The rugged wilderness of Cape York is filled with many magnificent destinations that don't feature on your average tourist brouchure, but if you look hard enough you will find your own private eden.

Cape York is located north of Cairns and starts with the lush tropical delights of Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest National Park.

From there on in, its uninhabited sandy beaches, lush forest and bushland, plenty of red dirt and the odd fishing resort - with a big slice of local indigenous culture to boot.

The historical township of Cooktown is a great place to start your Cape York adventures and is one of the last major stopovers before travelling into the unknown wilderness.

Located around 4 hours drive north of Cairns, Cooktown is one of the first white settlements in the region and is a hub of services and activity for the Cape region.

Cooktown is famous for being home to Captain Cook on his first journey of discovery up the north eastern coast of Australia after he managed to hole his ship the HM Bark Endeavour in 1770.

There are many accommodation options in Cooktown, from caravan parks to luxury hotels and also features two great museums for those interested in the history of the region.

After Cooktown, the largest settlements are mainly aboriginal communities, with the exception of Weipa which derives most of its income from mining - so make sure you have plenty of supplies packed as it can be quite long between stopovers for fuel, food and other luxuries.

To access the best fishing spots, untouched beaches, waterfalls, aboriginal rock art and other amazing destinations, your best bet is to travel by 4WD, as much of the terrain is rugged to say the least.

A 4WD will enable you to reach spots off the beaten track that are not visited by regular Cape York tours and take things at your own pace.

If you are not able to gain access to a 4WD, your best bet is to take one of the many Cape York safari tours from Cairns, which will take in the best spots with all the creature comforts included.

If you are a keen angler, Cape York offers some of the best fishing in the country (if not the world!) and there are many tours and out of the way fishing resorts that will cater to your every need.

For those more interested in the local indigenous culture, there are numerous sacred sites and age-old rock paintings that dot the region, with the area around the township of Laura being a great place to start.

You could go on forever about the delights of Cape York, but the best way to experience its magic is to take the trip yourself - what are you waiting for?

Would you like to learn more about the rugged landscape of Cape York, or other tourist attractions in the Cairns region? Follow the links below to find out:

>> Cape York and Cooktown tourist information

>> Cairns outback tourism information

>> Cairns indigenous cultural activities

>> Cairns fishing photogallery

Share this article