DAY 1 – DAINTREE & CAPE TRIBULATION TOUR
- Departs Cairns: Approx 7.00am Departs Port Douglas: 8.15am
- Returns Cairns: Approx 6.30pm Returns Port Douglas: 5.30pm
This premium full day tour has pick-ups in Cairns, the northern beaches and Port Douglas. Where you commence your journey, will impact the itinerary slightly. For those being collected in Cairns and the beaches, the day begins with a trip along the scenic Great Barrier Reef Drive, to Port Douglas. The road hugs the mountain side and we stop at Rex Lookout to enjoy stunning views of the Coral Sea. From here, we cruise to Port Douglas, picking up any extra guests and stopping at Flagstaff Hill which overlooks 4 Mile Beach.
The next stop is Mossman Gorge, where we refresh with local tea, coffee or a cold drink, before exploring this secluded gorge and rainforest paradise. The cool, clear waters of Mossman River tumble through and over giant granite boulders. We’ll take a guided walk and you have the opportunity for a swim, should you wish to do so. We then enjoy a quality restaurant lunch, with a choice of meals available, before stepping aboard a solar powered electric boat to take a 1-hour cruise on the Daintree River. Keep your eyes peeled for crocodiles and other local wildlife.
Driving on to the Daintree River Cable Crossing, it’s a short ride over and into the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Alexandra lookout provides panoramic views over the Daintree delta, river and out to the Coral Sea. We then wander beneath the ancient rainforest trees on a guided botanical walk, learning more about the biodiversity of the amazing ecosystem. Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef and you can take it all in from the Kulki Lookout. This is the most northern point of our day tour adventure, so from here we begin the journey home, but not before pausing at the Daintree Ice-Cream Company where you can purchase locally made tropical ice-cream (at your own expense).
DAY 2 – TABLELANDS, WATERFALLS & PARONELLA PARK TOUR
- Departs Cairns: Between 7.15am-7.45am
- Returns Cairns: Approx 6.00pm-6.30pm
Your full-day discovery tour of the Atherton Tablelands and Paronella Park starts with a coach pickup from your Cairns and then travelling south from Cairns in our air-conditioned coach, your first photo opportunity is at the towering Walsh’s Pyramid, a Cairns icon and one of the largest naturally formed pyramids in the world at over 900 metres in height. Onwards through the verdant green landscape of the Goldsborough Valley, we commence our ascent into the cool tropical rainforest climes of the Atherton Tablelands via the Gillies Highway. Rainforest giants stand sentinel over our winding path, breaking momentarily at Heales lookout for a spectacular vista over the valley and out to the Coral Sea.
Our first stop in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area comes at Lake Barrine, in Crater Lakes National Park, where a short guided walk with our expert guide reveals the area’s ancient natural history at the 1000-year-old twin kauri pines, true giants of the rainforest. After a walk imbibing the rainforest ambience, it’s time for Devonshire tea: enjoy freshly-baked scones with jam and cream, washed down with locally-grown, fresh brewed tea and coffee. You can then relax in the teahouse overlooking Lake Barrine, or take a leisurely walk through the rainforest walking tracks, keeping watch in the water for eels and turtles, in the trees for Boyd’s forest dragons and on the rainforest floor for Australia’s most ancient marsupial: the musky rat-kangaroo.
Next stop is the historical town of Yungaburra, where your guide will share the township’s logging past, taking you on a driving tour around this quaint town and showcasing the many heritage-listed buildings. He will even stop for a photo or two! From Yungaburra it is a short drive to the Curtain Fig Tree, which towers more than 45 metres into the rare Mabi forest of its namesake, Curtain Fig Tree National Park. Leading a fascinating boardwalk tour, your guide shares the unlikely story behind the formation of this 600-800 year-old epiphyte, while also looking out for unique wildlife in the rainforest canopy, like green ring-tailed possums, eastern whip birds, Victoria’s rifle birds the rare Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo.
Next is a driving tour through the historical dairy town of Malanda, before we arrive at Millaa Millaa Falls. It’s one of Australia’s most-photographed waterfalls! Jump into the cool rainforest waters and shower under the falls as they tumble over 20 metres from volcanic lava flow formed over 1 million years ago. Or, sit and enjoy the sights and sounds from the rainforest canopy. After lunch we descend from the Atherton Tablelands via the Palmerston Highway and through the traditional lands of the Mamu people, passing expansive sugar cane and banana fields to the coastal town of Innisfail. The extensive National Trust-listed gardens at Paronella Park are our next stop, where a 30-minute guided tour tells the story of the park’s memorable architecture, set amongst sprawling tropical gardens and inspired by founder José Paronella’s dream of a Spanish castle. With 2.5 hours here, you’ll have ample time to explore the grounds, appreciate its history and capture some memorable moments.
Now, we head north towards Cairns, stopping at a local banana farm where you can buy your very own taste of the tropics with local bananas, papaya and seasonal, home-grown fruit. Onwards past Babinda, where — time permitting — we stop for another dip at Babinda Boulders, sampling the tranquil waters nestled between striking granite boulders. Following these northern portions of the Great Dividing Range home with a full day of rainforest, history and waterfalls behind us, it is approximately a 50-60 minute drive back to the city of Cairns and onwards to your accommodation, arriving between 6.00 – 6.30pm
Day 3 – Half Day 4WD Tour Itinerary (choice of AM or PM)
- Morning Departure 7am – Returns 12pm.
- Afternoon Departure 1pm – Returns 6pm.
After collection from your accommodation, we begin our journey. Driving up the Kuranda Range and passing through the small village of Kuranda. Here we enjoy a short driving tour of the village, before continuing to the World Heritage listed Barron Gorge National Park. This is home to the famous Barron Falls, which makes for a great photo opportunity at the stunning Wrights lookout.
Heading further west, we detour off the bitumen and make our way onto the Clohesy River Road. This is where we begin our four-wheel drive journey. Our exclusive access permit sees us visit areas not open to the public. Our track winds through rainforest and over some of the mountains of the Great Dividing Range. We’ll view ancient King Ferns before stopping at Clohesy Boardwalk, where your guide will interpret the rainforest surrounds and introduce you to the giant strangler fig tree, which is hundreds of years old.
After leaving the Clohesy River area, our next stop is Davies Creek, where you have the opportunity to take a swim in the crystal-clear waters. It’s always refreshing. Then a short journey to The Termite Roadside Fruit Stall, where you’ll enjoy tasting some of the region’s tropical fruits. You may want to try some Crocodile and purchase some of the local produce, including honey, nuts and of course, fruit. Finally, as our tour concludes, we head back towards Cairns via the Wet Tropics World Heritage drive on the Kuranda Range. We stop at the breathtaking Henry Ross lookout, before arriving in Cairns where you are returned to your accommodation.
Please note these tour can be done in any order and do not have to be on consecutive days – please advise your preferred travel dates at time of booking.
