Cape York - Travelling to the Tip of Cape York

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The Cape York Peninsula has been identified as one of the great wild places left on earth, along with the Amazon and the Serengeti (Tanzania). Spectacular white sand dunes, beaches, Savannas (dotted with humungous termite mounds), Rainforests, Wild Rivers (21 as a matter of fact) and Wetlands. Indigenous people have lived on Cape York for thousands of years, the culture here is strong and several languages are still widely spoken with indigenous ecological knowledge being recorded and practiced, a fantastic initiative by Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways. Not a trip for the faint hearted, it is one the most adventurous things we have done our our Australian tour. Two weeks of driving through river beds full of crocs, treacherous tracks, from staying at cattle stations, experiencing the Weipa Rodeo and finally reaching our destination, The Tip of Cape York. Travelling from Cairns to the tip is well over a 1000km and this is where our journey started. Travelling via Mossman, crossing the Daintree River via ferry to Cape Tribulation and then heading to the Bloomfield track, our first 4WD track in Nth QLD. This was a beautiful scenic drive through rainforests, creek beds and the Aboriginal Community of Wajul Wajul. Our first stop was Helensvale, where we parked in a camping spot by the river behind the Lions Den Hotel. From here we travelled through Cooktown to Battle Camp Rd and then navigated our way through the Starke Track. Staying overnight on the Starke, there were washouts, rivers and sections of loose boggy sand which took lots of concentrated driving from Quent. Cape Melville, Lakefield Nat Park,Musgrave Station,Merluna Cattle Station,Weipa, Bramwell Cattle Station and of course The Old Telegraph Track including Gunshot Creek. The Jardine River was crossed by barge, making our way through Bamaga which is an Aboriginal community and eventually arriving at the Tip of Cape York. Our accommodation was by means of a roof top tent and all of our supplies were stored in the back of the car, our caravan of course left in Cairns. Even though we camped out, our food always one of the most important aspects to the tour. Thai Red Fish Cakes, Tasmanian Salmon, Pumpkin Soup spiced with cumin and garlic and chicken risotto with baby spinach leaves, Parmesan and loads of garlic and a couple of camp ovens cooked by Q Man. Food is always an important commodity for us, whether we are camping or not, it is our number one priority.

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Photos

Daintree River
Waiting to cross the Daintree River by ferry

Daintree River
Crossing the Daintree River

Daintree Coffee Company
Cape Tribulation Rd, Cow Bay, QLD. "100% Australian grown Arabica coffee beans from local sustainable plantations. The beans are carefully selected and roasted to perfection by an experienced master roaster". www.daintreecoffeecompany.com.au/

National Park Boundary
The Daintree National Park is the site of the oldest living rainforest on earth, the Daintree Rainforest, at approximately 140 Million years with the southern boundary located at Mossman Gorge and the northern boundary at Bloomfield River. Here Quentin is at the northern boundary.

Bloomfield Track North of Cape Tribulation
"Just north of Cape Tribulation the road becomes unsealed and continues for 5 km to Emmagen Creek. The Bloomfield Track then becomes 4WD only, as it continues north for 28 kilometres to the Bloomfield River and onto Cooktown (another 63 km).
If you intend to drive the Bloomfield Track, you are strongly advised to check rain conditions beforehand, as at least one creek crossing can be treacherous after heavy rain. Take care crossing the Cowie and Donovan Ranges as there are very steep grades".

Bloomfield Track
Q Man on the Bloomfield

Lions Den Hotel - Helensvale
"The Lions Den Hotel was built in 1875 on the lush banks of the Little Annan River, surrounded by 100 year old mango trees and tropical landscapes. It is a landmark hotel made of timber and iron, famous for its quirky decorations and walls adorned with visitor’s signatures".

Lions Den Hotel
Quent at the bar

Lions Den Hotel
Alitia playing the piano

Lions Den Hotel
This is quite funny, located on the walls of the Lions Den Hotel. I'm sure not all men are like this!! I know Q Man is definitely a little more self sufficient. HA HA LOL

Lions Den Hotel - Farting Chair
We spoke to locals the night before and had a great discussion with a lovely old man who was originally from Hungary and who had been in this part of the world for over 50 years. His family had been disposed of in Auschwitz, he had no desire to go back to his country as he had nothing to go back to. Very sad story. Quite funnily he told me this particular chair was a farting chair as there was a large hole in the middle. It never ceases to amaze me, when you speak to a local or anyone in fact they all have a story to tell, some more sad than others.

Starke Track
Make sure you dont miss the sign!

Cape Melville National Park
Quentin checking the depth of the water before crossing. A must when travelling this part of the country.

Cape Melville National Park
Wakooka Ruins, a spot of lunch here.

Cape Melville National Park (Wakooka Ruins)
The traditional owners of this part of the country belong to several clan groups including Daarba, Junjuu, Muli,Bagaarrmugu, Wurri, Manyamarr, Gambiilmugu and Yiirku. It is one of QLD's more remote protected areas. The area also has a high proportion of endemic plants & animals, those that do not occur naturally anywhere else in the world. One plant is the foxtail palm and the parks many birds include channel-billed cuckoos, red-tailed black cockatoos and blue-winged kookaburras. Check these birds out on the web.

Cape Melville National Park
Crossing a timber bridge