Far North Escapes 5 Day Dash Cape York Tour - Single

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Five days by 4WD from the Torres Strait to Cairns: a Thursday Island tour with a local Indigenous guide, a last stand at the Tip of Australia, then south through cattle stations, Cooktown, the Bloomfield Track and the Daintree. A small group, every meal and an ensuite room each night are included.

Days

5 days, 4 nights

Age

No age limit; child fares 4 to 14

Group size

Small group, listed at 6 guests

Start / finish

Horn Island / Thursday Island / Tip of Australia / Cairns
Cairns, afternoon of day 5

Return

Cairns, afternoon of day 5

Accommodation

4 nights in ensuite rooms: island or town stays, a cattle station and a rainforest lodge

Transport

4WD vehicle, plus ferries in the Torres Strait

Meals

Fully catered from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 5

Route

Map of Far North Escapes 5 Day Dash Cape York Tour - Single

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Included experiences

Thursday Island — tour with local Indigenous guide Muttee
Pajinka — stand at the northernmost point of mainland Australia
Fruit Bat Falls — a swim stop after the Jardine River crossing
Fairview Station — a night on a working cattle property
Bloomfield Track — 4WD from Cooktown to Cape Tribulation via Wujal Wujal Falls
Daintree — guided walk in the rainforest after dark
Mossman Gorge — a last stop on the way back to Cairns

Far North Escapes 5 Day Dash Cape York Tour - Single

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Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: HORN ISLAND, THURSDAY ISLAND AND BAMAGA

You land on Horn Island at about 10:30am. Its airstrip was a busy Allied base in the Second World War, and Japanese aircraft bombed it in 1942. A short ferry crosses to Waiben (Thursday Island), the small island that has long been the business centre of the Torres Strait. Here you meet Muttee, a local Indigenous guide, who shows you his island and talks about Torres Strait history, culture and island life, from the pearling days to the present. Lunch and dinner are included, and the night is spent back on the mainland at Bamaga, a town settled in the late 1940s by people from Saibai Island.

Overnight: Bamaga (cabin, ensuite)

DAY 2: THE TIP OF AUSTRALIA TO BRAMWELL STATION

An early start takes you north to Pajinka, the Tip of Australia, the northernmost point of the mainland. The walk to the signpost is about ten minutes over rocks, and from the end you look across the strait toward islands that run on to Papua New Guinea, about 150 km away. Heading south, you cross the Jardine River, the largest perennial river in Queensland, then stop for a swim at Fruit Bat Falls, where Eliot Creek spills over a broad sandstone ledge into clear pools. The night is at Bramwell Station, said to be the northernmost cattle station in Australia.

Overnight: Bramwell Station (ensuite room)

DAY 3: BRAMWELL TO FAIRVIEW STATION

Today is a long run south on the Peninsula Development Road, the red dirt spine of Cape York. You stop at the Archer River roadhouse and at Musgrave Roadhouse, which began in 1887 as a telegraph station on the line to Cape York. The road then cuts through the northern part of Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, Queensland's second-largest national park, a country of lagoons, termite mounds, wallabies and waterbirds. The day ends at Fairview Station, a working cattle property, with dinner and outback hospitality.

Overnight: Fairview Station (ensuite room)

DAY 4: COOKTOWN, THE BLOOMFIELD TRACK AND THE DAINTREE

From Fairview you head for Cooktown, where Captain Cook beached the Endeavour in 1770 for about seven weeks of repairs, and call at the Lions Den Hotel, a pub built in 1875 for the tin miners, its walls covered in signatures. Then comes the Bloomfield Track, the steep rainforest road that protesters blockaded when it was bulldozed through in 1983. At Wujal Wujal Falls, a sacred site to the Kuku Yalanji, you stop for photos. The track comes out at Cape Tribulation and runs into the Daintree, World Heritage-listed in 1988. After dark, a naturalist guide leads a torch-lit walk to look and listen for the rainforest's night animals.

Overnight: Daintree (Ferntree Rainforest Lodge, ensuite room)

DAY 5: DAINTREE TO CAIRNS

The last morning starts with a cup at the Daintree Ice Cream Company, where the flavours come from fruit grown in its own tropical orchard and change from day to day. The Daintree River crossing is by cable ferry, and then you stop at Mossman Gorge, where the Mossman River tumbles clear over granite boulders on Kuku Yalanji country. The final stretch is the coast road to Cairns, the Captain Cook Highway, where rainforest-covered hills drop straight to the beaches. You reach Cairns in the afternoon, five days after standing at the Tip.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Horn Island, at about 10:30am on day 1.
Finishes: Cairns, on the afternoon of day 5.
Minimum age: No age limit. Child fares cover ages 4 to 14.
Fitness: A reasonable level of fitness is needed for short walks on uneven ground, such as the 10 minute walk to the Tip and up to 400 metres at Wujal Wujal Falls. You also need to be comfortable being a long way from towns and hospitals.
Dietary needs: All dietary needs can be catered for; tell us when you book. You never need to cook.
Suits: This fare is for one person with a room to yourself; the single supplement is built in.
Accommodation note: Every night is in an ensuite room. You never share a room with another guest. Rooms can change for operational reasons.
Please note: The guide can change the route for weather, road conditions or the group. A strict 15 kg luggage limit applies because of internal flights. Guides are first-aid trained, and there is no smoking in the vehicles.

What to bring

Luggage of 15 kg or less per person
A reusable water bottle
Swimwear for Fruit Bat Falls

What is included

Travel by 4WD with a guide from Seisa to Cairns
Ferry from Horn Island to Thursday Island, and from Thursday Island back to Seisa
Guided tour of Thursday Island with a local Indigenous guide
Guided night walk in the Daintree
4 nights in ensuite rooms (station, lodge and island or town stays)
Lunch and dinner on day 1, all meals on days 2 to 4, breakfast on day 5
Drinking water throughout the trip

Not included

Travel to Horn Island (not listed as included)

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.