Youth Development Camp

Our trip to the “Tip” in July 2024 with Rossy and Kat was fantastic. Rossy’s knowledge of the area, history and wildlife made the trip truly memorable. Thank you, both, for the fantastic food, not something I was expecting on a camping tour. We were made to feel welcome right from the moment we were picked up in Cairns until we were safely returned 15 days later. Each day was well organised with plenty of laughs and stories along the way. Travelling to Cape York and visiting Lakefield NP was a long awaited trip with too many wonderful moments and sights to list but I am so glad to have done it with Cockatours. You made a two week camping holiday into an experience I will never forget, thanks again.

My second trip with Cockatours was their Cape York adventure (May 2024). Two years ago I did their Gulf Savannah tour. Both trips 5-star-plus! Each day was really well organised and greatly enhanced by driver-guide Rossy sharing his enthusiasm and vast knowledge of wildlife ecology, local Indigenous culture and all-things-Cape-York. I loved the diverse landscapes we travelled through and the close-to-nature experiences while walking, swimming in rivers (only the croc-free ones!) and spotlighting at night. I also loved camping each night in beautiful, often private locations in the bush, on the banks of rivers, beside the beach, and within dense rainforest. Of course it rained in the rainforest but no problem thanks to excellent camping equipment provided by Cockatours. Meals were delicious, plentiful and varied including fine vegetarian options, with everything enhanced by the good company of like-minded fellow travellers. I cannot thank Rossy and Cat enough for their combined skills, kindness and good humour throughout this trip - it was a privilege to travel with you! First review: Cockatours Gulf-Savannah trip (May 2022) was packed with wonderful experiences, stunning landscapes, wildlife and rare plants, learning about Indigenous Australian culture and the natural environment of northern Australia. I loved all the opportunities for hiking, swimming and kayaking in fabulous places. Even boat trips and scenic flights were included, truly exceptional value. Each night was down-to-earth camping under the stars, close to nature, well organised with good food and friendly companionship among like-minded travellers. Huge thanks to Rossy, Joe and Kerrie for the BEST EVER camping-exploring holiday!

I highly recommend this company and their tours. It was an extraordinary privilege to travel, camp, learn, laugh, story-tell with Rossy, Kat, and many fellow travellers on the June-July 2024 Cape York adventure. Rossy’s generous sharing of his incredible ecological and historical knowledge was sensational making this so much more than any other camping trip. He has a gift for being easy-going and fun and yet ensuring maximum safety as he adeptly led us along some challenging roads, while rewarding us many times each day with countless, beautiful experiences of some of the best nature Australia has to offer. Kat kept us magnificently fed and watered, made the few shared ‘chores’ easy, and had some great stories of her own as well as brilliant music playlists. Heartfelt thankyou to Cockatours for so many memorable moments, too many to mention, so I would urge anyone to give it a go. I loved it!

Rossy and his team are amazing. The knowledge he has about the Cape and all its creatures great and small is excellent. The meals were fantastic and his setup and friendliness for all makes for a great trip.

Our Cockatours trip to Cape York in early June 2024 was such a fantastic experience. Over 15 days, our expert leader Rossy took us to incredible places in a totally authentic style, with the benefit of having deep connections to Cape communities, and being a professional ecologist. Lots of local yarns and history we’d never have learnt about if going on our own. Campsites were often off the beaten track, food was delicious and fresh (thanks Cat), and we were always very well looked after. A challenge getting our tents up and down, with some early starts, but so worth it and great fun. A memorable experience in one of Australia’s remote areas, with some wonderful new friends.

Thanks to Rossy and Kat for a wonderfully organised and informative tour of Cape York in June 2024 and enabling me to cross another item off my bucket list. The tour lived up to everything that was stated on the Cockatours website with heaps of information and stories from Rossy, a born and bred local of the area, and exceptionally good meals by Kat. The pre-planning put into the tour before departure was evident throughout the tour. Everything went to plan and the two of them worked well together together and with the 19 of us on the tour. Rossy’s love of the Cape York Peninsula and his enthusiasm for the natural environment was evident throughout the tour. His boundless enthusiasm for the area was infectious and made for a wonderful trip with lasting memories.

We knew we wanted to visit Cape York but how to do it warranted much debate. In the end we chose Cockatours and left our van in Cairns for the 15 day trip. We are not tent campers but really loved the experience with Rossy and Kat. The energy, enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of the Far North and its history too make this a standout experience. Thanks to Rossy for unique camping spots, wildlife spotting and pumpkin scones and chilli garlic yabbies! He told us many interesting stories of history and personal experiences that were absorbing as we travelled many kms of dirt roads. Expert driving to the conditions and organisational skills of getting 19 people together to work together setting up and packing up camp made for a very smooth experience. Loved the variety of camp food and campfires that we sat around, sharing yarns. Thanks to Kat as Rossy’s very capable assistant ensuring we were always well fed on delicious food. There was also the bonus of making new friends from the tour so we would have no hesitation in highly recommending the Cape York Tour with Cockatours.

The Cape York tour was outstanding. Tour leader Rossi is a great ambassador for the region relaying to us his vast knowledge of the wild life and birds, significant locations, some secluded campsites and road conditions all enabling a safe and enlightening trip. The evening meals varied each day and chef Cat did a great job ensuring the kitchen ran efficiently. Having done similar tours, Cockatours rates on top.

Would recommend trip to Cape to everyone had a great time loved the ca.mping.

Have spent a couple of weeks recovering from my 15 day Cape York trip with Rossy from Cockatours. Whilst I am loving sleeping in my own bed and not getting up at the crack of dawn, I highly recommend a northern Australia adventure with Cockatours. This is a part of our beautiful country that deserves to be visited. I have travelled some of the outback on my own but doing the trip with Cockatours had lots of great things that I would not have experienced had I done the trip independently. Rossy is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate and he was able to share places, yarns and experiences that I would never have had if I had been travelling on my own. As an ecologist his knowledge of the animals and birds (especially the reptiles …the man is clearly in love with snakes!!!!!) is amazing and he is so willing to share. But it was his detailed knowledge of the history of the area that continually surprised me. The food was great (thank you Kat) and plentiful. The truck was very comfortable and handled the corrugations better than a car/Ute would have. This type of travelling is challenging and you need to be prepared to put up tents, have the occasional cold shower and help with the chores in general….but all these things help you to bond with trip mates and also add to the experience of this amazing part of Australia…..waking with the birds and having the sounds and smells of the Aussie bush!!!! Way better than a hotel room!! I always felt safe with Rossy’s driving and his knowledge of things like snakes and crocs. So,if you have ever had a yearning to see this part of Australia in an authentic way, with a guide who is knowledgeable and very clearly cares about this part of the world, then do yourself a favour and book a trip with Cockatours!!!!