Quintessential Queensland - in Style
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Trip Highlights
• Mapoon and volunteering with Aboriginal rangers
• Haggerstone Island
• Tree-house living in the tablelands
• World Heritage Rainforest
• Aurukun Wetland Charter - Aboriginal interaction
• Superb accommodation in luxury nature lodges
Your ''Taste of Volunteering'' Project
Turtle conservation with Aboriginal rangers
You will assist at the Cape York Turtle Rescue camp in the Aboriginal community of Mapoon on Cape York Peninsula, in Far North Queensland.
Specific activities include:
Quantifying the size and structure of turtle nesting populations
• Monitoring trends in the nesting environment
• Quantifying nesting turtle success rates
• Protecting nesting sites
• Identifying and recording drift nets on beach
• Assisting rangers with the removal and disposal of drift nets
Trip Summary
This trip starts in Cairns, where you are transferred upon arrival to Thala Beach Lodge, a luxury nature lodge located on the spectacular coastal road between Cairns and Port Douglas. On your first day, you can borrow sea-kayaks for some coastal exploring, join an escorted nature walk, attend a cooking demonstration or an evening talk by a local naturalist and if you feel like stepping out there are transfers to/from Port Douglas.
The following day, you are collected from your lodge and depart aboard Sailaway IV, a luxury sailing catamaran. Your boat is moored in a sheltered lagoon and during the day you may spend your time snorkeling, perhaps on a guided snorkel tour with a marine biologist; island exploring; on glass bottom boat tours and enjoying a delicious lunch, morning and afternoon tea.
The next day, you are picked up from your lodge for a full day experience beginning with the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, which presents a stunning interpretation of Aboriginal culture from the beginning of time and into the future. You get to experience every facet of the rainforest people’s life – from didgeridoo playing to camp life and much of it through dance. After lunch your guide will show you to the Skyrail - "the world's most beautiful rainforest experience." Your gondola trip takes you above the canopy of this world heritage national park with stops along the way to visit Red Peak. Your guide meets you in Kuranda, a village which has a market, boutique stores and arts and crafts galleries. You continue on to Rose Gum Wildenress Retreat’s, a luxury eco lodge, for your two night stay.
On Day 4, there is time to enjoy the rainforest at your leisure, spend a quiet hour on the banks of Butcher’s Creek amongst the buzz of rainforest sounds, the ultimate reward is to spot an elusive platypus, or follow the rainforest trails on the waterfall walk. A half day tour with an expert local guide will also be arranged.
The following day, we fly to Weipa from Cairns airport. On arrival, we transfer to the Western Cape Cultural Centre for lunch and an orientation briefing. The Western Cape is one of the most culturally strong Indigenous Areas in Australia. We transfer to Mapoon, 90kms North of Weipa, and later we are driven to Camp Chivaree by 4WD.
At Camp Chivaree, your Volunteer Project begins! You head across Flinders Beach (24 kms of magnificent coastline) by dinghy where the research work on the turtles takes place. You travel by 4WD up and down the beach, stopping frequently to spot turtles, watch them lay, and record research data.
The following two days, your Volunteer Project continues. In the mornings, you will be looking for eruptions of nests and recording data of hatchlings. Once this is completed, roll up your sleeves as you help the rangers clear the beach of any ghost nets, as well as helping them with Predator Exclusion Devices (PED’s). You go back to Camp Chivaree for lunch and then have the afternoon at leisure. Optional activities include bush tucker walks, fishing or just relaxing. In the early evenings, you head back to Flinders Beach.
The next day, we drive to Mapoon Airstrip, where your air charter to Aurukun is waiting. The flight takes approximately 25 minutes and is a stunning flight down the coast of the Western Cape. At Aurukun, you are met and then transported to the MV Pikkuw (a 12 meter catamaran). You begin cruising into the river systems that make up the Aurukun Wetlands. It is one of the most pristine encounters you will ever encounter - abundant birdlife, stunning scenery, perhaps a crocodile on the banks...
On Day 9, you may decide to throw a line into the river as you wait for this morning’s visitors from the Aurukun community to arrive.... Your location on the river dictates the day’s activities. It might be jumping into one of three tenders from the Pikkuw and going off to harvest native bush honey, or a swim in a stunning natural water hole complete with waterfall.
Again, the following day is planned depending on the weather, the wildlife, the local people. Each expedition is different and may include some of the following activities: ancient story place interpretation with Elder(s); art and carving demonstrations; basket weaving demonstrations; bush tucker and bush medicine collection and tasting; spear making and throwing; swimming at croc free swimming hole; bird watching; croc spotting (after dark), etc.
The next day, you return to the Aurukun landing and transfer to the airstrip where your onward charter flight is ready for your departure. Roy Turner (who will host your stay on Haggerstone Island) collects you for the transfer by boat to the island. Your accommodation is in a small lodge, owned and hosted by Roy & Anna Turner, which offers guests unparalleled remoteness, cast-away comfort and exclusivity.
From Day 12 to Day 14, during your stay on Haggerstone Island, you can be as active or as relaxed as you wish… You might get in the mood to snorkel amongst pristine coral reefs, go fishing, boat across to the mainland to explore the coastal rivers and mangroves and to visit the silica dunes of Shelburne Bay, take a day trip to the outer reef for snorkelling, Kayak around the island, amongst other activities.
The following day, you return to Cairns. On Day 16, your Quintessential Queensland adventure comes to an end and you are transferred to Cairns Airport for your departure flight.
For a full trip description in PDF format, click here (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
Australia - Far North Adventure
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