Queensland
3
Day Itinerary •
Australia
Three days in Queensland take you to two of the greatest natural wonders on earth. The Whitsunday Islands with their extraordinary Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet swirling sands give the finest island sailing experience in Australia, while the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns gives the most extraordinary coral ecosystem on the planet. The Daintree Rainforest, the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, completes a remarkable Queensland triptych. This route focuses on Queensland's three extraordinary natural icons. The remarkable Whitsundays sailing experience with Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet aerial view, the extraordinary Great Barrier Reef outer reef snorkelling and diving from Cairns, and the remarkable Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation where the rainforest meets the reef in the most extraordinary coastal meeting in the world.
Best Time To Visit
Apr to Oct (dry season). Nov to Mar wet season, jellyfish risk on beaches.
Getting There
Fly to Whitsunday Coast (PPP) or Cairns (CNS). Direct from major cities.
Getting Around
Boat tours from Airlie Beach. Dive/snorkel tours from Cairns. Car for Daintree.
Budget Per Day
Approx A$250 to A$500 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy. All reef and island experiences guided.
DAY 1
WHITSUNDAYS
MORNING
AIRLIE BEACH AND WHITSUNDAY MARINA
Airlie Beach is the most extraordinary gateway town to the Whitsunday Islands, its remarkable Coral Sea Marina giving direct access to one of the finest sailing destinations in the world. The extraordinary 74 Whitsunday Islands scattered across the remarkably sheltered Whitsunday Passage give the finest sailing landscape in Australia. The remarkable Heart Reef visible from the air and the fine Airlie Beach lagoon are outstanding bases for the island experience. Travel: 1.5 hour boat
MIDDAY
WHITEHAVEN BEACH AND HILL INLET
Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island is the most extraordinary beach in Australia and one of the finest in the world, its remarkable 7km of pure silica sand with no dirt or mineral contamination giving the whitest beach in Queensland. The extraordinary Hill Inlet at the northern end, where the extraordinary tidal action swirls the white sand and turquoise water into the most remarkable natural patterns visible from the Tongue Point lookout, is outstanding. Travel: 1.5 hour boat back
AFTERNOON
WHITSUNDAY ISLAND SNORKELLING
The extraordinary fringing coral reefs of the Whitsunday Islands give the finest snorkelling accessible from Airlie Beach, the remarkable Langford Reef and the extraordinary Bait Reef giving the finest coral gardens in the Whitsundays. The remarkable diversity of tropical fish, the extraordinary giant clams and the fine reef shark sightings give the most complete reef snorkelling experience in the islands. Most Whitsunday day tours include snorkelling.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Hook Island in the Whitsundays has the most extraordinary free Aboriginal cave paintings in Queensland, the remarkable Ngaro Aboriginal art in the caves above the extraordinary Nara Inlet giving the finest cultural encounter in the Whitsundays. Accessible by boat. Almost entirely unknown to day visitors. The finest hidden discovery in the islands.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Airlie Beach Coffee before the boat departure. | Lunch: Lunch on the Whitsunday tour boat Outstanding fresh Queensland produce on the island cruise. | Dinner: Restaurant in Airlie Beach Outstanding Whitsunday seafood. Local coral trout and Queensland prawns.
DAY 2
GREAT BARRIER REEF
MORNING
OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF DEPARTURE
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on earth and the most extraordinary marine ecosystem in the world, stretching 2,300km along the Queensland coast and containing over 2,900 individual reefs. The extraordinary outer reef accessed from Cairns by high-speed catamaran gives the finest reef experience with the clearest water, the most extraordinary coral diversity and the greatest abundance of marine life accessible to day visitors. Depart Cairns marina at 8am. Travel: 1.5 hour boat
MIDDAY
OUTER REEF SNORKELLING AND DIVING
The outer Great Barrier Reef gives the most extraordinary snorkelling and diving experience in Australia, the remarkable coral garden platforms of Agincourt Reef and Norman Reef giving the finest visibility and coral diversity accessible from Cairns. The extraordinary turtle encounters, the remarkable Maori wrasse and the fine reef shark sightings give the finest marine life diversity in Queensland. Semi-submersible tours available for non-swimmers. Day tour approx A$180 to A$220. Travel: 1.5 hour boat back
AFTERNOON
CAIRNS ESPLANADE AND LAGOON
The Cairns Esplanade lagoon is the most extraordinary free public swimming facility in Queensland, its remarkable saltwater swimming lagoon on the foreshore giving the finest safe swimming in tropical Cairns without the stinger risk of the ocean. The remarkable Cairns Night Markets and the fine Esplanade boardwalk give the finest afternoon in the tropical capital of Queensland.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Flynn Reef off Cairns is the most extraordinary hidden outer reef site, less visited than the main Agincourt platforms with equally extraordinary coral and marine life. Some Cairns operators visit Flynn Reef on their outer reef tours. Ask specifically for Flynn Reef when booking for the finest undiscovered outer reef experience.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Cairns Early departure for the reef boat. | Lunch: Reef tour boat lunch Outstanding fresh Queensland food on the outer reef. | Dinner: Ochre Restaurant, Cairns Outstanding Cairns restaurant. Local barramundi and indigenous bush tucker.
DAY 3
DAINTREE RAINFOREST
MORNING
DAINTREE RIVER CRUISE
The Daintree River is the most extraordinary wildlife river cruise in Australia, the remarkable estuarine crocodiles sunning on the banks, the extraordinary diversity of tropical birds including the cassowary and the fine mangrove ecosystem giving the finest wildlife boat experience in Queensland. The remarkable Daintree River Ferry crossing into the ancient rainforest above gives the most extraordinary transition from farmland to Jurassic wilderness in Australia. Cruise approx A$35. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
MOSSMAN GORGE AND DAINTREE RAINFOREST
Mossman Gorge in the Daintree National Park is the most extraordinary accessible rainforest walk in Queensland, the remarkable crystal-clear Mossman River flowing through extraordinary ancient granite boulders in the world's oldest tropical rainforest giving the finest swimming hole in the Wet Tropics. The remarkable Kuku Yalanji guided cultural walk through the extraordinary forest is the finest Indigenous cultural experience in the Daintree. Gorge entry approx A$15. Travel: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
CAPE TRIBULATION AND THE REEF MEETS RAINFOREST
Cape Tribulation is the most extraordinary coastal landscape in Australia, the remarkable place where the world's oldest tropical rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef in an extraordinary wilderness accessible by road. The fine Myall Beach at the cape gives the finest swimming beach in the Daintree, and the extraordinary Cape Tribulation headland walk gives the finest view of the reef meeting the rainforest. Entirely free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Emmagen Creek walk at Cape Tribulation is the most extraordinary hidden swimming hole in the Daintree, a remarkable creek through extraordinary ancient rainforest accessible on a short walk from the main road. Free to visit. Entirely unknown to most Cape Tribulation visitors. The finest hidden freshwater swim in the Daintree.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Cairns Early departure for the Daintree. | Lunch: Cafe at Mossman Gorge Outstanding Wet Tropics cafe. Local tropical fruit and Queensland produce. | Dinner: Restaurant at Cape Tribulation or Cairns Outstanding farewell Queensland dinner. Local barramundi.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Airlie Beach, Night 1 Coral Sea Marina Resort or Airlie Beach Hotel. Marina. Approx A$150 to A$350. Cairns, Night 2 Pullman Cairns International or Rydges Esplanade. City centre. Approx A$150 to A$350.
Top Tips
1. Book all reef and Whitsunday tours weeks ahead in July and August. Dry season demand is very high.
2. Wear a stinger suit when swimming in Queensland waters October to May. Marine stingers are dangerous.
3. The Hill Inlet lookout from Tongue Point gives the most extraordinary view of the Whitsundays swirling sands.
4. Outer reef snorkelling visibility is best in the morning before afternoon winds. Choose morning departure tours.
5. The Daintree ferry crossing is the only way to access Cape Tribulation. Last ferry is around 6pm.
6. Wear reef-safe sunscreen on all reef tours. Standard sunscreens harm coral and are banned on some tours.
Total Budget
Approx A$250 to A$500 per person per day