Tour Details - East Coast Discovery - Sydney to Cairns

Itinerary

Day 1: Sydney – Coffs Harbour

Depart Sydney at 7.30am. Travel along the scenic coastline of New South Wales. We stop at Port Macquarie on our way to the resort town of Coffs Harbour. Enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour Director.
Hotel: Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour. D

Day 2: Byron Bay – Gold Coast

This morning journey to the Cape Byron Lighthouse and enjoy the superb views from Australia’s eastern-most point. Stop in exclusive Byron Bay for lunch (own expense) before following the lush Tweed River Valley to the famous Gold Coast. We’ll visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. With hundreds of animals and birds, the Sanctuary, established nearly 60 years ago, is home to one of the largest collections of Australian native wildlife in the world. Tonight is free for you to dine at one of the many restaurants and cafés on the Gold Coast.
Hotel: Vibe hotel, Gold coast. B

Day 3: Gold Coast – Noosa

Enjoy morning tea at the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, where you’ll encounter Australian native flora and fauna and wildlife. Meet the passionate staff who’ll take you on a guided tour through the bushland walk tracks or botanical gardens. Travel on to Brisbane for an orientation tour. Our final destination is Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.
Hotel: The French Quarter, Noosa, 2 nights. B

Day 4: Noosa ‘Free Time’

Take time out to discover Noosa for yourself. Swim at Noosa Main Beach or venture a little further with an easy walk along the headland through to Noosa National Park. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could take a boat ride through the Noosa Everglades. Pristine beaches, lakes, wetlands, mangroves and diverse flora and fauna are among the spectacular scenery you’ll witness. B

Day 5: Fraser Island – Hervey Bay

A day of discovery lies ahead as you explore the wonders of World Heritage listed Fraser Island. Your 4WD tour will visit Rainbow Beach coloured sands before heading across by ferry or barge to Fraser Island. Walk through the ancient rainforest at Central Station with its huge satinay, scribbly gum and kauri trees. Visit Lake McKenzie, ringed with magnificent white sandy beaches. Enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch you transfer by ferry to the mainland for your overnight stay at Hervey Bay.
Hotel: Mantra, Hervey Bay. B L D

Day 6: Hervey Bay – Rockhampton

Today you’ll journey to the beef capital of Australia. En route, stop at Langmorn Station, 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 Rockhampton, on the Fitzroy River.
Hotel: Travelodge, Rockhampton. B D

Day 7: Rockhampton – Daydream Island

Travel north through Mackay, Australia’s sugar capital, before continuing to Airlie Beach, a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. At Airlie Beach we take a ferry across to Daydream Island in the heart of the spectacular Great Barrier Reef.
Hotel: Daydream Island Resort & Spa, Ocean Balcony Rooms, 2 nights. B D

Day 8: Daydream Island ‘Free Time’

A day at leisure to explore Daydream Island. You have the opportunity to take a rainforest walk, play beach volleyball, tennis, water polo or you could go snorkelling or kayaking. Perhaps just laze by one of the pools or on a beach or replenish your body and soul at the Daydream Rejuvenation Spa. B

Day 9: Mission Beach

Today’s journey takes you to Townsville, where you’ll have time for a stroll along the Strand then it’s on to Mission Beach in Tropical North Queensland.
Hotel: Castaways Resort & Spa, Mission Beach. B D

Day 10: Mission Beach - Cairns

Climb the high tropical plateau known as the Atherton Tablelands, where lush rainforests, waterfalls and lakes abound. Our first stop is the Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway. Elevated walkways, a cantilever and observation tower offers you the exhilarating experience of being high in the rainforest canopy and provides spectacular panoramic views of World Heritage rainforest landscapes. Later, visit Millaa Millaa Falls and the famous Curtain Fig Tree. Your final destination today is Cairns. Late this afternoon after checking into your hotel explore the Cairns Botanic Gardens before a short stroll to historic Whitfeld House. You are invited by Joy and Henry Glennie to an exclusive barbecue at their restored Federation-style mansion located in a magnificent tropical garden setting.
Hotel: Novotel Oasis Cairns, Cairns, 2 nights. B D

Day 11: Great Barrier Reef

Join a high speed 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 tropical buffet lunch before you return to Cairns. B L

Day 12: Depart Cairns

Your tour concludes today after breakfast. Make the most of your stay in this tropical city before being transferred to Cairns Airport for your onward flight. You could ride on Kuranda Railway taking you through the scenic countryside behind Cairns to the village of Kuranda with time to stroll through the market. Then return to the lowlands by the Skyrail Cableway above the Barron Gorge National Park, a beautiful experience. Visit the award-winning Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park to experience the History, Creation and Dance Theatres, where the legends of the Dreamtime are brought to life. Or perhaps take a day trip to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree National Park. Ask your travel agent or AAT Kings about all the optional tours on offer in Cairns as well as additional nights’ accommodation. B