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Helpful
Travel
Information
&
Tips
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From
Cooktown
to the
tip
of Australia
is some
of the
most
spectacular
and
rugged
country
in Australia
and
one
of the
world's
last
real
rainforest
wilderness
frontiers.
The
area
is an
unexplored
wilderness
with
thousands
of species
of tropical
birds,
beautiful
waterfalls,
crocodiles
and
some
of the
most
adventurous
fishing
you
will
find
anywhere
in the
world.
This
area
is accessible
by 4wd
vehicle
over
rugged
dirt
roads
that
cross
several
rivers.
Safari
tours
can
be arranged
from
Cairns
and
take
about
10-14
days
for
a round
trip
with
visits
to Thursday
Island
off
the
tip
of Cape
York
a must.
The
recommended
time
for
travelling
is during
the
dry
season
(April
- October)
as the
rivers
swell
during
the
wet
season,
often
closing
roads.
Cape
York
   
    
        
The most
northerly
tip of
Australia
and a
long 4WD
drive
through
some rugged
sandy
and wooded
terrain.
Definately
a trip
for adventurers
who don't
like crowds
and love
solitude.!
This is
also the
best access
area to
Thursday
Island
- Getting
There:
1250
km
from
Cairns
- Attractions:
Bamaga
Aboriginal
Community,Wilderness
Lodge,
historical
ruins,
Jardine
River
National
Park,
rugged
landscape
and
climate
- Be
Aware:
In
northern
Australia,
long
distances
seperate
some
towns.
If
you
intend
to
drive
within
aboriginal
lands,
a
permit
is
required.
Crocodiles
live
in
the
region
Cooktown
Situated
at the
mouth
of the
Endeavour
River,
for a
short
time Cooktown
was the
first
white
settlement
in Australia.
Captain
James
Cook,
our famous
discoverer
beached
the Endeavour
here and
had to
stay to
make repairs.
In it's
day, Cooktown
was a
thriving
gold mining
town with
a population
of over
30 000.
Today
it has
less than
1000 and
that's
the way
the locals
like it.
Cooktown
is a quiet
place
to relax,
stock
up on
supplies
for a
Cape adventure
and step
back into
a rich
past.
- Getting
There:
296
km
from
Cairns
along
the
inland
road
or
the
more
pituresque
unsealed
Cape
Tribulation
Coast
road.
- Attractions:
The
relaxed
atmosphere,
historical
James
Cook
museum,
old
stone
buildings
dating
back
to
the
1800's
and
an
1880's
convent
situated
in
the
Joseph
Banks
Gardens
,
named
after
the
Endeavours
famous
Botanist.
- Be
Aware:This
town
rates
as
an
ideal
base
to
explore
the
Cape
York
interior
from
and
is
the
access
point
for
Lizard
Island
Weipa
Located
in the
Gulf of
Carpentaria,
Weipa
is a main
port for
the region.
It is
also a
large
Bauxite
mining
area with
a large
Aboriginal
population.
The town
was first
established
in 1898
as a Presbyterian
mission.
Albatross
Bay, near
the original
township
is where
Dutch
explorer
Willem
Janz made
the first
known
european
landing
in 1606.
- Getting
There:
880
km
from
Cairns
along
the
Developmental
Road
which
is
passable
only
by
4WD.
- Attractions:The
Bauxite
mine,
Aboriginal
Shell
Mounds
- Be
Aware:The
sacred
sites
are
under
the
protection
of
the
local
Napranum
Aboriginal
community
Kowanyama
  
Populated
by a large
Aboriginal
community,
Kowanyama
is a landscape
of varying
natural
beauty
and abundant
wildlife
and fish,
including
the prized
"Barra",
"Muddies"
and queenfish.
Kowanyama
is encircled
by trust
area,
and at
all time
the local
aboriginals
wishes
should
be respected.
- Getting
There:
610
km
from
Cairns
along
the
Burke
and
Wills
Developmental
Road
which
in
most
parts
is
passable
only
by
4WD.
- Attractions:Fishing,
variety
of
savannah
landscapes,
the
wildlife,
local
culture
- Be
Aware:This
is
an
aboriginal
community.
Visit
with
respect.
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