Brisbane to Cairns: 11 days / 10 nights

Fully Escorted Quality Touring

Departures: 

Similar dates to 2012 anticipated

** = Guaranteed departure

ITINERARY: Brisbane to Cairns ('Queensland Island Discovery')

Truly Ref. 1426
Day 1: Brisbane –  Fraser Island
Depart Brisbane at 8.45am. Enjoy an orientation tour of the city and learn about opals, before beginning the journey north along the Sunshine Coast to Hervey Bay for the ferry crossing to Fraser Island. 
  This evening join your Tour Director for a welcome drink.
Accommodation: Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village, Fraser Island, 2 nights (D)

Day 2: Fraser Island  
Today join your 4WD vehicle for a half-day tour of the island. Marvel at the majestic rainforest at Central Station. Visit Lake McKenzie, one of the island's beautiful freshwater lakes, surrounded by white sandy beaches. There is also time to relax and enjoy Kingfisher Bay's facilities. (B)

Day 3: Yeppoon
Return to the mainland, and stop at Langmorn Station (pictured) , a fully operational cattle station. Enjoy afternoon tea at the homestead, a restored 'Queenslander' built in 1873. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn and continue to the coastal resort of Yeppoon. Dine out this evening, on crocodile of course, at the Koorana Crocodile Farm. Home to around 3,000 crocodiles, your guide will take you on a spotlight tour, where a visit to the pens will reveal crocodiles as small as 150 grams and as large as 750 kilograms!
Accommodation: Rydges Capricorn, Yeppoon. (BD)
 
 

Day 6: Townsville
Head north to the tropical city of Townsville. Enjoy a guided tour of Billabong Sanctuary. This afternoon is free for you to relax at the hotel or perhaps take a stroll along The Strand any maybe take a dip in the excellent saltwater pool.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn, Townsville. (BD)

Day 7: Atherton Townsville
Climb the high tropical plateau known as the Atherton Tablelands, where lush rainforests, waterfalls and lakes abound. Visit Millaa Millaa Falls and the famous Curtain Fig Tree. Enjoy a guided cruise on the serene crater of Lake Barrine, before making your way to Port Douglas.
Accommodation: Sabaya Resort, Port Douglas, 2 nights. (BD)

Day 8: Port Douglas
A day at leisure in Port Douglas. There is the opportunity to explore World Heritage listed rainforest, join a guided cruise on the Daintree River to perhaps spot the fearless saltwater crocodile or try hot air ballooning on the Atherton Tablelands. (B)

Day 9: Great Barrier Reef Cruise
Join the Quicksilver catamaran and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy a reef education presentation and view the spectacular coral and tropical fish from the underwater observatory and the semi-submersible craft. There is the opportunity to go snorkelling and view this natural living wonder up-close (equipment provided). Enjoy a delicious tropical buffet lunch before you return to Port Douglas and travel on to Cairns.
Accommodation: Novotel Oasis Resort, Cairns, 2 nights. (BL) 
 

INCLUDED IN YOUR Queensland Island Discovery COACH TOUR Brisbane to Cairns

WEATHER
Brisbane - has a subtropical climate. The coolest months are July/August with day temperatures around 21º Celsius, nights around 10º Celsius. The hottest season (January/February) has highs around 29º Celsius with evenings around 21º Celsius. So your luggage should be mainly light clothes, cool and casual. No wonder Queenslanders say 'Beautiful one day, perfect the next'.

Cairns - this is the tropics. That means warm all year round almost everywhere, especially around the coastal areas. Daytime temperatures in Cairns range from around 31º Celsius in December to March, to around 26º Celsius in May to August. The lush rainforests surrounding Cairns exist because of the high annual rainfall - but even the rain is warm here!  Again, you'll need mainly light clothes, cool and casual, to explore the region where 'rainforest meets the reef'.