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The great barrier Reef is listed as a world heritage site and a large portion of it is controlled by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which protects the area from many human and environmental issues. Many endangered species, some of which, are natives of the area, lead a precarious existence on the reef. A large number of dugongs also inhabit the area.

According to researchers, today’s living reef was founded on an older coral structure about 20,000 years ago. About that time, sea levels started to rise because of global warming and the coral grew continuously atop an ever descending land ridge. The result is the magnificent array of coral structures that are present today, which form the Great Barrier Reef.

There are about nine hundred islands, of various dimensions, sprinkled throughout the length of the reef that support a variety of flora, fauna and bird life. The larger of these islands have been developed into vacation resorts that offer first class facilities. Many thousands of tourists and adventure seekers visit the Great Barrier Reef each year to explore the wonders that exist there.

As a tourist destination, the Great Barrier Reef attracts thousands of divers and snorkelers who are keen to explore this huge undersea wonderland that harbors a maze of marine creatures. Because of the magnitude and diversity of the reef, the range of available activities is almost limitless, especially for the water sport enthusiast.

All of the Queensland coastal cities between Gladstone and Cooktown have tour operators that run excursions to the reef for day trips or extended cruises. Distances from each coastal point to the reef varies from just a few kilometers to 200 kilometers. North of the Daintree River the reef meets the coast, so the tourist can explore the lush, unspoiled beauty of the Daintree Rainforest onshore and the marine wonders of the Great Barrier Reef offshore.

Tourist operators have large pontoons moored out in the reef area, which means that you won’t be confined to a boat for the day. Upon reaching a pontoon, if you don’t fancy diving, then you can stretch out in the sun, sit in the shade, do a spot of fishing or just relax and take in the beauty of the surrounds.

For a lifetime of memories, put Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef on your destination list.

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There are many features to explore on Hinchinbrook Island from it’s pristine white beaches with sand as fine as powder, lush tropical rainforests, crystal clear streams, and scenic beauty, to the many species of endangered wildlife that survive in this idyllic setting.

The Thorsborne Trail extends for 32 kilometers along the eastern coastline of Hinchinbrook Island and is open only to a restricted number of trekkers. Permits to trek the trail must be obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency well in advance, as there are just 40 trekkers permitted on the trail at any one time, and a maximum of only 6 trekkers per group. There are also a number of restrictions that have been put in place to preserve the natural state of the island, and all visitors are requested to adhere to these conditions before applying for a permit. Trekkers are also obliged to pay a modest camping fee.

An experienced trekker can expect to spend four days or so on the Thorsborne Trail as there are many side tracks to explore along the way. Designated areas have been established for camping and trekkers are requested to use these areas, and respect any restrictions that may apply. Most of these areas will have a steel, rat proof food box for trekkers to keep any food or scraps in overnight.

Hinchinbrook Island is home to a couple of species of food loving rats. Do not leave food or scraps of any kind in a swag or tent ’cause they can chew through just about anything except steel. If there is any food that doesn’t fit in the rat proof box then put it in a container and sling it from a tree, high off the ground.

Crocodiles also inhabit the island and the trekker should take the utmost care when approaching a waterway or swampy area. The Thorsborne Trail is for experienced trekkers only, and whilst on the trail a trekker should not venture off alone. Stay with the group, stay alert and stay alive.

The island is also home to mossies, midges and other nasties. Make sure that a finely meshed Mosquito net is included in the camping equipment, along with repellents and other first aid stuff.

Trek the Thorsborne Trail and experience an Australian adventure of a lifetime.

For further details about trekking Australia visit: Australian Trekking Guide

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Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, is a World Heritage listed site in the Northern Territory of Australia that includes the huge sandstone rock formation, which the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land call, Uluru. The park is located in a remote area of central Australia, being 440 kilometers from the nearest town of Alice Springs, and about 1430 kilometers away from the capital city of Darwin.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, occupies an area of approximately 1326 square kilometers and also includes Kata Tjuta, or The Olgas, another natural rock formation that was created 500ma, about the same time as Uluru. The Olgas, lie about 40 kilometers west of Ayers rock. The park is a popular tourist destination, particularly during the cooler months, and is serviced by regular flights from Australian capital cities.

Uluru stands 348 meters above the surrounding plains, has a circumference of 9.4 kilometers, is roughly 3.8 kilometers long, 2.4 kilometers wide and readily visible from a great distance. The rock is similar to an iceberg in so far as, the bulk of the rock lies beneath the surface of the ground.

The Anangu people are the traditional Aboriginal owners and joint managers of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is open all year round during daylight hours. No camping is permitted in the park, accommodation and camping facilities are available at the nearby Ayers Rock resort. There is an admission fee to enter Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which will allow the visitor a three day pass. Children under sixteen years are admitted free.

The park is the habitat of 21 species of native mammals with several species of bats occupying the many caves that exist in Uluru. Many types of birds, lizards, field mice and insects are also present in the area. The average rainfall in the park is about 300 mm per year and contributes to the growth of a variety of desert flora, some of which, is edible.

Summer temperatures average about 40 degrees Celsius during the day, while winter temperatures are more comfortable for trekking, the night time temperatures do drop to minus 5 degrees Celsius.

When trekking in Australia, don’t pass up the opportunity to visit The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, respect the owners wishes and enjoy an unspoiled natural phenomenon.

For further details about trekking Australia visit: Australian Trekking Guide

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An adventurer can choose to explore the desert by using an air conditioned 4 wheel drive vehicle and, although it is not without certain elements of risk, it’s pretty easy. Wandering out there on foot is not feasible, because of the risk of getting lost and the amount of survival gear that has to be carried.

A unique alternative is to trek the arid outback deserts of Australia by camel. There are many advantages to joining a camel caravan, all the gear is carried by camels, no pollution, no noisy motor vehicles, all meals supplied and kids of all ages are welcome.

What a way to go, no need to carry a back pack, walk freely and enjoy the fresh air, the scent of desert flowers and the presence of the many varieties of wildlife that exist in some of the most inhospitable conditions on earth. Be awe struck by the desert sunsets, sunrises, peace and tranquility, knowing that the group of people that you are with, are among the very few in the world that have ventured into this remote area.

Another popular inland camel trekking destination is Lake Eyre, which comprises of two salt lakes that occupy about 9320 square kilometers. The north lake is the larger at 144 km. long and 77 km. broad and is joined by a narrow channel to the southern lake which is about 60 km. long and 25 km. wide.

Lake Eyre was once the venue for many land speed record attempts, the most memorable is that of Donald Campbell’s attempt in July 1964 when he successfully set a world land speed record of 403.10 mph. Campbell, also captured the world water speed record of 276.30 mph. that year, at Lake Bonney, Barmera in South Australia.

Camel treks in the center of Australia are only conducted during the southern winter months, from April to October when the average daily temperature is about 23 degrees Celsius, which make trekking conditions ideal. Bear in mind that overnight desert temperatures will drop below zero degrees Celsius.

There are a number of camel treks conducted in various inland centers during the months of April to October all of which, are readily accessible by air, coach or private vehicle. Camel treks require a certain amount of customer participation. The trekker may be asked to help with setting up campsites and to assist the cameleers with the animals, which are really gentle giants.

Most camel treks range from four to eight days and are all inclusive, all the trekker needs is a change of clothes, comfortable walking shoes, a pair of scuffs to wear at the campsites, a one liter water bottle and a sleeping bag rated at minus 5 degrees Celsius, because it can really get cold at night.

Join an outback camel caravan in Australia, your grand kids are going to love the tale.

For further details about trekking Australia visit: Australian Trekking Guide

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Ballesteros is a vibrant, provincial city set on the picturesque north coast of Luzon facing the South China Sea. Backed by hundreds of hectares of lush rice fields, bounded by magnificent stands of coconut palms that shelter a multitude of other edible crops, Ballesteros is a major contributor to the country’s food supply.

The main street of ballesteros is a hive of activity, flanked by shops and business houses of all descriptions with a never ending stream of trikes transporting passengers in an orderly fashion. On my arrival, I was warmly greeted by a group of friendly locals who directed me to my quarters at Centro West, a very neat and well maintained Barangay at the fringe of the main business district.

After I had settled in, I spent many days exploring the city and getting to know many of the locals whom, I found to be friendly and courteous. I was directed to the market place, which is only a short walk from the central business district, and I found that just about everybody in town visits there every day. The market place emits a feverish atmosphere as traders aggressively offer their wares, groceries and produce for sale, to a mass of people who are eager to obtain their daily needs, at a bargain price.

I found many sporting facilities being used on a daily basis, with an auditorium in every Barangay to cater for the many avid basket ball players that live in the district. The civic center in Centro Ballesteros has a huge auditorium that is used for sporting events, festivals and concerts. The area is accessed via a well maintained park containing a fountain, grotto and monument all surrounded by carefully manicured shrubs and plants.

There are many schools and churches in Ballesteros, as well as a host of essential services. The high school is located on a headland that faces the sea and overlooks a magnificent blue sandy beach that extends in either direction for as far as the eye can see. I spent many enjoyable hours relaxing on this expanse of beach that has not yet been spoiled by human intervention.

I was sad to leave Ballesteros as I had become fond of the people and the delightful atmosphere that exists there, however I can look forward to returning in the not too distant future, to this gemstone of the north.

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Maybe it’s time for a sojourn to Thursday Island And Torres Strait in order to recuperate from the many days of harsh travelling by 4WD and to enjoy some of the wonders that the Torres Strait Islands have to offer.

Back at Bamaga, arrangements can be made to order ferry tickets to TI from Seisia Jetty. The fare is about Au$47 per person, kids are half fare and there is a pensioner concession for Queensland residents. Vehicles and stuff can be secured at the Seisia camping grounds.

Thursday Island, affectionately called TI, is just 39km off the northern coast of Cape York Peninsula and was established as the commercial and administrative centre of the Torres Strait group of Islands in 1877 by the Government of Queensland. The Island occupies a land mass of about 3 km sq and supports a population of around 3,000 people.

Thursday Island has a full range of facilities where one can find air conditioned accommodation, several hotels, supermarket and a hospital. Air conditioned buses are used to provide a scenic tour of the island for a reasonable rate. The tours operate mainly during the dry season and are liable to a quota system.

There are many points of interest on Thursday Island, by joining a bus tour one can learn about some of the historical features of the island, such as Green Hill Fort. Due to a suspected invasion by Russia, fortifications were built on Green Hill in 1898. Green Hill is a slightly elevated area that provides a panoramic view of TI and some of the neighbouring islands in Torres Strait.

These days, the bunkers that lie underground, adjacent to the 6 inch BL guns, are being used as a museum with displays of many historical items ranging from European settlement, the early pearling days, military and shipping memorabilia.

The Thursday Island Customs House is a two storey stone building, prominently located on the southern coastline. It was built in 1938 to replace the original timber building that was constructed in 1885. There is a certain amount of history attached to the building which was used by the military as a command post during World War 2, when all civilians were evacuated from the island.

Thursday Island Port is a community port situated in a natural harbour that is a haven for dugong, turtles, a variety of birds and other wildlife species. The port services many islands in the Torres Strait as well as being the entry point for all imports to Thursday Island. It is also the base for the customs, coastal patrol and the navy. Charter boats operate from the port, providing fishing excursions to many of the reefs in the surrounding waters, scenic tours of Torres Strait and a number of it’s islands as well as a daily passenger service to Seisia on the mainland.

Melanesian Torres Strait Island people have inhabited Thursday Island for thousands of years before European settlement. The island was originally called Waiben and it is thought that Captain Bligh called it Thursday Island when he passed by after the mutiny on the Bounty.

Put Thursday Island And Torres Strait on your list of places to visit when reaching the Tip of Cape York Peninsula.

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After leaving Cooktown and joining the Peninsula Developmental Road at Lakeland the driver can look forward to corrugated, unsealed roads that vary in condition from reasonable to atrocious. Road conditions in certain areas of the Cape can drastically change very quickly depending on the weather and amount of heavy traffic. This can sometimes force drivers to take alternative routes that ad to the journey’s length.

Laura is about 130km out of Cooktown and a great place to visit. The town has a general store, post office, service station and a hotel that provides meals and accommodation. Quinkan Reserve, Just out of Laura, is the site of possibly the best and certainly the oldest examples of Australian Aboriginal rock art that are to be found. The works date back to when the Aboriginal people first settled in the area about 50,000 years ago. Split Rock Is a rugged sandstone area that has a fabricated walking trail to allow visitors to inspect some of the rock art galleries. There is also a lookout point where breathtaking views of the landscape can be enjoyed.

Laura is just a few kilometres away from the entrance to the Lakefield National Park which contains large areas of wetlands that support a variety of birds and other species of wildlife. Charlotte Bay lies to the north of the park, and is an area where there are also some fine Aboriginal rock art galleries that can be explored.

From Charlotte Bay, the Peninsula Developmental Road can be rejoined at Musgrave, the site of the old Musgrave telegraph office repeater station, which has now been transformed into a roadhouse, where goods and supplies can be obtained. Take note of the gun turrets at either end of the building. Originally these defensive structures were put in place to enable staff to successfully defend the building against attacks from dispossessed Aboriginal people.

On the road again, the next stopping point is Coen where there is a fruit fly inspection station, any fruit and veggies on board must be declared and any stuff that is not certified must be handed in. Certified fruit and veggies would have to have been obtained from Woollies in Cairns. Coen is a fair sized town that provides most services, fuel, minor repairs, supplies and flush toilets. A drink can be obtained at the local hotel.

Before reaching the Wenlock River there is a turn off to Weipa, which is a rather large mining community of 3,000 people and is the largest bauxite mining centre in Australia. It is situated on the western coast of Cape York and is about 140km from the main Road. All amenities are available at Weipa including a hospital. Serviced camping facilities are available and the waters around Weipa are renowned fishing areas.

From the Weipa road, there is a link to Aurukun, an Aboriginal community of about 1,000 people that is situated on the west coast of Cape York and lies about 100km south of Weipa. Aurukun was originally a mission station that was established by the Presbyterian Church. These days however, the Aboriginal people hold a lease on Aurukun Shire which is controlled by members of an elected Aboriginal Council. Visitors are required to obtain a permit to stay at Aurukun.

After crossing the Wenlock River, the old telegraph track lies directly ahead, however it is poorly maintained and extremely rough. It is advisable to take the new road which is a little longer but generally in better condition and makes the journey to the Tip of Cape York Peninsula more enjoyable.

Visit the site of the original Moreton Telegraph Station which was established in 1887 when this area was an absolutely isolated wilderness. Today it is an excellent camping site and it is well worth spending some time there to meander around this historical site.

Travelling on the main road, the next challenge is the Jardine River. These days the old crossing is impassable and the only means of crossing the deep, free flowing river is by barge. The only challenge is producing the Au$100 that it will cost to get your vehicle and trailer across the river. Cash only is accepted and the charge includes the return fare, access and a permit to camp at designated points on Injinoo lands and, of course, GST. The permit does not cover any private camping grounds at Pajinka, Seisia, Punsand Bay, Loyalty Beach or Umagico.

All roads within the Jardine River National Park and Injinoo reserves are suitable for 4WD vehicles only. Travellers must be well equipped and be able to fend for their own needs. Always travel with another vehicle and carry ample fuel for your return journey, a supply of basic spare parts, rations, drinking water and a substantial first aid kit. Be prepared for accidents or breakdowns.

There are many areas of interest along the banks of the Jardine including Eliot Falls which is a popular camping site that has fresh drinking water and toilet facilities. There are a number of bush campsites with no facilities on either side of the Jardine River. Visitors must obtain camping permits and pay a fee which is about Au$4.50 per person per night with a concession for families.

Bamaga is the northernmost town in Australia and a full range of services are available there including motel/resort accommodation, supermarket, service station and a hospital. Seisia, is a village to the west of Bamaga that has a range of services including a deep water port from where a ferry service to Thursday Island operates. Charter boats also operate from the jetty at Seisia, tours of the islands in Torres strait are available as well as fishing excursions.

The direct route from the Jardine River crossing to Bamaga is only about 30km, from there it is another 32km to the Tip of Cape York Peninsula and An Adventure Travel seeker can actually drive to within 50 metres of the sign that claims to be at the northernmost Tip of Australia.

For further details visit our website at: Adventure Travel Hunter

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