Cape York and the Gulf Savannah are the last Australian frontier. Located on the northern most tip of Australia, Cape York Peninsula is a wild and sparsely populated wilderness area and is only accessible during the dry months of April to December. Its rugged coastline points towards New Guinea while the eastern side of Cape York is fringed by the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef.

The seemingly undeveloped land of Cape York will surprise and delight. The dusty tracks contrast dramatically with the abundant river systems, crystal clear creeks and spectacular waterfalls. This is a vast area of unexplored wilderness, magnificent national parks, sacred Aboriginal sites, unexplored rainforest, rugged mountains and swampy marshlands. This is a land of climatic extremes where the creeks run dry, or ten feet high.

If you love bushwalking, four-wheel driving, wildlife, fishing birdwatching or camping then Cape York is the place for you. The Cape York region is one of the largest wilderness areas in the world that remains relatively untouched, maintaining its original beauty and variety of sights. You'll be amazed by the 40,000 year old tradition and culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders - Australia's Indigenous people. See the unique wildlife including kangaroos and the unusual dugongs. With all this untamed beauty the area offers an escape from the man-made pressures of the city.

You can discover Cape York in a variety of ways. Travel by four wheel drive to the very tip of Australia or cruise the blue waters of the Torres Strait. Trek to ancient Aboriginal Rock Art sites at Quinkan Rock Art Reserve, where thousands of years of Aboriginal culture have been recorded in ochre and clay paintings. Walk in an underground lava tube at Undara, Australia's largest and most extensive lava tubes formed 190,000 years ago by the lava flow of the now extinct Undara volcano. Or for a thrilling adventure, ride a motorcycle along the Peninsula's old stock routes.

Include in your Cape York holiday, a stopover in some of the region's charming towns.

Cooktown is renowned as the site where Captain James Cook beached the Endeavour in 1770 to repair damage after running aground on a coral reef. This historical town was officially founded in 1873 as the port for the Palmer River gold rush. Places of interest in this delightful place include the historic cemetery, Grassy Hill with its panoramic views over the reef and the James Cook Museum.

Weipa, on the west coast of Cape York, is home to the world's largest bauxite mine, operated by Comalco. Take a tour of the mine or busy yourself at one of the number of fishing and camping areas near Weipa.

Thursday Island is Australia's northernmost town situated 35 kilometres north-west of the tip of Cape York. It's an ideal stopover to see the Torres Strait culture and lifestyle inherited from its South Pacific neighbours.

The existing historic village of Croydon is what remains of a much larger gold mining city of the late 1800's. The township is linked to Normanton, established on the Norman River and previously the port for the Croydon gold rush.

Situated at the mouth of the Norman River, Karumba is the official access to the Gulf of Carpentaria and a major centre for the prawn and barramundi fishing industries. It is part of the wetlands which extend inland for about 30 kilometres. These consist of meandering salt water estuaries, the habitat of saltwater crocodiles and a vast variety of birds including pelicans, brolgas, cranes and black swans.

Travel north and discover the adventure that awaits in this vast tract of land.

Nearest Highway: The Peninsular Development Road.

Visit ancient Aboriginal art sites at Qinkan Rock Art Reserve where thousands of years of Aboriginal culture have been recorded in ochre and clay paintings. In June each year the Torres Strait Cultural Festival is held on Thursday Island. Many islander communities gather to display their culture, arts and crafts. You can experience throwing a boomerang or spear, play a didgeridoo, watch colourful song and dance, and learn about bush foods, bush medicines, hunting and gathering skills and the stories of the Dreamtime.

Camp out in 500 000 star luxury in a swag on a peninsula cattle station and get a taste of what life would have been like a century ago. Join a camping and 4 wheel drive safari, there are various operators and packages to choose from.

Canoe the Jardine River, a wild and untamed river. It has an extremely high difficultly rating and it is recommended that trips be taken in June to September.

Go on a sportsfishing safari with a seasoned operator - half day and extended trips on a share or sole use basis are available to suit all levels of expertise. Visit the Ribbon Reefs of the Continental Shelf for tag and release black marlin fishing at its most exhilarating, as well as wahoo, dogtooth tuna and sailfish.

Barramundi fishing is permitted in the region and the maze of creeks and rivers that drain into nearby Princess Charlotte Bay is a fishing paradise. There is a fishing-closure from November to February each year, but for the rest of the year the limit is five barramundi per person.

Go on a sportsfishing safari with a seasoned operator - half day and extended trips on a share or sole use basis are available to suit all levels of expertise. Visit the Ribbon Reefs of the Continental Shelf for tag and release black marlin fishing at its most exhilarating, as well as wahoo, dogtooth tuna and sailfish.

The flora in this region is complex, with tropical rainforest, open forest of melaleucas, heathland, eucalypt forest and savannah grassland. Freshwater mangroves and lianas are common along the streams and among the many varieties of plants in the region you will find a carnivorous variety.

The Cape area is accessible via vehicle between April December of each year. Tag along tours where people drive their own 4WDs with a group leader are a popular option. For anyone planning to travel on their own outside a guided safarim they´ll need to be fully prepared with maps, a suitable 4WD vehicle, emergency supplies and good guide books. Experienced off-road drivers can camp by billabongs or waterfalls, ford rivers, fish for barramundi and watch for crocodiles near the coast. Good local maps will help you locate all the interesting 4WD tracks in the area.

Go on a sportsfishing safari with a seasoned operator - half day and extended trips on a share or sole use basis are available to suit all levels of expertise. Visit the Ribbon Reefs of the Continental Shelf for tag and release black marlin fishing at its most exhilarating, as well as wahoo, dogtooth tuna and sailfish.

One of the great attractions of Cape York, and especially the very tip, is the superb fishing, which can be had with very little effort. There are a many fishing trips to choose from and a variety of operators that cater for different levels.