Pajinka (Tip of Australia)

Pajinka, commonly known as the Tip of Australia, is the northernmost point of the Australian mainland located near Somerset in the Northern Peninsula Area of Cape York, Queensland. Marked by a well-known signpost, it overlooks the Torres Strait and nearby islands. The site lies within traditional lands of the Gudang people and is accessed via a walking track through coastal scrub. It is a symbolic and geographic landmark representing the continental extremity of Australia.

Visitors can expect a short walking track from a bush car park through coastal scrub and woodland to a signpost marking the northernmost point of mainland Australia. The site offers open views across the Torres Strait to nearby islands including York Island. There are no buildings or shops at the point itself, only the marker sign, natural coastline, rocky foreshore and interpretive signage. The experience is primarily sightseeing, photography and a short walk in a remote natural setting.

Pajinka is the traditional name for the northern tip area. The nearby settlement of Somerset was established in 1864 as a government outpost and port at the tip of Cape York. The area has long been used as a navigational reference for Torres Strait. The signpost marking the Tip has become a contemporary landmark symbolizing the continental extremity.

The area is part of the traditional lands of the Gudang and Atambaya peoples of the Northern Peninsula Area. Pajinka holds cultural significance for Traditional Owners and is interpreted for visitors through signage acknowledging Indigenous connection to Country. Visitors are asked to respect the cultural values of the place.