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Sample itinerary · 11 days to the Tip · intermediate–advanced

Cape York — to the Tip

Rainforest, roadhouses, the Old Telegraph Track, and the sign at the top of Australia.

To the Tip

The east coast's great pilgrimage: rainforest, roadhouses, the Old Telegraph Track's famous crossings, and the sign at the top of Australia. This sample runs Cairns to the Tip — creek crossings taught and walked before they're driven, camps booked ahead, tides and track conditions steering the daily plan.

Sample itinerary. Days are numbered, not dated — the running plan flexes with tides, weather, track conditions and the group. Every trip runs under a written communications and emergency plan, a trip risk assessment and our safety management system.
DayCampPoints of interest & notes
Day 1Noah Beach (Daintree)Meet in Cairns; Daintree River ferry and the rainforest road to Cape Tribulation — where the reef meets the rainforest.
Day 2Archer PointBloomfield Track (or the CREB, conditions permitting): Wujal Wujal falls, the legendary Lions Den Hotel, Black Mountain's spooky boulder fields.
Day 3Elim BeachMorning in Cooktown — Grassy Hill lookout and the James Cook Museum — then north to Elim Beach and the coloured sands.
Day 4Musgrave RoadhouseBattlecamp Road past Old Laura Homestead and the Lakefield country to the old telegraph station roadhouse.
Day 5Chilli Beach (permit)Through Coen and Archer River Roadhouse, then east into Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) — rainforest to the water's edge and palms on the beach.
Day 6Bramwell RoadhouseBack west and north via Portland Roads country to Bramwell — the last stop before the Old Telegraph Track.
Day 7Sailor / Cockatoo Creek (bush camp)The OTT proper: Palm Creek, Dulhunty and Gunshot — the crossings the Cape is famous for, walked first, driven second.
Day 8Jardine RiverOTT north with the swimming stops earned: Fruit Bat Falls and Eliot/Twin Falls, then camp near the ferry.
Day 9Cape York Camping (Punsand Bay)Jardine ferry, through Bamaga and Seisia, and the walk to the northernmost point of the Australian mainland — the photo that makes the trip.
Day 10Jardine RiverWW2 history day around Bamaga: aircraft wrecks and relics of the Cape's wartime years, then back across the ferry.
Day 11Archer River RoadhouseThe first big southbound leg on the bypass roads — return legs and pace from here are planned with the group.

The practical bits

Grade

Intermediate–advanced. OTT sections are optional-by-vehicle; bypass roads exist for every crossing.

Vehicle

Snorkel strongly recommended for OTT crossings; rated recovery points; UHF; water-crossing preparation briefed pre-trip.

Permits

Jardine ferry pass, camping bookings (incl. Chilli Beach e-permit) — the permit and booking list is handled as part of trip planning.

Safety

Crossings walked before driven, every time; winch-equipped lead vehicle; written comms and emergency plan; croc-aware camp and water practice throughout.

Register your interest

The classic. Tell me your vehicle, your timeframe and whether the OTT is on your list — we'll build the trip around the group.