Australia: North Queensland Adventure | 2024-2025
Cairns
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Get ready to uncover Queensland's many wonders. From the pure sands of Whitehaven Beach, there's so much laid-back beauty in this part of Australia. And that's before you head to Magnetic Island, taking epic coastal walks and meeting the local koalas, then ending on a high with an expedition to the Great Barrier Reef itself.
Availability
From 18/05/2024 to 13/04/2025
Departure dates & prices
Dates
Availability
Price
What's included
Highlights.
2 Lunch (L)2 Dinner (D)5 Breakfast (B)Sydney: Contiki acknowledges the Traditional and Torres Strait Island owners of the land, sea and waters of the spectacular Australian continent.
Dual-naming reflects that, as we explore this remarkable land, we recognise and respect Indigenous custodianship of a unique, ancient culture and country.
Gimuy (Cairns): It’s best to wait at least 24 hours after your last dive before flying.
Yunbenun (Magnetic Island): During your 2-night stay in Magnetic Island, you’ll stay in multi-share rooms with the same sex even (if you’ve booked single or twin room for the trip duration).
But if you’d like some privacy, you can request a paid upgrade to a single or twin room, but the confirmation would depend on availability.
Please note that this is a modular trip.
That means you’ll be joining a trip that started 1 week earlier – if you wish to do the full version, please refer to the Ultimate Australia trip.
Airlie Beach: Grab your new buddies, snorkel round the reef, see ‘the world’s best beach’ and eat lunch on a boat.
A proper ‘pinch yourself’ moment.
Whitsunday Islands: The Great Barrier Reef is home to nearly 9,000 species of sea creatures.
This means it’ll impress even the saltiest ‘sea dogs’.
Townsville: Catch a boat from the mainland to Magnetic Island.
Magnetic Island: Pack some comfy shoes and climb up to Hawking's Point for sundown.
Yoga poses for Insta: optional.
Magnetic Island: Go koala-spotting, see WWII fortifications, or just have a beer in the sun.
There’s something for everyone on this trail.
Magnetic Island: Mingle with Magnetic Island's resident Rock Wallabies at dusk.
Just watch these cheeky little guys don’t steal your wallet!Magnetic Island: Catch a boat from Magnetic Island to the mainland.
Wave goodbye to your new BFF Reggie the Koala and promise you’ll write.
Townsville: Things heat up as the landscape gets even more tropical.
Soak up the scenery on this train trip from Townsville to Cairns.
Daintree Rainforest: Check out the oldest rainforest in the world, home to frogs, butterflies, bats and more.
Cairns: Eat like a local with this chef-guided bush food tutorial and dinner (thankfully, not a witchetty grub in sight!)Daintree Rainforest: Tour the world’s oldest rainforest with an expert.
Sir David Attenborough called Daintree: ‘the most extraordinary place on earth’.
Daintree Rainforest: Learn how ancient ‘Dreamtime’ stories were shared through art.
Then unleash your inner Banksy and create a masterpiece at the Janbal Gallery.
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Itinerary
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Day 1 Hello Airlie Beach! This tropical paradise is the perfect place to kick off our adventure. Our trip starts at Base Backpackers where we'll meet our fellow adventurers.
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Day 2 Is there anywhere in the world more beautiful than the Whitsundays? We think not. With 74 perfect islands at your fingertips, an open sea calling your name, today you'll get to explore one of the worlds most lusted-after holiday destinations with a day trip to the spotless Whitehaven Beach, including snorkelling. This is as close to heaven as you can find on planet earth.
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Day 3 We've got a free day in Airlie Beach today! This vibrant hub of the Whitsundays is ours to explore. We could get out onto the waters with an optional sea kayaking adventure, take to the sky with a Skydive over Australia's most beautiful drop zone or even a relaxing scenic flight over the Whitsunday islands including Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef. For those looking for a more relaxed option, kick back on the beach sipping something sweet or explore the cute boutiques, bistros and alfresco restaurants that adorn the seafront. It's a hard life.
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Day 4 Is there anything better than the Whitsundays? We think our next destination definitely comes close! We'll board a coach this morning heading for Townsville. Here we'll board the ferry to our next destination. Magnetic Island is an apt name for this captivating isle, with its coastal walking trails and gum trees teeming with lazy koala bears. We'll have plenty of time to explore, partake in watersports in the bright turqouise waters or meet some of the local marsupials. But this evening, we'll enjoy some champagne and watch the sun set over the bay.
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Day 5 We have a whole day on this paradise island - lucky us! Check out some of the walking trails - such as the Forts Walk which offers up stunning views of the Palm Island Group as well as WWII fortifications, and the chance to see koalas in the wild - or enjoy some free time at Horseshoe bay, taking a dip on the azure waters and relaxing on the beach. See Magnetic Island's resident Rock Wallabies at dusk before a free evening, where we can watch the sunset and check out some of the local bars.
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Day 6 After breakfast this morning we'll say farewell to our koala friends and depart Magnetic Island on a ferry. But we'll never forget its singular beauty. Back in Townsville we won't hang around too long, as we're hopping on a train headed to Cairns, where we'll arrive late afternoon after a gloriously scenic journey along Australia's East Coast. Welcome to the city where rainforests meet reefs. We'll enjoy one of the most memorable meals you've ever experienced today with our interactive Bush Food MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(R) tutorial and dinner. An experienced chef will guide us through a history of Bush Food as you sample a variety of native spices and fruits, explaining their tastes, origins, and traditional uses before we enjoy our dinner, which features native game. It's an incredible cultural feast, and the perfect way to start our adventure in Cairns.
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Day 7 Rise and shine, our entire day today is an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(R) experience, packed with history, heritage and natural beauty, as we enjoy a spectacular a day trip to the oldest tropical rainforest in the world: Daintree. With its ancient ferns and vibrant canopies, this place will take our breath away. There's a reason David Attenborough called it 'the most extraordinary place on earth.' As well as admiring the lush rainforest, we'll also meet the local Kuku Yalanji people and learn about their rich Aboriginal culture and history. We'll get the chance to view a smoking ceremony and take an art class with an Aboriginal artist. We'll also learn about ancient Dreamtime stories, local history and how these are shared through art. Then, we'll get to create our own unique souvenir to take home in the form of a canvas that tells our own stories. What a day; and we're not done yet.
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Day 8 Today you'll have the option to board a catamaran out to the reef to snorkel or dive in the crystal waters and gaze at the colourful coral and even more vibrant marine life. Back on board, the expert marine crew will tell us all there is to know about this stunning, but vulnerable, natural miracle.
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Day 9 Our adventure ends this afternoon, but not before we have a chance to escape our comfort zones and try some of the adventurous activities that Cairns is famous for. Anyone for bungy jumping?
- Prices quoted valid for sale until 15 May 2024 unless otherwise stated or sold out prior.
- Price is per person and subject to availability. Accommodation (if included) is based on twin share unless otherwise stated.
- Airfare (including internal flights) is not included unless otherwise stated and, if included, is economy class unless otherwise stated.
- Local payments, "trip kittys" or food funds may apply and may be payable direct to the supplier on arrival or to your travel agent prior to your departure. Where applicable, these payments are included in the total price quoted.
- Gratuities are not included unless otherwise stated.
- Additional conditions and travel restrictions may apply. Please enquire for further details.
- Prices shown are fully inclusive of taxes, levies and government charges current at time of publication.
- Additional levies, government charges and other applicable fees may apply and are beyond our control.
- Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply depending on date of travel.
- Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.
- Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store or Bpay.
- These prices are a guide to the best price. Prices are correct as at 10 May 2024 and are subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control, such as adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges, taxes and airfare increases. Please enquire for further details.
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