THE ADVENTURE doesn’t have to finish here. You can keep going north to the very tip of Australia on a Cape York 4WD trip.

You’ll learn about aboriginal culture, see rare plants including some unique to the region and discover industry from mining to grazing. This is one of Australia’s most far flung regions, and as you travel through this land you will see spectacular wilderness areas, melaleuca woodlands, eucalyptus-dominated landscape and pockets of divine rainforest, estuaries and rivers, wilderness coastline and tranquil lagoons

This area is a fisherman’s paradise. Some people come every year for the fishing. They might catching anything from barramundi to mangrove jack, trevally and mackerel.

For others, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and a chance for that four-wheel drive vehicle to earn its keep.

There are basically only two ways to venture far into Cape York. Either be totally prepared, or take a tour. To go under your own steam, you’ll need a 4WD in good condition and the knowledge about how to drive it, recovery gear, adequate supplies and you’ll need to pay attention to detail in planning your trip. Remember that you can’t plan your travel itinerary according to distances – sometimes it can take hours to traverse short distances. It’s only possible to make the trip between May and December, as the roads are not trafficable during the wet season.

It’s truly an accomplishment to get to the pointy end of Australia. From Bamaga, you’ll want to have your camera out just to prove to your friends that you really did make it to the tip of the country.

If adventure with wide open spaces is more your style, turn inland from Cairns and experience the outback flavour of western Queensland.

Pick up a copy of our sister magazine, Travel Action Matilda Country, and enjoy a Queensland holiday with a very different flavour. Happy holidays and safe travelling.

Pictured: Cooktown, part of Cape York country.