- 4 Days -
We're just assembling some amazing activities to choose from - wont be long!
Optional activities include - Cairns ◦ Port Douglas ◦ The Daintree Forest ◦ The Atherton Tableland ◦ Crocodiles Adventures ◦ Dive and Snorkel on The Reef ◦ Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park ◦ Skyrail & Scenic Rail ◦ Barrier Reef Cruising ◦ Island Resorts
This price is based on two persons sharing a room for 3-nights in a centrally located 3-star hotel in Cairns or Port Douglas. It includes a transfer to your Cairns hotel on arrival. Prices for a single room and a longer stay in Queensland are also available. To add sightseeing options, either create a Wish List by selecting from the attractions below, or if you don't have the time to complete a Wish List, click for a free custom itinerary, based on your planned traveling dates. Prices are subject to future changes in US$ and AU$ currency exchange rates.
Visitors to Australia will sometimes hear the locals using the expression "FNQ". They're talking about 'Far North Queensland', home to the Great Barrier Reef and some of the most ancient rainforests on the planet. It's also home for many of the indigenous Aboriginal people, one of the world's oldest civilizations who arrived in Australia over 40,000 years ago. The best step-off points to the famous attraction of FNQ are Cairns and Port Douglas, located less than an hour from each other. Cairns is a small city with lots happening and Port Douglas a quiet beachside resort where relaxation is the key attraction.
Our team will work with you to help you decide what your next vacation stop is going to be. Either in Australia or perhaps flying to New Zealand for the next stage of your travel adventure. If your visit comes at the end of your vacation, today you will return to the USA. Re-cross the International Dateline and arrive on the same date that you leave Australia.
Our travel professionals on the team here at New Zealand and Australia Vacations have first hand personal experiences of all the destinations mentioned on our website. If you are inspired by this vacation package, get them to help you create a version that’s more tailor-made to your special and specific requirements.
Phone 888-277-2293 or by email HERE.
The Great Barrier Reef, accessible from both Cairns and Port Douglas, is Australia's most famous World Heritage site. It's the largest living thing on Earth, and is even visible from outer space. This 2,000 mile-long ecosystem comprises thousands of reefs and hundreds of coral islands. It's home to countless species of colourful fish, molluscs and starfish, including turtles, dolphins and sharks, giant clam, seahorse, sea snakes and stingray. There is great concern about the future of The Reef. Two recent and consecutive years of what they call "bleaching events" have damaged large tracts of the reef and today, as a result of bleaching and other environmental threats, roughly 30% of the total reef has sustained serious damage.
Visitors who take a full day cruise out to the reef will be inspired by the passion and commitment of the people they will meet who will talk about the past and future of the reef and share what they are doing to help find a way to bring the reef back to full health. The day is a powerful combination of education, reinforced by the sheer beauty of what you will see when you snorkel or dive and see just what is under threat here, a threat that has implications not just for the reef itself, but for the whole world.
A day cruise of the Great Barrier Reef is more than often the highlight to visitors exploring Australia.
The reef is home to so many different types of coral and marine life, its well worth the visit.
The reefs and islands off Cairns are some of the world's best places to see marine turtles in their natural
habitat, Fitzroy Island being one of the best.
Snorkeling cruises are a great way to see the reef without needing to dive.
Port Douglas Outer Great Barrier Cruise is a very popular dive and snorkel spot.
Start your day with a hotel pick-up commencing from Cairns at 7am.
Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Gorge Walk: After arriving at Mossman Gorge, you will be treated to a guided rainforest walk along private, easy graded tracks, visiting special places and culturally significant sites, past traditional bark shelters and over cool rainforest streams. Your experienced interpretive Indigenous guides demonstrate traditional plant use, identify bush tucker sources, share their dreamtime legends, explain the history of cave paintings and provide an enchanting narrative of the rainforest and their special relationships within this unique tropical environment.
After your 1.5hr walk, enjoy tea, damper and question time with your guide.
Mossman: Your driver/guide will point out the highlights of Australia’s most northern sugar town.
Lunch: Daintree Tea House is your lunch venue today where you enjoy their specialty Barramundi lunch (alternate options available).
Daintree River Cruise: Enjoy a fascinating hour cruising through this wildlife environment, which is home to birds, tree snakes, unique plants and the estuarine crocodile - a great photo opportunity. Enjoy afternoon tea after your cruise.
Port Douglas: Enjoy a short tour of the historical town of Port Douglas. Then continue back to Cairns.
The Daintree canopy broad walk takes you right into lush rain forest.
The Mossman Gorge with its waterhole perfect for cooling off after walking through the rain forest.
After being picked up at your hotel, proceed by coach to your first stop for the day.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park: On arrival, meet your Indigenous guide who will provide a fascinating introduction to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park where you will learn about and experience the world's oldest living culture, dating back over 40,000 years.
It's an interactive experience, so you might even like to learn how to throw a boomerang. You'll also gain an understanding of aboriginal forest foods and hunting techniques.
The Tjapukai Dance Troupe has performed to acclaim all around the world and their performance will be one of the highlights of your visit.
Leave your car or the tour bus at the beginning of the Tjapukai Center to explore the culture within the rainforest.
Tjapukai offers a hands on experience to learning about Aboriginal culture.
Painting a boomerang in the aboriginal style to take with you as a reminder of your visit.
Learning how to throw a boomerang.
The dance troupe entertains with ancient stories acted out in music and dance.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway: A short distance from Tjapukai is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Proceed directly to the boarding line – there is no need to queue as your Skyrail tickets are already on your Boarding Pass. Once aboard, be amazed as you glide silently over the rainforest. There are 2 stations enroute where you can alight and enjoy a walk through the rainforest to spectacular lookouts or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Centre.
A birds-eye view of the rain forest below from the sky rail.
Map of the stations on the sky rail.
Kuranda Village: Upon arrival in the historic town of Kuranda, you have free time to do your own exploring – why not take advantage of the exclusive Kuranda discounts on your Kuranda Boarding Pass!
Explore the village's stalls and shops for refreshments and souvenirs.
Kuranda Scenic Rail: Board the famous train for an amazing journey, as you travel one of the world's most scenic rail routes, through hand-hewn tunnels and over bridges spanning spectacular gorges.
The Kuranda scenic railway winds its way through gorges and tunnels ensuring spectacular views.
The train allows for many photo opportunities of the stunning natural scenery as it passes straight through it.
The crocodiles of Australia are the much more aggressive and meaner cousins of the alligator species found here in North America. When its jaws are shut, the crocodile disguises these unpleasant differences by appearing to flash a toothy grin, as the fourth tooth on each side of the lower jaw sticks up over the upper lip. Don't be taken in!
The Hartley's Crocodile Adventure is located within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area between Palm Cove and Port Douglas. It's both an educational experience and an opportunity to experience interactive wildlife activities.
There's a lagoon boat trip, searching for and feeding crocodile, snake shows and sightings of koala, wombats, wallaby and other unique Australia animals like bettongs, and quolls.
You can also view Australian wildlife in safety, with a series of timber boardwalks.
The lagoon boat trip will get you very close to these amazing creatures.
A timber walkway over the lagoon is another way to view them.
Experience the beauty and diversity of the snakes of Australia with the snake show.
Impress people back home with a digital photo taken with the park's baby crocodiles or pythons.
The crocodiles are regularly fed to make sure they're in full view.