Tropical Islands & Rainforest
Tropical Islands & Rainforest
$4285
Tropical Islands & Rainforest
9 Days Starting in Gold Coast, Australia and ending in Cairns, Australia
Visiting: K'gari (Fraser Island), Rockhampton, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QGC24
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
0-
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Australia's stunning landscapes with the "Tropical Islands & Rainforest" tour. This wildlife adventure takes you from the vibrant Gold Coast to the tropical paradise of Cairns, offering a seamless travel experience with a specialist Travel Director and Driver. Discover the wonders of K'gari (Fraser Island), the Great Barrier Reef, and the Wet Tropics of Queensland, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Enjoy comfortable accommodations at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Quality Hotel Regent, Mantra Club Croc, and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, providing easy access to breathtaking natural attractions. Experience the thrill of 4WD tours, ferry rides, and scenic drives, and explore iconic sites like the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, Lake McKenzie, and the Maheno shipwreck. With flexible holiday options, you can choose your own adventure in the Whitsundays, whether it's hiking, cruising, or flying over the Coral Sea. This tour promises a perfect blend of relaxation and exploration.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Gold Coast - K'gari (Fraser Island)
Location: K'gari (Fraser Island)
Accommodation Name: Kingfisher Bay Resort
Follow the waves north to World Heritage-Listed K’gari (Fraser Island). The ferry ride across the strait is a highlight, particularly during whale migration when these gentle giants come to the calm, protected waters to calve. Landing on K’gari, expect to see a lot of sand. This is, after all, the world’s largest sand island, and the only place in the world where rainforest grows from the sand.
Day 2: K'gari (Fraser Island)
Location: K'gari (Fraser Island)
Accommodation Name: Kingfisher Bay Resort
Meals Included: Lunch
The other thing sandy is K’gari’s highway, which you’ll get to zip along on a 4WD tour across 75 Mile Beach, all the way up the east coast to the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, calm Eli Creek and the Maheno shipwreck. Bring your camera, because between the wreck and Lake McKenzie – a dazzling patch of blue formed only with rainwater – you’ll accumulate dozens of happy snaps. It’s a hard act to follow, but the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek lives up to the challenge with its huge satiny, scribbly gum and kauri trees.
Day 3: K'gari (Fraser Island) - Rockhampton
Location: Rockhampton
Accommodation Name: Quality Hotel Regent, Rockhampton
In a whiplash, you leave the coast behind and reunite with Queensland’s cattle country. First stop: Langmorn Station, where the Creed family welcome you to their immense (and historic) cattle property with open arms and afternoon tea. And just a few stories about life on the land… The theme continues as you cross the Tropic of Capricorn to arrive in Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia. See if it deserves its title sampling some of the town’s restaurants. Ask us for tips.
Day 4: Rockhampton - Airlie Beach
Location: Airlie Beach
Accommodation Name: Mantra Club Croc
Meals Included: Lunch
From Australia’s beef capital to its sugar capital – today you’re en route to Sarina. If you’ve ever wanted to know how sugar cane is processed and distilled, you’ll find the guided tour at the Sarina Sugar Shed a sweet addition to the itinerary. And yes, you get to sample the wares. Continue, on a high, to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays. Life moves at a leisurely pace here. Fall into step and take things slow tonight.
Day 5: Airlie Beach Free Time
Location: Airlie Beach
Accommodation Name: Mantra Club Croc
The Whitsunday Islands are the stuff of postcards, a dreamy collection of 74 tropical islands that are all white sandy beaches and dense rainforest, surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef. You have to decide how to take it in. Perhaps on a scenic flight over the legendary Heart Reef, or on a cruise to Whitehaven Beach, where high amounts of silica in the sand means that it squeaks under your feet. Bring your sunglasses – the colours are blinding.
Day 6: Airlie Beach - Cairns
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
Relax – today is all about soaking up the scenery. Think sugar cane fields and rolling green paddocks, all framed by the ocean and rainforest-clad mountains on one side, and the Coral Sea on the other. Stretch your legs en route to Cairns and soak up this steamy part of the state.
Day 7: Cairns
Location: Cairns
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
Early morning is the ideal time to explore Cairns, before things get too steamy. Join locals on a heart-starting stroll along the Esplanade. The temperature dips as you climb into the Atherton Tablelands, a high tropical plateau of rainforest, including the heritage listed Curtain Tree. And waterfalls, like Millaa Millaa, where enormous iridescent Ulysses butterflies like to dance. Explore Kuranda before getting some perspective on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, high above and through the canopy of the Barron Gorge National Park.
Day 8: Great Barrier Reef
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
Meals Included: Lunch
Just when you thought your outlook couldn’t get any better, you’re zipping over the Great Barrier Reef on a high-speed catamaran. Snorkel with six of the world’s sea turtles bobbing over fans of coral, as well as so many fish you won’t know where to look. If you prefer to keep your head above water, the marine world can also be glimpsed from an underwater observatory and glass-bottom boat.
Day 9: Farewell From Cairns
Location: Cairns
From underwater love to overwater love – bid adieu to your new crew of travel buddies.
What's Included
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Specialist Team
A specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver will accompany you throughout the tour.
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Visit 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: K’gari (Fraser Island), Great Barrier Reef, and Wet Tropics of Queensland (Barron Gorge National Park, Skyrail).
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Crater Lake National Park
Entrance fees to Crater Lake National Park, including Millaa Millaa Falls, are included.
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Transport
Travel through Australia's breathtaking landscapes with ferry rides, 4WD tours, and scenic drives from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price.
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Airport Transfers
Return airport to hotel transfers are not included in the holiday price.
Mode of Transport
Travel through Australia's breathtaking landscapes with a specialist team of a Travel Director and Driver, including ferry rides, 4WD tours, and scenic drives, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
Accommodation
Enjoy comfortable stays at Kingfisher Bay Resort on K'gari (Fraser Island), Quality Hotel Regent in Rockhampton, Mantra Club Croc in Airlie Beach, and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns, offering easy access to the tour's stunning natural attractions.
Dining Summary
- 8 Full Breakfast (B)
- 3 Lunch (L)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Fitness Requirement
- Low level of fitness required
Flexible Holidays
- Hike through rainforest, stroll Whitehaven’s sand, cruise the Coral Sea or chopper above it. Choose your own Whitsundays adventure.
Flight information
- Flights to and from the start/end of your trip are not included in the trip price. Day prior – flights to arrive anytime into Gold Coast AirportDay 9 – flights to depart anytime from Cairns Airport
Iconic Sites
- Get up close with the only natural wonder you can see from space on the Great Barrier Reef. Dive in or cruise in a glass-bottom boat.
Natural Wonders
- Some of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest envelops Cairns, this verdant tangle of ferns and palms a natural magnet for native wildlife.
Sustainable Travel
- Our Take 3 for the Sea program helps conserve our oceans through small collective efforts of rubbish collection.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Warm layers in cooler months Camera
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes travel through Australia's breathtaking landscapes with a specialist team of a Travel Director and Driver. It features ferry rides, 4WD tours, and scenic drives, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
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What type of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
You will enjoy comfortable stays at Kingfisher Bay Resort on K'gari (Fraser Island), Quality Hotel Regent in Rockhampton, Mantra Club Croc in Airlie Beach, and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns, all offering easy access to the tour's stunning natural attractions.
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Are there any UNESCO World Heritage Sites included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes visits to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: K'gari (Fraser Island), the Great Barrier Reef, and the Wet Tropics of Queensland, including Barron Gorge National Park and Skyrail.
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What activities are available on K'gari (Fraser Island)?
On K'gari, you can enjoy a ferry ride across the strait, a 4WD tour along 75 Mile Beach, and visits to the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, Eli Creek, the Maheno shipwreck, Lake McKenzie, and the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek.
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What can I do during the free time at Airlie Beach?
During your free time at Airlie Beach, you can explore the Whitsunday Islands, take a scenic flight over the Heart Reef, or enjoy a cruise to Whitehaven Beach, known for its high silica sand that squeaks underfoot.
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What experiences are offered at the Great Barrier Reef?
At the Great Barrier Reef, you can enjoy a high-speed catamaran ride, snorkel with sea turtles and colorful fish, or view the marine life from an underwater observatory and glass-bottom boat.
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What is the fitness requirement for this tour?
A low level of fitness is required for this tour.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Thursday - Friday
Mar 06, 2025 - Mar 14, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.