Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree

Trip Type: Explorer
Australia | 5 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 2,640.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

On this five-day deep dive into some of Australia’s greatest natural wonders, you’ll explore ancient rainforests and one of the seven natural wonde...

Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree

On this five-day deep dive into some of Australia’s greatest natural wonders, you’ll explore ancient rainforests and one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the Great Barrier Reef. With an expert leader, you’ll start your trip in Carins and make your way to Kuranda, where you’ll fly over the tropical rainforest and the quaint mountain town on the 7.5 km Skyrail. Then, head to Port Douglas – a paradise town in Queensland surrounded by palm trees and warm sands. Explore the Daintree Rainforest – the oldest living rainforest in the world – and head out on a crocodile and wildlife-spotting boat tour. Keep sailing with a full-day snorkelling adventure aboard a catamaran, accompanied by expert marine biologists, then end it all with a walking tour of Mossman Gorge with a local Aboriginal guide who will teach you about the area and its links with Dreaming.

Welcome to Cairns! Or Gimuy, in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Cairns is now located. This is the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the gorgeous Daintree Rainforest. Your adventure officially starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at your hotel, where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive in Cairns with time to spare, why not check out the Cairns Botanical Gardens, a lush tropical wonderland. Or simply wander the waterfront promenade, popping into any local bars that take your fancy.After the group meeting, head out with your group for an included dinner. 

This morning after breakfast, soar over the world’s oldest tropical rainforest via the Skyrail that connects Cairns to the picturesque mountain village of Kuranda. You’ll glide along 7.5 km of cableway and admire the ancient landscape from a truly unique perspective. You’ll have some free time to explore this charming rainforest town and its surroundings – Kuranda is a delightful mix of colourful characters and natural beauty, perched at the top of a rainforest-clad mountain. You might like to check out the famous Kuranda Markets and village shopping or kick back and relax at one of the town’s many restaurants and cafes, where outdoor dining is one of the joys of the cooler mountain climate. Drive along the coast to Port Douglas, taking in the ocean views and the cliffs covered in native flora. Tonight, head out on an orientation walk around Port Douglas, stopping at Trinity Bay Lookout Point to admire the perfect crescent of sand and surf. Then, head to a local restaurant for drinks and dinner with your fellow travellers before returning to your accommodation for the evening. 

Today, you’ll visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest. When you arrive, head out on a one-hour crocodile and wildlife spotting boat tour along the Daintree River (Julaymba). On the electric Solar Whisper, you’ll hear the sounds of nature around you as you look out for crocs, birdlife, snakes, frogs, crabs and fish. Your experienced guide will be accustomed to the nuances of the river, the rainforest and the mangroves, meaning you’ll be able to find wildlife you wouldn’t be able to find on your own. After you find some feathered friends and long-toothed foes, head north to Cape Tribulation, stopping at Jindalba Boardwalk and a local ice cream factory on the way.  

This morning, you’ll head out on a fantastic full-day boat tour from Port Douglas. Explore the stunning Coral Cays on the Great Barrier Reef on a sailing boat guided by marine biologists, who will share their passion and knowledge of the reef as you float along the expansive blue waters. Learn about the fragile environment, enjoy presentations on the reef by experts on board and head to an exclusive site for a spot of wildlife-focused snorkelling (equipment provided). There are vast coral gardens to explore at your own pace – as a protected and shallow area, you’ll see corals, giant clams, turtles and fish in their natural habitat. Enjoy a buffet lunch (including prawns) and afternoon tea on board (including local Daintree produce) while you continue to spot wildlife from the glass-bottomed boat. Tonight, enjoy a night to relax in Port Douglas after a spectacular day on the water.

This morning, you’ll head to Mossman Gorge for a fascinating Ngadiku Dreamtime walking tour, led by a local Aboriginal guide. Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) means stories and legends from a long time ago in the local Kuku Yalanji language and you’ll learn about these stories on a guided walk along private, gentle tracks, visiting culturally significant sites, traditional bark shelters and cool rainforest streams. Witness a traditional smoking ceremony to cleanse and ward off bad spirits and then stroll through the lush rainforest, learning about traditional plant use, bush food sources and the connection to this unique tropical environment. After, enjoy a traditional bush tea and damper (a loaf or cake of flour and water that’s baked in wood ashes). Drive south to Palm Cove, stopping along the way to explore the scenic beachside town where you can grab some lunch. You can end your trip here or carry on to Cairns, where your trip will come to an end at approximately 4pm.

Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(s), 2 Dinner(s)

Transport
Private vehicle , Boat

Accommodation
Hotel (4 nights)

Included Activities
  • Kuranda - Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
  • Kuranda - Kuranda Markets
  • Kuranda - Kuranda Village Visit
  • Port Douglas - Leader-lead Orientation Walk
  • Daintree National Park – Solar Whisper Daintree River Wildlife Cruise
  • Daintree National Park - Jindalba circuit track
  • Daintree National Park - Cape Tribulation Lookout & Beach Walk
  • Port Douglas - Full-day Great Barrier Reef tour
  • Mossman Gorge - Ngadiku Dreamtime walk
  • Soar over the world’s oldest rainforest on the Skyrail – 7.5 km of cableway that takes you to the mountain village of Kuranda.
  • Explore the ancient Daintree Rainforest – the oldest rainforest in the world – with a crocodile spotting boat tour on an electric eco-boat with an experienced guide.
  • Take a full-day sailing and snorkelling tour of the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas, learning about the underwater ecosystem and the fragility of the environment from professional marine biologists.
  • Head out on a Dreamtime walking tour with a local Aboriginal guide, learning about the local environment in Mossman Gorge, bush food and native plants before a morning tea of bush tea and damper.
  • Wander around the gorgeous Palm Cove, with free time to explore the beachside town – maybe opt to end your trip here and extend your stay.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Greening Australia. Donations help them tackle Australia’s complex environmental challenges, restoring landscapes at scale – in ways that work for communities, economies and nature. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
  • This trip involves plenty of walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with good fitness and mobility. See information about specific walks in the itinerary. Some activities on this trip are subject to weather and water conditions and on occasion, may be cancelled for safety or operational reasons. In the case of cancellation, we will endeavour to find a suitable replacement activity. This trip forms part of some longer combination tours. If you would like to continue exploring Australia with us, consider booking our Best of Australia (PZKAC) trip. See our website for details.

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Price: NZD 3,000.00

Price: NZD 3,065.00

Price: NZD 3,215.00

Price: NZD 3,215.00

Price: NZD 3,370.00

Price: NZD 3,370.00

Price: NZD 3,370.00

Price: NZD 3,370.00

Price: NZD 3,370.00

Price: NZD 3,215.00

Price: NZD 3,065.00

Price: NZD 3,215.00

Price: NZD 3,215.00

Price: NZD 3,150.00

Price: NZD 3,065.00

Price:
NZD 3,300.00 NZD 2,640.00

Price: NZD 3,000.00

Price: NZD 3,065.00

Price: NZD 3,370.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
PZKQ
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Cairns, Australia
Trip Finishes:
Cairns, Australia
Countries Visited:
Australia
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Destination Details
Australia | 5 Days | 1 - 12 People

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