Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS INCLUDED
All camping equipment including tents, pillowed air mattresses, sleeping bags and sheet liners (if you do not wish to bring your own), National Park and Camping Fees are included as well as most main meals as indicated in the brochure (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Any costs incurred before departure. Meals, unless specifically mentioned on day to day itinerary, any personal items such as drinks, newspapers, telephone, laundry, souvenirs, personal and holiday insurance.

WHAT TO BRING
Baggage space is limited. A soft sided sausage style bag measuring approximately 600mm x 500mm x 300mm (24" x 20" x 12") with a maximum weight of about 10 kgs (17lbs) per person which is usually stowed on the roof rack. A small, soft airline type piece of cabin baggage is also recommended. Excess luggage may be stored at your hotel or secured at our depot. We suggest 4 to 5 changes of older, casual clothing including shirts, shorts, swimmers, towel, old joggers, jeans, jacket or tracksuit for cooler evenings, hat, torch, sunglasses, bug repellent, sunscreen and toiletries. Remember your camera, all necessary film and spare batteries. Although our air mattresses have an inbuilt pillow, we suggest a small soft cushion for extra comfort in the vehicle and at night. To preserve the environment, please bring bio-degradable soap for use in shower blocks, however, the use of soaps or solvents of any kind in waterways is strictly prohibited.

SMOKING
As per government regulations, smoking is not permitted in vehicles. Ample stops provide time for "smoking breaks" and a receptle is supplied for butts.

UNUSED TOUR SECTORS
If a passenger fails to join a tour/safari or joins in after departure, or leaves if prior to completion, absolutely no refunds can be made.

INSURANCE
It is strongly recommended that travel insurance be acquired a time of booking. Insurance should cover loss of costs through cancellation, loss of personal belongings, baggage, money and medical expenses. Most claims arise from personal or close family illness before holiday departure resulting in cancellation fees.

DRINKS
Billy Tea Safaris normally runs an honesty tin for drinks ( beer, wine and soft drink ) abd surplus donations go to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.The Government has imposed very strict alcohol regulations throughout Cape York Peninsula and our company has a permit to carry certain quantities of alcohol and complies with all regulations and laws. Please contact our office for further, more recent information  

CASH ON HAND
We suggest approx. 300.00  per person . Credit cards are accepted in most places throughout the peninsula. Optional excursions and approximate prices are as follows.:-

Thursday Island Return Transfers                    88.00
Thursday Island Coach Tour                            28.00
Thursday and Horn Islands        Tour             200.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Full Day Cape York Fishing                        550.00 charter basis - 4Persons when available
Half Day  Weipa Fishing                              110.00charter basic per person when available 

Weipa Mine and Lifestyle Tour                           25.00

Cooktown Museum                                            10.00
Please note all the above excursions, although recommended, are optional as we do not believe in regimenting passengers into tours which may not appeal to all. We thoroughly endorse the utilization of Peddells Ferry Services as our preferred carrier to Thursday Island.

ANSWERS TO OTHER FREQUENT QUESTIONS

Participation

All  tours are conducted on partial participation basis, it  generates friendship and conversation. Assistance  with vegetable  peeling, firewood collection and filling water buckets is greatly appreciated. Passengers asist with washing and wiping and erect their own tents after a demostration, those less agile wioll be given assistance.

Cooking.

The Tour leader does all operations around the campfire during cooking times and we ask passengers keep well away from that working area for reasons of safety. Accidents can and have happened

Numbers.

The maximum number of passengers in one group is normally 14 to 20 however, at absolute peak times, that number may increase to 26. We operate 6, 7, 13 and 14 seat 4WD vehicles.

Toilets and showers.

Toilets are either flushing or National Park composting type, showers are a vailable most nights and if not, a long soaking soap free swim in a shallow, safe stream is available.

Weather.

Our tourswoperate during the 'dry' season. Occasionally we strike some wet weather and generally, a light spray jacket is sufficient which may also be used as a sweater on rare, cooler evenings.

Aeroplanes

We endeavour to use medium sized aeroplanes with a capacity of around 20 passengers for our fly and drive tours. During peak season when services are in demand, we occasionally use smaller aircraft carrying 8 or less passengers.

Vehicle Seating.

Vehicle seats are individual, padded bucket seats with lap and sash seat belts, Vehicle suspensions are modified to ride as comfortably as possible but the roads to Cape York can be extremely corrugated and rough in places.

Bedding.

Feel free to bring your own sleeping bag but we will happily supply a freshly laundered sleeping bag and sheet liner at no charge if requested. We also supply air mattresses witnh an inbuilt air pillow which we contend are more comfortable than foam, furthermore, in the event of the unforseen, air beds dry quickly, conversely, foam acts as a sponge taking days to dry. A low stretcher is available for a one off cost of fifty dollars

Distances.

Our tours are designed to show the very best of Cape York Peninsula without driving too many kilometres each day. During the normal course of the day we stop for morning tea and lunch. We also stop at places of interest, towns, communities and any notable flora or fauna features. We aim to reach camp by mid-afternoon.

Guides.

Our guides are chosen for their ability to relish their occupation. They have a good sense of humour, are competent drivers and have extraordinary culinary skills. We employ both men and women. Our staff is renowned throughout the peninsula as the only operators who have people constantly happy and in our industry, a contented clienti s a satisfied one. We carry travellers..... not tourists!! * As per government regulations, smoking is not permitted in vehicles. Ample stops provide time for "smoking breaks" en route.

Meals.

Our Guides/Chefs work extremely hard to provide passengers with excellent, wholesome meals. Cooking is done over a campfire. Breakfast consists of a choice of at least 3 cereals, toast and spreads, occasionally a fully cooked breakfast is made. Lunch has a variety of cold meats and an abundant selection of salad vegetables. With more time available in the evenings, our staff can concentrate on their culinary talents and present a complete 3 course meal. We begin with nibbles and 'happy hour', main course could be a grill, roast, casserole or a combination such as Coq au Vin. An appropriate selection of vegetables is generally served with the main course followed by a tasty desert.

Special Diets.

We do not provide special meals for passengers choosing what we consider to be fad, trendy or fashionable diets. The meals we provide are wholesome and nourishing, appropriate to the lifestyle and availability of provisions from the remote areas we travel. Furthermore, we regard such demands as an imposition on our staff and these demains generally lead to disharmony within the tour. If however, a passenger is on a medically prescribed diet, we will do our absolute utmost to cater suitable meals for that person. Before booking the tour, it is emphatically suggested that you contact our office to discuss such diets and to assess suitability.

Electrical.

Telephones, cameras and other electrical devises can be charged in the vehicle with a suitable 12 volt cigarette lighter adapter plug. Mains power is available in Cooktown, Musgrave, Coen, Weipa, Bramwell and Cape York (Loyality Beach) and sometimes at our overnight camp sites when the Eco-approved generator is running for a couple of hours.

Telephones

Digital mobile telephones only operate in Cookown. CDMA telephones work in Cooktown, Laura, Coen, Weipa, Loyality Beach and Thursday Island.

Levies

Billy Tea Bush Safaris reserve the right to levy a fuel surcharge should the economic circumstances deem appropriate. We would be very reluctant to impose such a charge and would only do so under dire circumstances