Cockatours

19/04/2026

The Burketown Bore under the Milky Way. This colourful bore out at Burketown pours out 707,000L of 68 degrees celsius water a day. It was drilled in 1897 to 723m and was used as public baths in the 1940s-60s. In 1959 CSIRO tested the water and deemed it was unsuitable for drinking, domestic animals or irrigation, due to 598g/mL of salts.

Over the years the minerals have created a mound around the bore. It now trickles over the landscape and wildlife come in to feed around the bore.

02/04/2026

This is what you call 'front seat, sunset stoke'! These two were great to have on board, always curious, happy and optimistic, especially during a sunset cruise on Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) in Kakadu NP. Even though guests always know this is on the itinerary, what they see during this tour always seems to surprise them. A testament to the guides and crew at Cooinda Lodge.

20/03/2026

For those that are familiar with the new Archer River Bridge...this is why it was built. The water is currently 12m over the old causeway. The Coen Bridge is currently under as well. And wait til you see the Wenlock River at Moreton Telegraph Stn. I've included an old photo of us at the end of a dry season there (years before the resident croc moved in).

Not much word from Coen yet, but sounds like people might be moving around. Fingers crossed all is well up there. Cyclone Narelle was downgraded to Cat 4 before it crossed the coast. The mountain ranges may have protected Coen a little bit as well hopefully, but they may have taken the brunt of it. This could be devastating for wildlife up there, including a northern population of the Southern Cassowary.

19/03/2026

Our thoughts go out to Coen and other Cape York communities over the next couple of days. Hopefully the rest of us can come together to help in whatever way we can, once the cyclone has passed.

I was lucky enough to live in Coen for a few years. I arrived an outsider but soon made friends. Friends became more like family over the years, and I was welcomed into the community by the most incredible people. 13 years later and we still visit Coen on our tours and our guests get an insight into a remarkable culture, something that is easily missed back home.

One of the local organisations, Kalan Enterprises, has the motto "Healthy People, Healthy Country, Healthy Culture", a common sentiment in the Cape. Send your wishes their way folks and hopefully the community will pull through strong and the motto upheld.

19/03/2026

With increasing numbers of lithium-ion batteries in our lives, CSIRO provide some great tips on keeping you and your home safe.

Australia's CSIRO lead incredible research and are responsible for some amazing accomplishments - worth looking into! I've worked alongside CSIRO on ecology projects and their staff are passionate and highly knowledgeable. Signing up for their newsletter digests is a great way to hear about current research and wins in the field!

A CSIRO expert shares practical tips for reducing the risk of lithium-ion battery fires as these batteries become increasingly common in everyday personal devices and home energy systems.

11/03/2026

Enhance...
This majestic, male black-necked stork was just cooling his toes off in Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water), amongst a cacophany of whistling ducks.

10/03/2026

Want a job where you can travel, explore our incredible back yard AND get paid?! Do you want to experience and learn about the bush and Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture? Would you like a job where in 6 months you will grow more (personally & professionally) than you can ever imagine?! Or do you know someone that might - share this or tag them!

Applications are now open for our 2026 tour season (May-October)!

Cockatours are looking for one adventurous GUIDE + one adventurous CHEF or COOK for the 2026 season. We run 15 & 17 day camping tours to remote outback Australia in our two 4WD tour trucks. Our main tours are to Cape York and Northern Territory/Gulf Savannah (Cairns-Darwin).

2026 is a Cape York only year, 2027 will be both Cape York and Gulf Savannah. To be a Gulf Savannah guide, you will need to have done one year of Cape York tours first. Employment in 2026 is for 7 Cape York tours between May-October (see tour calendar here on our website at Tours > Calendar). Our staff are taken care of, paid well and offered bonuses if they complete a second season with us.

Our tours offer a relaxed way of seeing these regions for our clients aged 40-80. Tours are run by a driver/guide and an assistant/chef. Team work, communication and cooperation are essential. We have a great reputation and we pride ourselves on taking care of our clients and staff. Training will be provided on the job.

These roles are highly rewarding, visit amazing places, pay well and have employee benefits based on time employed. Some days can be challenging, but most are exciting, interesting and incredibly enjoyable! You get to see the country & meet amazing people!

Our Cape York tour includes:
- Pajinka (Tip of Australia) - walk to tip + scenic heli flight!
- Split Rock Art Site
- A very real, authentic Welcome to Country
- Thursday Island Tour
- Weipa Croc & Bird boat tour
- Cooktown
- The breathtaking Fruit Bat Falls
- Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) NP or Rinyirru (Lakefield) NP Wildlife day
- Cape Tribulation & Daintree
- 2 water cruises

New staff get the option to go on each outsourced tour at least once (when seats are available). Tours are extensively researched and we have built great relationships across all regions. The tour truck is a comfortable, new, 2024 purpose-built tour truck.

Please DON'T send applications by social media and please don’t phone us about the role! Applications via social media will not be considered.

The timeline for job applicants in 2026 is:
Applications due: 31st March, 2026
Shortlist announced: 3rd April, 2026
Interviews: 6-10 April, 2026
Induction & work start: 5th May, 2026

See more about the job & apply here: https://cockatours.com/jobs/

05/03/2026

Hi everyone. It's a sad day today for one of our close colleagues and someone we go on tour with occasionally. Due to the incredible rate at which the Daintree River rose last night, David from Solar Whisper deemed it too risky to get his boat out of the water. He added more ropes to it on the pontoon, but the entire pontoon broke away, with 2 other boats on it.
Unfortunately, David's is fibreglass and got crunched and has now been found upside down this morning. As a fellow tour operator, our hearts go out to him, his family and his team. This would be a devastating loss for him. If you have something spare to give to help David get back on his feet when the time comes, please use the link below to give. Even a couple bucks would show that the Solar Whisper family are in your thoughts.

Community, we need your help...

Last night, our good friend David White, who is our region's biggest ambassador for crocodiles, with his tour business Solar Whisper Daintree River Crocodile & Wildlife Cruises lost his boat in this low pressure system currently affecting Far North Queensland.

Please donate and share this fundraiser we have put together to help David and his very passionate team to get back on their feet.

David is one of the biggest educators and ambassadors for crocodile conservation that we know. Operating almost 365 days of the year, this tourism operation is one we need to keep afloat in our region.

Thank you for your support.

LINK HERE:

https://gofund.me/7600ff71e

05/03/2026

Here's a tricky one for ya...can you identify the island from this magical Cape York moment?

04/03/2026

Just a wee bit keen to get back here in May! Hopefully only one more cyclone between us and the dry season now! 😅