11 Days | Make the journey to the very tip of Australia and experience Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
![Cape York red orange dirt road stretches to the horizon lined by gum tree forest with hood of car just visible at bottom of shot](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blte19a1cdbc340995f/66cfff916a0b0735418e9ef5/Intrepid-Travel-Australia-Queensland-Cape-York-Peninsula-Development-Road.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Traveller and leader laugh together while walking through dense rainforest on a raised boardwalk in Cape Tribulation](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/bltbcf468c4fa5fbe2d/66cfff92134d7b7227d8c981/Intrepid-Travel-Australia-QLD-Daintree-NP-Cape-Tribulation-leader-walking-with-group-boardwalk.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Palms lining the edge of Chilli Beach on the eastern coast of Cape York in northern Queensland](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt3c4181e5c9397aff/66cfff9455228a02e8e7a44c/Australia-Queensland-Cape-York-Chilli-Beach-1100x735.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Blue and green ocean water stretches out away from the edge of Thursday Island in the Torres Strait off of northern Queensland](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt4f28414bcf74fce3/66cfff95edf42a38e7c86bdf/Intrepid-Travel-Australia-QLD-Thursday-Island-Toress-Straits-shutterstock-1019340601.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
![Traveller and leader at the end of a hike to a beach step onto the sand from the last bit of forest in Cape York](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt381f100cce69e6a4/66cfff96ccf5f8e6855a7ad2/Intrepid-Travel-Australia-Queensland-Cape-York-Pajinka-2.jpg?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Travel to the tippy top of northern Queensland with this amazing Australian adventure in Far North Queensland. Over 11 days, you’ll learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture during immersive activities with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guides, hit the beach for swims and nature walks, cross the Iron Range and soak in all the natural beauty of this rural landscape. Spend a night in Chilli Beach, camp in the bush under the clear night sky and tick Pajinka off your bucket list – the northernmost point of the country! Take an eco-cruise to spot crocodiles, walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cape Tribulation and discover ancient rock art. With all of these activities and more, you’ll soak up Australia’s amazing history, landscapes and remote communities.
Trip overview
![Map of Cape York & Torres Strait Explorer including Australia](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt028253937073034c/66cfff906a0b0782c68e9ef1/PZRY_2025.gif?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Start
- Cairns, Australia
- Finish
- Cairns, Australia
- Theme
- Overland
- Destinations
- Australia
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 19
- Trip code
- PZRY
- Learn about Aboriginal culture in a remote retreat outside Cooktown with an Aboriginal guide during a Welcome to Country ceremony, bush food and medicine walks and storytelling about the land and its ancestors. Then, learn about Torres Strait Islander culture in Seisia with a local guide.
- Make the pilgrimage to Pajinka in Cape York – the continent’s northernmost point and one of Australia’s most remote and unique locations, known as ‘The Tip’. Travel through the ever-changing landscape from the rainforest to savanna woodlands, looking out for wildlife along the way.
- Cross the Iron Range and for a night on Chilli Beach – this picture-perfect white sand beach is framed by palm trees swaying in the breeze.
- Head into the mangroves on an eco-cruise in Weipa to spot crocodiles sunning themselves on the muddy riverbanks.
- Take a ferry from the mainland to Thursday Island and learn more about the culture of the Torres Strait on a guided walk along Bayo Beach with a Torres Strait Islander Guide.
- This is a truly epic road trip to the far north of Australia and you'll be travelling for long distances for extended periods of time in remote areas most days, often on bumpy unsealed roads. See the daily itinerary for approximate total travel times and distances.
- Other than the first night in Cairns, we spend all nights of this trip camping. Tents and camping gear are provided, but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. Communal showers and toilets are available at all campsite locations, other than our night at Chilli Beach.
- As this is a camping trip, we rely on all travellers to help with camp duties for a smooth and enjoyable trip. This includes pitching and packing up your own tent daily and assisting your leader with cooking and cleaning duties.
- The weather in Cape York and the Torres Strait can be unpredictable, with road and travel conditions sometimes affected by rain. Be prepared to be flexible and for some occasional changes of plan during our journey. Your leader will advise on any updates to the itinerary and inclusions as you travel.
- As we are travelling in very remote areas of Australia, mobile phone reception and opportunities to charge devices will be very limited. There are few shops or services in this part of the world, so bring all essential items with you and take this time to disconnect, enjoy nature and each others company.
- There is limited luggage space in our vehicle, so you will need to pack light (maximum 15kg) and take soft sided bags. Please note we are staying in and travelling through alcohol-restricted areas and all travellers must comply with these restrictions.
Itinerary
Inclusions
9 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 8 dinners
Private 4WD Overland Vehicle
Hotel (1 night), Camping (9 nights)
- Rossville - Kuku Nyungkul cultural tour
- Cape Tribulation - Lookout
- Cape Tribulation - Daintree Rainforest nature walk
- Cooktown - Cooktown History Centre visit
- Laura - Quinkan Split Rock Art Gallery self-guided walk
- Coen - Coen Heritage House visit
- Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park - Chilli Beach
- Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park - Mount Tozer viewing platform
- Lockhart River - Wenlock (Batavia) Goldfields Ruins walk
- Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park - Portland Roads Coastal Community visit
- Lockhart River - Arts Centre visit
- Lockhart River - Quintel Beach stop
- Weipa - Lake Patricia stop
- Weipa - Western Cape Culture Centre visit
- Weipa - Mangrove Eco Cruise
- Apudthama National Park - Fruit Bat Falls walk & swim
- Shelburne - Kennedy’s Lost Camp stop
- Cape York - WWII plane wrecks
- Cape York - Injinoo Community visit
- Cape York - Fly Point walk
- Cape York - Pajinka ("The Tip") day trip
- Cape York - Somerset Beach stop
- Thursday Island - Torres Strait Cultural Tour with local guide
- Thursday Island - Return ferry
- Bamaga - Flight to Cairns
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A Single Supplement is available on this trip, including the hotel on Day 1 and single occupancy tents on all other nights.
2. The flight from Bamaga to Cairns is included on this trip and will be unaccompanied by a tour leader. The trip finishes on arrival at Cairns Airport, with no other transport or accommodation included on this day. Due to the unpredictability of the flight schedule, we recommend booking an additional night in Cairns on Day 11.
3. As we have limited storage space on our vehicle, please limit your luggage to no more than 15kg in a soft case bag.
4. This trip travels through and stays in alcohol restricted areas, including Lockhart River, Bamaga, Injinoo and Seisia. All travellers must comply with these restrictions.
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