East Coast Islands & Rainforest

Day 1 - Sydney to Coffs Harbour

Start discovering the landscapes of Australia’s east coast as you travel northward from Sydney to the coastal town of Coffs Harbour. From your accommodation nestled amongst sprawling tropical gardens, you’ll have the opportunity to wander down to Little Diggers Beach and Diggers Head. Enjoy the early evening sea breeze just like the locals do. Tonight enjoy a Welcome Reception and dinner with your Travel Director.

Hotel: BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort
Meals: Dinner

Please note, this tour departs early in the morning. Please speak with your Travel Consultant to arrange hotel accommodation in Sydney for the night before.

Day 2 - Gold Coast

Experience superb views over the Pacific Ocean this morning from Cape Byron, the easternmost point in Australia. You may spot migrating whales breaching not far offshore. A scenic coastal drive this afternoon takes you to the legendary holiday destination of the Gold Coast, where you’ll settle in for your two-night stay.

Hotel: Novotel Surfers Paradise
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Gold Coast

Today you have the freedom to enjoy the Gold Coast in your own style. Nature lovers may head to Mt. Tamborine, foodies explore the growing culinary culture or those needing relaxation just stroll down to the sand and salt of Surfers Paradise Beach

Hotel: Novotel Surfers Paradise
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Fraser Island

Head north this morning stopping at the famous Australia Zoo. Enjoy a sneak peek into the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and see how AAT Kings works with its Wildlife Warriors to support its koala rehabilitation project. This afternoon the ferry will take you across to the World Heritage listed K’gari, also known as Fraser Island. Here you will spend the next 2 nights in this idyllic nature island.

Hotel: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Fraser Island

A day of discovery lies ahead as your 4WD tour takes you for a ride around the island’s must-see sites. Visit Lake McKenzie, ringed with magnificent white sandy beaches. Walk through the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek with its huge satiny, scribbly gum and kauri trees. Across the island to 75 Mile Beach, the sand highway will take you up the eastern coast to the Pinnacles Coloured Sands; cooling, calm waters of Eli Creek and the famous sinking Maheno Shipwreck.

Hotel: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Day 6 - Rockhampton

Visit Langmorn Station, a fully operational family run cattle station. Meet the Creed family and take a guided tour of the property including the original family homestead, built in 1873. Enjoy afternoon tea in the garden in the company of the pet kangaroo! Cross the Tropic of Capricorn as you arrive in Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia. Your night is free so why not try some local beef at one of the town’s steakhouses.

Hotel: Quality Hotel Regent, Rockhampton
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Airlie Beach

Travel north to Sarina, Australia’s sugar capital, to the Sarina Sugar Shed, a miniature working sugar mill. On your tour you’ll get a peek into the sugar cane industry and witness sugar processing and distilling. You can taste test some of the products made on site before sitting down to a light lunch. Continue to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays. Spend the next two nights in this vibrant coastal town where you will have free time to explore at your own pace

Hotel: Mantra Airlie Beach
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 8 - Airlie Beach

The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 tropical islands with white sandy beaches and dense rainforest surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef. Today is yours to indulge in your own pleasures – consider an optional experience. Perhaps take a scenic helicopter flight over the iconic Heart Reef or cruise to famous Whitehaven Beach, where you can relax with a good book, take a swim, or try some of the fun beach activities.

Hotel: Mantra Airlie Beach
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Cairns

Today you’ll head to Cairns along the Bruce Highway. Relax and take in the scenery as you travel through sugar cane fields and extensive farming land, nestled between the Coral Sea on one side and World Heritage rainforest on the other

Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton, Cairns
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 - Cairns

Travel through the high tropical plateau known as the Atherton Tablelands, with its lush rainforest, spectacular waterfalls and peaceful lakes. Visit Millaa Millaa Falls and the famous 500-year-old Curtain Fig Tree and keep an eye out for the magnificent Ulysses Butterfly. Spend some free time in Kuranda, ‘the village in the rainforest’, before travelling on the Rainforest Skyrail Cableway. Your six-person gondola will take you through and high above the canopy of the Barron Gorge National Park

Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton, Cairns
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 - Great Barrier Reef

Board a high-speed catamaran today and cruise out to the iconic Great Barrier Reef, the only living organism that can be seen from the moon. You’ll have the opportunity to go snorkelling (equipment provided) or view the spectacular coral and tropical fish from the underwater observatory and glass bottom boat. Enjoy a tropical buffet lunch on board, before you return in the late afternoon for a Farewell Dinner with your Travel Director and new-found friends.

Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton, Cairns
Meals: Breakfast, lunch  & dinner

Day 12 - Farewell from Cairns

Say farewell to your fellow travellers when your holiday comes to an end this morning after breakfast

Meals: Breakfast