Tropical Discovery Tour

Travel from Sydney to Cairns and discover Australia’s eastern coast on this Tropical Discovery Tour. Enjoy a 4WD tour on Fraser Island, Byron Bay, Hamilton Island, Atherton Tablelands and Cairns. This is a fun and exciting way to see many of Australias highlights over New South Wales and Queensland.

Tour by luxury air-conditioned coach with 2-door access, restroom, seatbelts, reclining seats and panoramic windows. Tour with an experienced, professional Tour Director and Tour Driver.

Day 1: Port Stephens

Depart Sydney at 7.30am. Travel the scenic coastline of New South Wales to Port Stephens. Board your luxury dolphin-watching boat with 3 viewing decks for a scenic cruise around the magnificent headlands to spot pods of bottlenose dolphins. Tonight enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour Director.
Hotel: Shoal Bay Resort, Shoal Bay. D

Day 2: Port Stephens – Coffs Harbour

We visit Port Macquarie en route to the resort town of Coffs Harbour.
Hotel: Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. B D

Day 3: Byron Bay – Gold Coast

This morning journey to the Cape Byron Lighthouse and enjoy the superb views from Australia's eastern-most point. Stop in exclusive Byron Bay for lunch (own expense), before following the lush Tweed River Valley to the famous Gold Coast. We'll visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. With hundreds of animals and birds, the Sanctuary, established nearly 60 years ago, is home to one of the largest collections of Australian native wildlife in the world. Tonight is free for you to dine at one of the many restaurants and cafés on the Gold Coast.
Hotel: Mantra Legends Hotel, Gold Coast. B

Day 4: Gold Coast – Fraser Island

Travel to Brisbane for an orientation tour and opal demonstration. Continue to Hervey Bay for the ferry crossing to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. Renowned for its beauty and unique ecology, the island is now protected for posterity as a World Heritage listed area.
Hotel: Kingfisher Bay Resort & Village, Fraser Island, 2 nights. B D

Day 5: Fraser Island

Board your 4WD vehicle for a half-day tour of the island. Travel up famous 75 Mile Beach to see the coloured sands of the Pinnacles and the wreck of the cruise ship Maheno. Explore Central Station, a former forestry camp with huge satinay, scribbly gum, brush box and kauri trees. Visit Lake McKenzie, the island's most beautiful lake with its clear blue water ringed by white sandy beaches. We stop at Eli Creek which flows swiftly through the dunes out to sea.B

Day 6: Yeppoon

Return to the mainland, and stop at Langmorn Station a fully operational cattle station. Enjoy afternoon tea at the homestead, a restored 'Queenslander' built in 1873. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn and continue to the coastal resort of Yeppoon, east of Rockhampton. Dine out this evening, on crocodile of course, at the Koorana Crocodile Farm. Home to around 3,000 crocodiles, your guide will take you on a spotlight tour, where a visit to the pens will reveal crocodiles as small as 150 grams and as large as 750 kilograms!
Hotel: Rydges Capricorn, Yeppoon. B HD

Day 7: Daydream Island Resort & Spa

Travel north through Mackay, Australia's sugar capital, before continuing to Airlie Beach, a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. At Airlie Beach we take a ferry across to Daydream Island in the heart of the spectacular Great Barrier Reef.
Hotel: Daydream Island Resort & Spa, Ocean Balcony Rooms, 2 nights. B D

Day 8: Daydream Island 'Free Time'

A day at leisure to explore Daydream Island, located in the Whitsunday Islands. There are sailboarding and catamaran classes. You have the opportunity to take a rainforest walk, play beach volleyball, tennis, water polo or you could go snorkelling or kayaking. Perhaps just laze by one of the pools or on a beach or replenish your body and soul at the Daydream Rejuvenation Spa.B

Day 9: Townsville

Head north to the tropical city of Townsville. This afternoon is free to relax at the hotel or perhaps take a stroll along the Strand, Townsville's beachfront promenade.
Hotel: Holiday Inn, Townsville. B D

Day 10: Atherton Tablelands

Climb the high tropical plateau known as the Atherton Tablelands, where lush rainforests, waterfalls and lakes abound. Visit Millaa Millaa Falls and the famous Curtain Fig Tree. Enjoy a guided cruise on the serene crater of Lake Barrine, before making our way to Port Douglas.
Hotel: Rydges Sabaya Resort, Port Douglas, 2 nights.B D

Day 11: Port Douglas 'Free Time'

A day at leisure in Port Douglas. Perhaps explore World Heritage listed rainforest, cruise on the Daintree River to spot the fearless saltwater crocodile or try hot air ballooning on the Atherton Tablelands.B

Day 12: Great Barrier Reef

Join the Quicksilver catamaran and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy a reef education presentation and view the spectacular coral 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 (equipment provided). Enjoy a delicious tropical buffet lunch before we return to Port Douglas and travel on to Cairns.
Hotel: Novotel Oasis Cairns, Cairns, 2 nights.B L

Day 13: Kuranda – Aboriginal Culture

Board the Kuranda Railway for a historic journey taking you through the scenic countryside behind Cairns. You are invited to lunch at Rainforestation Nature Park. Experience indigenous culture and Australian native wildlife in a World Heritage listed rainforest setting. At the Pamagirri Corroboree witness a traditional dance performance. Try your hand at boomerang throwing and watch a Pamagirri Guide play the didgeridoo. Visit the Wildlife Park to see native Australian animals including kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles. B L D

Day 14: Depart Cairns

Your tour concludes today after breakfast. You will be transferred to Cairns Airport for your onward flight. B

Tour Includes: Full Buffet Breakfasts (13), Lunches (1), Hotel Dinners (7), Dinner (1), Twin share rooms with private facilities in centrally located hotels, welcome drink, travel wallet and map, airport transfers (Day prior to tour from Sydney Airport - flights anytime; Day 14 to Cairns Airport - flights anytime) and hotel porterage.

Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)

NOTE: The 2012 - 2013 season rates are valid from the 1st April 2012 to the 31st March 2013. The 2013 - 2014 season rates commence on the 1st April 2013.