Wilderness Challenge - 7 Day Cape York Frontier Drive and Fly
The Cape York "Frontier" is a 7 day fly/drive accommodated safari that explores one of Australia's last great wilderness regions - a land of history and ancient culture, crystal clear spring-fed creeks, huge termite mounds, and a vast and amazing variety of natural landscapes.
2011 Departures
Drive/Fly (CY07NA):
Departs from Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas.
• May 28
• Jun 11, 25
• Jul 9, 23
• Aug 6, 20
• Sep 3, 17
• Oct 1, 15
Fly/Drive (CY07SA):
Departs from Cairns Domestic Airport
• Jun 3, 17
• Jul 1, 15, 29
• Aug 12, 26
• Sep 9, 23
• Oct 7, 21
Rates are per person, inclusive of GST, and in AUD$. Rates are valid to 31 March 2012.
Twin Share: $3,095.00Single Share - $3,715.00
Child (7-14) - Sharing: $2,995.00
Inclusions:
- 6 nights accommodation
- All meals except lunch on Thursday Island
- Cruise to or from Thursday Island
- Tour of Thursday Island
- Flight between Cairns and Horn Island
Exclusions: All soft and alcohol drinks, Optional tours, Items of a personal nature
Tour is not suitable for children under 7 years of age, a fuel levy of $20.00 per person is payable on board.
Highlights:- World Heritage Daintree Rainforest
- Cape Tribulation
- Bloomfield Track (weather permitting)
- Black Mountain & Lion’s Den Hotel
- Guided Tour of Historic Cooktown
- Jowalbinna
- Guided Tour of "Quinkan" Aboriginal Rock Art
- Lakefield National Park
- Lotus Bird Lodge
- Musgrave, Coen & Archer River
- Wenlock River & Moreton
- The "Telegraph Track"
- Fruit Bat Falls
- Resort Bamaga
- Lockerbie Scrub
- Historic Somerset
- The Top of Australia - CAPE YORK!
- Thursday Island (Island Tour included)
- Great Barrier Reef flight to/from Cairns
This tour has 2 itineraries depending on whether you take the air leg (Cairns - Horn Island) first, or as the homeward sector.
4WD Up And Fly Back To Cairns (Drive/Fly)
Day 1 - Tue (LD): Daintree rainforest and, weather permitting, Cape Tribulation and the Bloomfield Track. Lion's Den Hotel and Black Mountain on the way to Cooktown. Cooktown Overnight.
Day 2 - (BLD) Depart Cooktown and travel through the agricultural district of Lakeland with the opportunity to buy locally grown coffee. Visit the fascinating Quinkan Cultural Centre telling the story of indigenous, pioneering and contemporary life in Cape York. Cross a cattle station to Jowalbinna, an epicentre of Aboriginal rock art. Walk to ancient sites on Jowalbinna's sandstone escarpments and investigate the lives of the original inhabitants, and enjoy a refreshing creek swim. In the evening chat around a bush campfire. Cabin accommodation.
Day 3 - (BLD) Explore Lakefield National Park, Queensland's second largest at 537,000 hectares (1.25 million acres). Waterlily covered billabongs, wildlife and a great variety of birdlife makes for a memorable day before arriving at our overnight stop, Lotus Bird Lodge.
Day 4 - (BLD) Visit Musgrave, the century old Telegraph Station and now working cattle station before crossing the Great Dividing Range to visit the old gold mining town of Coen. Onward we cross the sprawling sandbanks of the Archer River and the Wenlock River, site of the historic Moreton Telegraph Office. Time for exploring, bushwalking, birdwatching or simply relaxing. We overnight at Moreton's delightful permanent tent safari camp.
Day 5 - Sat (BLD): 4WD adventure and fun on the famous Telegraph Track. Fruit Bat Falls to lunch and swim then cross the Jardine River to Resort Bamaga on the tropical shores of Torres Strait, our home for two balmy nights.
Day 6 - Sun (BLD): Visit the Lockerbie Scrub and historic Somerset. Now, an emotional walk to the very top of Australia, CAPE YORK!
Day 7 - Mon (B): Cruise to Thursday Island and enjoy a guided tour (included). After lunch (own expense) transfer to Horn Island to board your aircraft to fly to Cairns.
Fly Up And 4WD Back To Cairns (Fly/Drive)
Day 1 - Mon (D): Fly to Horn Island then transfer to Thursday Island and enjoy a guided tour of the island (included). After lunch (own expense) cruise to the mainland at Seisia to be met by your Guide. Accommodation at Resort Bamaga, your home for two balmy nights.
Day 2 - Tue (BLD): Visit the Lockerbie Scrub and historic Somerset. Now, an emotional walk to the very top of Australia, CAPE YORK!
Day 3 - Wed (BLD): Cross the Jardine River then 4WD adventure and fun on the famous Telegraph Track. Fruit Bat Falls to lunch and swim then on through Cape York's unique wilderness to the Wenlock River to overnight at Moreton's permanent tent safari camp.
Day 4 - Thu (BLD): Meet some locals at classic outposts today. Cross the Wenlock River and sprawling sandbanks of the Archer River to the old gold mining town of Coen. Visit Musgrave, the century old Telegraph Station and now working cattle station before relaxing at Lotus Bird Lodge, a picturesque haven.
Day 5 - Fri (BLD): Explore Lakefield National Park, Queensland's second largest at 537,000 hectares (1.25 million acres). Waterlily covered billabongs, wildlife and a great variety of birdlife makes for a memorable day. Cross a cattle station to Jowalbinna, an epicentre of Aboriginal rock art. In the evening chat around a bush campfire. Cabin accommodation.
Day 6 - Sat (BLD): Walk to ancient sites on Jowalbinna's sandstone escarpments and investigate the lives of the original inhabitants, and enjoy a refreshing creek swim. Visit the fascinating Quinkan Cultural Centre telling the story of indigenous, pioneering and contemporary life in Cape York. Travel through the agricultural district of Lakeland with the opportunity to buy locally grown coffee en route to historic Cooktown, and our overnight stop at The Sovereign Resort Hotel.
Day 7 - Sun (BL): A guided tour of Cooktown. Black Mountain and the Lion's Den Hotel before the Bloomfield Track, weather permitting. The Daintree Rainforest before returning to Port Douglas and Cairns.
Meal Codes: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Pick-up and Drop-off Details:Drive / Fly Itinerary
- Departs: Hotels in Cairns / Beaches / Port Douglas from 7:00am
- Returns: Cairns Qantas Domestic Airport at approximately 5:30pm - flight times to be confirmed. The safari terminates at the airport. A Wilderness Challenge representative will be at the airport to assist guests in arranging taxis/shuttles (own expense) to their accommodation.
- Departs: Cairns Qantas Domestic Airport at approximately 8:00am - flight times to be confirmed. Guests are to make their own way to the airport and meet near the check-in counters. A Wilderness Challenge representative will be at the airport to distribute luggage tags, a Thursday Island Information Pack and assist with a group check-in.
- Returns: Hotels in Port Douglas / Beaches / Cairns from approximately 5:00pm
