Enjoy the sunrise at Palm Cove, a suburb of Cairns

Adventures in Cairns Tour: Discovering Daintree & The Great Barrier Reef

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Australia

Places Visited

Cairns, Kuranda, Green Island, Mossman Gorge...

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Suggested Duration

7 Days

The adventurous spirit of Australia thrives around the Queensland seaside city of Cairns. Your custom tour will put the natural wonders of Australia first to immerse you in the emerald canopy of the northeast rainforest and then submerse you in the crystalline turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean as you view the Great Barrier Reef. Listen to the tales of the Earth’s creation during Dreamtime, and watch the colors of sunrise expand across the sky as you sit inside a drifting hot air balloon. Indulge...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Discover the iridescent colors of the remarkable marine life of the Great Barrier Reef on a VIP tour around two snorkeling destinations
  • Explore the winding rivers and mountainous panoramas of Daintree during a guided luxury exploration of the rainforest and riverbanks as you search for crocodiles
  • Venture to Green Island to visit the powder white sand of a land body set amidst the radiant coral of the Great Barrier Reef
  • Visit a mangrove forest on horseback as you traverse the grounds of a thriving sugarcane plantation
  • Savor the unique opportunity to swim with whales during your whale watching excursion off the coast of Queensland
  • Relish a sunrise as you glide through the air in a hot air balloon in view of the Great Dividing Mountain Range
  • Enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting down the rapids of the Barron River

Detailed Description

The adventurous world of Australia is within reach during your unique and active 7-day tour, perfect on its own or as an addition to another journey through Australia or New Zealand during the winter of the Southern Hemisphere. The wonder of it all will begin with your arrival in Cairns as your private transfer will escort you to a charming boutique hotel nestled in the rainforest trees.  With a view of the powdery beaches of the northeast coast, you will have the remainder of the day to relax at your hotel or explore the charms of Cairns and its celebrated esplanade. The following morning, you will venture to the marina and board a boat bound for the Great Barrier Reef.

With a marine biologist on board, you will partake in the luxuries of your catamaran cruise. Dip into the water and follow your individual guide while snorkeling at two separate spots along the reef before returning to Cairns. The next day, you will journey to Daintree Rainforest for a full day of wandering along the riverbanks and the jungle brush. Search for crocodiles around the Daintree River, sample enticing exotic fruits, enjoy the quality panoramas and cross the jungle terrain on a cable ferry.

The next day, you will return to the marina, this time bound for the open sea in search of migrating whales. Your particular vessel will offer the unique opportunity of jumping into the water to swim with the majestic mammals as you pass Australia’s eastern coast. The following day, you will set out to reach the shores of Green Island on a half-day tour where you can opt to relax on the white sand beach or dip into the water at your leisure.

To round out your day, travel back to the shore for a horseback-riding excursion across the landscape of a sugarcane plantation.  Trot through creeks and wander along mangrove forests before you come back through the tall strands of sugarcane. The next morning, you will glide through the morning air to catch the sunrise from a hot air balloon. Upon your return to Cairns, you will venture into the rainforest terrain to travel down the Barron River on a guided whitewater-rafting excursion. To conclude, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Cairns Airport where you can continue your adventure around Australia or journey home.

Starting Price

$2,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

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Australia, New Zealand Trip Review: Tasmania, Rotorua, Uluru,...

We absolutely loved so much of our trip! My kids’ (ages 11 and eight) favorite activities were luging in Rotorua, NZ, and the sunset camel ride in Uluru, AU, while my husband and I were enchanted by Hobbiton and enjoyed exploring a glowworm cave with the owner's father! We all loved Tasmania.

There were a few hiccups. However, we were very happy with all the support the Zicasso travel company's team provided in real time to help us get back on track. 

The overall trip was fantastic. My husband and I appreciated having the team support our adventures, both the highs and the lows. The team members were detailed-oriented. This trip exceeded our expectations and we’re incredibly grateful for their expertise in curating such memorable experiences.

Reviewed By Sivly R.

Australia Trip Review: Sydney, Uluru, Kakadu, Freycinet...

Zicasso's tour planner did a superb job for us. She collaborated with us on working out our itinerary and had useful information on how to combine our desired destinations efficiently.

While we were in Australia, she was available via the company's app, including helping us on a late evening when our flight from Sydney to Hobart was canceled because of a cyclone and we needed a short-notice hotel in Sydney.

Reviewed By Henry H.

Australia Vacation Review: 2 Weeks

Zicasso's travel company and our agent's team were phenomenal and very supportive, even when certain events were out of their control. They made everything on my trip to Australia simple, with excellent accommodations and activities laid out for me. They restored my faith in travel agencies and trip advisors. I had full confidence in them while visiting another country and will continue to refer anyone who is planning a trip to contact my agent's team for booking a memorable experience. Thank you to her and her delightful team.

Reviewed By Travis M.

Australia Family Tour Review: Sydney, Safari, Hiking, Culture,...

I would highly recommend Zicasso's trip coordinator. He planned an excellent and very enjoyable trip for us (a family of five, including two teenage boys). He was very easy and accommodating to work with. The trip went smoothly and we have many great memories.

Reviewed By Patricia B.

Australia, New Zealand Travel Review: Wildlife, Hiking,...

The trip was awesome; the trip of a lifetime! We saw/experienced everything we could imagine. The trip reflected all of our wish-list items. Zicasso's travel specialist was very accommodating to our ideas and was very detail-oriented. We didn't have to worry about a thing on this vacation.

Reviewed By Sharon B.

Australia Trip Review: Wildlife, 18 Days

I highly recommend Zicasso's travel expert. She was an amazing resource, a pleasure to work with, and all of the logistics she planned proceeded without any issues. She listened to our interests, made recommendations, and then planned an 18-day vacation that had a terrific mix of visiting cities and seeing wildlife in the manner that was perfectly suited to our wish list. Simply put, she was one of the best I have worked with over the years.

Reviewed By Lauren R.

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