Extreme Australia: Rapids, Desert and Crocodiles
Ten days of extreme adventure in northern Australia — grade 4-5 rafting on the Tully River, skydiving at Mission Beach, 4x4 across the Outback and a croc cruise in Kakadu — going from rainforest to desert.
Description
This itinerary travels Australia's wild north over ten days of constant adrenaline. It begins in Cairns with rafting on the Tully River, a grade 4-5 river descending through rainforest with rapids such as Alarm Clock and The Wet and Wild. Mission Beach offers skydiving over the Great Barrier Reef and the cassowary forests. The Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation mark the transition where the rainforest meets the coral reef, the only place on Earth where two World Heritage Sites overlap. From Cooktown, a 4x4 track pushes into the Cape York peninsula, crossing crocodile rivers and termite savanna. Kakadu National Park, three times the size of Yellowstone, offers croc cruises along the billabongs where saltwater crocodiles top 20 ft. Finally Darwin, with its sunsets over the Arafura Sea and the Mindil Beach night market.
Health & safety
- Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) are the world's largest reptiles, reaching 23 ft and 2,
- 200 lb
- They attack from the water without warning; keep 16 ft away from rivers in the Top End
- The mosquitoes of the north transmit Ross River virus (arthritis and prolonged fatigue)
- Irukandji jellyfish (November-May) cause Irukandji syndrome; wear a wetsuit at sea
- Tap water is drinkable in cities but not in remote Cape York communities
Day-by-day itinerary
Rafting on the Tully River
Tully, Australia
Rafting on the Tully River
Grade 4-5 rafting on the river with the highest flow in Queensland
Tully River rafting (grade 4-5)
Sports4hDinner at the Tully inn
gastronomy2hSkydive at Mission Beach
Mission Beach, Australia
Skydive at Mission Beach
Parachute jump over the Great Barrier Reef and rainforest
Mission Beach skydive (14,000 ft)
Sports0.5hCassowary park
Nature2hKayak to the Family Islands
Sports2hDaintree and Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation, Australia
Daintree and Cape Tribulation
Where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet
Croc cruise on the Daintree River
Nature1.5hJungle surfing in Daintree
Sports2hNight walk at Cape Trib
Nature2h4x4 to Cooktown
Cooktown, Australia
4x4 to Cooktown
Offroad route along the Bloomfield Track
Bloomfield Track 4x4
Sports4hGrassy Hill Lookout, Cooktown
Nature1hCooktown Museum
Culture1.5h4x4 route through the Cape York peninsula
Laura, Australia
4x4 route through the Cape York peninsula
Aboriginal rock-art galleries and termite savanna
Laura rock-art galleries
Culture3hDriving the termite savanna
Nature3hRinyirru (Lakefield) National Park
Rinyirru, Australia
Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park
Australian wildlife safari in the dry season
Wildlife safari in Lakefield NP
Nature5hCamping in the national park
Rest3hKatherine Gorge
Katherine, Australia
Katherine Gorge
Sandstone gorge and canoeing
Canoeing in Katherine Gorge
Sports4hNitmiluk Lookout
Nature1.5hKakadu: croc cruise and Aboriginal art
Kakadu NP, Australia
Kakadu: croc cruise and Aboriginal art
Australia's largest national park with 20,000-year-old art
Croc cruise on Yellow Water Billabong
Nature2hRock art of Ubirr
Culture2hNadab Lookout at sunset
Nature1hLitchfield NP: waterfalls and termites
Litchfield NP, Australia
Litchfield NP: waterfalls and termites
Florence and Buley waterfalls and magnetic termites
Buley Rockholes and Florence Falls
Nature3hMagnetic Termite Mounds
Nature1hDrive to Darwin
Rest2hDarwin: Mindil Beach and farewell
Darwin, Australia
Darwin: Mindil Beach and farewell
Sunset market and crocs downtown
Mindil Beach Sunset Market
Culture2hCrocosaurus Cove: crocodile experience
Sports1.5hReturn flight
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