A group of vehicles travelling in convoy led by an experienced guide who knows the area that you are visiting. By choosing a tagalong tour you can leave all the planning, bookings, accommodation, tours and logistics to the operator. This is actually the number one reason the guests give for choosing a tagalong over individual travel. You will also travel with likeminded people and who knows, there could be new friends to be had.

There are three main reasons why we made this decision.

Getting a convoy of cars from Cairns to Mareeba, as a group, is challenging to say the least. In 2023 Cyclone Jasper created havoc in this area. There are two sets of major road works on the Kuranda Range and a total of ten sets of traffic lights to contend with if we depart from Cairns. We found that this puts our guests under pressure at the start of the tour, something we wanted to avoid.

Many of our previous guests have stored their caravans on the Atherton Tablelands and joined the group in Mareeba. The shorter distance to our starting point allows them to have a relaxed start to the day. Starting and finishing in Mareeba also gives easy access all the amazing features that the tablelands have to offer.

This is often not the first visit that our guests have made to the Cairns region. Many have already been to Port Douglas, driven the coast road, been to Mosman Gorge. Our goal is to show you areas that you have not seen. By finishing in Mareeba, we get to bring you up the Rex Range, an important part of the local history, and the final part of the Palmer River gold rush story. The magnificent rainforest as we climb the range makes a beautiful backdrop to the final leg of our journey.

Quite a lot actually.  All of our guides live in Far North Queensland (FNQ). We don’t try to be everything to everyone. We specialise in Cape York and Cape York alone, and have the local expertise, not just as guides, to give you the most comprehensive Cape York experience possible. There are no hidden costs for external tours. Thursday Island is included as is the Sunset Cruise in Weipa. All National Park and camping fees are paid by Cape York Guided Tours. Three evening meals are also included. We have relationships with a network of Cape York businesses that can be a godsend in the case of an issue. Our guides like to surprise our guests with unexpected extras along the way but if we tell you about them, we would ruin the fun.

The maximum number is nine and our minimum number to guarantee a departure is four. Nine might sound a lot but it is an easily managed group. Once we get into the rhythm of travelling together it becomes really good fun.

Not at all. Your guide has extensive experience in all types of conditions. We have had people on tour that have never driven on a dirt road let alone put their vehicles in true 4wd.  Your guide will take you through all aspects of off road and 4wd operation. One of the great satisfactions of operating a tagalong tour is to watch people grow in confidence and open up the opportunities that owning a 4wd has to offer. If you have offroad experience, we have sections that will put your skills to the test.

Don’t worry, you are not alone. Travelling in a convoy is a new experience for most of our guests. Your guide will lead you through the process of how it works and very quickly you will be totally proficient. Feedback from our guests is that learning how to use their radios and working as a team is one of the highlights of the tour. (Aside from all the awesome places we visit)

Most of our travel is on well-made dirt roads. That’s not to say that there won’t be some rough and corrugated sections to contend with. The sections of the Telegraph Track that we travel can easily be covered with a standard 4wd if approached sensibly.

One guest who stands out in regard to this question was a lady, travelling alone, in a 21-year-old Toyota Prado that she had owned since new. It took on every challenge with little difficulty and by the end of the tour she was planning adventures she had never considered before.

All vehicles in the convoy must have a rated tow hitch mounted to the front of the vehicle. The hooks that are attached at the front of a vehicle are not rated for towing. They are used to tie cars to the ship deck while being transported from their country of manufacture. If we have to tow you using the tiedown hook, we cannot guarantee that it will be suitable.

Yes, you can, within reason. Under 1.5 ton is what we recommend. We have had a lot of camper trailers on tour with minimal issues. The things that you need to be aware of are low hanging trailer cables that can drag on the ground over obstacles and the overhang at the back of the trailer are two of the main ones.  As with the cars it is advised that you have your trailer inspected prior to the tour. Check that the suspension has no loose bolts/mounting points, that the tyres are up to the challenge and that the tow hitch is in working order. In particular have the wheel bearings checked and greased and carry a spare set just in case.

We have had a number of this style of campervan on tour. These campers are too big to take on the Telegraph Track, but you would be able to join us for the overnight camp at Dulhunty River. All other aspects of the tour can be easily travelled in a campervan of this type.

There are many brands of UHF radio to choose from. GME are generally considered the top of the range for output, receiving ability and clarity. Uniden is also a brand with a good reputation. If you need to purchase a radio some things to consider. Most modern radios are operated totally via the handset which means the body of the radio can be mounted out of sight. The drawback to this is that if the aerial plug works loose, it can be hard to access. Some Loctite at the time of installation can remedy this. Keep it simple. Some of the radios come with more options than the average person can ever use and you pay for it. The radio must be 5 watt at a minimum. This is important to be able to clearly communicate over distance. The aerial needs to be hard mounted to the car.  Magnetic aerials tend to come off on rough roads. Make sure you put the operating manual in the car, your guide is good, but he doesn’t know the ins and outs of every radio on the market.

A good recovery kit can be purchased though outlets such as BCF, Supercheap, Autobarn and Kings 4wd Superstores.  This is an essential item that should be carried in any 4wd. Kings often do a bundle which includes the recovery gear and a tyre repair kit. Don’t go crazy with your kit. A snatch strap, two rated D shackles and a soft shackle are more than enough to get a car out of most situations. The tyre repair kit can save you a lot of money in the event of a puncture. Your guide will be carrying an extensive recovery kit as well. You will also need tyre deflators. There a range of options for this including ones that can be set to a predetermined pressure and will automatically deflate your tyres. And the last piece of equipment you need is a compressor to reinflate the tyres at the end of the tour. Don’t go overboard with this item. You can pay up to $900 for an ARB compressor or $150 for a Kings Compressor. Both will do the job.  As stated previously all these items should be standard equipment if you own a 4wd.

While it can happen, a complete breakdown is uncommon. Having led nearly 200 cars on tagalong tours to Cape York I can honestly say that not one has not made it back to Cairns. That is not to say that there have not been some issues, but these have been able to be sorted on the road.

It is important that you have your car serviced and thoroughly inspected before you start your journey. Upon booking we will send you a comprehensive information pack covering everything you need to know including what spares to bring with you. This will include items such as a spare fuel filter, serpentine belt and the likes. These are actually items you should have with you for all your travels.

Over time we have built relationships with multiple repairers on the Cape. Your guide will have a basic scan tool that can identify issues with your vehicle and clear fault codes if necessary. In the event that your vehicle needs to be towed we will get you to a point where a recovery vehicle can pick up your car.

We strongly recommend that you have comprehensive roadside assistance coverage such as RACQ Ultra (relevant to your home state). This will provide recovery, accommodation if needed, hire car and more. Without this you could be severely out of pocket should the unexpected happen.

Rest assured that if something does happen, we will not leave you stranded.

The main tourist season on Cape York runs from June till October. Temperatures can range from mid to high twenties to low thirties. While there is little chance of rain it is possible that we could have the odd shower. There are some areas that can get cooler (overnight camps in mountainous areas).

Light comfortable clothing for during the day, a jumper for those cooler nights and a rain jacket (just in case). Be warned, white is not a good colour for the cape unless you want red stains that don’t wash out (you will learn to love red dust). Don’t forget your swimmers, we have some amazing places for you to get wet.

The longest break between washing machines/dryers is six days so keep your clothes to a minimum.

This question actually covers two aspects. Those who have not camped for a while and those that are leaving their caravan behind.

To be honest, people bring too much stuff. Consider this. During the tour you will set up and pack your camp thirteen times.  If you build the Tajh Mahal each day it will become a chore by the end of the tour.

The best way that I can answer this question is to list what I bring. Bear in mind that I can spend up to eighty (comfortable) nights in a tent through the season.

Spinifex Eclipse Tent from Anaconda

While this is supposedly a two person tent it really is only suitable for one. Setup is in less than thirty seconds and pack up takes less than a minute. Obviously, a couple would need a bigger tent. If you don’t mind sleeping in separate tents these can make your life easy

Spinifex Single Trifold Mattress from Anaconda

This extra thick mattress does away with the need for a stretcher.

Directors style chair with a side table.

These can be bought from a number of outlets. Great for sitting around camp or the fire. The side table is a bonus.

Kings Lithium Tripod light.

This has been one of the best additions that I have made to my camping gear. One of the guests had one and I couldn’t get to Kings fast enough to get one for myself.

Lifetime 4ft bi-fold table from Bunnings.

Folds up small but more than enough space to cook on and eat at.

Two burner gas stove with disposable gas bottles.

Available from multiple outlets. A good quality wind deflector is a must with these stoves. Gas bottles are readily available throughout the tour.

Bedding bag.

A 45litre duffle bag that holds my pillow, sleeping bag and spare jumper.

Storage boxes.

Two boxes that hold all my cooking gear and incidentals.

Carry-on style suitcase.

More than enough room for one person’s cloths, toiletries and other bits and pieces.

All of the above, even for a couple, will easily fit into the back seat of a dual cab Ute or similar. Many a guest has commented on the simplicity of my camp, but you have to decide what works for you

Awning.

The tour car, a Landcruiser Wagon, is fitted with a Kings, 270, freestanding awning. Once again, something that a guest had that I couldn’t wait to buy. Easy to set up and pack away, it supplies shade on hot days and shelter in the case of unexpected rain.  An excellent addition to any 4wd.

Ice can be purchased most days of the tour; you just need to plan your purchases. With the camp at Dulhunty River and then at Twin Falls you would need enough ice to last three days. This can be purchased from Bramwell Junction Roadhouse on the morning that we start on the Telegraph Track. We stop at the roadhouses along the way, all of which sell ice.

Once we leave Mareeba the next resupply will be in Weipa. It is another five days before we get to Bamaga. We suggest that do your shopping and fill your car the afternoon before we start the southern leg of the journey. Coen, three days later, has a well-stocked general store and then Cooktown, two more days, has an IGA. There are multiple options along the way to buy an evening meal if you don’t feel like cooking. Three of the evening meals are supplied as part of the tour.

Campsites are wide ranging from formal, Weipa, to bush camps, Chuulangun.  All have showers and toilets except for the camps at Dulhunty River and Twin Falls. At Dulhunty River your guide will set up a Porta Loo and at Twin Falls, a national park camp, there are toilets on site. Neither of these sites offer showers but there is no shortage of places to swim. We have endeavoured to choose a diverse range of camps to have you appreciate what the Cape has to offer.

This is the number one question from the ladies. Yes, there will. We try to have a rest stop approximately every one and a half hours generally at the roadhouses. There is nothing more uncomfortable than driving on dirt roads with a full bladder.

The itinerary has been designed to be able to travel at a leisurely pace. Morning briefing is at eight am. The guide will explain what the day includes, things to see and do, places that we will stop, what the road conditions will be like. Most days travel distances are around 250 klms. Some days are much shorter and there are a couple that are longer. We aim to get to camp between 3.30 and 4.30pm leaving plenty of time to set up and explore the area where we are staying.

Most of the caravan parks will provide storage for your van while we are on tour. You would need to enquire when booking.

There are some we recommend based on feedback from previous guests.

Please note we meet and depart from Mareeba approx. 8am day of Tour.

Cairns First City Caravilla.

Mareeba Bush Stays.

Mareeba Trinity Plains.

Walkamin Caravan Park.

Yes, it is. Babies maybe not. It is great to have children on tour, they see the world as amazing, and we make it our goal to amaze them with what is Cape York. Think of it as a mobile school of nature.

While there are alcohol restrictions in most indigenous communities as bona fide travellers we have some exemptions. The one exception is Lockhart River where it is illegal to bring alcohol inside the town boundaries. Don’t worry, we have that covered and your guide will explain what we need to do on the day. There are multiple locations where you can purchase alcohol so no need to bring an excessive amount.

Weipa, Bamaga, Thursday Island and Cooktown have hospitals and many of the locations have medical centres staffed by highly qualified nursing staff with direct access to doctors. The guides hold current Remote Area First Aid qualifications, and we carry both a PLB (Personal Location Beacon) and a Defibrillator. We also carry a comprehensive first aid kit in the tour vehicle. We also have Starlink for instant contact with emergency services if needed. When you book you will be asked to supply any medical conditions/information that we should be aware of.

Cape York Guided Tours is an accredited tour operator and as such carries all the appropriate insurances. As a vehicle in a tagalong tour, and as mentioned previously, you need to ensure that your vehicle has the appropriate recovery/breakdown insurance for such a remote area.

You will get mobile coverage at all the main centres but coverage on other areas is limited. Most of the roadhouses offer Wi-Fi which works well with WhatsApp and similar. The tour vehicle has Starlink, but this can only be used by the guests in an urgent situation.

Deposit is 20% of the total cost. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. It is very important that you read the cancellation policy. It is a good idea to have some kind of travel insurance to cover a late cancellation due to a family or medical emergency.