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Cairns and the Cape - Turtle Rescue

Make a difference in one of the wildest regions in Australia. At the Cape York Turtle Camp, join researchers and locals from the Mapoon Aboriginal community to help protect endangered sea turtles and other marine life from the perils of ghost nets and feral pigs. Spend evenings out on the beach and conduct much of the research by moonlight, measuring and tagging turtles and recording their nesting habits. From rescuing sea life to snorkelling with turtles in the Great Barrier Reef and fishing off the Gulf of Carpentaria, this adventure offers a rare glimpse into a land of rugged yet fragile beauty.

Itinerary

Day 1 Cairns

North Queensland's hub is a great base to explore the reef and the remote, remarkable Top End.

Day 2 Cairns/Great Barrier Reef

Snorkel through impressive coral reefs in the pristine Frankland Islands to spot endangered sea turtles, or ride a semi-submersible through glistening turquoise waters. Take a guided island walk, or simply relax in the sun.

Days 3-5 Turtle Rescue Project

Fly up to the gulf, touch down in Weipa and take a 4WD to the beach camp in Tjungundi country. Over the next three days, work with researchers and the Mapoon Indigenous community at Cape York Turtle Rescue to protect endangered sea turtles and other marine life from ghost nets and feral pigs. Help the team research nesting habits, implement feral pig exclusion devices and remove nets from the beach. There will be lots of hands-on participation, including tagging and measuring turtles. Much of the work is after dark as it's based around the moon and tides. View this environment through the eyes of local Indigenous people and discover the fragility underneath its rugged exterior. In free time, fish in the azure waters. Anglers worldwide flock to this part of Australia to snare the teeming barramundi and over 30 other fish species.