| country: | Australia |
| location: | Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Daintree & Cape Tribulation |
| departures: | 2009: 14 Dec, 28 Dec 2010: 15 Mar, 12 Apr, 10 May, 21 Jun, 5 Jul, 16 Aug, 13 Sep, 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 27 Dec |
| price: | From AU $2995 (8 days) excluding flights. Includes accommodation, meals (excluding one dinner), tree planted in your name by the Australian Rainforest Foundation, snorkelling gear, wetsuit rental and carbon offsetting |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Queensland wildlife and adventure tours, Australia
Taking in the full spectrum of Australian landscapes, from the arid outback to the lush rainforest to the sun-soaked Coral Sea, we savor this corner of Australia that is blessed with diversity. In a small group we’ll enjoy waterfalls, a mosaic of wildlife, and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Wet Tropics and The Great Barrier Reef.
We delight in superb rainforest walks and explore protected wilderness, where kookaburras laugh and giant fan palms touch the sky. At the Great Barrier Reef we learn about this incredible underwater universe, and swim in a kaleidoscope of color and life.
Along the way we encounter vibrant aboriginal culture, friendly jackaroos (Australian cowboys), and a host of colorful characters. Two unique eco-lodges make us at home: one in the verdant hills of the Cairns Highlands, the other nestled in the rainforest with views to the ocean. Our unhurried pace on this trip allows for time to relish an ecologically responsible journey in a country that truly enchants its visitors.
Highlights:Hiking in Daintree and Wooroonooran National Parks Intensive wildlife viewing at Mareeba Wetlands Reserve Aboriginal culture & didgeridoo performance Optional sunrise hot air balloon flight Live aboard sailing to the outer Great Barrier Reef Exploring Granite Gorge and the Waterfalls Circuit Private outback cattle station and traditional Aussie pub 4-star eco-lodges and contemporary Pacific cuisine
Taking in the full spectrum of Australian landscapes, from the arid outback to the lush rainforest to the sun-soaked Coral Sea, we savor this corner of Australia that is blessed with diversity. In a small group we’ll enjoy waterfalls, a mosaic of wildlife, and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Wet Tropics and The Great Barrier Reef.
We delight in superb rainforest walks and explore protected wilderness, where kookaburras laugh and giant fan palms touch the sky. At the Great Barrier Reef we learn about this incredible underwater universe, and swim in a kaleidoscope of color and life.
Along the way we encounter vibrant aboriginal culture, friendly jackaroos (Australian cowboys), and a host of colorful characters. Two unique eco-lodges make us at home: one in the verdant hills of the Cairns Highlands, the other nestled in the rainforest with views to the ocean. Our unhurried pace on this trip allows for time to relish an ecologically responsible journey in a country that truly enchants its visitors.
Highlights:
best time to go
This departure runs year-round with the exception of February. Due to its tropical latitude, Cairns can be enjoyed year round. November – April can be hot and wet, and this is the best time to see waterfalls, flowing rivers and the lush green rainforest. May – October is cooler and drier, and is the best time for hiking and for clearer visibility at The Great Barrier Reef. day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival, welcome orientation and sunset cruise. In the afternoon, we are greeted by our guide who will lead us through a welcome orientation over drinks and tapas. Just a short walk from our hotel is Cairns’ wharf and our awaiting boat, on which we look for crocs in the mangroves and watch the sun slip below the horizon. Following our cruise, we savour an elegant meal at one of Cairns restaurants in the heart of the city, where we have an opportunity to sample classic Australian cuisine. |
| Day 2: | Aboriginal-guided hike, rainforest habitat and Port Douglas. Today we walk in a protected swath of wilderness important to the native Kuku Yalanji, and the Daintree rainforest comes alive in the company of an aboriginal guide. The Rainforest Habitat is home for a mosaic of Australian animals such as forest dragons, emus, koalas and kangaroos, and the Habitat’s unique design lets us walk freely among the animals. We visit Port Douglas in the late afternoon, a seaside town known for its sugary 4-Mile Beach and its status as a preferred holiday destination for celebrities. |
| Day 3: | Mareeba Wetland Reserve and Granite Gorge. Mareeba Wetland Reserve is a rich and diverse sanctuary for almost all of Australia’s tropical water birds. A ranger takes us on an electric-powered boat ride and we can expect to see sea eagles, black swans, cranes, whistling and pink-eared ducks and even Australia’s only stork, the jabiru. We learn how staff rescue native wildlife and then facilitate their release into this untouched natural wonderland. In the afternoon, we visit Granite Gorge, where a boulder-filled canyon offers limitless opportunities to explore, and rock wallabies come out to play. At sunset we look for the elusive platypus at their preferred swimming hole before heading to our tree house eco-lodge. |
| Day 4: | Optional sunrise balloon flight or Crater Lakes National Park, outback cattle station, and The Waterfalls Circuit. We rise early for an optional sunrise balloon flight over the Cairns Highlands. Crossing over the Dividing Range, we then enter the outback where we are welcome guests at a traditional cattle station and homestead. In the company of our “fair dinkum” cowboy friends--Kate and Peter--we enjoy a quintessential Aussie BBQ, and take a walk back through time to the age of the early pioneers. On the way back down the range, we explore the Waterfalls Circuit: a series of three grand waterfalls under which we can swim or view from above. Our home tonight is a an eco-lodge at Mission Beach, host of at least 33 rare and threatened plants, including endangered ferns, orchids and flowering plants. |
| Day 5: | Hiking to Josephine Falls and Babinda Boulders. Wooroonooran National Park boasts Queensland’s highest mountain, Bartle Frere, from which pour countless cascades. Josephine Falls is perhaps the park’s most picturesque, and we arrive at the base of the falls by way of a short guided hike through the jungle. Here we can glide down an exhilarating natural waterslide that ends in a perfect, clear swimming hole. We also hike at the enchanting Babinda Boulders, a place of spiritual significance that has given rise to aboriginal legends. This evening we are welcome guests at Reef Teach, a fun and dynamic presentation given by a local marine biologist on the fascinating creatures that live at the Great Barrier Reef. |
| Day 6: | Sailing to the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling or SCUBA diving. No trip to Cairns is complete without a visit to the outer Great Barrier Reef--a UNESCO World Heritage Site and easily one of the world’s top natural wonders. On this journey, we do the reef in style on a 65-foot yacht with a crew dedicated solely to our group of 10 guests. Snorkelers will find most of the abundant life and colours exist right beneath the surface at the reef. Within reach are giant clams, angel, butterfly and parrot fish, turtles, sea stars and corals of a thousand hues. SCUBA divers can log up to 8 dives during these two days, diving along bommies and coral walls with mysterious swim-throughs that dance with light. This evening divers can also experience the magic of the reef with a phenomenal night dive. |
| Day 7: | Great Barrier Reef sailing, snorkeling and/or SCUBA diving. Today we can rise early for a fantastic sunrise over the ocean, and we spend another day exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. We move among several sites which offer us exclusivity and pristine environment. Among the 1,800 species of fish and 450 species of coral, we can expect to see “Nemo” clown fish in anemones, Wally the giant wrasse, elusive white-tipped reef sharks, fan corals, sea cucumbers and stag horn coral gardens. On the sail back, the crew will is happy to teach us about sailing techniques, and we are welcome to “take the wheel” if we choose. We are likely to see dolphins swimming and playing in our wake, while in the winter season both humpback and minke whales may make an appearance. |
| Day 8: | Optional activities or trip conclusion. After breakfast, we prepare for our journey home or enjoy a few optional activities such as the Kuranda Skyrail, whitewater rafting or a horse ride. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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We are proud of our commitment to offset the carbon emissions that result from all of our office operations, trips, and staff air travel through Sustainable Travel International’s myclimate™ portfolio, thereby making us a carbon-neutral company. We also give our guests the option of purchasing offsets for their air travel.
By using only locally-owned accommodation, restaurants, and outfitters on our small group trips, we ensure the community receives a direct economic benefit. All of our guides are local people. We provide our guides with appropriate training to ensure they understand and comply with our Responsible Tourism Policy and every guest receives a copy of this policy along with a Responsible Traveller’s Code of Conduct. By booking this trip you will also be supporting the culture and traditions of the indigenous Kuku Yalanji, one of whom will join the group for an interpretive rainforest walk and a recounting of Dreamtime stories. A traditional didgeridoo performance will also be shared. To lighten our socio-cultural and environmental impact, we keep our small groups to a maximum of 10 guests. We also educate our guests about cultural etiquette and appropriate behaviour through extensive pre-trip materials and education during our trips. Our guests are encouraged to buy locally produced products available from locally-owned shops, markets and artists, and we give guests a list of where they can find these places in Cairns. Additionally, we actively support cultural and environmental initiatives--such as Treeforce and The Aboriginal Children’s Advancement Society--through financial contributions and direct participatory involvement. We are active members of the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Sustainable Travel International (STI), Ecotourism Australia, and the Cairns & Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC). In all of our operations we aim to have as little impact as possible. We do not produce multi-page paper brochures and the majority of correspondence is done through email to reduce the need for paper. In our office we use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning products, and recycled paper. We also compost food scraps and lawn waste to limit our contribution to landfills. On our trips, we abide by Leave No Trace™ environmental principles, use locally owned eco-friendly lodging, and provide high-quality interpretation of Cairns’ flora and fauna. We also feel it is more responsible to offer itineraries in a relatively small but diverse area, thus reducing our need for petrol and providing our guests with a more intimate and deeper travel experience. Every guest is given their own reusable water bottle, cloth shopping bag, and thanks to our partner the Australian Rainforest Foundation (ARF), a native tree is planted in each guest’s name. Guests receive a certificate detailing where their tree has been planted and why this is such a special gift of life to the rainforest and to the health of our planet. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |











