Queensland
5
Day Itinerary •
Australia
Five days in Queensland give you the complete extraordinary sweep of Australia's Sunshine State, from Brisbane's remarkable South Bank and the fine Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to the extraordinary Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Beach, the outer Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, the ancient Daintree Rainforest and the remarkable Cape Tribulation where two World Heritage areas meet on the same beach. This route covers Queensland from south to north. Brisbane and the South Bank, the Whitsunday Islands sailing with Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, the outer Great Barrier Reef outer reef experience from Cairns, the Daintree River wildlife cruise and Mossman Gorge, and the extraordinary Cape Tribulation where the world's oldest rainforest meets the world's largest coral reef.
Best Time To Visit
Apr to Oct (dry season). Best reef visibility, stinger-free, cooler.
Getting There
Fly into Brisbane (BNE) then internal flights to Whitsundays (PPP) and Cairns (CNS)
Getting Around
Internal flights essential. Reef tours from ports. Car for Daintree.
Budget Per Day
Approx A$280 to A$550 per person per day including internal flights
Difficulity
Easy. All reef and island experiences guided.
DAY 1
BRISBANE CITY
MORNING
BRISBANE SOUTH BANK AND CULTURAL PRECINCT
Brisbane's South Bank Parklands is the most extraordinary urban riverside precinct in Australia, the remarkable man-made Streets Beach, the fine Queensland Cultural Centre with the Queensland Museum and Gallery of Modern Art, and the extraordinary Wheel of Brisbane giving the finest free morning in the Queensland capital. The remarkable Story Bridge and the fine Howard Smith Wharves precinct along the river give the finest city walk in Brisbane. South Bank free. Travel: 30 min bus
MIDDAY
LONE PINE KOALA SANCTUARY
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane is the most extraordinary koala encounter in Australia, the world's first and largest koala sanctuary with over 100 koalas and the remarkable opportunity to hold a koala and have a photo giving the finest single wildlife experience accessible from Brisbane. The extraordinary platypus, the fine wombat and the remarkable kangaroo feeding give the finest combined native animal experience in Queensland. Entry approx A$35. Koala hold extra. Travel: 30 min bus or taxi
AFTERNOON
STORY BRIDGE AND THE RIVER PRECINCT
The Story Bridge climb gives the most extraordinary panorama over Brisbane, the remarkable 60-metre climb to the summit arch giving the finest view over the city, the river bend and Moreton Bay beyond. The extraordinary Howard Smith Wharves below the bridge with its remarkable bar and restaurant precinct and the fine Brisbane River CityCat ferry give the finest Brisbane afternoon. Bridge climb approx A$79.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) at South Bank Brisbane is the most extraordinary free contemporary art museum in Queensland, its remarkable international and Australian collection giving the finest contemporary art experience north of Melbourne. Entirely free. The finest hidden free cultural attraction in Brisbane.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in South Bank, Brisbane Outstanding Brisbane cafe. Local Queensland coffee and breakfast. | Lunch: South Bank dining precinct Outstanding waterfront restaurants. Local Queensland produce. | Dinner: Restaurant in Howard Smith Wharves Outstanding Brisbane riverside dining. Local barramundi and prawns.
DAY 2
WHITSUNDAYS
MORNING
AIRLIE BEACH AND WHITSUNDAY MARINA DEPARTURE
Airlie Beach is the extraordinary gateway to the 74 Whitsunday Islands, its remarkable Coral Sea Marina the departure point for the finest sailing and island-hopping experience in Australia. The extraordinary Whitsunday Passage gives the most sheltered and beautiful island sailing in Queensland. The remarkable Hamilton Island resort and the fine Hayman Island give the finest resort island experiences in the group. Travel: 1.5 hour boat
MIDDAY
WHITEHAVEN BEACH AND HILL INLET LOOKOUT
Whitehaven Beach is the most extraordinary beach in Australia, its remarkable 7km of pure silica sand remaining cool to touch even in the height of summer and the extraordinary turquoise water of the Whitsunday Passage giving the finest single beach experience in Queensland. The remarkable Hill Inlet lookout from Tongue Point gives the most extraordinary aerial perspective of the swirling white sand and turquoise water that makes the Whitsundays iconic. Travel: 1.5 hour boat back
AFTERNOON
WHITSUNDAY REEF SNORKELLING
The fringing reefs of the Whitsunday Islands give the finest snorkelling accessible from Airlie Beach, the remarkable Bait Reef, Knuckle Reef and the extraordinary Mantaray Bay giving the finest coral garden encounters in the islands. The remarkable turtle sightings, the extraordinary reef fish diversity and the fine reef shark encounters give the most complete snorkelling experience in the Whitsundays. Most day tours include snorkelling equipment.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Hook Island in the Whitsundays has the most extraordinary free Aboriginal cave paintings in the group, the remarkable Ngaro rock art at Nara Inlet giving the finest cultural encounter in the Whitsundays. Accessible by boat. Almost entirely unknown to standard day tour visitors. The finest hidden cultural discovery in the Whitsunday Islands.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Airlie Beach Before the Whitsundays boat departure. | Lunch: Lunch on tour boat Outstanding Queensland produce on the island. | Dinner: Restaurant in Airlie Beach Outstanding Whitsunday coral trout and Queensland prawns.
DAY 3
GREAT BARRIER REEF
MORNING
OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF DEPARTURE FROM CAIRNS
The outer Great Barrier Reef accessed from Cairns is the most extraordinary marine experience in Australia, the remarkable high-speed catamaran to the outer reef platforms at Agincourt, Flynn and Norman Reef giving the finest reef quality accessible as a day trip. The extraordinary coral diversity of the outer reef far exceeds anything accessible from the Whitsundays, the vivid hard and soft corals, the extraordinary bommies and the remarkable clarity of the water outstanding. Travel: 1.5 hour boat
MIDDAY
OUTER REEF SNORKEL AND DIVE
The outer reef snorkelling experience from the pontoon platforms gives the most extraordinary underwater encounter available to non-divers in Australia, the remarkable turtle encounters at feeding stations, the extraordinary Maori wrasse approaching divers, the fine reef shark sightings and the remarkable giant clam gardens giving the finest marine diversity in Queensland. Introductory dives available for certified non-divers approx A$60 extra. Day tour approx A$180. Travel: 1.5 hour boat back
AFTERNOON
CAIRNS NIGHT MARKETS AND ESPLANADE LAGOON
The Cairns Esplanade lagoon is the most extraordinary free public swimming facility in tropical Australia, the remarkable saltwater lagoon on the foreshore eliminating the stinger risk of swimming in the ocean while giving the finest outdoor swimming in Queensland. The remarkable Cairns Night Markets with their extraordinary range of tropical produce, crafts and street food give the finest evening market experience in North Queensland.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Fitzroy Island 45 minutes from Cairns by ferry is the most extraordinary hidden reef island day trip in North Queensland, its remarkable fringing reef accessible directly from the beach giving extraordinary snorkelling without the cost of the outer reef tours. Ferry approx A$85 return. The finest undiscovered reef island near Cairns.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Cairns Before the reef boat. | Lunch: Reef tour boat lunch Outstanding fresh lunch on the outer reef. | Dinner: Ochre Restaurant, Cairns Outstanding local barramundi and bush tucker ingredients.
DAY 4
CAIRNS AND DAINTREE
MORNING
DAINTREE RIVER WILDLIFE CRUISE
The Daintree River cruise is the most extraordinary wildlife boat experience in Queensland, the remarkable estuarine crocodiles basking on the banks, the extraordinary tropical birdlife including kingfishers, sea eagles and the prehistoric-looking purple swamphen giving the finest wildlife river cruise in Australia. The remarkable diversity of over 430 bird species in the Daintree and the extraordinary crocodile encounters at close range are outstanding. Cruise approx A$35. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
MOSSMAN GORGE SWIM AND KUKU YALANJI WALK
Mossman Gorge is the most extraordinary accessible rainforest swimming hole in Queensland, the remarkable crystal-clear Mossman River flowing through ancient granite boulders in the world's oldest tropical rainforest giving the finest natural pool in the Wet Tropics. The extraordinary Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Gorge Walk with a Traditional Owner guide gives the finest Indigenous cultural encounter in the Daintree. Gorge shuttle approx A$15. Cultural walk approx A$65. Travel: 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
CAPE TRIBULATION ARRIVAL AND BEACH WALK
Cape Tribulation is the most extraordinary meeting point of two World Heritage areas in the world, the remarkable place where the ancient Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef at the extraordinary Myall Beach giving the finest beach in the Daintree. The remarkable JCU research station and the fine Dubuji Boardwalk through extraordinary mangrove and beach forest give the finest introduction to the cape. Beach entirely free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Daintree Discovery Centre canopy walk near Cape Tribulation is the most extraordinary rainforest aerial experience in Queensland, the remarkable 23-metre tower and the extraordinary aerial walkway through the ancient canopy giving the finest bird and butterfly encounter in the Daintree. Entry approx A$35. The finest hidden Daintree experience.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Cairns or on the road north Before the Daintree River cruise. | Lunch: Cafe at Mossman Gorge Outstanding tropical fruit and local Daintree produce. | Dinner: Turtle Rock Cafe, Cape Tribulation Outstanding Cape Tribulation restaurant. Local barramundi and tropical produce.
DAY 5
CAPE TRIBULATION
MORNING
CAPE TRIBULATION RAINFOREST WALK
The Dubuji Boardwalk at Cape Tribulation gives the most extraordinary free rainforest walk in the Daintree, the remarkable 1.2km loop through extraordinary mangrove, beach forest and ancient fan palm communities giving the finest free interpretation of the tropical ecosystems at the cape. The extraordinary cassowary habitat along the boardwalk gives the finest cassowary encounter chance in the Daintree. Cassowaries are regularly sighted on the cape road at dawn. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
EMMAGEN CREEK AND ALEXANDRA RANGE LOOKOUT
Emmagen Creek at the northern end of the sealed road beyond Cape Tribulation is the most extraordinary hidden swimming hole in the Daintree, the remarkable creek through ancient rainforest giving the finest freshwater swim in the Wet Tropics. The extraordinary Alexandra Range lookout on the return south gives the finest panorama over the entire Cape Tribulation headland, the reef offshore and the ancient rainforest inland. Both entirely free. Travel: 1.5 hour drive back to Cairns
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO CAIRNS AND DEPARTURE
The return drive from Cape Tribulation to Cairns via the Daintree ferry and the Captain Cook Highway gives the most extraordinary farewell to tropical North Queensland, the remarkable coastal road with the Coral Sea on one side and the Wet Tropics mountains on the other and the fine Palm Cove beach resort town giving the finest last stop before Cairns.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Palm Cove beach 25 minutes north of Cairns on the Captain Cook Highway is the most extraordinary hidden beach resort in North Queensland, a remarkable esplanade of melaleuca trees above a fine beach with excellent restaurants and almost none of the Cairns tourist crowds. The finest hidden beach stop on the return from the Daintree to Cairns.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cape Tribulation resort cafe Before the morning rainforest walk. | Lunch: Cafe at Cape Tribulation or Daintree village Outstanding tropical Queensland food. | Dinner: Restaurant in Cairns Outstanding farewell Queensland dinner. Local barramundi and reef fish.
Where To Stay
Brisbane, Night 1 The Fantauzzo or Emporium Hotel. South Bank area. Approx A$150 to A$380. Airlie Beach, Night 2 Coral Sea Marina Resort or Hamilton Island resort. Approx A$150 to A$500. Cairns, Nights 3 to 5 Pullman Cairns International or Riley. Esplanade. Approx A$150 to A$380.
Top Tips
1. Book all tours months ahead. July and August reef tours and Whitsunday sailing fill extremely quickly.
2. Wear reef-safe sunscreen on all reef tours. Standard sunscreens harm coral and are banned by some operators.
3. Stinger suits are recommended for swimming October to May in Queensland waters. Most tours provide them.
4. Cassowaries in the Daintree are a real road hazard. Drive slowly. They can be seen at Cape Tribulation.
5. Hill Inlet lookout from Tongue Point gives the most extraordinary view of Whitehaven Beach swirling sands.
6. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane offers a koala hold experience. Book in advance.
Total Budget
Approx A$280 to A$550 per person per day including internal flights