Far North Escapes 1 Day Cooktown & Daintree Tour

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A private one-day 4WD tour from Cape Tribulation up the Bloomfield Track to historic Cooktown, showing Far North Queensland's natural beauty and culture through the heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest.

Days

Full day, about 10 hours

Age

All ages

Group size

Private

Start / finish

Cape Tribulation / Daintree

Return

See itinerary for details

Transport

Private air-conditioned 4WD on the Bloomfield Track

Meals

Lunch and one drink at the Lions Den Hotel

Route

Map of Far North Escapes 1 Day Cooktown & Daintree Tour

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Included experiences

Emmagen Creek — 4WD crossing
Bloomfield Track — scenic 4WD drive
Wujal Wujal — Bloomfield Falls and the Bana Yirriji art centre
Lions Den Hotel — lunch
Cooktown — Botanic Gardens and Grassy Hill
James Cook Museum

Far North Escapes 1 Day Cooktown & Daintree Tour

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: CAPE TRIBULATION AND THE BLOOMFIELD TRACK

Your guide collects you in the Daintree or at Cape Tribulation, the headland Captain Cook named in June 1770 after his ship struck the reef offshore. It's a private tour, so the 4WD is just for your group. First stop is a giant fig tree around 500 years old, its roots spreading over the forest floor. Then the 4WD splashes through Emmagen Creek, clear water over a stony bed, where the bitumen gives way to the Bloomfield Track. When this road was bulldozed through the rainforest in 1983, protesters blockaded it, and the fight helped bring World Heritage listing for the Wet Tropics in 1988. Today it's a steep, winding dirt road with the Coral Sea on one side and rainforest on the other.

LATE MORNING: WUJAL WUJAL AND BLOOMFIELD FALLS

The track comes down to the Bloomfield River at Wujal Wujal, a small Aboriginal community on Kuku Yalanji country. At the Bana Yirriji Art Centre, local artists make paintings, prints, textiles and jewellery that tell the stories of this land, and pieces often sell out. A local guide then walks you along the river on a 400 metre track to Bloomfield Falls, also called Wujal Wujal Falls or Roaring Meg, where the water drops into a deep pool. Saltwater crocodiles live in the river, so this is a place for looking, not swimming. Listen as the guide explains why the falls matter so much to the Yalanji people.

MIDDAY: BLACK MOUNTAIN AND THE LIONS DEN

North of the Bloomfield, the country dries out and opens up. Lunch and a cold drink are at the Lions Den Hotel, a tin-and-timber pub built in 1875 for the tin miners, whose names are still scrawled on its walls and ceilings. Ask for a look at the oldest signatures. Closer to Cooktown the road passes Black Mountain, or Kalkajaka, a range of huge granite boulders turned black by lichen, with almost nothing growing on its slopes. To the Kuku Yalanji people it is a place of spirits and old battles, with its own Rainbow Serpent, Walumba.

AFTERNOON: COOKTOWN

In Cooktown, Cook beached the damaged Endeavour on the Endeavour River in 1770 and his crew spent about seven weeks repairing her. The Cooktown Botanic Gardens, laid out in 1878, were the first in Far North Queensland; look for zebra and crimson finches in the trees. From Grassy Hill, the lookout Cook climbed to find a way out through the reef, you see the town, the river and the Great Barrier Reef all at once. The day's history ends at the James Cook Museum, set in a convent built in the 1880s, where an anchor and a cannon thrown overboard from the Endeavour are on show beside Guugu Yimithirr artefacts.

LATE AFTERNOON: BACK DOWN THE TRACK

Then it's south again by the Bloomfield Track, the same road in a different light, back to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The tour runs about ten hours in all, and your guide may change the order on the day to suit the weather, the road and what your group most wants to see.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up from the Daintree region or Cape Tribulation.
Please note: The itinerary is a guide and may change due to weather, road conditions or the guide's decision based on what is best for the group.

What to bring

Drink bottle
Swimwear and towel if you'd like to swim

What is included

Pick-up from the Daintree region or Cape Tribulation
Private guided tour with an experienced naturalist guide
Comfortable air-conditioned 4WD
Lunch and one drink per person
James Cook Museum
All national park fees and permits

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.