Description
The Tour
13 days/12 nights - combine the reef and the rainforest of the east coast with AAT Kings, including stays on Fraser Island and Hamilton Island - the ultimate journey!
Day 1: Sydney - Coffs Harbour
Depart Sydney at 7.30am and travel the scenic coastline of New South Wales, stopping at the coastal town of Port Macquarie. Continue through Nambucca Heads to Coffs Harbour for overnight at Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. Coffs Harbour boasts a combination of golden sands, high mountains, dense luxurious rainforests, steep banana plantations and clear streams. Attractions include beautiful botanic gardens with a mangrove boardwalk and art, crafts and antique shops. Coffs Promenade is a popular attraction with many speciality shops and restaurants. Enjoy a welcome drink tonight with your tour director and fellow travelling companions. (D)
Day 2: Byron Bay - Gold Coast
This morning, journey to Cape Byron lighthouse and enjoy the superb views from Australia's most easterly point. Stop in exclusive Byron Bay for lunch (own expense), before following the lush Tweed River Valley to the famous Gold Coast. The Gold Coast has some of the best surfing and swimming beaches in Australia, patrolled by the largest body of lifesavers in the country. Attractions include many exciting theme parks and a lush hinterland of national parks with spectacular views. Tonight is free for you to dine at one of the many restaurants and cafés. Overnight at the Watermark Hotel, Gold Coast. (B)
Day 3: Gold Coast - Fraser Island
Travel along the Gold Coast to Brisbane and enjoy an orientation tour of the city and learn about opals. Continue on to Hervey Bay for the ferry crossing to remarkable Fraser Island. Renowned for its beauty and unique ecology, the island is now protected as a World Heritage area. Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island, with a 50-mile surf beach, rainforests, crystal-clear freshwater lakes and exotic wildlife. The next 2 nights will be spent at the Kingfisher Bay Resort & Village, Fraser Island. (B/D)
Day 4: Fraser Island
Today, join your 4WD vehicle for a half-day island tour. Marvel at the tall forest at Pile Valley and the majestic rainforest at Central Station. Visit Lake McKenzie, a beautiful freshwater lake surrounded by white sandy beaches. The lake covers more than 150 hectares and is over 5m deep. Perched high in a sand dune, it is 100m above sea level! (B)
Day 5: Rockhampton
Leave Fraser Island this morning and return to the mainland. Stop at Langmorn Station, a fully operational cattle station. Enjoy morning tea at the homestead, a restored 'Queenslander' built in 1873. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn to Rockhampton, situated on the broad Fitzroy River. Dine out this evening at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre. Learn about Aboriginal culture and traditions and be entertained. Overnight at the Leichhardt Hotel, Rockhampton. (B/D)
Day 6: Hamilton Island
Travel north to Mackay, before continuing to Shute Harbour. Join a catamaran for your short cruise through the Whitsundays to Hamilton Island. Tonight enjoy a delicious ocean-fresh seafood dinner on the terrace of the Toucan Tango Café overlooking the main swimming pool and Catseye Beach. Spend the next 2 nights at the Reef View Hotel, Hamilton Island in a Coral Sea View Room. The views of the Coral Sea are wonderful and can be enjoyed from your room's private balcony. (B/D)
Day 7: Hamilton Island
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Hamilton Island. There will be an opportunity to join a morning tour of the island including the fauna park (extra cost), or take a cruise to Whitehaven Beach (extra cost). Perhaps hire a golf cart and explore the island yourself. Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays, lying at the same tropical latitude as Mauritius and enjoying a year-round warm climate with lots of sunshine. Tonight is free for independent dining at one of the many restaurants on the island. When it comes to dining, you might be munching on a wood-fired pizza overlooking the marina, savouring award-winning cuisine on the beach, or enjoying a 3-course meal whilst cruising through the Whitsundays! (B)
Day 8: Townsville
Head north to the tropical city of Townsville, renowned for its many historic buildings. Enjoy a guided tour of Billabong Sanctuary to see the animals, then enjoy an afternoon at leisure to relax or perhaps take a stroll along The Strand. Overnight at the Jupiters Townsville Hotel & Casino. (B/D)
Day 9: Atherton Tablelands - Port Douglas
Journey north from Townsville, then climb the high tropical plateau known as the Atherton Tablelands. Visit Millaa Millaa Falls and the famous Curtain Fig Tree. Enjoy a guided cruise on tranquil Lake Barrine, an extinct volcanic crater lake filled with cool, clean, crystal-clear water, then continue to Port Douglas. The next 2 nights will be spent at the Mantra Treetops Resort & Spa, Port Douglas. (B/D)
Day 10: Port Douglas
Enjoy a day at leisure in the former fishing village of Port Douglas. There will be an opportunity to explore the World Heritage rainforest (extra cost), join a guided cruise on the Daintree River for an opportunity to spot the saltwater crocodiles (extra cost), take a walk along spectacular Four Mile Beach, or just sit back and relax by the pool. Port Douglas is also another point to take trips to the Great Barrier Reef. (B)
Day 11: Great Barrier Reef
Today, cruise on the Great Adventures' high-speed catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef. The Reef is simply one of the great natural wonders of the world. Spanning more than 2,000km of Queensland's coastline, it's the world's largest and most complex reef, with an area half the size of Texas. Enjoy a reef education presentation and view the spectacular corals and tropical fish from the underwater observatory and the semi-submersible craft. There is the opportunity to go snorkelling and view this natural living wonder up close (snorkelling equipment provided). Enjoy a delicious tropical buffet lunch, before returning to Cairns this afternoon. The next 2 nights will be spent at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort. (B/L)
Day 12: Kuranda
Travel to Kuranda and board the Kuranda train for an historic journey through the scenic countryside behind Cairns. Arrive at the cultural rainforest village of Kuranda with time to wander through the various stalls of the colourful markets. Later, board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway that takes you above the canopy of the tropical rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park. Visit the award-winning Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and learn about this ancient culture, before transferring back to your hotel. (B/D)
Day 13: Depart Cairns
Your amazing tour concludes today after breakfast. You will be transferred to Cairns airport for your onward flight. (B)
Tour Notes
International flights and Australian domestic flights are not included in the tour price.
Your tour includes travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with WC, seatbelts, reclining seats and panoramic windows, an experienced professional tour director and tour driver, meals as detailed in the itinerary, airport transfers, hotel porterage and sightseeing as specified.
Due to the early start of your tour on day 1 at 7.30am from Sydney, we recommend staying in Sydney the night before.
Departure dates in bold are guaranteed departures. All other departure dates operate subject to min numbers.
2008 Departure Dates
03, 31 Jan; 06 Mar; 03 Apr; 24, 31 Jul; 04, 25 Sep; 09, 30 Oct; 13, 27 Nov.
2009 Departure Dates
01, 29 Jan; 05 Feb; 05 Mar.