Uncover the hidden gems of Cape York with eXpedition10 on an adventure to one of Australia’s last wilderness areas.

Discover incredible Aboriginal and early European history, stroll along secluded sandy beaches or maybe wet a line. Take a refreshing swim in cool clear waters at Twin Falls and spot waterbirds in the extensive wetlands in some of The Cape’s many National Parks.

Complete your adventure by standing on the most northern tip of our huge continent.

Cape York is somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

ITINERARY (subject to updates)

DAY 1: Saturday, 1 June 2024

Cairns to Daintree     Meals (D)

Following pickups from Cairns motels your adventure to Cape York begins travelling north following the beautifully scenic coastal route from Cairns to The Daintree region. On arrival board a discovery nature cruise spotting all types of native creatures. Lunch (own cost) will be at Thornton Beach followed by a guided rainforest walk. Local guide, Neil Hewit has been living in the Daintree Rainforest for over 30 years. His knowledge and passion for preservation of such a vital region of Australia will be shared during this tour.

Accommodation Heritage Lodge in the Daintree

DAY 2: Sunday, 2 June 2024

Daintree to Cooktown Meals (BD)

Depart Daintree Village this morning travelling north to Cape Tribulation beside palm lined beaches and through pristine rainforests. From Cape Tribulation, follow the Bloomfield Track, one of Australia’s most scenic and challenging drives. Some of the many highlights today will include Wujal Wujal Falls and the Lions Den Hotel. On arrival in Cooktown, discover its unique history and beauty when visiting Reconciliation Rocks and the Botanical Gardens.

Accommodation River of Gold Motel

DAY 3: Monday, 3 June 2024

Cooktown to Palmerville Station Meals (BLD)

From Cooktown the journey takes a western route to Lakeland where eXpedition10 has arranged an exclusive visit to a local property. Peter will show us around his cattle station and show a massive dam he created to provide irrigation to some of the districts banana farms. Continue to Palmer River for a lunch break prior to taking a detour into the north Queensland Palmer River gold mining region, home for the next two nights.

Accommodation Palmerville Station Prospectors Cabins

Day 4 Tuesday, 4 June 2024

Palmerville Prospecting Meals BLD

There is a modern day gold-rush happening right now in Palmerville. Hundreds of visitors come here armed with metal detectors and gold pans hopeful of unearthing a fortune in gold – and many do! Today is your turn to ‘hit the jackpot’, or at least have the best possible chance of doing so. We have arranged for professional prospectors to take you into the goldfields and show you how to use gold detectors and point you in the best direction to find gold. Good Luck!

Accommodation Palmerville Station Prospectors Cabins

Day 5     Wednesday, 5 June 2024

Palmerville to Coen         Meals BLD

Departing Palmerville gold camp, travel to Old Maytown ruins – a former bustling gold mining village beside the Palmer River, then travel through vast cattle stations prior to arriving in Laura on the Peninsula Developmental Road. Just before arriving in Coen for the night, pass through another former mining region which boasted a yield of more than 52,000 ounces of gold. Tonight, take a stroll to the local hotel and maybe enquire how the pub came by its unusual name.

Accommodation Coen Guesthouse

Day 6     Thursday, 6 June 2024

Coen to Lockhart River   Meals BLD

Just north of Archer River, take another detour from the PDR today, this time toward Lockhart River. The road will cross the mighty Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers and conditions can be quite difficult at times but the destination is well worth the effort. On arrival in Lockhart, visit the Lockhart River Art Centre, home to the famous ‘Art Gang’. The Art Gang, a group of local artists, produce stunning works of art across many media including acrylic painting, ceramics, weaving and carving. Artists from the Gang have received international recognition for their works. Many invited to travel throughout Australia and overseas to display them. Take a drive through the community then the beach where many boulders protruding from the sea make a wonderful backdrop for any photographer

Accommodation - Greenhoose, Lockhart Region

Day 7     Friday, 7 June 2024

Lockhart River    Meals BL

Today is a day to explore the landscape, connect with nature and discover unique and endemic wildlife. The Lockhart district is truly a hidden gem, tucked away on the eastern side of Cape York. Visit Portland Roads, and Chilli Beach, a beautiful palm-lined beach. For those who want to view the region from above, optional helicopter scenic flights will be available (own cost). You will be amazed at what there is to do and see in the Lockhart Region.

Accommodation - Greenhoose, Lockhart Region

 Day 8    Saturday, 8 June 2024

Lockhart River to Weipa Meals BLD

Today’s journey will travel from the east coast to the west coast of the peninsula – from Lockhart River to Weipa. The first half of the journey will cover familiar territory from Lockhart River to the PDR which will then be our route into the bauxite mining village of Weipa. Bauxite is mined in the region surrounding Weipa then loaded on to ships and sent to Gladstone and China to be smelted into aluminium. Weipa is a well serviced town with a major grocery store, two hotels, motels and even mobile phone service.

Accommodation - Albatross Hotel, Weipa

Day 9 Sunday, 9 June 2024

Weipa to Pennefather Day Trip     Meals BL

Depart Weipa this morning to travel to Pennefather Beach. It’s most definitely NOT a crowded beach. Enjoy a drive through the sand dunes to the mouth of Pennefather River. We may even see a croc or two in the little lagoon nearby. Following lunch, return to Weipa to motel accommodation before boarding another wildlife/croc-spotting sunset cruise on the Embly River.

Accommodation - Albatross Hotel, Weipa

Day 10  Monday, 10 June 2024

Weipa to Bramwell Station Meals BLD

Following breakfast, take a guided tour of Weipa’s new Western Cape Cultural Centre. The Cultural Centre showcases the history of Weipa and its surrounding communities, playing an important role in preserving traditional language and culture from the region, through its informative displays and artwork. From Weipa, travel east through Batavia Downs to link with the Telegraph Road, then north, crossing the Wenlock River at Moreton Telegraph Station. From here on it is likely you may spot the Palm Cockatoo, also known as the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo, which is native to New Guinea, Aru Islands, and Cape York Peninsula. The further north our journey takes us you may notice the termite mounds growing taller – some much higher than the vehicle. Home for tonight will be Bramwell Station – an enjoyable stay complete with live entertainment.

Accommodation - Bramwell Station

Day 11 Tuesday, 11 June 2024

Bramwell Station to Bamaga Meals BLD

Nowadays, most of the original Telegraph Track has been bypassed but the abandoned sections still remain as a gruelling route for 4x4 enthusiasts enroute to ‘The Tip’. Our adventure will take us into Eliot Falls along a section of the old track where we may see some adventurers try to make it through rugged creek crossing without flooding their vehicles and to make it to the other side in one piece. There are not too many safe places to swim on Cape York, however, Twin Falls and Eliot Falls are natural barriers to stop the nasties from getting through. North of Eliot Falls is the once formidable barrier of the Jardine River. The old crossing has claimed many vehicles trying to reach the other bank. However, these days there is a cable ferry to take vehicles safely across. Its only a fairly short drive now to Bamaga, home for the next three nights.

Accommodation – Bamaga

Day 12 Wednesday, 12 June 2024

eXploring the tip of Australia Meals BLD

South east of Bamaga we will visit a peaceful little beach at Mutee Heads then eXplore the local bushlands to uncover some WWII plane wrecks. (more eXciting activities are being planned for today and updates will be added as these are confirmed)

Accommodation – Bamaga

Day 13 Thursday, 13 June 2024

Loyalty Beach and the Tip Meals BLD

No trip to ‘The Tip’ would be complete without a visit to the famous Croc Tent. There are plenty of Cape York souvenirs available to prove travellers completed the journey. Continuing on, travel to the eastern side of Cape York to Somerset to admire views from Somerset Lookout. The time has now come to stand on the most northern point on mainland Australia. From the carpark we will climb over a rocky hill with amazing views of the north, east and west coastlines of Queensland. There probably aren’t too many places this can be achieved. There will be plenty of time once at the tip to take pictures or just sit and take in your achievement. Should you choose, the return walk is not so hilly, but it does cross some rugged boulders until the track reaches the beach then returns to the carpark. This evening we will enjoy dinner while watching the sun set on Cape York. 

Accommodation – Bamaga

Day 14 Friday, 14 June 2024

Bamaga to Thursday Island Meals BD

Thursday Island, just a small island in Torres Strait – just 3.5 square kilometres, is the administrative centre of all the Australian islands between Cape York and New Guinea. Travel by ferry to Thursday Island today, approximately a one hour trip cruising by some of the many island in the region. On arrival, visit famous indigenous artist Rosie Ware’s Gallery then enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the islands shops and galleries and to get acquainted with the locals.

Accommodation - Grand Hotel, Thursday Island

Day 15 Saturday, 15 June 2024

Thursday Island to Horn Island and Cairns Meals BL

Board another ferry this morning bound for Horn Island to partake in a Heritage tour with a local historian. During the tour, the guide will explain how Horn Island became a significant northern outpost during the Pacific War with an airport and a base which over that time housed over 5000 men and women, including 830 men from the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion. The airfield was the target of eight air raids between 1942-43 suffering heavy damage. Following the tour, return to the village for lunch before being transferred to the airport for flights back to Cairns.

Inclusions