Cape Tribulation
| country: | Australia |
| location: | Queensland, Aboriginal tours |
| departures: | Departs every Monday and Friday, May - Nov with 2 - 13 people |
| price: | From AU $895 (3 days) excluding flights based on double/twin share. From AU $990 single and from AU $795 per child (7-14yrs) |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Cape Tribulation
Travel through World Heritage rainforest and help to conserve the rainforest and the endangered Cassowary. Walk with Aboriginal guides to a spectacular waterfall. Discover Cooktown’s pioneer history. Bushwalk to a world renowned collection of rock art paintings in a haven for outback wildlife. A great Australian safari complete with campfire and stars.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Cairns to Cooktown. Depart Cairns and cross the Daintree River by cable ferry before an interpretive World Heritage Rainforest walk. Then we’ll visit the conservation base of the Australian Rainforest Foundation and contribute to a tree planting program to increase cassowary habitat and reduce global warming. Continue north along the 4WD Bloomfield Track, crossing creeks and mountain ranges. Meet the Walker Family, Aboriginal women who will share their traditional knowledge of bush tucker and medicine at the spectacular Bloomfield Falls, and join them for a picnic lunch at a picturesque riverside site. Stop at the Lions Den, a classic outback pub, and visit mysterious Black Mountain. In Australia’s most historic frontier outpost, Cooktown, relive journeys of exploration and a rollicking goldrush. Accommodation – Sovereign Resort, Cooktown |
| Day 2: | Cooktown to Jowalbinna. Depart Cooktown and travel west into the savannah. A 4WD track will take you into Jowalbinna, the epicentre of “Quinkan” Rock Art for outback hospitality. You’ll be inspired by this afternoon’s rock art walk. This body of work is rated by UNESCO as one of the top ten rock art regions in the world. Your guide will explain the significance of these artworks, the traditional lifestyle of the Aboriginal people and the conservation initiatives to preserve these national treasures. Later relax with a refreshing swim in a bush creek or simply enjoy the peace of this remote outback location. In the evening relax by the campfire. Accommodation – Jowalbinna Rock Art Safari Camp |
| Day 3: | Jowalbinna to Cairns. Rise to a morning chorus of Kookaburras and Blue-faced Honeyeaters, two of over fifty bird species here. Enjoy breakfast in the bush and choose to throw a boomerang, take a self guided walk or paint your own canvas. Depart Jowalbinna and head through the outback landscape to visit the Quinkan Regional Cultural Centre. Cross the Great Dividing Range and leave the termite mounds and beef cattle country to descend the rainforest clad mountains. Meet the coast once again, returning to Port Douglas or Cairns. |
traveller reviews for Cape Tribulation
Very good, especially our friendly guide, John Hogan, who seemed to know everything there is to know from the functioning of the vehicle's four wheel drive system to the details of every plant in the forest!
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how this holiday makes a difference
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This 3 day tour provides insights into the world’s oldest rainforest, conservation action in a visit to an Australian Rainforest Foundation site, a fun walk with Aboriginal women to a rainforest waterfall, and a visit to one of the world’s top ten rock art regions. The connections you’ll make to the traditional people and the land are inspiring, and your visit will be of great value to the people and environment of Tropical North Queensland.
Australia’s World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Rainforests are the remnants of the ancient Gondwanan forests, an area once described by David Attenborough as “one of the most magical experiences of my life”. Just north of Cairns, they are the habitat of the endangered Cassowary, a large flightless bird. The Australian Rainforest Foundation works to restore habitat damaged by clearing and cyclones, and you’ll visit a site to learn of these projects and contribute by planting trees vital for the Cassowary’s survival. There is also the additional opportunity to sponsor Cassowaries or assist in the purchase of rainforest land for conservation. The Aboriginal people of the rainforest lived a rich traditional life, and you will meet the Walker Family from the Kuku Yalanji language group to visit Bloomfield Falls. This spectacular feature is of great significance and surrounded by the traditional foods and medicines that the Aboriginal guides will explain. This walk is an economic initiative of the local Wujal Wujal community, and assists their independence and cultural revitalization. You’ll stay at Jowalbinna Rock Art Safari Camp to visit its Quinkan style rock art. UNESCO rates this region as one of the top ten rock art locations in the world. You will bushwalk to ancient sites and enjoy the picturesque setting, including swimming in a fresh water creek and other fun activities. Jowalbinna manages the conservation of this cultural heritage and provides an economic driver for local businesses in the tiny town of Laura. The Quinkan and Regional Cultural Centre, featuring local indigenous artists’ work, is an important stop on the return to Port Douglas or Cairns. |
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