The adventurous spirit of Australia thrives around the Queensland seaside city of Cairns. Your custom tour will put the natural wonders of Australia first to immerse you in the emerald canopy of the northeast rainforest and then submerse you in the crystalline turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean as you view the Great Barrier Reef. Listen to the tales of the Earth’s creation during Dreamtime, and watch the colors of sunrise expand across the sky as you sit inside a drifting hot air balloon. Indulge...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Cairns – Arrive in Cairns, the Charming Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
The city of Cairns overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the vast Queensland Rainforest. The trees rush down from the bordering mountains to meet the white-sand beaches along the coastline. Flying foxes sleep in the trees that line the city streets before waking in the cooler evening air. The tropical ambiance is heightened with the mix of the climate, the relaxed beachside culture, and the exotic tree line. Your flight will land at Cairns Airport where you will meet your private transfer at baggage claim. Once inside your luxurious hotel, you can settle into the escapist lifestyle hidden in the trees as you overlook the indigo hues of the water, combining the unique qualities of the tropical coastline where the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet.
Lorikeets sing in the treetops as their neon green feathers blend into the emerald hues of the encompassing leaves. Their red beak and smattering of blue feathers barely stand out against the rainbow hues of the canopy, making the birds resemble budding flowers from a distance. Palm trees line the streets and lead to the favored seaside esplanade as idyllic stretches of sand and water spread north and south of town as locals linger along the grass beside the wading pool. The swimming lagoon encompasses nearly 51,700 square feet of water located on the promenade.
Wander along the boardwalk before partaking in a Cairns tradition as boutique shops and cosmopolitan restaurants fill the arcades along the Esplanade at Farm Gate Market. Farmers arrive to present organic and handmade treats and fishers offer recipes to represent the catch of the day as locals return home with some for a late dinner. Over 100 vendors offer insight into the life and culture of Cairns through the preferred offerings of the marketplace, including delicious chocolates.
What's Included:
Day 2
Cairns – Set Out on a Full Day Luxury Cruise of the Great Barrier Reef
Day 3
Cairns – Discover Jungle Terrain at Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge
Day 4
Cairns – Weigh Anchor for a Half-Day Whale Watching Excursion
Day 5
Cairns – Sail to Green Island for Snorkeling, Swimming, and Beaches
Day 6
Cairns – Delight in a Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride and White Water Rafting
Day 7
Cairns – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Discover the iridescent colors of the remarkable marine life of the Great Barrier Reef on a VIP tour around two snorkeling destinations
- Explore the winding rivers and mountainous panoramas of Daintree during a guided luxury exploration of the rainforest and riverbanks as you search for crocodiles
- Venture to Green Island to visit the powder white sand of a land body set amidst the radiant coral of the Great Barrier Reef
- Visit a mangrove forest on horseback as you traverse the grounds of a thriving sugarcane plantation
- Savor the unique opportunity to swim with whales during your whale watching excursion off the coast of Queensland
- Relish a sunrise as you glide through the air in a hot air balloon in view of the Great Dividing Mountain Range
- Enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting down the rapids of the Barron River
Detailed Description
The adventurous world of Australia is within reach during your unique and active 7-day tour, perfect on its own or as an addition to another journey through Australia or New Zealand during the winter of the Southern Hemisphere. The wonder of it all will begin with your arrival in Cairns as your private transfer will escort you to a charming boutique hotel nestled in the rainforest trees. With a view of the powdery beaches of the northeast coast, you will have the remainder of the day to relax at your hotel or explore the charms of Cairns and its celebrated esplanade. The following morning, you will venture to the marina and board a boat bound for the Great Barrier Reef.
With a marine biologist on board, you will partake in the luxuries of your catamaran cruise. Dip into the water and follow your individual guide while snorkeling at two separate spots along the reef before returning to Cairns. The next day, you will journey to Daintree Rainforest for a full day of wandering along the riverbanks and the jungle brush. Search for crocodiles around the Daintree River, sample enticing exotic fruits, enjoy the quality panoramas and cross the jungle terrain on a cable ferry.
The next day, you will return to the marina, this time bound for the open sea in search of migrating whales. Your particular vessel will offer the unique opportunity of jumping into the water to swim with the majestic mammals as you pass Australia’s eastern coast. The following day, you will set out to reach the shores of Green Island on a half-day tour where you can opt to relax on the white sand beach or dip into the water at your leisure.
To round out your day, travel back to the shore for a horseback-riding excursion across the landscape of a sugarcane plantation. Trot through creeks and wander along mangrove forests before you come back through the tall strands of sugarcane. The next morning, you will glide through the morning air to catch the sunrise from a hot air balloon. Upon your return to Cairns, you will venture into the rainforest terrain to travel down the Barron River on a guided whitewater-rafting excursion. To conclude, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Cairns Airport where you can continue your adventure around Australia or journey home.
Starting Price
$2,900 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.86 stars based on 1812 reviews.
Zicasso's travel designer put together a trip that got us to the places we wanted to see, with companies that suited our abilities and desires. He offered excellent suggestions, was always available, and was a pleasure to work with.
Reviewed By Mark H.
We very much enjoyed our time in New Zealand and Australia. The tours were all very good. Zicasso's travel agent and our tour partner were very responsive and helpful throughout the planning phase and while we were on vacation.
The only feedback we have is that the hotels selected, other than the hotels in New Zealand, did not have the amenities we were hoping to get from four-star properties. We'll do a better job of indicating what we need in hotel selections moving forward, but we thought the hotels could have been a notch better than they were.
Reviewed By Tim G.
I would use our travel company again in a minute! Zicasso's travel consultant really “got me” and designed the perfect trip for us.
The highlights especially included picking perfect places for us to stay (close to most everything we were doing and in the heart of the cities). The tours, both private and small group, gave us not only what we asked for, but even more that we didn’t know existed.
The itinerary was as detailed as it could possibly be, describing the day, what to bring, names and phone numbers to call if there were issues, and who we needed to call to confirm future tour dates.
One of our highlights was the penguin experience. Our guide was great and our trip planner got us “plus” tickets, which I would definitely recommend. Finally, she provided us with the necessary info and guides (where necessary) for our amazing hikes.
Reviewed By Ellin A.
Zicasso's travel specialists were fantastic! They provided excellent and unique recommendations. As a traveler seeking adventure and outdoor experiences, they completely understood my needs. Additionally, all accommodations were high quality, communication was very clear, and pricing was reasonable. I would strongly recommend them to anyone traveling to Australia/New Zealand.
Reviewed By Emil S.
We absolutely loved so much of our trip! My kids’ (ages 11 and eight) favorite activities were luging in Rotorua, NZ, and the sunset camel ride in Uluru, AU, while my husband and I were enchanted by Hobbiton and enjoyed exploring a glowworm cave with the owner's father! We all loved Tasmania.
There were a few hiccups. However, we were very happy with all the support the Zicasso travel company's team provided in real time to help us get back on track.
The overall trip was fantastic. My husband and I appreciated having the team support our adventures, both the highs and the lows. The team members were detailed-oriented. This trip exceeded our expectations and we’re incredibly grateful for their expertise in curating such memorable experiences.
Reviewed By Sivly R.
Zicasso's tour planner did a superb job for us. She collaborated with us on working out our itinerary and had useful information on how to combine our desired destinations efficiently.
While we were in Australia, she was available via the company's app, including helping us on a late evening when our flight from Sydney to Hobart was canceled because of a cyclone and we needed a short-notice hotel in Sydney.
Reviewed By Henry H.