Cape York Peninsular 2024 Adventures - 10 & 14 Day Tours
We kicked off our 2024 Cape York season with our 10-Day Hema Maps tour in August and our new 14-Day Hema Maps tour in September.
Our new 14-Day Tour included everything that our 10-Day tour has to offer, plus some extra days spent beach driving, exploring, and camping in other parts of the Peninsula.
Opening Up the Season
Our tours started in Mossman and headed into the Daintree, where we witnessed for the first time the destruction caused by Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 throughout the area, all the way up to the Lions Den. It was truly amazing to see what Mother Nature had done to the landscape.
Our visit with CJ and Helen from Yindilly Camp is always a highlight, as they welcome us into their home with damper and tea, finishing off with a rainforest walk and stories shared by CJ.
Thrills and Challenges
Our first challenging track of the two tours was the Frenchman’s Track, a 53km route that connects Lockhart Road to the Telegraph Track. The main obstacle on this track is the Pascoe River Crossing, where the crossing itself isn’t the hard part, but the entry and exit can be challenging. With some guidance, everyone navigated the slippery rock steps relatively unscathed, and we spent the night on the Wenlock River further up the track, with some trying their luck at fishing before finishing the evening around the fire.
We took our two groups through the relatively newly opened Stones Track, which passes through the Irwin’s Wildlife Reserve on an easement granted to Cooktown Shire. We enjoy taking people through this track because it not only cuts out 3 hours of corrugations on the PDR (Peninsula Development Road) but also includes the challenging Stones Crossing, which is known for its tidal waters and crocodiles.
The Old Telegraph Track (OTT) was particularly challenging this year, especially on the second tour, which took place later in the season in September. While we had no issues at the infamous Gunshot Crossing during the first tour, the second tour required almost 6 hours of recovery efforts. Our second biggest obstacle during the second tour was Canal Creek. Normally a straightforward crossing, it became challenging due to the irresponsible actions of a couple of track users; the exit back onto the track required recoveries for two vehicles.
It should be noted that this was definitely one of our tougher seasons on the OTT. We believe the increase in traffic and the presence of larger vehicles attempting to tackle this track has contributed to its wear, making it even more difficult than usual.
However, we made it through on both tours and enjoyed an afternoon at Nolans Crossing, watching other travelers tackle the obstacles while enjoying some swimming.
Bucket List Ticked
Our two groups made it to the tip, where everyone took their photo with the famous sign. Some of our customers opted for the optional Jet Ski ride to the tip to view the sign from another angle, which was a big highlight.
The tour concluded with Ben mapping out our journey on everyone’s own Hema Cape York Paper Map. After a few beverages and pizzas at Punsand Bay, our customers were presented with their challenge coins for completing their Cape York adventure with us.
Cape York 2025
Cape York Hema Tour dates are now available for the 2025 season!
Places on our 4WD tours are strictly limited to 10 vehicles, so get in quick if you would like to secure your place!
Thinking about doing a
4WD tag along tour?
Visit our 4WD Tag Along Tour page and you will see lots of great choices available that include short tours in NSW or other locations such as Cape York or The Simpson Desert which are some of the best 4WD holiday locations you can visit.
The best part about our tag along tours is everything is supported by our 4WD shops that have a retail showroom and workshop. It means everything can be set up for your vehicle before you go on a tour.
We can check to ensure you vehicle is safe to travel with, make sure it has the right equipment suitable for the tour location and make any adjustments needed.
When you are on the tour with us, if you are not sure about anything we can help you. It is like having your own personal 4WD assistants on hand every step of the way. For experienced 4WD owners you just do your thing and have a ball with the rest of us.
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