Looking for an adventure? You'll find it exploring one of Australia's last great frontiers, the Cape York Peninsula.

The Cape York Peninsula, on the northernmost tip of Australia, is a rugged wilderness area that is largely untouched. Papua New Guinea is only 150km away, and the eastern side of the Cape is fringed by the Great Barrier Reef.

You can explore this region in a number of ways, including cruising along the Torres Strait, but you'll see more of this amazing region by 4WD. While some people choose to self-4WD to the Cape, a good option is joining a 4WD tour because it's a tough drive to 'the Tip' that cuts across tracks made by builders of the overland telegraph line in the 1880s, and the journey includes a number of river crossings. The area is only accessible to 4WD vehicles during the dry months of April to December.

Without the driving to worry about, you can concentrate on the changing landscapes - from flowing river systems and spectacular waterfalls to sacred Aboriginal sites and dry terrain, from national parks to swampy mangroves. You'll see plenty of wildlife here too, including dugongs, kangaroos and abundant birdlife.

A typical 4WD tour could take you from Cairns to the Tip and back, covering a distance of some 2,440 kilometres in ten days. If you're looking for a smooth ride, you won't find it here, as the potholes and corrugations of the dirt roads, together with the odd hair-raising river crossing, ensure a thrilling ride.

Experiencing the rich history of Australia's indigenous population is one of the highlights of the trip. Most tours stop at Split Road outside Laura, in the region known as Quintan country. This area is renowned for its ancient Aboriginal rock art, and there are hundreds of painted rock shelters throughout the district, which covers an area of around 600 square kilometres. You'll see thousands of years of Aboriginal culture, dating back at least 27,000 years, recorded in ochre and clay. It's a region of striking landscapes with rugged views of weathered and eroded rock, sandstone escarpments and river valleys.

As you make your way north, you'll meet an interesting cast of characters, in the roadhouses and the stops along the way - Cooktown, Coen, Weipa, Bamaga, Somerset. People are drawn to experience this part of Australia for many reasons: extreme temperatures, isolation, relentlessly changing landscapes. And you'll see history reflected in these towns - European settlement, the gold rush and the back-breaking work of building the telegraph tracks in such unforgiving country.

And don't forget the national parks. Lakefield National Park has a surprising range of birdlife, huge termite mounds, and varied terrain of forest, grassy plains and swamps.

When you make it to the top end of Cape York, you might think you've finished the adventure, but it's a bit further to the northernmost point of Australia - Thursday Island, and well worth the extra trip. Regular ferries run from Seisia on the mainland to the island, a distance of about 35km. The boat trip makes a refreshing change after days of 4WD travel - keep an eye out for turtles, dolphins and jumping mackerel as you sail past the surrounding islands.

On Thursday Island you'll gain a fascinating insight into the history and culture of the Torres Strait Islanders. The Gab Titui Cultural Centre is a good place to start, with its artefacts gallery, displays and a workshop for local artists.

You can also spend time cruising around the islands, browsing in the shops, or learning about pearling, one of the area's prime industries - you'll find displays from the pearling era in the Torres Strait Historical Museum. You can also just wander around and enjoy the relaxed, multi-cultural feel of the island.

The trip from Cairns to Cape York is as much about the journey as it is the destination. With so many contrasting impressions along the way, you'll be glad you rose to the challenge of exploring one of Australia's last and most memorable frontiers.

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• Nearest City:Adelaide
• Distance to Adelaide:83kms
• Nearest Airport:Adelaide
• Distance to Adelaide Airport:83km

Local Attractions in the Area

• Coorong Adventure Cruise by Spirit Australia Cruises
• Steam Train, Peninsula Coastline
• Adelaide Region Parks
• Currency Creek Wine
• The Marina Hindmarsh Island,

Helpful Links for the Area

• SA Tourism: Goolwa
• Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism
• SA National Parks
• Alexandrina Council

Seasonal Events

• Milang to Goolwa Freshwater Classic(yacht race)
• Goolwa Alive!: October
• Goolwa Air Spectacular: February 2007
• Wooden Boat and Music Festival: March 2007
• Fleurieu Peninsula Calendar of Events