Down Under Tours Cape Tribulation, Daintree & Outback Wanderer Double or Twin Room

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A 3 day small group tour of Tropical North Queensland: north from Cairns through the Daintree Rainforest to Cape Tribulation, up the 4WD Bloomfield Track to historic Cooktown, and back through the outback on the Mulligan Highway and the Palmer River goldfields.

Days

3 days, 2 nights

Group size

Small group, max 20

Start / finish

Cairns / Cairns
Drop-offs in Cairns, the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas

Return

Drop-offs in Cairns, the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas

Accommodation

2 nights at the Sovereign Resort, Cooktown, double, twin or single room

Transport

4WD coach with a driver guide

Meals

2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and a welcome dinner

Route

Map of Down Under Tours Cape Tribulation, Daintree & Outback Wanderer Double or Twin Room

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Included experiences

Daintree River — one-hour boat cruise
Marrdja Boardwalk — guided rainforest walk
Cape Tribulation Beach
Bloomfield Track — 4WD drive to Cooktown
Cooktown — foreshore walk, cemetery, James Cook Museum and Botanic Gardens
Mulligan Highway — outback lookouts and Palmer River Roadhouse
Skybury Coffee Plantation — lunch
Cattana Wetlands — guided walk

Down Under Tours Cape Tribulation, Daintree & Outback Wanderer Double or Twin Room

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: CAIRNS TO COOKTOWN THROUGH THE DAINTREE

Your 4WD coach heads north from Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef Drive, where the ranges drop straight into the Coral Sea. In the Daintree you take a one-hour cruise on the Daintree River, watching the mangrove banks for saltwater crocodiles, then lunch at Heritage Lodge in the rainforest. Your driver-guide leads you along the Marrdja Boardwalk at Oliver Creek, through fan palms and mangroves. At Cape Tribulation, Kulki to the Kuku Yalanji, Captain Cook named the cape in June 1770 after the Endeavour hit a reef offshore, because, he wrote, here began all his troubles. Then the bitumen ends and the coach takes the Bloomfield Track, a 4WD-only road through the ranges, calling at the Lion's Den Hotel, a pub opened for tin miners in 1875, before a welcome dinner in Cooktown.

Overnight: Cooktown (Sovereign Resort)

DAY 2: HISTORIC COOKTOWN

In 1770 Cook beached the Endeavour on the bank of the Endeavour River for about seven weeks of repairs, and Cooktown grew on the spot a century later. Your driver-guide sets the order of the day. Climb Grassy Hill, where Cook went looking for a safe way out through the reef. On the foreshore walk you reach Reconciliation Rocks, which mark where a Guugu Yimithirr elder settled a dispute with Cook's crew over turtles, often called the first recorded act of reconciliation in Australia. The James Cook Museum fills an 1889 convent and holds an anchor and cannon from the Endeavour. The heritage-listed Cooktown Cemetery has the grave of Mary Watson, who fled Lizard Island in 1881 in an iron tank, and in the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, laid out in 1878, a path leads on to Finch Bay for photos.

Overnight: Cooktown (Sovereign Resort)

DAY 3: COOKTOWN TO CAIRNS THROUGH THE OUTBACK

Today you leave the coast and head inland on the Mulligan Highway, named after James Venture Mulligan, who found gold on the Palmer River in 1873. The country turns dry and open, dotted with giant termite mounds. Stretch your legs at Black Mountain, Kalkajaka, a pile of granite boulders darkened by lichen, then at the Byerstown Range lookout and the Palmer River Roadhouse, near the goldfield that drew thousands of Chinese miners. Lunch is at Skybury near Mareeba, Australia's oldest coffee plantation. Then it's Barron Falls, Din Din to the Djabugay people, and a final driver-guided walk at Cattana Wetlands before drop-offs in Cairns, the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas.

Map

Good to know

Finishes: Transfers back to Cairns, the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas.
Fitness: A general level of mobility and fitness is needed. The 4WD coach has several steps, and you board and leave it several times a day. Included walks are easy and under 1 km, but the terrain has uneven surfaces and steep hills, so the tour is not suitable for guests with impaired mobility.
Suits: Families with older children, couples, adults and seniors.
Accommodation note: The double or twin room option needs 2 adults or 1 adult and 1 child. Solo travellers choose the single room option.
Please note: Seasonal departures, June to October.

What to bring

Hat and sunscreen
Bottle of water
Camera
One overnight bag or suitcase only

What is included

Daintree River cruise
Driver-guided rainforest walk
Lunch at Heritage Lodge
Cape Tribulation – Kulki
Bloomfield 4WD Track and the Lion's Den
Driver-guided tour of Cooktown: Grassy Hill, foreshore walk, heritage-listed cemetery and James Cook Museum
Driver-guided walk through the Botanic Gardens
Finch Bay photo stop
2 nights at the Sovereign Resort, Cooktown
Welcome dinner and 2 breakfasts at the Sovereign Resort
Black Mountain, Byerstown Range and Barron Falls lookouts
Palmer River Roadhouse
Lunch at Skybury Café and Coffee Roastery
Driver-guided walk at Cattana Wetlands

Not included

Meals, drinks and snacks other than those listed

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.