Cape York & Cooktown area
The first Europeans visited the Cape York Peninsula 400 years ago, but it still the last wilderness area in Australia. The cattleman and the gold prospectors of the 19th century had little effect on the landscape, it is still the last frontier of the country, a sparsely populated area with lots of traditionally living aboriginal communities.
Organized 4wd safaris are the most popular way to see Cape York. The roads are closed during the wet , the safaris operates between May and November. Self drive 4wd safaris are popular also, but careful planning and local information isessential before departing.
150 km from the tip of Cape York is Papua New Guinea and between the Torres Strait Islands also part of Australia. There are flying tours to the tip from Cairns.
Other popular activities on the peninsula is fishing for the famous Barramundi, visiting Aboriginal Rock arts around Laura or animal and bird watching in the Lakefield National Park.
Cooktown is one of Australia’s most historically significant place, visited by Captain Cook in 1770 and has a famous museum named after him here. At the end of the 19th century it was the second biggest city in the country due to the Palmer River gold rush in the area, today it has a relatively small population. An inland sealed road connects it to Cairns but the coastal 4wd only road is more scenic and popular with tourists.
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