Brisbane to Daintree Rainforest - 9 Day Boutique Tour

Brisbane to Daintree Rainforest – 9 Day Boutique Tour

Aussie blockbuster must-see attractions. Off-the-beaten track gems. Local, family run restaurants. Intimate group experiences. The best beaches in the world. Cuddly (and not-so-cuddly) wildlife. Fun, bustling cities. What’s not to like on this 9-day adventure across lush, verdant landscapes and glittering turquoise water? Nothing, that’s what.

No hidden cost on our tours - Look closely at our amazing inclusions & value for money

Included

• Great Barrier Reef day cruise including snorkelling & glass bottom boat

• Whitsunday Islands & Whitehaven beach day trip & snorkelling

• Atherton tablelands tour – Volcanic crater lake, stunning waterfalls and a chance to spot wild platypus

• Visit Cape Tribulation

• Skyrail gondola ride over lush rainforest to the town of Kuranda

• Daintree rainforest walk - Off the beaten track interpretive, sustainable walk with a local passionate expert

• Eco-friendly nature cruise - Spot crocodiles, birds, fish in the wild

• Mossman Gorge entry and soft adventure walk

• Kuku Yalanji First nations local walk experience

• Small Group Tour (Max 16 Guests)

• All transport (Private buses, transfers, domestic flight, ferry & boat trips)

• All accommodation (Boutique locally owned hotels/resorts)

• Friendly & experienced local guide

• 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Brisbane 

It’s Bris-vegas baby, Queensland’s capital aka Brisbane, soon to be home of the summer Olympics. Laidback, sunny, optimistic, buzzing – in many ways it’s the quintessential Aussie city. Meet your fellow travellers and friendly guide at 5pm in the hotel reception. After a brief welcome meeting, we head off on an evening orientation tour, and a chance to enjoy a meal together at a local restaurant.

Included Activities

• Orientation tour 

Included Meals

• None

Accommodation – The Point Hotel Brisbane

Day 2: Brisbane to Airlie Beach 

Airport time! It’s up, up, and away, as we take the plane to Airlie beach, the jewel in the magnificent Whitsundays crown. It’s another choose-your-own-adventure day: take a stroll through the town, find a cool little bar, or explore the local swimming hole, the choice is  yours. 

Included Activities

• Free afternoon & evening to explore Airlie Beach

• Domestic Flight to the Whitsunday Coast

Included Meals

• Breakfast

Accommodation – Mantra Club Croc

Day 3: Airlie Beach & Whitsunday Islands 

After breakfast, we're taking a day cruise through the postcard-perfect islands of the Whitsundays, including a stop at the famed Whitehaven beach. Words can't do justice to the dazzling white sands, azure waters, and densely verdant vegetation of this incredible corner of the world (so we won’t try!). Get a closer look by snorkelling with colourful coral, and an array of playful fish and maybe even some turtles. Afterwards, it's your chance to relax or seek out the town's best food and drink options. 

Included Activities

• Whitsundays Islands day cruise including snorkelling, Whitehaven beach visit, Hill Inlet walk and lunch

Included Meals

• Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation – Mantra Club Croc

Day 4: Mission Beach 

A change of scenery today as we head through undulating cane fields to picturesque Mission Beach. This afternoon, kick back and enjoy. This is your chance to catch up on some reading, or just sit by the pool with a cold drink and enjoy this tropical paradise. We may be even lucky enough to spot some cassowary in the wild!

Included Activities

• Scenic drive along the Bruce Highway

Included Meals

• Breakfast 

Accommodation – Mission Beach Resort 

Day 5: Cairns via the Atherton Tablelands 

Enjoy breakfast before we travel into the wet tropics of Far North Queensland. We'll discover a magnificent plunge waterfall nestled in dense tropical rainforest en-route to the Atherton Tablelands. Take a dip in the cool water before we head to Lake Eacham, a crater lake with crystal-clear water, and visit the massive ‘Curtain Fig Tree’. We'll finish the day in Cairns, one of Australia's most vibrant, tropical and energetic cities.

Included Activities

• Scenic Atherton tablelands tour including a volcanic crater lake, stunning waterfalls and a chance to spot wild platypus

Included Meals

• Breakfast 

Accommodation – Flynn Hotel Cairns

Day 6: Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef 

It’s one of the highlights of any trip to Australia: the Great Barrier Reef. Today, we will take a cruise to the famed reef, where we’ll go snorkelling to see incredible marine life. Learn about this special reef with conservation commentary, onboard a fantastic catamaran. This is the big one, so get the camera ready! After a great day at one of the seven natural wonders of the world (and the only one seen from space), join us for an optional dinner to share stories of our adventures together!

Included Activities

• Great Barrier Reef day cruise including snorkelling, glass bottom boat and buffet lunch

• Optional Activity – Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef

Included Meals

• Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation – Flynn Hotel Cairns

Day 7: Kuranda and Port Douglas

It’s go, go gondola, as we take an incredible gondola ride over ancient rainforest, the Barron River, and the surrounding mountains on our way to picturesque Kuranda with its colourful markets. Then, it’s a trip north to the chilled out village of Port Douglas, where you can choose to join the group for dinner, drinks and the stunning sunset.

Included Activities

• Skyrail gondola ride over the rainforest canopy

• Kuranda markets

• Port Douglas orientation tour

Included Meals

• Breakfast

Accommodation – Paradise Links Resort 

Day 8: Mossman Gorge & First Nations experience 

It’s a slow kinda morning, which is just how it should be in Port Douglas. Our suggestion: take a stroll around the Sunday markets, drinking in the ocean views, and grab a coffee from local brewers. Well rested we’ll visit the Mossman Gorge for an incredible walk through the rainforest. Later, we’ll learn about Kuku Yalanji (First Nations) culture, foods and customs with an amazing immersive experience. 

Included Activities

• Visit to vibrant local markets

• Visit Mossman Gorge for an incredible walk through the rainforest 

• Kuku Yalanji (First Nations) immersive cultural experience

Included Meals

• Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation – Paradise Links Resort 

Day 9: Daintree Rainforest walk, Cape Tribulation & Crocodile/nature cruise 

It’s another big day – we’re going deeper into the tropical World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, and Cape Tribulation (don’t worry, it’s just a name!) on a short ferry. We’ll take a walk through the ancient rainforest and meet the local family who hosted David Attenborough’s documentary crew whilst keeping our eyes peeled for ancient cassowary, birds and other wildlife. 

In the afternoon we cruise the Daintree River (Julaymba) on the eco-friendly Solar Whisper, a quiet solar-powered boat, for an immersive wildlife experience. Spot crocodiles, birds, frogs, snakes, and more with the help of your expert guide and the unique "CROC CAM”. 

We take a wonderful coastal drive back to Cairns, where your tour ends on arrival around 6pm. If you need help with post tour accommodation, please let us know as we can help! Thanks for a wonderful adventure together! 

Included Activities

• Guided rainforest walk & with a chance to spot ancient cassowary birds and other wildlife 

• Eco-friendly crocodile and nature cruise on the Daintree River

• Scenic coastal drive back to Cairns

Included Meals

• Breakfast & Lunch