Written by Brooke Wilson
Getting off the beaten track, exploring copious national parks, swimming in exquisite falls, there is little that Queensland’s Cape York doesn’t offer. The ultimate adventure where the four-wheel drive fans dreams come true, Cape York is a place to tick off the bucket list.
With current milder temperatures and lower humidity, July to November is the perfect time to go. Head north from Cairns, and make sure to stop at the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation where the ‘rainforest meets the reef’.
Here, make sure to check out Alexandra Lookout, famous for its incredible views of the Daintree, Daintree River Port Douglas, Snapper Island, and Shipwreck Bay. If you are feeling more adventurous, take the opportunity to go snorkelling in the stunning Great Barrier Reef.
Travelling further north, head through Lakefield National Park, home to many native birds and animals, the Old Musgrave Telegraph Station, the gold mining town of Coen, and through to Weipa.
Here, you can join a Bauxite mine tour, learning about the town’s history and existence thanks to the huge bauxite deposits in the area. Due to its location on the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, there are fabulous wildlife tours or fishing charters to take full advantage of the remote wilderness.
Further north again, a stop at Fruit Bat Falls is a must do. It is a popular place for swimming, and there are camping facilities at the nearby Elliot Falls, both part of the Jardine River system, making for pristine water and stunning wetland areas.
Of course, a trip to Cape York is not complete without travelling along the Old Telegraph Track. For much of the Cape York’s history, this was the only route through to the peninsula, providing the only method of communication to those living there with the telegraph lines, using just two lines to send Morse code messages.
An extremely rough road, it is only accessible in the dry season, and is recommended to be driven by experienced four-wheel drivers. The reward at the end of this journey north is to stand at Cape York Peninsula, the northern most point in Australia.
And while there is the option to drive yourself and take advantage of the copious camping grounds along the way, for those wanting a little extra comfort, perhaps join a tour instead.
These tours travel in comfortable air-conditioned four-wheel drive buses, offer fully accommodated options (no camping!) and can included most meals.
A remote wilderness it may be, but there are fantastic options for adventurers of all kinds!