Day 1 Thur. Sydney, Port Macquarie, Welcome Dinner.
East Coast Adventure
Green Island has wonderful coral gardens to explore
Slow the pace to 'island time' on Daydream Island
You can feed wild dolphins that come to shore each night at the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort
The adventure begins in Sydney. We drive across the famous
Sydney Harbour Bridge and then on to the Central Coast en route to
Port Macquarie, home to some beautiful beaches. Tonight is our
Welcome Dinner where you can meet fellow travellers.
Stay: Port Macquarie, Rydges Port
Macquarie.
Feature Dinner
Day 2 Fri. Port Macquarie, Byron Bay.
Enjoy a morning drive to Byron Bay, a coastal town renowned
for its superb surf beaches that has attracted both wealthy city
dwellers looking to escape the city as well as the bohemian
lifestylers. Take in the incredible views from Cape Byron, the
Australian mainland's most easterly point. Watch the surfers and
maybe even see dolphins off the point, and see the Cape Byron
Lighthouse. Stroll along the pristine beach located at the doorstep
of our hotel tonight as the sun sets.
Stay: Kingscliff, Outrigger on the Beach at
Salt.
Breakfast
Day 3 Sat. Gold Coast, Brisbane, Moreton Island.
Today a short drive brings us to Brisbane, capital of the
state of Queensland. Enjoy time to explore the shops or perhaps
take a leisurely stroll across the pretty Brisbane River to
Southbank. 11 Day (TQ11) passengers join tour. Then it is time to
join a cruise across the waters of Moreton Bay to picturesque
Moreton Island National Park.
Two Night Stay: Moreton Island, Tangalooma Wild
Dolphin Resort.
Breakfast Dinner
Day 4 Moreton Island, Tangalooma, Day at Leisure, Wild
Dolphins.
Enjoy a full day to explore this beautiful island. You can be
as relaxed or as adventurous as you please. Snorkel around the
shipwrecks, try sand tobogganing, quad bike riding or take a 4WD
tour of the island (all activities at own expense). There are also
many different and exciting watersports, two pools or you can just
relax at the resort. Tonight is our highlight - the opportunity to
interact with the dolphins that swim close to shore. Most evenings
the dolphins swim up to the beach, where they are rewarded with
fresh fish hand-fed to them by the staff and you will also have an
opportunity to hand-feed them yourself.
Breakfast
Day 5 Mon. Moreton Island, Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast,
Hervey Bay.
Return to the mainland and visit renowned Australia Zoo, made
famous by 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin. Watch the feeding of the
crocodiles who 'have a go' at the keepers or interact with many
native animals that the handlers are walking around the zoo with.
We travel through the picturesque Sunshine Coast, a region that
appeals to the stylish holiday maker, before arriving in the
coastal town of Hervey Bay. With its beautiful beaches and
sparkling waters, Hervey Bay is a popular tourist destination,
especially in whale watching season (Aug.-Oct.) when humpback
whales can be seen playing offshore.
Two Night Stay: Hervey Bay, Kondari Resort, set among
lush gardens.
Breakfast
Day 6 Tue. World Heritage-listed Fraser Island.
This morning we cruise to World Heritage-listed Fraser Island,
home to Australia's purest strain of dingo, and offering
exceptional natural beauty in the form of uninterrupted white
beaches, striking coloured sand cliffs and over 100 freshwater
lakes. Enjoy the chance to explore the world's largest sand island
in specially-designed 4WD vehicles. On your 4WD adventure discover
unspoilt surf beaches, pristine inland lakes and lush rainforest.
Fraser Island is the only place in the world where rainforest grows
on sand at elevations of over 200 metres. Recross the Great Sandy
Strait. As we cruise to Hervey Bay, watch for humpback whales
migrating to their breeding grounds (Aug.-Oct.).
Breakfast Feature Lunch
Day 7 Tropic of Capricorn, Rockhampton.
Journey to the city of Rockhampton, situated on the banks of
the Fitzroy River and located on the Tropic of Capricorn. Take a
leisurely stroll around the Botanical Gardens, regarded among the
best in regional Australia. Excellent specimens of palms, cycads
and ferns are found throughout the beautifully manicured grounds,
and an architecturally-designed Japanese garden gives a sense of
peace and tranquillity. Marvel at the architectural charm of this
city, including stone buildings and churches set off by beautiful
bougainvilleas.
Stay: Rockhampton Plaza Hotel.
Breakfast Dinner
Day 8 Thur. Mackay, Airlie Beach, Cruise to Daydream
Island.
This morning we make tracks for the town of Mackay. Surrounded
by sugarcane crops, Mackay is also known as the sugar capital of
Australia. Continue to stunning Airlie Beach, our gateway to the 74
idyllic islands of the Whitsunday Passage. We cruise to Daydream
Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and described as
the jewel of the Whitsunday Islands, an archipelago of green
islands lying in rich blue tropical waters.
Two Night Stay: Daydream Island Resort and
Spa.
Breakfast Dinner
Day 9 Fri. The Whitsundays, Daydream Island.
Today explore other nearby Whitsunday Islands or relax on
Daydream's secluded beaches. The more energetic can discover the
island's lush rainforest and colourful native birdlife. Perhaps
wade out from the shore to snorkel the fringing reefs, head out on
the water on a windsurfer or catamaran, or simply unwind on the
beach. Perhaps try out the mini-golf course, lagoon-style swimming
pools and spas, gymnasium, sauna, tennis courts, plus Australia's
most scenic outdoor movie cinema. Be as active or as laid-back as
you like (all activities at own expense).
Breakfast
Day 10 Sat. Daydream Island, Whitsundays, Townsville,
Cardwell,
This morning we return to the mainland and head to Townsville,
North Queensland's largest city. We continue along the coastline
travelling between lush mountains with tropical vegetation and
sandy beaches beside clear waters. Our destination today is Mission
Beach, a region of unspoilt rainforests and wide beaches, and a
relaxed yet vibrant beachfront township which provides an idyllic
overnight stay. Here two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier
Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, converge to create a pristine
environment.
Stay: Mission Beach, Castaways on the Beach Resort,
next to the beach.
Breakfast
Day 11 Sun. Millaa Millaa Falls, Curtain Fig Tree, Cairns,
Farewell Dinner.
We climb the high tablelands of Atherton for great views of
the North Johnstone River. Visit beautiful Millaa Millaa Falls and
the Curtain Fig Tree where the host tree has been subsumed. There
is time to explore the volcanic Lake Barrine, filled with cool,
clean, crystal-clear water, surrounded by lush tropical highland
rainforest (optional cruise available). We then journey to Cairns -
you can choose to journey aboard the Skyrail, Kuranda Scenic
Railway (own expense) or by coach. Enjoy some time at leisure to
explore this tropical city. Tonight dine with your new-found
friends at our special Farewell Dinner at Tjapukai by Night -
discover the Dreamtime and be an interactive part of an ancient
corroboree. Then be led along a flame-lit pathway to a dinner
banquet of the region's best food.
Two Night Stay: Cairns, Mercure Harbourside Hotel,
overlooking Trinity Bay.
Breakfast Feature Dinner
Day 12 Mon. Cairns, Green Island.
This morning join a cruise to beautiful Green Island, a coral
cay located on the Great Barrier Reef. Green Island is more than a
tropical island surrounded by magnificent coral reef. There are
white sandy beaches, safe swimming all year round and self-guided
snorkelling trails. Here spend the morning snorkelling offshore
among the colourful coral and tropical fish. Or, for a different
perspective, you can join a glass-bottom boat tour. Later return to
Cairns for an afternoon at leisure or you can extend to a full day
on Green Island and surrounding reef.
Breakfast
Day 13 Tue. Port Douglas, Coral Coast.
This morning enjoy one of Australia's greatest coastal drives
to Port Douglas. On arrival at this coastal town, enjoy some free
time to explore. Perhaps stroll the palm-fringed beaches with an
opportunity to visit the Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary.
Here you can wander through four different and unique environments
that depict over 180 species of the surrounding rainforest,
wetlands, woodlands and grasslands, (own expense). Explore the
beautiful coastal resort town of Palm Cove. We return to Cairns at
approximately 4.00 p.m. where your tour concludes.
Breakfast
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