7 day Cape York Drive-fly Accommodated
Off Road Adventure Safaris welcomes you to Cape York ... one of Australia's last great wilderness regions, which extends 1000 kilometres north of Cairns, Queensland. This vast, remote region is the approximate size of our State of Victoria or of England, Scotland and Wales combined, covering some 115,000 square kilometres. There's a magic here, spun by its vastness and amazing variety. You'll meet the animals and plants of the Australian bush in a habitat of crystal clear spring fed creeks and waterfalls, huge termite mounds and carnivorous plants. And you'll feel the emotion and pride when you stand at the very Top of Australia!
A region of diverse landscapes and true wilderness it is an adventure and Four Wheel Drive (4WD) recreational Mecca for many Australians and international visitors who visit the Cape each "Dry Season", between May and December.
Many of its 20,500 (approximately) inhabitants of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians rely on the annual migration of tourists to supplement the Peninsula's mining, fishing and pastoral industries which are the basis of its relatively small economy.
Ecologically, the region is very important, supporting a diverse range of environments from tropical rainforest, open forest, savannah grassland and heath communities in a region that remains relatively unaffected by our industrialised society. Many National Parks protect these natural assets, the most notable being Lakefield and Jardine National Parks along with the famous World Heritage listed Wet Tropics a short distance from Cairns.
The region's indigenous history is a combination of the rich cultures of the Australian Aborigine and Torres Strait Islander. The ancient rock art near Laura is a highlight of Cape York. Known as "Quinkan" rock art, there are literally hundreds of galleries hidden in the sandstone escarpment of the Great Dividing Range. The collection is held to be one of the largest bodies of primitive art in the world which depict the activities and culture of the Australian Aborigine in bygone years.
Today you can visit Split Rock and explore art and occupation sites at Jowalbinna. Torres Strait Island culture can be seen on Thursday Island.
The most well known visitor was Captain Cook in 1770 when he repaired his ship "Endeavour" where Cooktown now stands. Later, significant influences began with Kennedy's 1848 expedition to be followed by the Jardine family who established the outpost of Somerset in the 1860's.
However, it was the discovery of gold at the Palmer River that brought significant population and the establishment of Cooktown in 1873. In the years that followed, the Cape York Telegraph, pastoralism, World War II, bauxite mining at Weipa and the emerging tourism industry have all added their intriguing stories to the region.
In Australia's far north we're lucky to have some of the finest wilderness areas in the world, stretching from Cape York's Pacific coast to the Kimberley's Indian Ocean shore ... a vast land of amazing contrast and unimaginable surprise, with no less than five World Heritage listed areas. Off Road Adventures operates accommodated safaris across the Tropical Savannahs and Rainforests of northern Australia
A Cape York safari is so much more than simply visiting these superlative natural and cultural Australian treasures.
We continually tune our itineraries to maximise your experience, relaxation and comfort and our dedicated, enthusiastic, professional interpretive Guides will ensure your journey of discovery is not just a ride to an outback icon, but an emotional, educational and fun experience you'll get with few other holidays.
So ... come with us to see, to touch, to smell and to learn ... come with us on a ride to adventure ... on a journey of discovery. Come with us to capture the emotion and romance, the tragedies and triumphs of Australia's amazing outback!
