Tour code: WT- Cairns 02      16-Day Tour of Cairns - Jowalbinna - Musgrave Telegraph Station - Coen - Moreton Telegraph Station - Jardine River National Park - Thursday Island - Cape York - Bramwell Station - Weipa - Chuula - Iron Range National Park - Archer River - Lakefield National Park - Cape Tribulation National Park - Cairns

Departure: Daily
 

 Day 01: Cairns - Jowalbinna
Depart your Cairns accommodation from at about 07:00 am. We climb the rainforest-shrouded Kuranda Range, through Mareeba to the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve. Join a guided boat cruise and get up close and personal to the resident Jacanas and Pygmy-geese, and, for the lucky ones, a close up of the Freshwater Crocodiles! Pass by the inhospitable ranges of the Palmer River Gold Fields and enter the Laura River valley. A guided tour of the Laura Cultural Centre then travel via a historic goldfield road to Jowalbinna Rock Art Safari Camp. Camp with facilities. 
 
 Day 02: Jowalbinna - Musgrave Telegraph Station
This morning we take a guided walk of the rock art galleries of Jowalbinna. Aboriginal occupation dates back over 30,000 years, and the images of Quinkan spirits, totem animals and people adorn many of the rock shelters, this area ranks alongside the Kimberly and the Arnemland escarpment as Australia’s most important rock art regions. After lunch we rejoin the development road heading north to our overnight stay at Musgrave, the only original pioneer telegraph station building remaining in Cape York. Camp with facilities.

 Day 03: Musgrave Telegraph Station - Coen - Moreton Telegraph Station
Today we travel through typical frontier cattle country to a welcome fuel and provision stop at the mining town of Coen. With time to take in the history of the area at Heritage House, we cross the wide sandy Archer and Wenlock Rivers to arrive at Moreton Telegraph Station. Time for a bushwalk or wet a line for the elusive barramundi and spotlight for the rare Cuscus possum. Camp with facilities.

 Day 04: Moreton Telegraph Station - Jardine River National Park
Civilisation is far behind and we are really in four-wheel drive country as we traverse the ever-changing wilderness landscape of 'Zamias' and eucalyptus forests to reach today's destination, the picturesque Twin Falls, where the crystal clear waters of Elliot River and Canal Creek meet. You will have plenty of time to swim and explore or photograph the many enchanting rock pools, and waterfalls of this unique spot. Camp in Jardine River National Park with very basic facilities.

 Day 05: Jardine River National Park
We continue negotiating bush tracks and the northern bypass road to reach the swift flowing Jardine River. A short stop at Bamaga Aboriginal and Islander settlement, before proceeding to our northern base camp overlooking the scattered islands of the Torres Strait. Camp with facilities.

 Day 06: Jardine River National Park - Thursday Island
An unforgettable day of achievement and interest. Stand at the very 'Tip' of our continent, where oceans meet and where very few travellers visit. Somerset, the ruins of the grandiose failed 'Singapore of the Pacific' (road conditions permitting). Afternoon cruise through the islands of Torres Strait to Thursday Island where you will connect to another ferry for transfer to Horn Island - Overnight at Gateway Torres Strait Resort .
 
 Day 07: Thursday Island - Cape York
Discover Horn Island with a guided tour of the WW2 sites and a visit to the Torres Strait Heritage Museum. This is the largest collection of WW2, cultural and artistic items in the Torres Strait. Ferry transfer to Thursday Island for lunch followed by a guided tour to explore Thursday Island抯 fascinating past from the pearling era to present “Capital" of Torres Strait. Afternoon cruise back to mainland Cape York. Overnight camp with facilities.

 Day 08: Cape York - Bramwell Station
Your overland adventure south begins today. Recross the mighty Jardine River, through the wilderness of forests and heath to Fruitbat Falls on the Elliot River and a cooling dip in the rapids and waterfalls before lunch. Via the Kennedy Expedition monument at Heathlands Reserve, we arrive at Bramwell Station, the most northerly working cattle station on the Cape.

 Day 09: Bramwell Station - Weipa
Time to farewell our station hosts and travel south to Batavia Downs, and then detour west to the Gulf of Carpentaria through huge cattle runs and Aboriginal tribal lands to the bauxite-mining town of Weipa. Overnight at Weipa Campground.

 Day 10: Weipa - Chuula
In the cool of the early morning, a fascinating Weipa Mine Tour. A veritable 'Oasis in the Wilderness' and providing further contrast to your experience of this last frontier. A visit to the new Western Cape Cultural Centre before venturing East through pioneer cattle country to overnight at the Old Batavia Goldfields. We explore this old goldfield were approx 40,500 oz of gold was recovered. Overnight camp by the Wenlock River on Chuulangan Homelands

 Day 11: Chuula - Iron Range National Park
Cross the Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers before entering Iron Range National Park via Tozers Gap. The park features the largest area of tropical lowland rainforest remaining in Australia. Rare fauna and flora include cuscus, palm cockatoos, eclectus parrots, green pythons, palms and orchids. There is also impressive coastal and mountain range scenery. Overnight camp in Iron Range for 2 nights.

 Day 12: Iron Range National Park
An exiting day visiting significant historical sites and breathtaking coastal scenery. Portland Roads, once a vital seaport for miners and the wartime airfields, now affords the locals a relaxed lifestyle in an idyllic tropical setting. Wartime gun emplacements are silent sentinels around the headland; some are homes to the locals at the 'Roads. Chilli Beach is wide and long and fringed with palms. A truly magical spot overlooking Restoration Island, Blighs first landing point in 1792. We explore and learn about the gold workings of the 1930's and the area around the airfield at Iron Range where there were major military installations. Anti-aircraft batteries, air raid shelters, the bakery complex and hospital site are a few to visit. Overnight Iron Range.
 
 Day 13: Iron Range National Park - Archer River
Travel west through lands of the Lockhart River Aboriginal People to rejoin the Peninsula Development Road, then south to overnight at the Archer River. Camp with facilities.

 Day 14: Archer River - Lakefield National Park
Via Musgrave we head east towards the Coral Sea we traverse almost the entire length of the huge bird and wildlife sanctuary of Lakefield National Park. An amalgamation of 3 huge cattle stations, the waterfowl teem in lily-fringed billabongs and huge crocodiles bask in broad river-lakes and lagoons. Camp with basic facilities.

 Day 15: Lakefield National Park
Continuing through Lakefield, past Old Laura Station, over the legendary Battlecamp Range to historic Cooktown. An eventful day of sightseeing and viewing significant landmarks and sites so important to all Australians.

 Day 16: Lakefield National Park - Cape Tribulation National Park - Cairns
Across the rocky Bloomfield River and over the jungle clad heights of the coastal range to the secluded splendour of Cape Tribulation National Park. An informative drive and boardwalk beneath the majestic forest canopy of the World Heritage Rainforest. Back to Cairns and end the tour.
 

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