3 Day Rock Art, Rainforest & Cooktown

Wilderness Challenge operates the 3 Day Rock Art, Rainforest and Cooktown tour, where you travel through World Heritage rainforest. Walk with Aboriginal guides to a spectacular waterfall as well as discovering Cooktown's pioneering history. Bushwalk to a world renowned collection of rock art paintings in a haven for outback wildlife.

Wilderness Challenge offers a great Australian safari complete with campfire and stars. This tour is an excellent addition to your itinerary on your next North Queensland holiday.

Itinerary

Day 1 Cairns to Cooktown: Depart Cairns and travel north along the picturesque coastal drive before climbing the Great Dividing Range into an outback landscape of termite mounds and cattle stations. Lunch along the way to Split Rock where you'll climb the sandstone escarpment (suitable footwear and reasonable fitness required) to view ancient Aboriginal rock art depicting life and customs here thousands of years ago. An afternoon visit to Black Mountain National Park before arriving in historic Cooktown.

Day 2 Cooktown to Daintree Rainforest: A leisurely morning exploring in Cooktown. Walk where Captain Cook once walked, touch the sand where “Endeavour” was beached, and visit Grassy Hill and the James Cook Historical Museum (optional). Leaving Cooktown, drop in to the Lion's Den Hotel, a classic outback pub, en-route to Wujal Wujal Aboriginal community. Meet the Walker Family, Aboriginal women who 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. Cross the Bloomfield River to tackle the controversial 4WD Bloomfield Track which takes you to the Daintree rainforest. At Dubuji you'll walk to Myall Beach on the southern side of Cape Tribulation. Further south, cross the Noah Range, pass by Thornton Beach and arrive at the overnight accommodation in the middle of the Daintree rainforest.

Day 3 Daintree Rainforest to Cairns: This morning you'll pass a Daintree tea plantation, visit a forest of spectacular “fan palms” which feature in all pictorial works on the rainforest and Cow Bay so named for the Dugong, or Sea Cow. Take a fascinating walk in the rainforest to witness and learn about this primeval jungle. Further south, cross the Daintree River on a cable ferry on the way to the lunch stop. An afternoon scenic cruise on the Daintree River to experience the fabulous birdlife and wildlife along the river, including the fearsome Estuarine Crocodile. Return to Port Douglas or Cairns ending your adventure in Far North Queensland.

NOTE: Itinerary may be reversed on some departures.

Departures

Departs: 7.00am from Cairns Hotels each Monday and Friday between May and November. Northern Beaches hotels from 7.30am & Port Douglas hotels from 8.30am.

Returns: 4.00pm approximately to Port Douglas hotels. Northern Beaches 4.30pm and Cairns 5.00pm.

Highlights

Small Groups - Maximum 13 guests Air-conditioned 4WD vehicle Professional Qualified Guide Guided Tour of Quinkan Aboriginal Rock Art Guided Tour of Cooktown Walker Family Aboriginal Guided tour and lunch at Bloomfield Falls

Inclusions

1 Night - Sovereign Resort, Cooktown (private facilities) 1 Night - Heritage Lodge (private facilities) Breakfast x 2 Lunch x 3 Dinner x 2 Daintree River Cruise All National Park, Site and Ferry Fees

Additional Information

Children: Tour is not suitable for children under 7 years of age
Luggage: Luggage space is very limited. Please limit your luggage to one small soft travel bag (typically 300mm x 300mm x 700mm) and a small daypack (cabin baggage). A maximum weight limit of 10kg is permitted due to limitations and Workplace Health & Safety requirements
Not Included: All drinks, Fuel Levy payable onboard
Operated By: Wilderness Challenge