THE first leg of a 1000km tourist track that will ultimately snake from the Daintree River to the tip of Cape York has been unveiled this morning.

After five years of meticulous planning and consultation with traditional owners, the first leg of the Dreaming Track, located on the north shore of Cooktown, will be officially unveiled by Federal MP Warren Entsch on behalf of the Federal Government.

Branded the “Gamaay Track” after the area’s traditional owners, the track is a 20km, Class 5 walking track beginning just north of the Endeavour River and ending at Nob Point.

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The long-term goal is for the Dreaming Track to run to the tip of the Cape, enabling traditional owners to offer a diverse range of tourism products and services along the way.

Gerhardt Pearson, chief executive of Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation which designed and has overseen the project, described today’s opening as a landmark day for indigenous entrepreneurship on the Cape.

“This tourism venture can help transform the social and economic lives of traditional owners from here to the top of the Cape,” he said.

media_camera MAKING TRACKS: The Dreaming Track near Daintree will be open for tourists in early 2015.

media_camera STUNNING: Gamaay workers looking towards Indian Head on the Dreaming Track.

“The track’s construction and its spin-off enterprises will be indigenous-owned, delivered by traditional owners, and will be marketed internationally and nationally as an iconic, authentic Cape York experience.”

Early ideas being explored include guided tours, chaperoned horse riding outings, boat and taxi businesses, and visitor lodges.

‘Hike it, bike it, ride it, drive it!’ is the track’s mantra which will be open to visitors from early next year.

Erica and Bradley Deeral have been credited with sourcing workers, managing the budget, and with a core group of family, carved out 22km of track.

The federal and state governments have financially supported the project.

A state Community Workforce Development grant enabled members of the Gamaay clan to undertake a Certificate III in Rural Operations, giving them skills in track construction and tourism services.