Set off with anticipation to discover the tropical north! Arriving into Townsville Airport we meet our coach captain and head to our hotel where we settle in. Re-joining together again for dinner, we get to know our fellow travellers better.  

1 night | The Ville Resort Casino  07 4722 2333
Dinner at Hotel

Our morning’s drive takes in spectacular coastal scenery as we embrace Far North Queensland. Visiting magical Paronella Park, we see where history and romance seamlessly fuse together.  After lunch, you’ll be immediately struck by the immense beauty of the Park, exploring the enchanting grounds through a series of winding paths that snake through the forest and Castle ruins. Then at the Australian Sugar Heritage Centre we learn of the people who made the industry and uncover the rich folklore associated with one of Australia’s Great rural industries. Continuing on our way, we stop to admire the scenic cascading waters of Josephine Falls before our final leg to Cairns. 

3 nights | Pullman Cairns International  07 4031 1300
Breakfast & Dinner at Hotel | Lunch at Paronella Park

Embark on a breathtaking experience with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Gain a truly unique perspective while gliding metres above the pristine jungle canopy and the secrets of the world’s oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest. Perched above Cairns, we find the mountain village of Kuranda to explore. Engage with local artists, indulge in wonderful food or browse the many boutiques that cater to all. Meeting up again we then board the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway. Track through picturesque valleys and century old tunnels of the magnificent Barron Falls National Park before returning to our hotel to relax. Returning to our hotel we then have time to re-fresh before our special evening aboard a Sunset Cruise. With your glass charged, stroll the deck and admire the view as the sky transforms from blue to orange and finally silky back filled with twinkling stars. The water is calm, the weather mild and the night is yours to enjoy with entertainment and a delicious buffet dinner featuring some of the region’s best produce.

Breakfast & Dinner at Hotel | lunch not included

The Atherton Tableland is rather a unique place in Australia; with its tropical location accompanied by pleasant climate. Today you’ll discover what these rich lands hold. At Jaques Coffee take a journey through the process of creating a fine brew with a presentation and self-guided tour. Enjoy a lovely morning tea with a plantation cuppa and the opportunity to sample the Jaques speciality “Jaques Coffee Liqueur”. After immersing ourselves in this popular bean we head across the range to witness the breathtaking Curtain Fig Tree where to count its tangled roots would take a week! We now come to one of the most dramatic landscapes of this region, Lake Barrine. Lunch will be served at the Lake Tearooms before boarding the relaxing cruise around the volcanic crater rim to behold one of the most complex rainforest eco-systems in the world.

Breakfast & Dinner at hotel | Lunch at the Lake Tearooms

We spend the morning enjoying a look around Cairns and exploring as we wish. Later we travel to Port Douglas and hopefully the chance to view the Palm Cove beachfront. The drive from here to Port Douglas hugs the coast with the sparkling waters of the Coral Sea on one side and the simply inspiring scenery of the wet tropics on the other. There are few more spectacular road trips!

Arriving into the seaside village of Port Douglas we check into our accommodation and freshen up for our Lady Douglas Sunset Cruise. Showcasing a wide variety of visual delights, this calm water cruise takes in the spectacular wilderness and scenery of the mangroves, wildlife, shipwrecks and harbour with coastal views around the inlet entrance. The commentary delivered by the captain is informative and entertaining. We end our evening back at the hotel for dinner.

3 nights | Oaks Resort Port Douglas 07 4099 8900
Breakfast & Dinner at Hotel | Lunch own expence

This morning we indulge ourselves in the ultimate “Breakfast with the Birds” at the Rainforest Habitat. Immersed within the Wetland environment, enjoy an array of sounds and colours from wildlife as they wander freely amongst us while we are treated to a fantastic tropical breakfast. Meander the walk ways of the tranquil rainforest and wetland discovering how close to nature we really are. From here we head to the start of the Daintree National Park – Mossman Gorge. Feel the serenity while watching the river as it tumbles its way over and around huge granite boulders. Continuing on to the Daintree River, here you’ll cruise one of the most densely populated mangrove estuaries in the world…. There’s nothing quite like watching wildlife while cruising along the beautiful Daintree River!

“Breakfast with the Birds” | Lunch at Mossman Gorge |Dinner at hotel

We have a fabulous day planned today as we discover the unforgettable Outer Barrier Reef. For an experience of a lifetime, we board Quicksilver’s wavepiercer catamaran which will take us to a reef at the very edge of Australia’s Continental Shelf, to an underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour and brilliance. At Agincourt Reef, a magnificent ribbon reef, we experience firsthand the magic that is the Great Barrier Reef. We can choose to snorkel or stay dry and explore the reef from the comfort of the semi-submarine, just one metre underwater. Watch the fish feeding from the unique underwater viewing platform and underwater observatory or fly in a helicopter over the reef (diving and helicopter flights are optional and at own expense). We’ll be given a talk by a Marine Biologist, to answer all our questions and enjoy morning and afternoon tea and smorgasbord lunch.

Breakfast & Dinner at Hotel | Lunch on cruise

Today marks the last day of our tropical north adventure. With our bags packed we return to Cairns Airport and begin the journey back to Brisbane eager to share our holiday stories of cruising over the glistening waters and exploring lush rainforests.

Breakfast at Hotel