Cooktown, Daintree & Outback 3 Day Tour

After pick-up from your accommodation in Cairns or Port Douglas, we travel north along the picturesque Captain Cook Highway, one of the nicest coastal drives in the world. Our first stop is Mossman Gorge, located in the southern section of the Daintree National Park, where you’ll be immersed in the rich traditions of the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal culture on an extended guided walk. From here we arrive at the famous Daintree River for our cable ferry crossing. Once on the other side, it’s time for a 1-hour cruise on the Daintree River, where crocodiles and varied native bird species are spotted — your chance to see one of the longest and most diverse river systems in the world through the eyes of a local naturalist guide. After the cruise, it’s a short drive to the Daintree Tea House for a special lunch, at one of the Daintree region’s oldest established restaurants. You have the choice to try delicious Barramundi fish (other menu items are available) and exotic tropical fruits. Continuing north, we stop at the Alexandra Lookout for spectacular views over the Daintree River and beyond, to the Great Barrier Reef and Snapper Island, before pulling in at Thornton Beach — adjacent to Queensland’s fourth highest mountain, Thornton Peak (1,374m) — for a stretch of the legs and some amazing photos. We then continue on to Cape Tribulation, where the Great Barrier Reef meets the rainforest. You’re free to take a walk on the beach and head up to Kulki Lookout before settling into our overnight accommodation.

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Overnight in Cape Tribulation. Single/ Twin/ Double (ensuite)

After breakfast, we engage 4WD and head north along the Bloomfield Track, enjoying many scenic spots including the Bloomfield Falls, Cedar Bay National Park, a boardwalk and more. Continuing on, we arrive at the famous, historical Lion’s Den Hotel for lunch (included) and a refreshing drink (own expense). This truly is an Aussie icon built on the banks of the little Annan River, surrounded by 100-year-old mango trees. You can sign the wall, like hundreds of visitors from all over Australia and the world have done before you, over many years. From here, we continue on to Cooktown and our accommodation, with time in the late afternoon for a first look around this historic town before dinner.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Overnight in Cooktown. Single/ Twin/ Double (ensuite)

After breakfast, enjoy a town tour of Cooktown and head up to the Grassy Hill lookout for fantastic views over the town and its famous “River of Gold”. Then it’s onto the historic Captain James Cook Museum, one of Queensland’s best museums, showcasing the remarkable history of this historic town. The museum follows the story of Captain James Cook’s enforced seven-week stay at the Endeavour River, during which the first meaningful contact between Europeans and Indigenous Australians took place. It covers the days of the Palmer River gold rush, as well as showcasing personal stories and items from Cooktown’s early residents. Now that you’ve been enriched in Australia’s true history, we head south, deviating off the bitumen for a visit to Archer Point Lighthouse, a beacon to guide ships along the Great Barrier Reef, before continuing past the mysterious Black Mountains. We stop at the Palmer River Roadhouse for lunch, then continue south through the Savannah Country and the small communities of Mount Carbine and Mount Molloy to Bob’s Lookout with sweeping views to the South, stopping for afternoon tea along the way. From here we pass through the Rural Service Centre of Mareeba and our ‘exclusive permit’ allows us to 4WD through the forest and river crossings into the Clohesy River World Heritage Rainforest Boardwalk, where you’ll see a giant Strangler Fig Tree. We then descend the Kuranda Range, enjoying amazing views through the forest, over Cairns and the Coral Sea beyond, before dropping you back to your accommodation in Cairns or Port Douglas in the early evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Return to Accommodation