Daintree & Cape Tribulation Adventure

G’day, and welcome to paradise. Your trip starts in tropical Cairns (Gimuy in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Cairns is now located) the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Your adventure officially kicks off with a Welcome Meeting at 6pm this evening, where you’ll meet your group leader and travel companions. If you arrive in Cairns with time to spare, why not check out the Cairns Botanical Gardens? Just 5 minutes from the CBD, you’ll find yourself in a lush tropical wonderland with the click of your fingers. Or, simply wander the waterfront promenade, popping into any one of the local bars that take your fancy.

This morning, get ready to 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 7.5km of cableway and admire the ancient landscape from a truly unique perspective. After catching the views from above, you’ll get the opportunity to explore the rainforest up close once you arrive in Kuranda. You’ll have plenty of time at your leisure to explore this charming rainforest town and its surrounds. Kuranda is a delightful mix of quirky surprises, 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 our cooler mountain climate. Alternately, take to one of the many rainforest trails and get closer to nature with one of the local wildlife experiences, tours and attractions. With plenty of options to choose from, why not ask your leader for their best tips. You’ll head back to Cairns mid-afternoon for the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll head to Mossman Gorge for a special Dreamtime walk with a local First Nations guide. Your walk will start with a smoking ceremony to ward off any bad spirits, then you’ll meander around (and over) gentle rainforest streams, discover sites of spiritual significance and wander by traditional bark shelters. Your guide will tell stories of the rainforest and teach you about the connection of First Nations peoples to the lands here. You’ll also learn about bush tucker and how to identify native food sources, and traditions like making bush soaps and ochre paintings. To top off a magical day in this magical place, you’ll be treated to a traditional bush tea and damper before you head back to Cairns for an evening at your leisure.

Today is the day. Wake up with excitement for a day spent on (and in) the water – you’ll be snorkelling, swimming and soaking up the sun on the outer Great Barrier Reef. Truly an incredible sight to see, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, made up of over 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays. You’ll cruise out to an outer reef pontoon, where you’ll get a chance to snorkel in a sheltered coral lagoon and join a marine biologist on a guided snorkel safari. It will be a day to remember, you can expect to see countless corals, colourful fish and perhaps, a sea turtle or two. And when you’re not in the water, you can spend your time relaxing & soaking up the tropical warmth on the spacious sundeck of the outer reef pontoon. This afternoon, you’ll cruise back to Cairns for an evening at your leisure.

Get ready for an on-land adventure today – jump into a 4WD and travel along the dusty Bloomfield Track through Daintree National Park (Kaba Kada in the language of the traditional owners). You’ll traverse the scenic four-wheel drive track, travelling up the Coral Coast. You’ll cross the mighty Daintree River and enjoy a river cruise, where you might be lucky enough to spot a local saltwater crocodile or two. Then, marvel at the mangrove-lined Cape Tribulation (Kulki in the language of the traditional owners) in the UNESCO listed Daintree National Park. You’ll cross the Bloomfield River Bridge before reaching your accommodation near Cooktown in the evening.

After breakfast, it’s time to explore the fascinating area surrounding Cooktown. You’ll marvel at the breathtaking views from Grassy Hill that stretch out over the Endeavour River and Coral Sea beyond. Then, a short drive will take you to the picturesque Quarantine Beach where you’ll enjoy some time to get your toes sandy and soak in the North Queensland sunshine. Later this afternoon, you might get a chance to visit the interesting James Cook Museum (entrance fee at your own expense, seasonal opening days), a heritage listed former convent school. Or perhaps, take the opportunity to visit Reconciliation Rocks, the place where Australia's first recorded reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australian's took place. Then, after a stroll along the foreshore, return to your hotel for some relaxation. Join your travel companions for sundowners and toast to the day’s adventures before enjoying an included dinner at the restaurant of the resort.

After breakfast today, you’ll kiss Cooktown goodbye and wave farewell to your wilderness oasis. You’ll head back to Cairns via the inland route with a stop along the way to discover the Aboriginal rock painting and stencils near Laura (Quinkan Country). These rock art galleries are believed to be between 15,000 and 40,000 years old, with hundreds of generations of traditional artists adding to the sites here. You’ll get up close and personal with these incredible paintings that prove that First Nations people have lived in this region for thousands of years. After some time to admire the artworks, sit back, relax and enjoy the rolling views of the hinterland enroute to Cairns. Perhaps, round up your travel companions for one final dinner together in Cairns this evening before your adventure comes to an end tomorrow morning.

After breakfast today your Daintree and Cape Tribulation journey will wrap up. With plenty of natural highlights and epic landscapes to explore around Cairns, we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to stay here a little longer.