Things to do in Cape York

To chat face-to-face to a local about all the best things to see and do in Cape York, step into a Visitor Information Centre. 

Spend days driving the red dirt highways and nights camping under the stars. But you’ll need to be self-sufficient, with Cooktown, the closest major city for collecting supplies, an 860 kilometre drive away from the tip. Luckily, Cape York is littered with fishing holes and waterfalls, abundant with potential catch for when you’re ready to throw in a line. 
 
Get to know the locals while you’re in town; the luscious wetlands and lack of development has proven a haven for native flora and fauna. Keep an eye out for the likes of jabirus, brolgas, red palm cockatoos, and the rather elusive tree kangaroos while you’re in this neck of the woods. 
 
But that’s not all you’ll see. Gaze at the prehistoric rock art collections, some dating back 40,000 years, scattered throughout the district. Those eager to further immerse themselves in local culture can take a tour of the significant Indigenous sites that abound here and plan a return trip in July, when the three-day musical celebration of Aboriginal culture, Laura Dance Festival, takes place every two years.