Day 1 Cairns to Atherton Tablelands

Day one begins with a visit to the iconic Babinda Boulders, a popular swimming hole with cascading waterfalls and great history – the perfect place for a refreshing dip surrounded by lush rainforest. The adventure continues by journeying to the Heritage Listed Paronella Park. With splendid waterfalls bursting from Mena Creek, this historical castle is a true jewel in the rainforest. Feeling hungry? Time to indulge in some local lunch at the extraordinary Mungalli Farmhouse.

Then we make our way through the inquisitive, diverse landscape of the Atherton Tablelands to the remarkable Milla Milla Waterfall Circuit. Experience the collection of three spectacular waterfalls the Tablelands has on offer. After a full day of one-of-a-kind experiences, day one will end with an unwinding & relaxing overnight stay at Malanda Lodge.

Day 2 Malanda to Chillagoe

We depart from Malanda Lodge on our way to the historic Herberton Village Museum. The village includes a beautiful collection of historical buildings and fascinating exhibits from across Australia. The journey continues to Chillagoe where you will experience the famous, beautiful balancing rock for the sunset. Then venture through the man-made 300m2 of Crystal Caves built to feature million-year-old natural crystals and prehistoric fossils at the Atherton Tablelands. Refresh and relax with some fantastic lunch at the Camp 64 Museum and Café.

Day 3 Chillagoe to Cape Tribulation

Today, we visit the Chillagoe Caves as well as the Granite Gorge and tour the limestone caves at the Chillagoe-Montana National Park. Chillagoe is a haven for wildlife, with dozens of unique bird and other animal species to see. The Chillagoe Caves have even revealed crocodiles fossilized bones, as well as extinct giant kangaroos and wombats in the carbonate-impregnated soils.

Then we journey to Mossman Gorge to enjoy the crystal-clear cascades over large granite boulders, surrounded by beautiful Rainforest. Cross the Daintree River on the famous cable ferry and adventure through the Daintree Rainforest to Alexandra Lookout, providing picture-perfect views of where the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef meet. Stay at the unique Ferntree Rainforest Lodge, immersed within the Daintree Rainforest, and dine at the Cassowary Restaurant while enjoying the natural surroundings of the jungle.

‍Day 4 Adventure Cape Tribulation to Cooktown via the Bloomfield Track

The following day you will start the day off with experiencing and exploring the beauty of the Daintree Rainforest, including the breathtaking gigantic 500-year-old Fig Tree. You will cross the cool, clear waters of Emmagen Creek. Then venture on to the treacherous Bloomfield Track and explore the cascading Wujal Wujal Waterfalls.

The adventure continues up to the historic Cooktown to the imposing mountain range Black Mountain made up of massive granite boulders, which is home to unique wildlife and rich in Aboriginal culture. Refresh and unwind with lunch and drinks in Cooktown Village, and then enjoy the sunset at the Grassy Hill lookout. Finish the day with an overnight stay at unique Cooktown accommodation.

‍Day 5 Cooktown to Hann River Tourist Park

Today, we depart Cooktown and Battle Camp Road to visit the Heritage-listed Laura Homestead in the Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park. We will then arrive in Lara, home to some of the best Aboriginal rock art in Australia. We visit Laura’s art sites, including the Split Rock where on a guided tour you will view the rock art galleries.

Later we enjoy lunch and visit the Quinkan & Regional Cultural Centre. Then we venture through Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, crossing several treacherous creek crossings. As the sun sets, we pass through open savannah surrounded by endless termite mounds, arriving at the Hann River Tourist Park Campground for the night.

‍Day 6 Hann River Tourist Park to Archer River

It’s time to continue the adventure further north and pass through Coen before arriving at Archer River for lunch. Cool off in the crystal-clear water of the Archer River. We then head to the Piccaninny Plains and visit the wildlife sanctuary owned by Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AQC) & the Tony and Lisette Lewis Foundation – Wildlife Link. The jointly owned sanctuary provides a critical corridor that helps link the east and west coasts of the Cape York Peninsula. Among the magnificent gallery forests, there is one rainforest type found nowhere else in the world. The property contains the most extensive and most intact tropical grasslands in the high rainfall belt of northern Australia.

Day 7 Archer River to Lockhart River via Old Telegraph Road

Today we depart Archer River Roadhouse and journey to Iron Range National Park via the Old Telegraph Road. We explore the Iron Range National Park, which contains many of Cape York’s unique plants, birds, and other animal species. As we travel through the National Park we will explore the truly spectacular Mount Tozer at the peak of the table range, and we then start our journey to the Lockhart River. We arrive at Lockhart River for our overnight stay at the Iron Range Cabins.

Day 8 Lockhart River to Weipa via Portland Road

This morning we make our way east to cross the infamous Wenlock River Crossing and to visit the historic Moreton Telegraph Station with its majestic old mango trees. We will experience the old vehicle pontoon used before the bridge was built over the river and the high water levels from previous floods. We will take a stroll along the banks of the river and look for the 110 bird species that inhabit this beautiful environment.

We then venture to Weipa to join Western Eco Tours for a breathtaking Crocodile Cruise along the Embley River. Explore the diverse wildlife habitat and keep an eye out for some giant saltwater crocodiles! Then we will kick back and relax at Albatross Bay Resort for the night.

‍Day 9 Weipa to Cape York Peninsula Lodge

Day nine starts with journeying further north along the Old Telegraph Track and passing through some wild and rugged countryside until we get to the most famous Gunshot creek crossing. This creek crossing will get the adrenaline levels up and probably be the absolute highlight of your whole Cape York Trip.

The next stop is Elliot Falls and Fruit Bat Falls for a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear freshwaters, followed by a picnic lunch. We then continue even further north and cross the Jardine River by vehicular ferry and arrive at Bamaga Accommodation. The perfect place to unwind and relax before adventuring to the tip of Cape York.

‍Day 10 Cape York Peninsula Lodge to Tip of Australia (Cape York)

Today we visit the Tip of Cape York and Australia mainland’s most Northern Point. The walking track commences at Pajinka and is only a short walk away from the carpark. Enjoy the beautiful views over the blue ocean and York Islands and take your picture next to the iconic signpost. After taking in the spectacular views of the Torres Straits and surrounding beaches, we will have lunch on Somerset Beach. Then we visit Somerset, which was established as a Government Outpost and Cattle Station and is filled with historical interests, as well as visit some secluded beaches to try and spot some of the breathtaking wildlife the very north of Australia offers.

‍Day 11 Cape York to Cairns

For our last day, we catch a ferry to Horn Island and enjoy a guided tour around the prominent WWII historical sites. The island became prominent in WWII for various Japanese air raids. We will have lunch here and visit the Torres Strait Heritage Museum before boarding our flight back to Cairns. For our final evening, we will stay in Cairns and reflect on our magnificent trip.

‍Day 12

Enjoy some breakfast before being transferred to Cairns Airport or other preferred location in Cairns.

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‍Please Note

Child Prices are for Ages 4 – 14.

This is an all-weather activity. We provide our guests with the use of a raincoat for the duration of the tour. The tour will only be cancelled in extreme conditions.

Do I Need to Pre-Book?

Yes. Far North Escapes Tours are popular throughout the year and many of the tours gets fully booked rapidly, so we advise you to book in advance.

Do I need to be physically fit to go on the tour?

No. No physical strength is required. However, there is bushwalking and swimming involved if you choose to include this in your tour. If you have a restricted mobility or medical condition of concern, please contact us to discuss requirements prior to your tour. We are happy to alter the tour after your requirements and needs to ensure you will have the best experience and adventure possible.

What are the groups like?

The groups are small and likeminded people all aiming for the same experience – to explore Tropical Far North Queensland’s many beautiful destinations. Maximum group size per car is 4 or 5 people. We do also offer private charters if this option suits you better. We are a niche tour company who prides ourselves on small group sizes, so we can deliver a truly unique experience with you in focus.

What accommodation is provided, and will I have to share with other members of the group?

We offer niche accommodation which is unique and immersed within the beautiful nature of Tropical Far North Queensland. Accommodation is private and will not be shared unless the booking is made for specific groups travelling together, wishing to share.

How long before my tour should I arrive at the location of departure?

We ask guests to be their 15 minutes prior to tour commencement.

What type of luggage should I bring?

We always recommend packing as light as possible with light, breathable clothes to suit the environment of the Tropical North. However, the specific requirements for your tour will vary widely depending on where and when you are traveling.

Will I get some free time whilst I’m on tour?

Yes. Throughout our 4×4 tours we will communicate with the tour participants and see what they would like to do. We will deliver a truly unique experience with you in focus.

Are the trips safe?

The safety of our passengers, guides and operators is a major priority for Far North Escapes. With this in mind, we monitor world events very closely. Far North Escapes as well as relative operators makes operational decisions based on informed advice from several sources, if a tour is deemed to be unsafe.