Meals as indicated-: Breakfast (B); Lunch (L); Dinner (D).

DAY 1 SATURDAY (LD) CAIRNS, JOWALBINNA (LAURA AREA).
Depart your Cairns accommodation from 7.00am. We climb the rainforest-shrouded Kuranda Range, through Mareeba to the Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetland Reserve. Join a guided boat cruise and get up close and personal to the resident Jacanas and Pygmy-geese, and, for the lucky ones, a close up of the Freshwater Crocodiles! Pass by the inhospitable ranges of the Palmer River Gold Fields and enter the Laura River valley. A guided tour of The Laura Cultural Centre’ then travel via a historic goldfield road to Jowalbinna Rock Art Safari Camp. Camp with facilities.

DAY 2 SUNDAY (BLD) MUSGRAVE TELEGRAPH STATION.
This morning we take a guided walk of the rock art galleries of Jowalbinna. Aboriginal occupation dates back over 30,000 years, and the images of Quinkan spirits, totem animals and people adorn many of the rock shelters, this area ranks alongside the Kimberly and the Arnemland escarpment as Australia’s most important rock art regions. After lunch we rejoin the development road heading north to our overnight stay at Musgrave, the only original pioneer telegraph station building remaining in Cape York. Camp with facilities.

DAY 3 MONDAY (BLD) COEN, MORETON TELEGRAPH STATION.
Today we travel hrough typical frontier cattle country to a welcome fuel and provision stop at the old mining town of Coen. Cross the wide sandy Archer River to arrive at Old Moreton Telegraph Station. Time to wet a line for the elusive barramundi and spotlight for the rare Cuscus possum. Camp with facilities.

DAY 4 TUESDAY (BLD) TELEGRAPH TRACK, TWIN FALLS.
Civilisation is far behind and we are really in four-wheel drive country as we traverse the ever-changing wilderness landscape of 'Zamias' and eucalyptus forests to reach today's destination, the picturesque Twin Falls, where the crystal clear waters of Elliot River and Canal Creek meet. Plenty of time to swim and explore or photograph the many enchanting rock pools, and waterfalls of this unique spot. Camp in Jardine River National Park with very basic facilities.

DAY 5 WEDNESDAY (BLD) JARDINE RIVER, CAPE YORK.
We continue negotiating bush tracks and the northern bypass road to reach the swift flowing Jardine River. A short stop at Bamaga Aboriginal and Islander settlement, before proceeding to our northern base camp overlooking the scattered islands of the Torres Strait.

DAY 6 THURSDAY (BLD) CAPE YORK, SOMERSET, HORN ISLAND.

DAY 7 FRIDAY (BLD) HORN ISLAND, THURSDAY ISLAND, CAPE YORK

DAY 8 SATURDAY (BLD) FRUITBAT FALLS, BRAMWELL STATION.
An early start to the day as we cruise via Prince of Wales Island to Seisia to rejoin our overland adventure south. Recross the mighty Jardine River, through the wilderness of forests and heath to Fruitbat Falls on the Elliot River and a cooling dip in the rapids and waterfalls before lunch. Via the Kennedy Expedition monument at Heathlands Reserve, we arrive at Bramwell Station, the most northerly working cattle station on the Cape.

DAY 9 SUNDAY (BD) WEIPA.
Travel south to Batavia Downs, and then detour west to the Gulf of Carpentaria through huge cattle runs and Aboriginal tribal lands to the bauxite-mining town of Weipa. Overnight at Weipa Campground.

DAY 10 MONDAY (BLD) BATAVIA GOLDFIELDS, CHUULA.
In the cool of the early morning, a fascinating Weipa Mine Tour (own cost). A veritable 'Oasis in the Wilderness' and providing further contrast to your experience of this last frontier. A visit to the new Western Cape Cultural Centre before venturing East through pioneer cattle country to overnight at the Old Batavia Goldfields. We explore this old goldfield were approx 40,500 oz of gold was recovered. Overnight camp at Chuula.

DAY 11 TUESDAY (BLD) IRON RANGE NATIONAL PARK.
Cross the Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers before entering Iron Range National Park via Tozers Gap. The park features the largest area of tropical lowland rainforest remaining in Australia. Rare fauna and flora include cuscus, palm cockatoos, eclectus parrots, green pythons, palms and orchids. There is also impressive coastal and mountain range scenery. Overnight camp in Iron Range.

DAY 12 WEDNESDAY (BLD) PORTLAND ROADS, CHILLI BEACH, WW2 SITES.
An exiting day visiting significant historical sites and breathtaking coastal scenery. Portland Roads, once a vital seaport for miners and the wartime airfields, now affords the locals a relaxed lifestyle in an idyllic tropical setting. Wartime gun emplacements are silent sentinels around the headland, some are homes to the locals at the 'Roads. Chilli Beach is wide and long and fringed with palms. A truly magical spot overlooking Restoration Island, Blighs first landing point in 1792. We explore and learn about the gold workings of the 1930's and the area around the airfield at Iron Range where there were major military installations. Anti-aircraft batteries, air raid shelters, the bakery complex and hospital site are a few to visit. Overnight Iron Range.

DAY 13 THURSDAY (BLD) ARCHER RIVER.
Travel west through lands of the Lockhart River Aboriginal People to rejoin the Peninsula Development Road, then south to overnight at the Archer River. Camp with facilities.

DAY 14 FRIDAY (BLD) MUSGRAVE, LAKEFIELD NATIONAL PARK.
Via Musgrave we head East towards the Coral Sea we traverse almost the entire length of the huge bird and wildlife sanctuary of Lakefield National Park. An amalgamation of 3 huge cattle stations, the waterfowl teem in lily-fringed billabongs and huge crocodiles bask in broad river-lakes and lagoons.

DAY 15 SATURDAY (BD) OLD LAURA, COOKTOWN, HELENSVALE.
Continuing through Lakefield, past Old Laura Station, over the legendary Battlecamp Range to historic Cooktown. An eventful day of sightseeing and viewing significant landmarks and sites so important to all Australians.

DAY 16 SUNDAY (BL) CAPE TRIBULATION NATIONAL PARK, CAIRNS.
Across the rocky Bloomfield River and over the jungle clad heights of the coastal range to the secluded splendour of Cape Tribulation National Park. An informative drive and boardwalk beneath the majestic forest canopy of the World Heritage Rainforest.

2008 DEPARTURE DATES

May 24, 31, June 14, 28, July 5, 26, Aug 23, Sep 6, 20