11 Day Cooktown & Cape York

Your adventure begins in Cairns today, where we meet you on arrival and transfer you to your resort in Port Douglas. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to spend at leisure. You might like to go for a dip in one of the resort's many pools, or head into Port Douglas for a wander through town. This evening, a relaxed welcome dinner provides the perfect opportunity for you to meet your fellow travellers.

After your Signature Experience, embark on a Daintree River Cruise and keep an eye out for crocodiles, birds, butterflies and a variety of reptile species. Tonight, dine amidst the rainforest in an open-air restaurant.

Signature Experience: Travel to Mossman Gorge in Daintree National Park and set off on the Ngadiku Dreamtime Gorge Walk, led by local Indigenous guides. Start with a smoking ceremony, before journeying along private, gentle tracks visiting culturally significant sites. Learn about traditional hunting and gathering techniques, hear stories of the Dreamtime and gain a deeper understanding of how the Indigenous people have lived off the land here for thousands of years.

After a day of Signature Experiences, arrive in Cooktown and discover the Cooktown Botanic Gardens and the James Cook Museum. Just before sunset, savour views from Grassy Hill Lookout over the Endeavour River.

Signature Experience: Explore Cape Tribulation this morning, the only place in Australia where two World Heritage-listed phenomena meet – the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Journey along the Bloomfield Track, one of Australia’s most iconic outback roads. Journey through dense sections of rainforest, tackling steep climbs and several challenging creek crossings.

Travel to Quinkan Country, ranked by UNESCO as one of the top 10 rock art areas in the world. Here, embark on a walk with an Indigenous guide to Split Rock, an intriguing rock art site where Quinkan figures depicting native animals, spirits and totems have been painted onto the rock face. Later, turn off into Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, home to crocodiles, wallabies and an array of bird life. Then arrive at Lotus Bird Lodge and retreat to your log-style cabin before a nature walk around the property's serene billabong. Set amid shady eucalyptus trees, the aptly named Lotus Bird Lodge is a birdwatcher's paradise. During your stay, be sure to keep an eye out for kites, kookaburras, egrets, goshawks and jabirus.

Journey to Musgrave, the only remaining overland telegraph station on the peninsula. Explore the old gold mining town of Coen and stop at the well-known Archer River Roadhouse for lunch, which marks the halfway point of your journey. Afterwards, continue to the town of Weipa, home to the largest community on the Cape York Peninsula.

Set out on a boat trip in Weipa and relax as you learn about the region’s unique ecosystem, mining industry and Indigenous culture. Keep your eyes peeled for saltwater crocs lazing on the banks. Afterwards, travel to Bramwell Station.

Observe the towering termite mounds of Bramwell Junction before continuing on with your adventure. Stop at Fruit Bat Falls and cool off with a refreshing swim in the pristine waters of the Elliott River. Cross Jardine River by ferry, then skirt Jardine River National Park and continue through the traditional land of the Injinoo Indigenous people.

Travel along to a 4WD track to Frangipani Beach, with sweeping views of the tip of Cape York. After your Cape York experience, travel to historic Somerset Hill, the site of a station established by John Jardine in 1863. On Somerset Beach, admire Albany Island, as well as discover the history of ‘Jackey Jackey’ and Frank Jardine.

Signature Experience: Take a mildly challenging but thoroughly awe-inspiring walk to the tip of the peninsula to experience being at the Australian mainland’s most northerly point. Take in the stunning vistas over the Torres Strait, then afterwards, take to the skies as you embark on a scenic helicopter flight over the tip of Cape York.

Ferry across Endeavour Strait to Thursday Island, which was once a base for pearling luggers. Step back in time with a visit to Green Hill Fort, located atop the island’s highest hill. Once used as ammunitions storage, the fort’s maze of underground tunnels and rooms now houses the Torres Strait Museum. You’ll also enjoy time at the Gab Titui Cultural Centre. After exploring Thursday Island, board a ferry to Friday Island and visit the Kazu Pearl Farm. Here, learn about the cultivation, harvesting and extraction of pearls before enjoying a seafood lunch.

Transfer to Horn Island aboard the local ferry. On a guided tour, visit the World War II Base and Torres Strait Heritage Museum, and learn how the island became an operational airbase following the bombing of Darwin. Later, board an included flight from Horn Island over the Great Barrier Reef and marvel at this spectacle from the air before arriving in Cairns. Reunite with your driver, and later this evening enjoy a special Signature Experience.

After breakfast this morning, be transferred to Cairns Airport for your onward flight.