Day 1 Arrive Cairns

After transferring from Cairns Airport, settle into your accommodation. The 4 star hotel is in the heart of the city, only a block from the ocean, and is surrounded by lush foliage and swaying palms.

Gather in the afternoon for a welcome orientation over drinks and tapas.

Board a sunset boat cruise on the Trinity Inlet – a perfect introduction to Cairns and its harbour.

Enjoy an elegant meal at a Cairns restaurant in the heart of the city, where you have the opportunity to sample classic Australia cuisine.

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Day 2 Cairns to Port Douglas to Cairns

Considered one of the most scenic drives in Australia, the Captain Cook Highway winds north from Cairns and treats you to views of golden beaches and translucent sea.

Meet your Aboriginal guide for a hike to the rainforest through the eyes of the indigenous Kuku Yalanji. Learn about the Dreamtime and native plants. Listen for the call of the wild cockatoo or the laughing kookaburra.

Visit a refuge for Australian animals such as the endangered cassowary, crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas and countless exotic birds.

Have the opportunity to interact with the animals up close, whether its holding a python, feeding a lorikeet or meeting a kangaroo. Enjoy a stroll and a seaside dinner in the charming town of Port Douglas.

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Day 3 Cairns to Malanda

A ranger takes you on a boat ride where you will have the chance to see sea eagles, black swans, magpie geese, cranes, whistling ducks, pelicans, pink-eared ducks and even Australias only stork, the jabiru.

The surrounding tropical savannah woodlands boast eastern grey kangaroos, agile and whiptail wallabies, wallaroos, possums and gliders. Learn how staff rescue native wildlife and facilitate their release.Visit Granite Gorge, where a boulder-filled canyon gives limitless opportunities to explore. Stop for dinner at a Swiss restaurant, a local favourite and home to a yodelling accordion player.

At sunset, look for the elusive platypus at their preferred swimming hole.

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Day 4 Malanda to Mission Beach

Rise early for an optional balloon flight over the Cairns Highlands, affording you a magnificent view of the rising sun. Alternatively, visit a massive curtain fig tree and one of the areas ancient crater lakes, tucked away in a national park.

Crossing over the Dividing Range, enter the outback where you are a welcome guest at a traditional cattle station and homestead. Enjoy a traditional Aussie BBQ and take a walk back in time to the age of the early pioneers.

Explore the Waterfalls Circuit, a series of three grand waterfalls under which you can swim or view from above. Learn about Australias unique rainforest species, including the bright blue Ulysses butterfly, the giant tree frog and the musky rat kangaroo.

Your home tonight is at Mission Beach, host of at least 33 species of rare and threatened plants, including endangered ferns, orchids and flowering plants. B L D
Day 5 Mission Beach to Cairns

Wooroonooran National Park boasts Queenslands highest mountain, Bartle Frere, from which pour countless cascades. Josephine Falls is perhaps the most picturesque.

You will arrive at the base of the falls by way of a short guided hike through the jungle. Glide down an exhilarating natural water slide that ends in a perfect, clear swimming hole.

Hike at the enchanting Babinda Boulders, where mysterious giant boulders stand in a swirling river. Learn about the spiritual significance of this mysterious place and why it has given rise to Aboriginal legends.

Back in Cairns, the waterfront is atmospheric at twilight, and you can enjoy a free evening to explore the Esplanade. After, learn about the awe inspiring Great Barrier Reef with a dynamic presentation.

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Day 6 Cairns to Great Barrier Reef

Set sail for the Great Barrier Reef on a 65 foot yacht with a crew dedicated solely to your small group. Enjoy intimacy, flexibility and personal service not available on larger boats.

Take the time to trim the sails, learn to jibe, and steer the vessel, or simply soak up the sun on the deck. Snorkellers will delight in viewing the incredible array of life and colours that exist just below the surface.

Snorkellers can also take the opportunity to try an introductory scuba dive. Scuba divers can log up to five dives in the two days, including a phenomenal night dive on the reef.

In the evening, the crew offers up a hearty meal, good conversation and perhaps a round of karaoke. Have the option to sleep on the deck under the stars.

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Day 7 Great Barrier Reef to Cairns

Spend another day exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. A roving marine park permit allows the flexibility to choose different sites at which to snorkel or dive.

Have the chance to see thousands of shades of hard and soft corals, angelfish and Nemos in anemones, elusive white-tipped reef sharks and giant turtles. Learn about the ecology and conservation of the reef.

On the sail back to civilization, look out for dolphins swimming and playing alongside the boat, while in the winter season both humpback and minke whales may make an appearance.

Return to Cairns for a celebratory dinner and a recounting of your groups adventures over the past week.

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Day 8 Depart Cairns

After breakfast, depart for your journey home or enjoy a few optional activities such as the Kuranda Skyrail, a sunrise balloon flight or a scenic helicopter tour.

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