With the growing focus on adventure tourism in the area, we're set to become a Mecca for thousands of trekkers after the announcement of a huge network of walking tracks winding their way through the Daintree to the tip of Cape York.

Premier Anna Bligh said construction of the 'Dreaming Track' is due to commence as early as next year once talks with traditional owners have been completed.

“This dreaming track concept originated from Balkanu and Traditional Owners of eastern Cape York Peninsula, and this year we’ve been in lengthy discussions with people on the ground to progress the project,” Ms Bligh said.

Feasibility studies have shown the potential for economic development in the far north, with the track being compared to the world's best walks including the Kokoda Trail in PNG and Milford Sound in New Zealand.

“During the past 12 months, we’ve undertaken significant work to assess the technical feasibility of the Dreaming Track concept, including legislative and statutory approvals, economic and infrastructure design and mapping of regional environmental values," Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said.

“In addition, significant resources and efforts have gone towards working with Traditional Owners across this vast stretch of land, and talks have now been held with fifteen major Indigenous landholding groups representing hundreds of Traditional Owners, all of whom have been supportive of this project and the opportunities it will provide in the Cape.” 

Initial locations will centre around the Daintree, Cooktown, Laura, Lakefield, Coen, Lockhart, Heathlands, and Bamaga, and will consist of over 2,000 of walking tracks. 

Hikers will experience an array of landscapes depending on the duration of their trip, with rainforests in coastal lowlands and isolated mountain ranges being covered, along with wetlands, rugged coastline, wide savanna grasslands, scrubs and woodlands.

Member for Cook Jason O’Brien said the project will create a number of opportunities for economic, environmental, and social improvement.

“This is an untapped market for walking enthusiasts, cultural heritage buffs and lovers of the great outdoors and has the potential to boost local communities economically, while respecting their cultural and environmental values.

“To ensure this project creates real long-term tourism opportunities, we’re looking at developing walking tracks designed to build on iconic destinations, established travel markets and existing recreational opportunities.

“And we want to ensure that the people, communities and industries of Cape York have their say on how they want to see this vision develop into reality.”