Private Tours

After waiting AGES (over two years in layman's terms) for Australian Travel to open up after Covid, I was so excited to finally go on my bucket list trip through Cape York to Pajinka, the tipity top of Australia, and so happy I went with Cockatours. What a trip. Rossy took us to out of the way places only a local bloke would know, and gave us experiences only a true local would have access to. The Welcome to Country was so incredibly special. And the places he took us in the amazing Zeus! The rivers, waterfalls, lookouts, Indigenous Rock Art, oh and the campgrounds, the tracks and trails. This guy is an enigma. Having lived and worked on the Cape for most of his life, he shared his knowledge of its ecology, it's incredible history (that you won't find in many books), and the many, many stories intertwined throughout the trip. Stories of Jackie Jackie and the early explorers, the turtles, Operation Blowdown, growing up in . We ate delicious meals every day courtesy of the gorgeous Sonya - a french chef (!), and there was always plenty to eat. I think we are sworn to secrecy with some of the recipes, but I can be bought, hahahahah! A favorite was "Dinner in The Dirt" on Nifold Plains. I got way more than I ever thought possible out of a 4wd bus tour to Cape York. And it's all thanks to the incredible amount of planning and thought behind the scenes, and the care that only comes from an owner operator. This becomes obvious once you experience a trip like this. Would I do another trip with Cockatours. You bloody betcha!!

The Gulf Savannah tour with Cockatours was truly an amazing adventure. The itinerary was well-paced and diverse; we saw so many beautiful places and had the best experiences. There were so, so many highlights. I loved the magical sunset dinner cruise, lots of swimming opportunities, aboriginal cultural experiences, air boating, kayaking through gorges, ancient rock art sites, plus an exciting day at Matt Wright’s Safari Camp, just to name a few. It’s a perfect mix of cultural and active inclusions. The large 4WD truck was comfortable and well-equipped, easily covering this vast and rugged wilderness. I found the tents were easy to manage and the bedding was comfortable. The group was small; we had lots of laughs and friendships, and everyone pitches in to help with the chores. The meals are varied, healthy and delicious. The only downside, you will put on weight! Rossy, our guide, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Through him, we gained an insight of the geology, flora, incredible wildlife and fascinating termite mounds unique to this part of Australia. It was great value, would highly recommend and I can’t wait to do another tour with Cockatours!

Whilst my husband Frederick has posted a detailed review about our amazing experiences with Rossy and Cockatours, I would like to add my appreciation as well. Being vegetarian and gluten free would have been a challenge for anyone, particularly in remote Cape York, but Rossy and his lovely Chef Sonia were up for the challenge and looked after our dietary needs like no one on any tour anywhere has done in the past! We had the most delicious meals and variety beyond what we would have reasonably expected. We were very grateful for their efforts given the challenges of getting supplies in remote places. Once when they couldn’t get us gluten free bread or wraps they were apologetic and baked gluten free banana bread specially for the two of us! They even got us gluten free slices when a birthday was celebrated on tour so we were not left out. The food cooked daily and all the snacks were always plentiful as Rossy’s motto is to make sure no one lost weight on the tour! Loved the campfires each night (with the main meal often cooked on the fire) chats, sing a longs, lots of laughter and enlightening stories. Having been on the road for over two years in a Camper it was a lovely break from driving, cooking and planning allowing us to relax totally and enjoy being spoilt! These guys spare no efforts to make sure everyone is happy on tour. Also appreciate the fact that Rossy did not increase the cost of the tour even though prices had skyrocketed since our booking 9 months prior to the tour. Even more astounding was to find out that he has now retained the same cost for next year’s tours which is truly unbelievable and a fantastic bargain for anyone contemplating going to Cape York next winter. These tours sell out early so be quick as there were only 2 spots left when we checked 9 months before! Thank you Rossy and Sonia for one of the most memorable tours we’ve ever done. Love you guys.

I have been on both the darwin to Cairns and the Cairns to the Cape your trip in the last two years. I have to say both trips were bloody brilliant. The organisation of the tour was impeccable and kindly thoughtout to cater for all. Rossy knowledge on the nature, environment and culture was really second to none. The food was abundant and exceptional! The way they prepare delicious dishes in camp by the fire is absolutely amazing. You will be bugging them for the recipes - I did. Lastly but not leastly the people you meet on a small tour like this are second to none. Do yourself a favour and book now.

Delivered what was promised. A great opportunity to see parts of Australia inaccessible to most of us. I had a lot of fun, great people to travel with, tasty food and lots of local knowledge shared. Don’t drive yourself- do it In style with HERC and the boys. Thanks Joe and Kody for a great experience.

Having chosen cape York as the ultimate destination for our 2022 holiday, I set about the obligatory research. Coming across Cockatours and reading that its owner Rossy grew up and lived in and around the Cape, working on ecological projects, developing contacts and so much knowledge of the region, it soon became a no brainer that this was the company to guide us through and educate us about this amazing region. Whilst initially a little disappointed that Rossy himself would not be our guide, those thoughts were quickly dismissed when we met our amazing driver and guide Joe and equally amazing chef Cody. These two lovely young men share Rossy's passion for sharing their knowledge of this amazing part of our country with their guests and making the journey fun and rewarding every day - and night. Joe's skill in maneuvering the mighty Herk Mann truck along many km's of corrugations, through multiple river crossings and into tight parking spots was amazing. His frequent daily commentary filled us with historical information and an in-depth knowledge of the local fauna and flora - usually accompanied by their scientific name, which left me, an ex-Science teacher, in awe. With Cody's planning and guidance and the help of those guests on the daily kitchen roster, every day was topped off with meals that were varied and always delicious. What's better than having dinner on the beach at sunset at the tip of Australia!! We are so glad we left our caravan in Cairns and took this tour. The sites you see, the information you gain, you would never achieve by doing the trip yourself - not to mention potential damage to your van and/or vehicle. If you are considering visiting Cape York - just do it!! - and do it with Rossy and the crew of Cockatours - you will never regret, it!!

A massive THANK YOU, Cockatours!! Another bucket list item ticked off, thanks to Rossy and his amazing team, Jo and Kody. The passion this company has, for all things Australian, is truly admirable. Loved every minute of our incredible ‘Trip to the Tip’, and so grateful for the opportunity to experience Cape York!

The only way to experience Australia's final frontier Cape York is with Cockatours camping safari. Rossi took us to places we would never have known about or had the resources to get to safely. Every Australian needs to do this tour for its tremendous educational, environmental, historical and patriotic journey of adventure!

After researching several tours to Cape York, Cockatours stood out as a bit different because of their environmental aspect. This tour delivered exactly what they promised on their website and loads more. Unbelievable value!!! Our tour guide and cook (Jo and Kody) created a relaxed and enjoyable experience. I loved the spontaneity of the tour, stopping whenever there was something of interest, maybe an odd snake or two on the road! The tour never seemed rushed and plenty of “off the bus” stops. Many tours offer the same highlights but Cockatoos made it a unique experience with personal knowledge of this beautiful part of Australia. I would definitely travel again with this company. Thank you Jo, Kody and Rossy for creating a very special memory.

Recently back from the 15-day Cape York 4x4 which was fantastic. Our driver/leader, Joe, was a real gem – if not one of the best (and we’ve had some excellent leaders on many trips with many tour companies over the years). He is a walking encyclopedia on all things flora & fauna, environment, locations, history, culture of FNQ, etc, and he was effortlessly able to impart his knowledge (to ANY question) in an engrossing and entertaining manner – never making us feel we’re being lectured to. And very importantly, he related to us ‘oldies’ (active 50s-70s) in a respectful and jovial manner. Ever helpful and obliging. This goes also with Kody, our gourmet chef. The 19-seater truck was comfortable and able to cope with the dust and corrugations of the North - and the odd & exciting river crossings! Of course the scenery was magnificent and because we were self-sufficient we were able to occasionally free-camp along riverbeds (ever mindful of the crocs!).Tents were easy to erect and take down, mattresses and bed linen were of a good quality. This is a fairly rugged trip, but with that comes so many fantastic sights and adventures, and a great comeraderie between passengers, especially when sitting around a camp fire each night. Well recommended for active seniors!