DESCRIPTION
Day 1 Cairns to Cape Tribulation via the Great Barrier Reef Scenic Drive
The Day begins with a scenic trip along the Great Barrier Reef Drive to Mossman Gorge, one of the most beautiful drives in Australia. Your journey takes you on a spectacular coastline-hugging road, with World Heritage Rainforest on one side, and Great Barrier Reef on the other. Be sure to pack the camera!
Mossman Gorge and the Cultural Centre are an award-winning ecotourism attraction located at the entrance to the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest. The Centre, and Gorge are a must-do for anyone travelling in the beautiful Far North Queensland region. Experience crystal-clear cascades over large granite boulders surrounded by lush Daintree Rainforest. Experience one of the Natural Wonders of the World.
Then explore the famous Daintree River on an eco-friendly Daintree River Crocodile Cruise, boasting a vast range of wildlife, birds and the iconic Estuarine Crocodiles. Solar Whisper is the only zero-emission boat in the Daintree region, and their experienced Coxswain provides a unique perspective of the River, Rainforest and Mangroves whilst searching for the elusive apex predator. The boat is fitted with a “CROC CAM”, so everyone gets the best opportunity to experience interactions no matter where you are sitting.
Cross the Daintree River on the Ferry and feel the main-land drift away as you become immersed in the completely off-grid community. Travel to Alexandra Lookout, providing picture-perfect views of where the Daintree Rainforest and sweeping views over the Great Barrier Reef. The Marrdja Boardwalk is a walk in the rainforest that you will never forget. This trail is wheelchair accessible, and whilst it is only 1.2km long – it will take you 350 million years back in time. The informative signs along the boardwalk will teach you about the history of this land, and living specimens of each significant stage of plant evolution over time. The lush vegetation and ever-changing scenery are sure to captivate, and you will be mesmerized as you stroll along this incredible route. You’ll come across a viewing platform that looks out over Noah Creek, providing you with stunning views… just be sure to keep your eyes peeled for crocodiles lurking in the waters below! Pitstop in to the Daintree Ice Cream Company, which is a family-friendly destination that features unique ice cream made from exotic fruits grown in their very own orchard. There is a beautiful Self-Guided Orchard Walk for those interested in fruit trees of the Tropics. This place serves amazing ice cream delights and is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting the Daintree Rainforest! Next stop Cape Tribulation Beach is one of the most beautiful parts of Tropical Far North Queensland, and its beauty comes from its untouched wilderness. Cape Tribulation is a truly unique, completely off-grid community where the Rainforest is so dense, it is one of the few places that weren’t affected by the Ice Age!
We will unwind & relax overnight at your Daintree Rainforest Accommodation and dine at a local family-owned restaurant while enjoying the natural sites and sounds of the Oldest Rainforest in the World. This is an experience you don’t want to miss!
Your evening finishes with a Daintree Night Walk Tour, departing late evening, the small group will take you under the canopy at night – when the Rainforest comes alive. Suitable for all ages, fitness and mobility; this guided boardwalk tour is a unique experience enjoyed rain or shine. Torch in hand, you will be guided to spot the elusive wildlife of the Oldest Rainforest in the World. Whilst animal sightings are not guaranteed, adventurers have enjoyed bioluminescent Mushrooms, spoaring, Snails, Owls, glowing Scorpions, green-lipped Tree Frogs, Bats, Tree-Kangaroos and even sleeping Cassowarys… This is a special experience.
Accommodation: Immersed Daintree Accommodation, Ferntree Rainforest Lodge. Located in Daintree Rainforest with rainforest and mountain views.
Meals: Packed lunch in Cape Tribulation, Dinner at Cassowary Restaurant at Ferntree Rainforest Lodge.
Day 2 Cape Tribulation to Cooktown via the Bloomfield Track
The following day you will start off by experiencing the breathtaking gigantic 500-year-old Fig Tree. Your 4WD will cross the cool, clear waters of Emmagen Creek, pretty as a postcard. Then we get onto the iconic Bloomfield Track, a 4WD mecca steeped in controversial conservation history connecting Cape Tribulation to the Indigenous township of Wujal Wujal. The Bloomfield Track is rated as one of Queensland’s most scenic 4WD short road trips – a bucket-list drive for both local and international enthusiasts. Flanked by pristine coastline on one side and ancient rainforest on the other, this track to Cooktown is a feast for the eyes.
Experience the captivating natural beauty of Australia’s Top End through the eyes of our visionary artists. Bana Yirriji is a centre for artists in a rainforest, who create contemporary artworks inspired by their traditional culture and landscape; telling stories that explore relationships between land, country and people. The Collection includes paintings and works on paper, textiles and artefacts, complemented by locally made contemporary jewellery, wearable art, decorative accessories and products for the home –bringing the wild and the exquisite into your world. With artwork often sold-out, this is a exclusive experience.
Wujal Wujal is a remote region in Far North Queensland sacred to the Kuku-Yalanji people. The area is home to ancient coastal rainforests, stoney Black Mountains and intricate Mangroves providing habitat for many forms of marine life that have evolved over thousands of years alongside the Aboriginal people. Travel alongside the winding Bloomfield River, ending at the base of the beautiful Bloomfield Falls; also known as Wujal Wujal Falls or “Roaring Meg”. Returning via a short 400m walking track. Learn about the amazing natural features of this World Heritage area through the eyes of the Kuku Yalanji traditional owners who have lived here for tens of thousands of years. The Walker Family will share some of their knowledge about this special place which is of great cultural significance to the Yalanji people.
Leaving Wujal Wujal behind, we’re ready to venture to the elusive Black Mountain; a place of mystery and legend to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike. To traditional owners, Kalkajaka is a sacred battlefield of both spirits and warring clan groups. It’s also a site where the natural elements of water and fire formed the Earth, giving birth to numerous other landforms along the Trevathan Range. Kalkajaka has its own Rainbow Serpent, called Walumba.
Enjoy lunch and a cold one at the legendary 1875 Lions Den Hotel. The Lions Den Hotel is one of the oldest Pubs in Far North Queensland and though it’s well off the beaten track, the pub has long been on the bucket-list for adventure seekers in Cape York. The walls still boast the signatures – dating back to the 1800s – of thirsty tin miners on the walls and ceilings.
When the 1878 Cooktown Botanic Gardens were established, they were the first of their kind in Far North Queensland, offering the ideal environment to cultivate a diversity of exotic plants found only in the Cape York region. Today, the acclaimed gardens represent and reflect the cultural heritage of Cooktown, Australia’s European Pioneer Settlement. It is also a popular refuge for local birdlife, including the Zebra Finch and Crimson Finch. We will make our way to the top of Grassy Hill, one of Cooktown’s most popular attractions. Even if you’re only inspired by a walk in the park, Grassy Hill offers a 360-degree view of Cooktown, The Endeavour River and The Great Barrier Reef. As you climb the Hill and look over every direction, you’ll notice that very little has changed since Captain James Cook first set foot on this land.
Afterwards we will head to James Cook Museum where you will discover the rich history of Cooktown in Far North Queensland. Set in a stunning nineteenth-century convent, Cooktown Museum is a must-see when visiting Far North Queensland. The museum houses an extensive collection of local Guugu Yimithiir artefacts, along with an original anchor and canon from HMB Endeavour that were salvaged in the 1970s. This heritage listed idea was constructed in 1880 and has been reimagined to tell the fascinating stories of the region.
We will journey south toward Cairns via the Mulligan Highway which was named after an old prospector and this area is steeped in rich mining history. We travel back via this inland road to offer a contrast to the Bloomfield Track giving you an all round experience and meaning you don’t have to travel the same road twice. You will be treated to stunning scenery and the rolling hills of the Atherton Tablelands on your return journey. We will stop in Mt Molloy Pub North Queensland’s oldest pub, established in 1900. Journey down the Kuranda range and farewell your Far North Escapes guide while we take you back to your accommodation after our amazing 2 Day Cooktown Tour.
Meals: Lunch at Lions Den Hotel in Cooktown.
More: Cooktown Tours | Cooktown Tours from Cairns | Cairns to Cooktown 4WD Tours | 4WD Tour
