18 Day Cape York & Gulf Tours from Cairns

Transfer from selected Cairns accommodation to Cairns airport for your flight to Horn Island. Transfer by ferry to Thursday Island and on arrival, you will be taken on an informative guided bus tour of the island and its picturesque Harbour, once home to the romantic pearl lugger fleet.

This afternoon board your ferry to the mainland, where you will be met by your guide, who will take you to Seisia. Seisia is ideally located for our next few days, being in walking distance from the Seisia Wharf, a famous fishing spot. Our accommodation at Seisia Holiday Park are cottages with ensuite facilities.

A southerly run through the wilderness with all its varied landscapes to cross the Wenlock River. We head for the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria and Weipa. This afternoon there will be the opportunity of a Wildlife Eco River Cruise or a tour of the bauxite mine(own expense). Your accommodation tonight has ensuite facilities.

We continue south, stopping off at the picturesque Archer River, then on to the historic frontier gold town of Coen. The afternoon finds us arriving at our overnight accommodation at the Old Musgrave Telegraph Station – ensuite facilities.

After an early start, we head east towards Princess Charlotte Bay where we explore Lakefield National Park (road conditions permitted), a haven for the many birds and animals native to this area. Lagoons, billabongs, and wide river lakes are home to both fresh and saltwater crocodiles.

 Travelling on, we visit Split Rock, Aboriginal Rock Art, before arriving in the old gold port of Cooktown, where we visit Captain Cooks Landing, before settling in to our accommodation in Cooktown – ensuite facilities.

We depart Queens Court hotel at 6.30am this morning and travel up the Gillies Range to the Atherton Tableland. We stop off at Lake Barrine for a short walk to the Twin Kauri Pines, before travelling on to Herberton.

Today we explore the Historic Village of Herberton, where you can live the folklore and romance of yesterday’s Australia in every piece of this eye-opening collection. Sit in the schoolhouse. Stand at the bar of the pub. Enjoy a latte in the Bakerville Tearooms. The award-winning attraction is more than a vintage precinct – it’s a tangible buzz of things past with over 50 original buildings with intact interior displays, original machinery and vehicles, plus thousands of antique items and period memorabilia.

Late afternoon we settle in the Malanda Lodge, situated on 11 acres of manicured tropical gardens. All rooms have ground level balconies and views to enjoy the tranquillity, or maybe spot their resident platypus family in the large pond. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities.

An early start sees us travelling west on the Kennedy Highway towards Mount Surprise, where we enjoy lunch with a snake show. After lunch, you travel aboard the “Savannahlander” train as it tracks towards Einasleigh. There is enough time to have a beer in the pub or head down and check out Copperfield Gorge, before the train departs for Forsayth. From here we travel on to Georgetown where we stay overnight. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities.

Morning “smoko” on the shore of Croydon’s Lake Belmore before Normanton for lunch. Here you can absorb its famous landmarks, the “Purple Pub”, historic Burns Philp General Store and a replica of Krys, the 8.63m crocodile.

 Lunch is at your own expense today. Continue on to Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria for a cruise to enjoy a spectacular Gulf sunset. Accommodation with ensuite facilities tonight in Karumba.

Back through Normanton this morning and a poignant visit to Burke & Wills Camp #119, the most northerly campsite of the ill-fated expedition of 1860. Across the vast “Plains of Promise” to Leichhardt Falls and Burketown.

On to Adel’s Grove, a Savannah Guides Site, where we spend two glorious outback nights. Ensuite Bathroom Facilities.

A relaxed day enjoying Lawn Hill National Park, a spectacular oasis set amid the spinifex clad Constance Range. Enjoy a one hour cruise that offers an up close look at the Lawn Hill gorge and a stunning view of the Indarri Falls. The gorge is a haven for an abundance of wildlife and a birdwatcher’s paradise. Swimming or paddling a canoe (optional) up the gorge is highly recommended. Return to Adel’s Grove this afternoon.

A visit to the World Heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields, a rare treasure house of palaeontology recording the history of Australia’s mega-fauna of 20 million years ago.

 Lunch at Gregory and a short break at remote Burke & Wills Roadhouse before travelling on to Normanton. We stay in Normanton tonight. Ensuite facilities.

This morning we depart from Normanton’s famous Victorian architecture Railway Station.

All aboard the historic Gulflander RM93 train, a Savannah Guides Site, for a ride through the savannah landscape across the Norman River to Critters Camp.

On to Black Bull Siding then the old gold mining town of Croydon and its Historic Precinct, another Savannah Guides Site. 

This afternoon we visit Georgetown and Forsayth on our way to Cobbold Gorge, a Savannah Guides Station, where we stay tonight. Ensuite Facilities.

This morning we cruise on Cobbold Gorge’s beautiful and secluded waterway surrounded by spectacular carved Hampstead sandstone, 135 million years old. Travel on to the famous Undara Lava Tubes, a Savannah Guides Station.

There’s campfire entertainment after dinner before retiring to your accommodation in faithfully restored antique railway carriages. Ensuite Facilities.

After breakfast in the Australian bush, an experienced Savannah Guide will meet you for an informative tour of the world’s largest, longest and most accessible lava tube system.

We continue on our scenic and leisurely drive over the Tropical Tablelands past the Wind Turbines at Ravenshoe, stopping off at the magnificent Curtain Fig Tree, before making our way back to Cairns, where you will be taken back to selected accommodation.