Cape York Air Safari

Departing from Archerfield Airport, Brisbane, we head north overflying the beautiful coastline of Queensland. Keep an eye out for K’gari (Fraser Island) from the air before stopping at Airlie Beach for a chance to stretch our legs and enjoy a lovely seaside lunch. Before we know it, we’re off again and making our way to Cairns where we’ll catch a private transfer to Port Douglas. Here, you can put up your feet at our beachside hotel before dinner.

Accommodation: Peninsula Boutique Hotel, Port Douglas

Today, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Daintree Rainforest. From meandering through the lush rainforest at Mossman Gorge to cruising on the river system looking for crocodiles, we’ll learn much about the flora and fauna of this unique tropical ecosystem. We’ll also head to Cape Tribulation where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet - the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

Accommodation: Peninsula Boutique Hotel, Port Douglas

This morning we’ll head back to Cairns and continue our air safari along the east coast to the remote town of Laura. Having seen the Daintree on the ground the day before, we’ll have the chance to see some spectacular aerial views of the rainforest from the sky. Arriving in Laura, we have the special opportunity to see remote Aboriginal Quinkan rock art with a Traditional Owner before flying to Cooktown for the evening.

Accommodation: Sovereign Resort Hotel, Cooktown

Cooktown is not only rich in history for its famous connection to Captain James Cook, but also for its rich Aboriginal and gold rush history. We’ll explore all of this today as we visit the Cooktown Museum and the massive granite boulders, rich in Aboriginal culture, at the Black Mountain National Park.

Following a delicious lunch at the historic Lion’s Den Hotel, we continue our journey as we fly north over Cape York and Pajinka, Australia’s northern most cape. Flying over the Torres Strait, we land on Horn Island and take a ferry transfer to Thursday Island. Here, there’s the chance to relax or do a little exploring before a special island dinner with a dance performance in the evening.

Accommodation: The Grand Hotel

Our journey today offers more spectacular views from the sky as we fly north over Cape York and Pajinka (‘The Tip’). Flying over the Torres Strait, we land on Horn Island where we’ll be whisked away for a tour of some WW2 sites that showcase the island’s deep military history. Following this, we’ll have lunch and take a ferry transfer to Thursday Island. Here, there’s the chance to relax or do a little exploring before a special island dinner with a dance performance in the evening.

Accommodation: Grand Hotel, Thursday Island or Cape York Peninsula Lodge, Bamaga depending on weather.

From Bamaga we travel by coach to Pajinka, the northernmost point of the Australian continent. To get to Pajinka requires a 20 minute walk on unpaved ground, but it’s worth it for the photo op at the end of the trail and the chance to tick off another bucket list item. The tour also visits a number of great beaches and a variety of WWII wreckage to be found in the area. We finish the day with a dip in the hotel pool.

Accommodation: Cape York Peninsula Lodge, Bamaga

After breakfast and airport transfer we fly onwards and stop briefly in Weipa to refuel. Flying south, we see more spectacular aerial views, but this time of the west coast and the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Finally, we stop at Karumba for lunch to sample their famous Barramundi and learn about them at the Barramundi Discovery Center. Then, we’ll enjoy some free time before boarding a local cruise to a special sand island to watch another spectacular Gulf sunset with fresh cooked prawns and a bubbly.

Accommodation: End of the Road Motel or similar, Karumba

Heading further inland, we fly over the wetlands of the Carpenteria and then to Cobbold Gorge. Not only will we travel through the gorge on custom-made, electric powered boats, but we’ll also admire its sheer vastness from above on a scenic helicopter tour. The day ends with a wonderful sunset picnic in a secluded location before heading back to Cobbold Village for the evening.

Accommodation: Cobbold Village, Forsayth

New for 2026 is a side excursion to the Undara National Park. One of the longest lava tube systems in the world it’s existence is largely hidden underground and the extent of the volcanic nature of the area has diminished with time and erosion. We land at Undara and visit the Archway where the formation of these amazing tubes is described. There is a walk for the more active to a viewing location on the Atkinsons lookout trail. Following lunch we head back to Cobbold Gorge for a cool dip or another walk if so inclined.

Accommodation: Cobbold Gorge

Last day of the tour! It’s been a wild adventure exploring remote places less travelled. Although it’s a big journey back down to Brisbane, we’ll first stop at Charters Towers for a historic town tour, some free time for shopping and lunch. Following this, we continue to Emerald for a brief stop to refuel and stretch our legs before heading back to Archerfield. Sadly, it’s time to go home.