Cape York Peninsula

The basics

Discovering the Cape York Peninsula independently requires time, planning, and preparation, with everything from data signals to restaurants and campgrounds in distinctly short supply. You can get off-road in 4WDs in season, but it’s wisest to travel in convoy due to the lack of signal. You’ll need to pay an entrance fee when you cross the Jardine River in the far north; permits are required for national park camping and visiting Aboriginal lands.

Joining a Cape York Peninsula tour can save time and energy. They usually start from Cairns and, besides Cape York itself, take in the Daintree Rainforest, the historic town of Cooktown, and Weipa, a mining town that’s also a tourist center. Expect to visit rock art sites and waterfalls, and maybe even stop on a Torres Strait island like Thursday Island.

Things to know before you go

• The Cape York Peninsula is great for adventurous travelers, photographers, 4WDers, and nature lovers.

• The Cape York Peninsula is bigger than Cuba. Only visit if you have time to explore, and allow for unexpected delays.

• If traveling independently without a convoy, consider renting a satellite phone for emergencies.

• Independent travelers should carry a first-aid kit and know how to use it, ample drinking water, spare tires, an extra tank of fuel, and rescue equipment.

• Many parts of the Cape York Peninsula are alcohol-free. If you’ve brought your own liquor for the trip, you may be required to prove your route doesn’t pass through a dry community—or face a hefty fine.

• The Cape York Peninsula is not a good choice for travelers with disabilities.

How to get there

The Cape York Peninsula runs north from Cairns in northern Queensland to Cape York, Australia’s northernmost point. Most travelers explore on a lengthy road trip from Cairns, usually by 4WD, but if carbon footprint is not a concern, you can also fly into Northern Peninsula Airport, about an hour’s drive from Cape York, or Horn Island Airport, on Horn Island in the Torres Strait.

When to get there

Exploring the Cape York Peninsula is only practical between late May and October, when the weather is relatively dry and notably cooler than the steamy wet season. At other times of the year, creeks can flood and rain out roads—although you may face flooded creeks even during the dry.

The Old Telegraph Track

Following the line of the old telegraph communications system, the Cape York Peninsula’s 95-mile (150-kilometer) Old Telegraph Track is one of Australia’s most celebrated 4WD routes. You’ll need a well-equipped 4WD, with a snorkel for fording rivers, such as the notorious Gunshot Crossing. It’s best to ride the track north from Bramwell Junction to the Jardine River as crossings, ascents, and descents get more complex the further north you go, and some travelers may decide to turn back or exit early onto the easier Bypass Roads.