We were looking for a tour of Cape York that did not require us to drive ourselves, but we still wanted to experience the 4 wheel drive back roads and get a good insight into the local communities and their history which can sometimes be easily missed on a drive-yourself tour.
Options were large touring companies that take 20 or so people or a smaller vehicle with a limit of 14 people or less.
One tour group that met the smaller vehicle (our preferred option) was WILDERNESS CHALLENGE PTY LTD who run tours drive/fly Cairns pick up or fly/drive Thursday Island- Seisia pick up option which does the tour in reverse. Our choice was the Drive/Fly where we were picked up in Cairns & then flew back from Thursday Island (Horn Island) to Cairns at the end of the 7 day tour.
Check out http://www.wilderness-challenge.com.au/
It proved to be a good choice as the tour exceeded our expectations in many ways. All meals on tour were included except Cairns and one main meal at Weipa & all accommodation was included except for Cairns.
The accommodation was well above my expectations the roughest being Safari Tents at Moreton which were beautifully presented permanent tents with normal single beds and were quite comfortable.
Our vehicle was a 14 seater OKA 4 wheel drive. We were fortunate to have only had 11 people on our tour which gave us a couple of spare seats and some space. We were limited to a 10 kilo soft pack bag per person which was understandable as the bags were carried on the roof of the vehicle under a tarpaulin. Lifting them on and off was a pretty mean task for our guide and heavy bags would be unacceptable. We were also allowed a carryon bag each & most of us had backpacks. I always carry my computer when travelling and it was a bit squeezy on this tour especially when there was not much floor room on the bus nor was there a lot of head room and no inside overhead storage because of the design of the bus.
The meals were very acceptable and above expectations in the more up market resorts that we stayed in.
Our guide provided morning teas and lunches on tour so we only had to purchase other refreshments along the way as we needed them. They also catered for vegetarians and special needs.
Our guide and driver on tour was Dean Nulty who was a excellent guide with plenty of local knowledge and experience having travelled the tour to Cape York 98 times. Everyone on the tour were very impressed with Dean's professional attitude and passion for his work.
The places we visited were Daintree Rainforest; the Bloomfield track; the Bloomfield River, the Lion's Den Hotel; Black Mountain; Cooktown; Lakeland; Laura; Split Rock; Lakefield National Park; Musgrave; Coen; Archer River; Weipa; Batavia Down; Wenlock River; Moreton; the Telegraph Track; Fruit Bat Falls; Jardine River; Seisia (2 nights); Lockerbie Scrub; Tip of the Cape; Thursday Island and Horn Island (where we caught our plane back to Cairns).
I would not recommend this tour to anyone who had bad backs,knees/hips or heart problems. A reasonable amount of fitness is required for getting in and out of the bus (4 steps) and there were a couple of the walking tours that were steep inclines or uneven ground. The road can be corrugated in places and the river crossings can be rough. Our group handled the trip well even though a few who were at a bit of a disadvantage.
I thought that the tour was much better for us personally. Having a guide to point out all the matters of interest and to be taken to all the important places that may have otherwise been overlooked was very much an advantage for us. I am past the bed roll and sleeping bag era and appreciated the more comfortable accommodation and meals being prepared for us during and after a long touring day. The bus stopped regularly for toilet and refreshment breaks which was good.
I considered this tour a 5 star safari tour and it is my kind of camping. This is my choice for experiencing the outback without any stress.
We were lucky to have perfect weather which would make a difference on this tour. We only had one creek that we could not cross on the Telegraph Track and had to by pass that bit. The roads were in good condition considering just how outback they are where bush tracks are expected. Rain would interfere with your enjoyment of the tour so weather-watch timing would be important. When it rains in Queensland it can really come down and in Monsoon rain time the roads could easily be closed.
I would personally recommend this tour and our guide Dean Nulty. We had a great time and the memories will stay with us for a long time. I have done separate posting for all of the places we visited so you can select which places you would be interested in to view my photos and comments. To select choose from the menu shown on the right hand side of the page or continue down the page selecting "previous postings" at the bottom if you want to view the tour roughly in order of travel.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sydney to Cairns - Friday 24th June 2011
We left Sydney on Friday morning very excited about our WILDERNESS CHALLENGE - 2011 7 day Cape York Drive/Fly "Frontier" Holiday.
We arrived in Cairns on time flying with Qantas and stayed overnight at the Bay Village Tropical Retreat which was a lovely place - walkable distance from the waterfront and the shopping centre. Our rooms were very comfortable and there was a restaurant attached and an internet access which was very convenient.
We met up with two of our fellow travellers there Jan Willem and Carla who had arrived a week earlier.
We had time to walk to the waterfront & had a drink at one of the waterfront bars.
We had dinner at the in-house restaurant and settled for an early night as we were being picked up at 7.15 am in the morning for our 4 wheel drive Safari Adventure to the top of Cape York.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Daintree Rainforest, Queensland - Saturday 25th June 2011
On our way from Cairns to Cooktown we crossed the Daintree River by ferry and entered into "Cassowary" country where large birds move freely in the forest area. We did not sight any live birds, but they can very dangerous if confronted - so we settled on viewing a model of the bird at the river crossing.
The Daintree Rainforest was a fascinating place full of all kinds of interesting plants, insects and animals. It was a beautiful place to view and I needed to cross that off my bucket list. Our Guide Dean explained all of natures wonders in the rainforest and were able to have an enjoyable walk in nice weather.
We walked the wooden forest walk underneath all the canopies of the trees. It is a "must do" when in this area.
Mossman, Queensland - Saturday 25th June 2011
We got some refreshments at a nearly shop & had a walk along the street to stretch our legs.
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Bloomfield Track, Queensland - Saturday 25th June 2011
On our journey from Cairns to Cooktown we travelled the Bloomfield Track and stopped at the Bloomfield River which was a very pretty place and we got some lovely photos on the riverbank.
On the way out of the Bloomfield Track we travelled on a road which was known as the "switch back" because of the twisting & turning of the road.
Ayton, Quensland - Saturday 25th June 2011
On our journey from Cairns to Cooktown we stopped at the little town of Ayton where we have fish and chips for lunch in the outside courtyard of the cafe. It was a pleasant little spot and we enjoyed the lunch break.
The Lion's Den Hotel, Queensland - Saturday 25th June 2011
We stopped for refreshments at the Lion's Den Hotel on the way to Cooktown. It was a quaint hotel full of all kinds of keepsakes and gifts. They had a nice quite outside lounge area where we had a drink. There were some unusual plants in the garden and there was also a huge old mango tree laden with flowers.
Black Mountain, Queensland - Saturday 25th June 2011
We stopped off at Black Mountain on the way into Cooktown. It is a strange mountain & stands out of the horizon because of it's unusual nature - not at all like the rest of the surrounding bushland.
This was the only mountain on our tour that was so different from the ordinary landscape.
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