The road ends at a long sandy beach just a few kilometres from Australia's northernmost point, looking out over Torres Strait. “Pop!” the champagne opens as we celebrate reaching Cape York.
Our camp site is at Seisia, just south of Cape York, near a white sandy beach that looks inviting. Thoughts of a swim are forgotten as we pass a memorial - to someone who hadn't heeded the crocodile warning signs.
At dusk the sun drops as a bright red orb into a grey blanket on the horizon. All around us the bird life continues, doves dust-bathe on the ground, pelicans drift near the wharf, and the usual noisy parrots squawk above us, as they race through the gum trees.
Somewhere across the expanse of water is New Guinea and the islands of Torres Strait, but this was as far as we are going. We opt for the quick way back to Cairns via a one-hour flight from Bamaga above the red dust, corrugations and smoke of one of the most interesting, yet largely unknown parts of Australia.
