Like much of Northern Australia, the region is only reliably accessible in the dry season, usually from around May till October, and even then really only by 4WD. While much of the area is National Park, there is also several Aboriginal communities throughout the cape, as well as pastoral leases.

The journey is instantly rewarding, as just 100 kms out from Cairns you reach Mossman Gorge, with a gentle and scenic track following the river to cool swimming holes within the gorge. From here it is only a short journey to beautiful Cape Tribulation. Here there are raised boardwalks through the mangroves to perfect beaches, with the opportunity to visit the reef, as well as explore the dense rain forest.

North from here gets a little rougher, but passes through World Heritage listed rainforest hugging the coast. The track often skirts along the edges of sandy beaches before reaching historic Cooktown. Scene of James Cook's encampment after a disagreement with a reef left the Endeavour in need of repairs. The town grew rapidly during the North Queensland gold rush, but quickly faded after a reliable track was established to Trinity Bay, later renamed Cairns. It's fascinating history is worth spending some time to explore.

Continuing north, the track passes through flat grazing land and scrub country, but offers a chance to discover spots like Australia's largest remaining stand of lowland rain forest, within the Iron Ranges National Park. Also along the way are numerous waterfalls and swimming holes. The scrubland gives way to woodlands, then to heath as you reach Bamaga at the tip of the Cape.