Cape York & Torres Strait Explorer

11 days
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Small Group Tour
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 nat...
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$5,271
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Strenuous

Highlights

    • 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.
    • 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.

What's this trip about?

    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.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 19 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityCairns
End CityCairns

Travel Themes

  • Overland Journeys

Destinations

Attractions

  • Cairns
  • Cooktown
  • Queensland
  • York

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 19

Trip includes

    • Cape Tribulation - Lookout
    • Cape Tribulation - Daintree Rainforest nature walk
    • Rossville - Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony
    • Cooktown - Cooktown History Centre visit
    • Rossville - Kuku Nyungkul cultural tour
    • 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

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Cairns

Welcome to Cairns! Or Gimuy, in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Cairns is now located. This is the gateway to Australia’s gorgeous Daintree Rainforest and Queensland's Cape York Peninsula. Your adventure officially starts with a welcome mee...

Day 2 Cape Tribulation / Rossville

This morning board your private 4WD truck and head to the Daintree ferry which will take you to the UNESCO World Heritage area of Cape Tribulation within the ancient Daintree Rainforest. When you arrive, head out on a short nature walk and immerse yourself in the soun...

Day 3 Rossville / Cooktown / Laura

Fuel up on breakfast this morning, then meet a local Aboriginal guide. Start with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, then take a bush food and medicine walk as your guide tells you stories about the land. You’ll learn about boomerang throwing and learn more ab...

Day 4 Coen / Archer River

After breakfast, make tracks for Coen – a rural town on the eastern side of the Cape York peninsula. When you arrive, visit the Coen Heritage House and wander around the displays depicting the local gold-mining past. After lunch, carry on to Archer River, where you’ll...

Day 5 Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park / Chilli Beach

This morning you’ll walk through Wenlock Goldfield – heritage-listed goldmine ruins in Archer River, which were originally built from 1892 to the 1950s. Driving through the Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, your next stop will be the Mount Tozer viewpoint, whe...

Day 6 Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park / Lockhart River / Wenlock River

Just a short drive from Chilli Beach sits the small coastal community of Portland Roads. This remote tropical outpost is a historical site framed by mangroves and famous for its small local cafe. If open, why not sit down for a coffee and a snack. Carry on to the Lock...

Day 7 Weipa / Wenlock River

This morning, you’ll drive to the Western Cape Cultural Centre in Weipa. Here, you’ll learn about the history and culture of the region of Weipa and its surrounding communities. This centre plays an important role in preserving traditional language within the region t...

Day 8 Apudthama National Park / Seisia

This morning, you’ll carry on to Kennedy’s Lost Camp to learn about Edmund Besley Court Kennedy J. P. – an Australian explorer in the mid-19th-century, known for his knowledge of (and untimely end in) Cape York. You’ll then visit Fruit Bat Falls, which sits within Apu...

Day 9 Pajinka / Cape York / Seisia

Today, you’ll drive to the northernmost point of the mainland of Australia – Pajinka (also known as 'The Tip'). Once you cross this mighty spot off your bucket list with a walk along the inland route, carry on to Somerset Beach and Fly Point for a beach visit and some...

Day 10 Thursday Island (Torres Strait) / Seisia

This morning, jump on the daily local ferry to Thursday Island, the economical and administrative heart of the vast Torres Strait Islands archipelago, occupying the waters between the Australian mainland and Papua New Guinea. Once arrived in the main settlement meet w...

Day 11 Seisia / Cairns

Today after breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to Seisia and take a transfer to Bamaga Airport, where you’ll leave your leader and take an unaccompanied flight back to Cairns. Upon arival in Cairns, your adventure will come to an end at the airport. If you’d like to extend your stay in Cairns, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,765
Price per day$342
Last Updated: 12/21/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
07 Jun 2025
17 Jun 2025
$3,765
21 Jun 2025
01 Jul 2025
$3,765
05 Jul 2025
15 Jul 2025
$3,955
26 Jul 2025
05 Aug 2025
$4,140
09 Aug 2025
19 Aug 2025
$4,140
23 Aug 2025
02 Sep 2025
$4,140
13 Sep 2025
23 Sep 2025
$3,955
27 Sep 2025
07 Oct 2025
$3,765
13 Jun 2026
23 Jun 2026
$3,955
27 Jun 2026
07 Jul 2026
$3,955

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night),Camping (9 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private 4WD Overland Vehicle,

Transportation & flights

Private 4WD Overland Vehicle
Guides
AUSTRALIA LEADERS All group trips are accompanied by a group leader. In Australia your group leader is often also your driver, taking you from start to finish. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, as well as recommend great local eating venues. They will also introduce you to our local friends along the way. Please be aware they will be juggling many things on your tour and on some days may have less time to spend with you. But they will always be working hard to ensure you and your group have a fantastic time exploring Australia!
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements All travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia. Failure to do so means you may not be allowed to board your flight to Australia. Most nationalities can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority via the internet before arrival. Please check the following website or with your relevant Australian visa issuing office for your nationalities requirements. http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Cairns
  • Array
  • Cairns
  • Cairns
  • AUSTRALIA
Trip ID
intrepid-PZRY

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