<p>Cape York Adventures have been operating since 1996. Linking travellers from the mainland to the Torres Strait to immerse themselves with culture, tradition and rich history. They are based at the top of Cape York, in a Torres Strait islander community called Seisia. Offering 3 Island Tours, 2 Island Cultural Experiences, Private Fishing Charters, 4WD Tip Tours (Pajinka), 4WD Tours to Fruit Bat Falls, Twin Falls and Eliot Falls and more. With multiple vessels they can cater to any size group and occasion. .</p>

<p>Willie takes you to his ancestral rock art sites, high in the hills outside Cooktown. Here he shares the stories behind the art, and explains how the paintings speak of the essence of life and the lores of his people. With his great smile and infectious laugh, Willie will give you an amazing insight into Aboriginal society and spirituality, and show you how we all have a connection to the land, wherever we come from.</p>

<p>Listen and learn as your host Gerry introduces you to Nature’s Storehouse. Take a step back in time with your hostess Irene as she relates what it was really like growing up an Aboriginal under missionary rule. Maaramaka Walkabout Tours endeavours to preserve the knowledge of the flora and fauna found within Nature’s Storehouse – the bush and rainforest including the sand dunes. <br /> Gerry has a wealth of knowledge with regards to the many species of plants and trees to be found in our Rainforests and bushland.</p>
<p><b>Ph: (07) 4069 5381 or (07) 4060 9389</p>
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<p> Cycling past the Pilots Jetty<br />
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<p>Ride past heritage buildings, visit our pioneering ancestors in the cemetery, go bird watching, stop for a dip in the public swimming pool or park the bikes and combine a BIKE and HIKE day activity on sections of the Scenic Rim walking trail.</p>
<p>Energetic riders can try a hill climb to reach the summit of Grassy Hill – the amazing 360 degree views are worth the sweat.</p>
<p>There are 3 interlinked cycle trails around Cooktown all of which have options for a <b>BIKE and HIKE</b> activity.</p>
<p>So why not combine your bike ride with a stroll through the cemetery or the Botanic Gardens, enjoy scenic coastal and beach walks or an take energetic hike up Mount Cook.</p>
<p>Pick up a Biking Trails brochure from the Cooktown Visitor Information Centre at Nature’s Powerhouse at the Botanic Gardens. </p>
<p><b>Regional Links to Cycling Clubs and Organisations:</b></p>
<p>Dan’s Mountain Bike Adventures –<b> </b><a href="http://www.dansmountainbiking.com.au" target="_blank">www.dansmountainbiking.com.au</a></p>
<p>Back Country Bliss Adventures – <a href="http://www.backcountryblissadventures.com.au/" target="_blank">www.backcountryblissadventures.com.au</a></p>
<p>All Trails Bicycle Tours – <a href="http://www.alltrails.com.au/alltrails-rides/item/26-cape-york-luxury-bike-tour-2011.html" target="_blank">www.alltrails.com.au</a></p>
<p>Raw Travel – <a href="http://rawtravel.com/trip/daintree_and_cape_york" target="_blank">http://rawtravel.com</a></p>
<p>Cairns Mountain Bike Club –<b> </b><a href="http://www.cairnsmtb.com" target="_blank">www.cairnsmtb.com</a></p>
<p>Cairns Cycling Club – <a href="http://www.cairns.cycling.org.au" target="_blank">www.cairns.cycling.org.au</a></p>
<p>Cairns Bicycle User Group – <a href="http://cairnsbug.org" target="_blank">http://cairnsbug.org</a></p>
<p>Cairns Crocs Triathlon Club – <a href="http://www.cairnscrocs.org.au" target="_blank">www.cairnscrocs.org.au</a></p>
<p>Rural, Rainforest and Reef (RRR) Endurance MTB Event – <a href="http://www.usmevents.com.au/Triathlon___Multi_Sport/Challenge_Cairns/Event_Guide/RRR_Mountain_Bike_Event.htm" target="_blank">www.usmevents.com.au</a></p>
<p>Far North Queensland Wilderness Bike Tour – <a href="http://www.fnqbiketour.org.au" target="_blank">www.fnqbiketour.org.au</a></p>
<p>Cairns to Karumba Bike Ride – <a href="http://www.ridefnq.com" target="_blank">www.ridefnq.com</a></p>
<p>Tableland Cycle Sports Inc – <a href="http://www.tablelandcyclesports.com" target="_blank">www.tablelandcyclesports.com</a></p>
<p>Tablelands Rail Trails – <a href="http://www.railtrails.org.au" target="_blank">www.railtrails.org.au</a></p>
<p>Tableland Adventure Guides – <a href="http://www.tablelandadventureguides.com.au" target="_blank">www.tablelandadventureguides.com.au</a></p>
<p>Cycling Far North – <a href="http://cyclingfarnorth.com" target="_blank">http://cyclingfarnorth.com</a></p>
<p>Bicycle Queensland – <a href="http://www.bq.org.au" target="_blank">www.bq.org.au</a></p>

<p>Keatings Lagoon Conservation Park is 8 kilometres south of Cooktown. This natural freshwater lagoon traps and holds wet season run-off and creates an ideal habitat for wetland vegetation, which provide abundant food for animals and migratory water birds. The lagoon is at the upper limit of tidal Meldrum Creek. This seasonal wetland is often completely dry during the winter and early summer months.</p>
<p>For thousands of years the Gungarde Aboriginal people have utilised the lagoon’s natural resources for food, medicine and utilitarian purposes. Their traditional name for the wetland area is Mulbabidgee.</p>
<p>Turn off the Developmental Road onto Hutchinson Street where signs indicate the entrance to the Keatings Lagoon carpark. Cross the wooden boardwalk to access the walk. This 390 metre path leads to a bird-hide and a picnic area. It follows the edge of the lagoon, passing through melaleuca forest  (some of the trees beside the path are numbered and named).</p>
<p>The bird-hide offers unobstructed views of the lagoon and a bird identification chart is provided. The picnic area at the end of the path is about 300 metres north of the bird hide. Due to the large body of still water the mosquitoes can be quite bad, so take insect repellent.</p>
<p><b>Difficulty Level:</b> Easy</p>
<p><b>Distance:</b> 390 metre</p>
<p><b>Duration:</b> 20 Minutes (return)</p>
<p><b>Access:</b> Self Guided</p>
<p><b>Facilities:</b> Bird hide, interpretive information, picnic area and car park.</p>
<p><b>Trail Management Contact:</b>Cooktown office of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, tel: (07) 4069 5777</p>
<p> Map of walking trail at Keating’s Lagoon courtesy Footloose publications</p>

<p>The Mount Cook walk is a strenuous climb. From the Hannan Drive carpark the trail enters a sheltered bushland gully and winds amongst granite boulders, following the mountains contours. The walk has been enhanced by constructing a track with granite steps that blend with the surroundings.</p>
<p>Shortly before the trail mounts the long spur to the summit, a short path on the right leads to a lookout with views over Cooktown. From the junction the summit trail zigzags up to a saddle where another short path leads to a lookout with coastal views. (All the lookouts on Mount Cook are on top of large boulders.)</p>
<p>The steepest section is the last few hundred metres to the summit. Boulders to the left of the track just before the tower have views. There is a clearing beneath the tower, but no views. </p>
<p>From the clearing two paths head east to boulder lookouts where there are spectacular views from Quarantine Bay to the mountains behind Cedar Bay.</p>
<p>The Great Barrier Reef may be a sail-ship navigator’s nightmare, but the spectacular vantage point from the top of Mount Cook is a dream eyrie. Directly below, Monkhouse Point divides Quarantine Bay from Walker Bay, which extends beyond the Annan River to Grave Point, Walker Point and Archer Point. Looking seaward it is easy to see Captain Cook’s dilemma – a maze of reefs stretch to the horizon in every direction. About 20 kilometres to the northeast lie Boulder and Egret Reef. Dawson Reef is 5 kilometres to the east and Cowlishaw Reef is 10 kilometres southeast. In the distant east Osterland Reef lies north of Rosser Reef and Cairns Reef. The Hope Islands, visible in the far south-southeast are almost 30 kilometres away.</p>
<p><b>Difficulty Level:</b> Strenuous</p>
<p><b>Distance:</b> 6 kilometres return</p>
<p><b>Duration:</b> 3-4 hours return</p>
<p><b>Access:</b> Self Guided</p>
<p><b>Trail Management Contact:</b><i> </i>Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service</p>

<p>Accessible by 4WD during the dry season only (May-November).</p>
<p>Access via the Starcke Homestead 12 hours north (225 km) of Cooktown or through Lakefield N.P. and Kalpowar Aboriginal lands, 12 hours north of Cairns.</p>
<p>Recreational fishing is allowed in all rivers and creeks in the park and fisheries regulations apply. Estuarine crocodiles live in the waterways along the coast and offshore – be croc wise.</p>
<p>For coastal fishing limited fishing is allowed in the Conservation Park yellow zone in Bathurst Bay, check <a>www.gbrmpa.gov.au</a>” target=”_blank”>www.gbrmpa.gov.au</a> for marine park zoning info.</p>
<p>Bush camping is possible at Bathurst Bay behind the beach, camping permits are required and available from the self-registration shelter at Lakefield ranger station.</p>
<p>Other campsites are at Bathurst Head and adjacent to the Marrett River – ask for more info at QPWS offices.</p>
<p>Camping is also possible in the nearby Kalpowar Recreation Reserve and on Flinders Island.</p>
<p> Sunset at Bathurst Heads, Courtesy Graham Burton</p>

<p><i>Mangkalba</i><i> </i>(Cedar Bay) is the traditional country of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, whose country extends along the coast to Mossman. Cedar Bay National Park was a major turtle hunting area and contains important cultural sites including the <i>murabaymba</i> (canoe), <i>ngawaia</i> (turtle) and <i>ngiwa</i><i> </i>(saltwater eel) story sites.</p>
<p>The Park is home to a wonderful variety of wildlife including the rare and elusive <a href="https://www.cooktownandcapeyork.com/do/nature/animals/tree_kangaroo">Bennett’s tree kangaroo</a>, endangered southern cassowary and the beach stone-curlew. It lies between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown and is accessible only by boat or on foot via the Home Rule Walking Track. </p>
<p>Take the turnoff south to Helenvale from the Mulligan Highway, about 2 kms south of Black Mountain. Continue through Helenvale and Rossville. Once in Rossville there is a turnoff on your left to Home Rule rainforest lodge. The homestead and access to Cedar Bay North is 3 kms down this track.</p>
<p>The 17km (one way) walking track is a rough, steep and difficult track and should only be attempted by experienced walkers. </p>
<p> Creek flowing down the slopes of Mt Hartley in Cedar Bay National Park</p>
<p>Walking the track should not be attempted when heavy rain has fallen or is forecast, as it crosses several creeks, and steep sections can become slippery in wet weather.</p>
<p>Camping</p>
<p>Bush camping is available in coastal vegetation adjacent to the beach. No facilities are provided so campers must be self-sufficient.</p>
<p>Camping permits are required and fees apply. Permits are limited and it is recommended that you book at least two weeks in advance.</p>
<p>For further information, contact the <a href="http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mangkalba/about.html" target="_blank">Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing</a>  </p>

<p>Located 340 km north of Cairns off Cape Melville N.P., access is by private boat or cruise ship.</p>
<p>There is a 2.8 km interpretaive trail to learn about the Yiithuwarra people and boardwalks take you to the rock shelters on Stanley Island..</p>
<p>The surrounding waters are protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.</p>
<p>Bush camping is permitted on Flinders Island (Wurriima).</p>