Cooktown 4WD Discovery (Drive/Fly)
A scenic 1 Day 4WD journey through UNESCO World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest to historical Cooktown. Discover diverse landscapes and travel across unique terrain in our purpose-built vehicle. Enjoy a high level of service and comprehensive commentary as our driver guide shares stories of our region’s fascinating natural and cultural heritage. Return flight (45 minutes) along the scenic Daintree Coast…
Itinerary:
Travel in air-conditioned comfort in our purpose-built 4WD vehicle, experiencing some of the most amazing scenery and natural beauty in Australia. Our journey takes us along The Great Barrier Reef Drive from Cairns hugging two World Heritage-listed areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest.
We continue along the famous 4WD-only Bloomfield Track, an incredible journey and the site of one of Australia’s biggest environmental protests. Enjoy lunch at the infamous Lions Den Hotel, one of Queensland's landmark pubs, built in 1875, made of timber and iron.
You will arrive in historic Cooktown in the afternoon where we visit Grassy Hill for panoramic views of Cooktown, the Coral Sea and Endeavour River. You have up to 2 hours to enjoy the stunning scenery and experience the present day appeal and intriguing heritage of this iconic town before transferring to Cooktown Airport for a commercial flight along the scenic Daintree Coast.
Arrive at Cairns General Aviation Airport at 6:30pm. Continue to Cairns accommodation (own arrangement/expense) or Northern Beaches & Port Douglas accommodation (transfer included).
Scenic Cooktown & Outback (Fly/Drive)
Enjoy a stunning coastal scenic flight from Cairns to Cooktown; catching glimpses of the Coral Sea, World Heritage Rainforest and rugged coastline. Arrive and explore historic Cooktown with comprehensive commentary from our driver guide as you visit the town’s iconic locations. Enjoy a return coach journey via the Mulligan Highway, seeing the distinct difference between the two bordering environments of the Coastal Rainforest and Outback.
Itinerary
Passengers make their own way to Hinterland Aviation [7 Tom McDonald Drive].
Enjoy a scenic flight over the same waters that Captain Cook sailed through in 1770. Marvel at the views of the Coral sea, catch glimpses of the Great Barrier Reef, rugged coastline, World Heritage rainforest and mountains.
Cooktown: Our driver/guide will meet you at Cooktown’s airport then our first stop is Grassy Hill. From here Captain Cook surveyed his route through the Great Barrier Reef. We then make our way to the quaint township of Cooktown for a guided walk of the esplanade and its many points of interest, before some free time.
The Heritage listed Cooktown Cemetery is next, then visit the James Cook Museum for a guided tour and see an original anchor and cannon from Cook’s HMB Endeavour amongst many other interesting exhibits. Established in 1878, the Cooktown Botanic Gardens are one of Queensland’s oldest regional botanic gardens. A driver/guided walk shows many of the same plants collected by botanists, Sir Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, as well as plants traditionally used by the local Aboriginal people. Relax at Nature’s Powerhouse café, Art Gallery and Visitor Information Centre.
Outback: Travelling the Mulligan Highway, we stop briefly at Black Mountain, Byerstown Range Lookout & the Palmer River Roadhouse. The outback landscape is dotted with termite mounds and many different eucalypt species. Keep an eye out for livestock that graze along the roadside before we return you to your accommodation.