Heritage Tours
P.O. Box 3059, CAIRNS, Queensland 4870, Australia
Toll Free: 1800 77 55 33
Tel (07) 4054 7750. Fax: (07) 4054 7760
Email: Info@heritagetours.com.au
15 DAY CAPE YORK SEA / LAND
CAMPING SAFARI
 Includes a cabin on the M.V. Trinity Bay sharing with 4 passengers
HIGHLIGHTS:
  • M.V Trinity Bay
    		•
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Thursday Island
  • Cape York - Most Northern Tip of Australia
  • Twin Falls
  • Bramwell Station
  • Weipa
  • Iron Range National Park
  • Archer River
  • Lakefield National Park
  • Bloomfield Track
  • Cape Tribulation
    • Legend; B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, T = Toilets, S = Showers, L = Laundry, Bc = Bush Camp

    DAY 1 CAIRNS – M.V. TRINITY BAY (D)

    Welcome aboard! The friendly crew will welcome you aboard the cargo vessel M.V. Trinity Bay and help you to settle in for your trip up the East Coast of Cape York, taking in the splendor of the Great Barrier Reef and tropical coastline. Great views, good food and friendly company will make an excellent start to your adventure.

    DAY 2 GREAT BARRIER REEF – MARINE NATIONAL PARKS (BLD)

    A fascinating and relaxing sea passage following the Great Barrier Reef and isolated coast line in the footsteps of Captain Cook.

    DAY 3 HORN AND THURSDAY ISLAND (BLD)

    Sunday morning is spent at Horn Island. Here passengers are given the opportunity to learn about an often forgotten part of history - the role of Horn Island and the Torres Strait in the Second World War. A local tour is available with an expert guide, who is the curator/owner of the local museum (own expense). Some of the sites visited include two World War II plane relics, slit trenches, taxi ways, a 3.7 inch gun site, an underground command post, and the Torres Strait Heritage Museum. As well as the historic aspect, the tour also takes in scenic sites of Horn Island. Only passengers taking part in the tour are allowed to disembark at Horn Island.

    Sunday afternoon finds us at Thursday Island (TI). TI was settled in 1877 when it was decided to re-locate the government administration point from Somerset to a more suitable spot. The island was chosen for it's closeness to the main shipping channel and it's well sheltered port. The hunt for pearl-shell, beche-de-mer and trochus attracted many people from around the world to these shores and a number of whom decided to stay and adopt the island as their home. Arrangements can be made for a personalised and informative bus tour of the Island by a local guide (own expense) who will show you why TI is one of the most culturally and historically interesting places in Australia. The tour takes in spectacular views and visits the Torres Strait Museum (not always accessible on Sundays), Green Hill Fort (circa 1891), Quetta Memorial Cathedral and the Japanese Pearl Divers Memorial at the local cemetery.

    DAY 4 SEISIA (BD)

    On Monday the vessel travels back to the mainland of Australia to the jetty at Seisia, one of the communities in the Bamaga area. After viewing the cargo being unloaded, you disembark the ship at Seisia, where you will be met by a Heritage Tours representative, who will take you to your camp at Seisia. Seisia is ideally located, being in walking distance from the Seisia Wharf, a famous fishing spot. Having familiarized your selves with your camp the rest of the day is yours. (STL)

    DAY 5 THURSDAY ISLAND (BD)

     An early morning departure as we cruise through island studded straits to explore our northern community, Thursday Island. Here you have the option to take a informative guided bus tour of the island (own expense) and its picturesque Harbour, once home to the romantic pearl lugger fleet. Ample time to explore the sites on the island, the Cultural Museum and souvenir shops, before you board your ferry to return to Seisia late afternoon. (STL)

    DAY 6 CAPE YORK - SOMERSET (BLD)

    An unforgettable day! Stand at the very top of mainland Australia, we then visit Somerset (road conditions permitted), once the home of the legendary Jardine family and government outpost established in 1864. We have lunch on the palm fringed Anchorage Beach, which overlooks the Albany Passage. A walk on the beach will complete your day before returning to base. (STL)

    DAY 7 SEISIA - TWIN FALLS (BLD)

    Departing the Top End, southward bound, we cross the Jardine River. We travel along the upper section of the Old Telegraph Track, en route to Twin Falls, with its enchanting waterfalls and rock pools, 'Paradise in Cape York'. An early arrival allows plenty of time to enjoy a refreshing swim and view the pristine falls. (Bc+T)

    DAY 8 TWIN FALLS - BRAMWELL STATION (BLD)

    After a leisurely morning, we travel on to Fruit Bat Falls, where you can enjoy the view and have a refreshing swim. We then make our way to our camp for the night at a “true blue, aussie” cattle station, Bramwell.(ST)

    DAY 9 BRAMWELL - WEIPA (BD)

    A southerly run through the wilderness with all its varied landscapes to cross the Wenlock River. We head for the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria and our overnight stop at Weipa beachfront campground, with its view over Albatross Bay. This afternoon there will be the opportunity of a tour of the largest bauxite mine in the world (own expense).(STL)

    DAY 10 WEIPA - IRON NATIONAL PARK (BLD)

    Leaving this modern town behind, we head towards the East Coast, crossing the Wenlock and Pascoe River, before arriving at Iron Range National Park (the largest remaining area of lowland rainforest in Australia) to find the Eclectus Parrot, the rare Palm Cockatoo, cuscus, and green python. Overnight camp in Iron Range National Park. (weather and road conditions permitting) (Bc+T)

    DAY 11 IRON RANGE - CHILI BEACH (BLD)

    Today we will explore at our leisure, Iron Range National Park, Chili Beach, and Portland Roads community, which once serviced the Gold Fields and WW II airfield. (weather and road conditions permitted) (Bc+T)

    DAY 12 IRON RANGE - ARCHER RIVER (BLD)

    Heading back to the main road, we cross the picturesque Pascoe River before exploring the Old Wenlock Gold Fields, an abandoned mining town, showing relics of Cape York's history. Then making our way to our campsite at picturesque Archer River. (STL)

    DAY 13 ARCHER RIVER - LAKEFIELD NATIONAL PARK (BLD)

    We head east towards Princess Charlotte Bay and Lakefield National Park. An amalgamation of 3 huge cattle stations, now a haven for the many birds and animals native to the area. Lagoons, billabongs, and wide river lakes are home to both fresh and saltwater crocodiles. We camp the night at Kalpower Crossing (road conditions permitted). (ST)

    DAY 14 LAKEFIELD NP - COOKTOWN (BLD)

    This morning we stop at Old Laura Homestead, before travelling on, where we step back in time when we arrive at the old gold port of Cooktown. Visit the Cooktown Museum (own expense), Captain Cooks Landing, Grassy Hill Lookout. Overnight camping in Cooktown. (ST)

    DAY 15 COOKTOWN - CAIRNS (BL)

    We travel on, stopping off at Black Mountain, and then down the Bloomfield Track (road conditions permitted) to Cape Tribulation, where the 'rainforest meets the reef. At Cape Tribulation, where Captain Cook's troubles began, we will enjoy a rainforest walk, before crossing the Daintree River to begin the last leg of our journey home. A scenic drive along the Marlin Coast is a perfect way to complete your Cape York Adventure. We arrive back in Cairns in the late afternoon and return you to your accommodation.

    15 DAY CAPE YORK SEA / LAND SAFARI

    (Cargo vessel "M.V. TRINITY BAY"')
    (4-BERTH SHARE CABIN WITH SHARED FACILITIES, 4 passengers to a cabin)


    CAMPING ...................... $ 3,470

    2012 DEPARTURE DATES :
    June 15, July 13, August 10, September 7, October 5

    DATES REVERSE ITINERARY (14 DAYS)
    June 7, July 5, August 2, 30, September 27


    Click HERE for reverse itinerary

    Heritage Tours, Cairns, Australia