Turn your Australian vacation into a tale of legend during an active adventure of land and sea. Your custom tailored tour will take you into the majesty of dense rainforest and the unique underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Discover crocodiles lounging amongst mangrove trees and dig your toes into the powdery white sand of a secluded beach that shimmers with kaleidoscope colors. Traverse trails to find captivating waterfalls and witness gorgeous shades of orange as the sun rises over the...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Cairns – Arrive in the Relaxed Ambiance of the Tropical Queensland City
Cairns is considered the gateway to Queensland’s tropical north as the entrance to the Great Barrier Reef spreads through the South Pacific waters along Australia’s east coast. The lush vegetation of the rainforest sweeps across the mountains of the Great Dividing Range and touches the white-sand shores of the coastline. Your flight lands at Cairns International Airport where your private transfer will meet you at baggage claim. Locals and visitors alike stroll in the sunlight along the Esplanade, a vibrant seaside walkway, adorned with playgrounds, lush parks, and a stunning swimming lagoon crowned by sculptures of fish floating through the air. Mangroves edge the walkways hiding parakeets and macaws.
You will easily settle into the resort style comfort of your hotel, basking in the balcony and views to the lagoon pool and tropical gardens. You will be able to hear the slight rustle of the calm waters as they brush against the shoreline and the scent of sweet blossoming orchids seems to overtake the briny aroma of the sea. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the scenery and the charms of Cairns, from the sight of flying foxes dangling upside down in the mango trees, to watching spoonbills scoop wet sand up from the beach in search of a tasty lunch. North of the town the gold, powdery sand of Palm Cove beckons to visitors and locals alike, lined with cafes and glinting with indigo waters cast against the emerald hues of the swaying palm fronds.
What's Included:
Day 2
Cairns – Full Day Excursion Visiting Several Sites of the Great Barrier Reef
Day 3
Mission Beach – Explore Atherton Tablelands and Millaa Millaa Falls
Day 4
Hamilton Island – Venture to Townsville and Ferry to Whitsundays Islands
Day 5
Hamilton Island – Indulge in Beauty of Whitsundays at your Leisure
Day 6
Rockhampton – See a Sugar Plantation in Mackay en route to Rockhampton
Day 7
Hervey Bay – Traverse a Private Ranch and Tea en route to Hervey Bay
Day 8
Noosa – Travel to Fraser Island for a Day of Beaches and Adventure
Day 9
Brisbane – Delight in the Charms of Noosa at your Preferred Pace
Day 10
Brisbane – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Bask in the powder-white sands of the Whitsundays beaches, which include the soft texture of silica on Whitehaven Beach
- Discover the colors and marvelous underwater life of the Great Barrier Reef during a full day exploration of several different sites
- Delight in a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over Atherton Tablelands to view the shifting colors of dawn over the eastern seaboard
- Enjoy the rural lifestyles of lesser visited towns near the Tropic of Capricorn with a visit to a Sugar Plantation and Cattle Ranch
- View the magnificent Millaa Millaa Falls on a circuit trek in Atherton Tablelands
- Follow the trails of Noosa National Park for spectacular lookouts over the Pacific Ocean to find dolphins and whales, or look inland for koalas
- Visit the celebrated Fraser Island to find remarkable sand dunes and soaring rainforest on the largest sand island in the world
Detailed Description
You can feel the excitement pulse through your body as you imagine setting your eyes on the Great Barrier Reef and the glorious rainforest of Queensland. Your 10-day tour of Australia’s celebrated east coast will offer independent exploration and unbridled possibility, from a chance to see koalas in the wild and sea turtles grazing on sea grass. Your adventure will begin with your arrival at Cairns Airport where your private transfer will meet you at baggage claim and escort you to your luxurious hotel in view of the charming marina.
The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy strolling along the promenade or delighting in a visit to Four Mile Beach before settling in for the night. Wake the next morning and set out on a catamaran to immerse yourself in the spectacular underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Discover the colors and bustling life around the coral while scuba diving, snorkeling, or looking out the windows of your semi-submersible craft. The next day, rise in time to watch the sunrise during your morning hot air balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands. After landing, you will continue your exploration of the landscape as you take to the Millaa Millaa circuit to view the falls before visiting a local dairy en route to Mission Beach.
Travel next to Townsville and Airlie Beach before enjoying a scenic ferry to the splendor of Hamilton Island. Enjoy the quiet beaches and remarkable coral reefs that edge the sand. The next day is yours to enjoy at your leisure, basking in the wonders of the wildlife at the local wildlife park or cruising to Whitehaven Beach to view the breathtaking sandbar and sweeping rainforest before returning to Hamilton Island. Move next to visit a working sugar plantation in the town of Mackay before continuing to Rockhampton, and the next day you will tour an old working cattle ranch that is also home to grazing kangaroo, before reaching the inviting shores of Hervey Bay.
Spend the next day on Fraser Island lounging on the preserved beaches or trekking the sand dunes and mighty rainforest. In the afternoon, you will return to mainland Australia and travel to Noosa, where the beachside ambiance thrives. Enjoy remarkable coastal trails and wildlife spotting, lounge on the sand, enjoy a surf lesson, or take to the paths in Noosa National Park before traveling south to the city of Brisbane to enjoy the evening at your leisure. Conclude as your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Brisbane Airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$4,100 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 1821 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.