defiant to the battering of the winds.  Your afternoon flight will provide another dimension to your Cape York experience as you fly over this vast wilderness, retracing your journey from Cairns.

Please note: On this 8 day accommodated tours solo travellers must pay an extra sole-use rate of $995.00 pp (sole use is subject to availability).  Maximum of only 6 passengers per departure.  Prices include the cost of flights, all accommodation & meals, Thursday Island etc.

Features & Inclusions

• Modern, comfortable, air conditioned 4WD vehicles / no fuel levy
• Ice boxes for cold drinks (water supplied)
• All meals (a mix of continental and full hot breakfasts, generous lunches and 2 course dinners)
• Where our schedule permits – Morning / Afternoon Tea and Sundowners (Nibbles & Drinks at sunset) are provided
• Quality accommodations with ensuites wherever possible
• All National Park, site & ferry fees
• Intimate Thursday Island Tour (including vessel charter, TI tour, Horn Island Heritage Museum and lunch)
• Entry into James Cook Museum
• Traditional interpretive tour – Bloomfield Falls
• Entry to Quinkan Rock Art Site and Cultural Centre
• Dining experience with local Cape Elder where available
• Fishing equipment for the enthusiasts Lakeland Downs, Black Mountains
• Little Annan River Gorge
• Cooktown, James Cook Museum
• Quinkan Aboriginal Cultural Centre
• Split Rock Art Site
• Lakefield National Park
• Old Laura Homestead
• OTL (Old Telegraph Line)
• Musgrave Telegraph Station
• Coen
• Archer, Wenlock & Pascoe Rivers
• Portland Road
• Chili Beach
• Iron Range National Park
• Sir William Thompson Range
• Moreton Telegraph Station, Bramwell Junction
• Palm & Dulcie Creeks, Delhunty River
• Heathlands Nature Reserve
• Fruit Bat, Elliot & Twin Falls
• Jardine River Ferry Crossing
• Seisia
• Cape York & Somerset - The Tip!
• Far Northern Beaches
• Thursday Island, Torres Strait, Horn Island (Heritage Museum)
• Jacky Jacky Airport – Beaufort Bomber, DC3 wreck
• Muttee Heads & Mouth of the Jardine River
• Cape Tribulation
• Daintree National Park & Ferry Crossing
• Bloomfield Track & Falls (with indigenous interpretive tour)
• Lion’s Den Pub
• Scenic Flight – Bamaga to Cairns

Specials & Packages

Rates and Tariffs

2011 Season	1st May 2011 to 31st Oct 2011
Accommodated Tour - Twin Share Room	$4220.00 per person
Accommodated Tour - Private Single Room	$5215.00 per person
Special for 11 Oct departure only - min 2 people	$3920.00 per person
* Booking terms and conditions may apply, please details below.

Booking Information

Departure Dates for 2011:

* 5 July - sold out
* 7 Aug - 1 place left
* 9 Sep - Full
* 11 Oct - 6 places left.

Please note, if you are the first to book, your tour is not guaranteed until at least three people are booked. In previous years, each tour has run, but we can not guarantee the same will happen every year.

A key point of difference from other tours to Cape York is that this tour includes everything. The price includes many things others do not, so make sure you are comparing apples with apples. Some of the key value added inclusions are:

• Intimate Thursday Island Tour (including vessel charter, TI tour, Horn Island Heritage Museum and lunch)
• Entry into James Cook Museum
• Weipa Mine Tour
• Entry to Quinkan Rock Art Site and Cultural Centre
• Fishing equipment for the enthusiasts

How to Book: A Deposit of 20% per adult is required to confirm your place with the balance due 49 days before departure. Bookings made within seven weeks of the travel date must be paid in full within 72 hours. The minimum number of people per trip required for the trip to run is 3. The maximum number is 6. You can book online via the rates table above or call + 61 7 4036 3562 from overseas or 1800 681 685 from within Australia.

Exclusions:
Some alcoholic drinks - You can BYO for the tour in moderation.
Items of a personal nature.

Booking Policy

CANCELLATIONS / REFUNDS: If cancellation occurs more than seven weeks prior to departure a cancellation fee of $150 per person will be deducted from your refund. Cancellations occurring less than one month prior to departure will incur the following charges: 15-31 days prior 80% of Total, 14 Days or less 100% of Total Price.

INSURANCE: Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover against the possibility of a substantial financial loss. An emergency medical evacuation might cost you as much as $3000. Last minute cancellations can mean loss of the cost of the tour. This makes it extremely important to obtain travel insurance as soon as you book - or even before. There are several good insurance policies which are designed for travel within Australia. See the Travel insurance link on the left hand side navigation bar of this web page. (scroll up, look to the left)

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