DAY 1 : Arrive Cairns
Evening welcome dinner at Cairns Pacific International Hotel.
DAY 2 : Kuranda
Day touring from Cairns to visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center
and Kuranda Village. The group will participate in an evening wildlife tour
of Currowong Sanctuary where we will experience the fascinating animals of
the Australian rainforest at night. Accommodation: Kuranda Rainforest
Resort.
DAY 3 : Cairns -
Daintree
An early morning departure from Cairns sees us travel north to the
picturesque township of Port Douglas for an interesting yet delightful
tropical breakfast with the birds at the "Rainforest Habitat".
We'll visit the town and its attractions and then head for the township of
Mossman, where we'll spend time with the local Kuku Yulanji people who will
give you an aboriginal perspective of local culture, foods and medicines.
Tonight we stay at the Daintree Eco Lodge. (LD)
DAY 4 :
Daintree - Cooktown
After a early morning cruise on the Daintree River (with the world renowned
Chris Dahlberg) that takes in birdwatching with the possibility of sighting
of a salt water crocodile, we set off by road and travel to the Daintree
Environment Center for a scientific or European approach to the local
environment, bush foods and medicines. We'll stop in and visit the Bat House
- Cape Tribulation Research Station to learn more about the ecological
issues facing the region as well as much natural history of the fascinating
flying foxes. Our journey then continues north via the Bloomfield coast road
to where the Wet Tropics Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. We will
see the majestic World Heritage Daintree Rainforest and scenic Cape
Tribulation and cross the Bloomfield River. We continue along this road as
it becomes steep in places and undulating crossing the numerous rivers and
streams to Cooktown. Along the way we'll visit Bloomfield falls, Lion's Den
Hotel and Black Mountain. Our overnight stay in Cooktown. (BLD)
DAY 5 : Cooktown - Violet Vale Station
Cooktown provides a visit of excitement and interest. We visit Grassy Hill
Lookout where Captain Cook climbed everyday to charter a course through this
treacherous reef which had already claimed his Bark Endeavor. Our departure
from Cooktown sees us travel north on the rugged Battlecamp road toward the
Old Laura Station and Lakefield National Park. This area once was three
large cattle stations and is now a National Park It is renowned for its
numerous lagoons/billabongs and wide-river lake systems making the area home
to many birds, waterfowl and other endemic animals. Tonight we stay at the
beautiful Lotus Bird Lodge at Violet Vale. (BLD)
DAY 6 : Violet Vale - Full Day With Local Naturalist Guide
Lotus Bird Lodge provides the ideal habitat for over 200 varieties of
wading, migratory and resident forest and grassland birds. We take a
self-guided nature walk along marked trails to the myriad of rare local
plants and flowers. Additionally you may see dingos, wallabies, goannas,
frilled lizards, crocodiles and wild pigs. This is the real Cape York
wilderness. (BLD)
DAY 7 : Violet Vale - Moreton Telegraph Station
Departing Lotus Bird Lodge we travel the short distance to Coen and Archer
River then through Aboriginal tribal lands, huge cattle runs, bush tracks,
open plains and heathlands as we continue further north towards Batavia
Downs Station located in the heart of the Peninsula cattle country. We also
cross the broad Piccaninny plains to arrive at the swift flowing Wenlock
River and set up our camp for some silver service dining and an evening
under the beautiful starlit skies on the sandy white river's edge near the
old historic Moreton Telegraph Station. (BLD)
DAY 8 : Moreton - Full Day With Local Naturalist Guide
Today we participate in more birdwatching and canoeing on the Wenlock river
(5km) or just relaxing in the sunshine(BLD)
DAY 9 : Moreton Telegraph Station - Twin Falls
Civilization
far behind, an exciting day traversing rushing streams and rocky creeks,
through forests of ancient zamia palms and eucalypts across heathlands and
vast isolated cattle stations. Camp tonight is at Twin Falls, a paradise of
waterfalls, rapids and exotic flora. (BLD)
DAY 10 : Twin Falls - Punsand Bay
Today we travel across the amazing "wet" desert and sandy forests
to the mighty Jardine River. Crossing this river on a vehicular barge, we
continue on to the township of Bamaga and overnight accommodation at the
private Punsand Bay resort. (BLD)
DAY 11 : Cape York - Punsand Bay
A day of interest and excitement as we take a scenic drive through monsoon
rainforest to Frangipani Beach with just a short walk to the northernmost
tip of mainland Australia - Cape York itself. After a photo stop and
celebration of the momentous occasion, we tour historic Somerset, once
called the "Singapore of the Pacific". We're then back to Punsand
Bay this afternoon for our overnight stay. (BLD)
DAY 12 : Punsand Bay - Thursday Island
We
venture across to Thursday Island today via inter island launch through the
azure waters of the Torres Straits to visit and explore this legendary
island outpost. Visit a colonial fortress, a pearl driver's cemetery, an
islander community or shop for pearls or if you like just sit back and take
in the unique atmosphere of this timeless land. Your overnight accommodation
is at the Jardine Hotel. (BLD)
DAY 13 : Return To Cairns-End Of Tour
Today we return to Cairns by either 2.5-3.0 hr scenic flight in
air-conditioned, twin engine turbo prop aircraft or cruise back on the M.V
Kangaroo Explorer.
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