Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree
Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree
Best of Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Daintree
5 Days Starting and ending in Cairns
Visiting: Cairns, Kuranda / Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest / Cape Tribulation / Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef / Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge / Palm Cove / Cairns
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PZKQ
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
On this five-day deep dive into some of Australia’s greatest natural wonders, you’ll explore ancient rainforests and one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the Great Barrier Reef. With an expert leader, you’ll start your trip in Carins and make your way to Kuranda, where you’ll fly over the tropical rainforest and the quaint mountain town on the 7.5 km Skyrail. Then, head to Port Douglas – a paradise town in Queensland surrounded by palm trees and warm sands. Explore the Daintree Rainforest – the oldest living rainforest in the world – and head out on a crocodile and wildlife-spotting boat tour. Keep sailing with a full-day snorkelling adventure aboard a catamaran, accompanied by expert marine biologists, then end it all with a walking tour of Mossman Gorge with a local Aboriginal guide who will teach you about the area and its links with Dreaming.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Cairns
Location: Cairns
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Welcome to Cairns! Or Gimuy, in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Cairns is now located. This is the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the gorgeous Daintree Rainforest. Your adventure officially starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at your hotel, where you’ll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive in Cairns with time to spare, why not check out the Cairns Botanical Gardens, a lush tropical wonderland. Or simply wander the waterfront promenade, popping into any local bars that take your fancy.After the group meeting, head out with your group for an included dinner. 
Day 2: Kuranda / Port Douglas
Location: Kuranda / Port Douglas
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
This morning after breakfast, soar over the world’s oldest tropical rainforest via the Skyrail that connects Cairns to the picturesque mountain village of Kuranda. You’ll glide along 7.5 km of cableway and admire the ancient landscape from a truly unique perspective. You’ll have some free time to explore this charming rainforest town and its surroundings – Kuranda is a delightful mix of colourful characters and natural beauty, perched at the top of a rainforest-clad mountain. You might like to check out the famous Kuranda Markets and village shopping or kick back and relax at one of the town’s many restaurants and cafes, where outdoor dining is one of the joys of the cooler mountain climate. Drive along the coast to Port Douglas, taking in the ocean views and the cliffs covered in native flora. Tonight, head out on an orientation walk around Port Douglas, stopping at Trinity Bay Lookout Point to admire the perfect crescent of sand and surf. Then, head to a local restaurant for drinks and dinner with your fellow travellers before returning to your accommodation for the evening. 
Included Activities:
-
-
-
-
Day 3: Daintree Rainforest / Cape Tribulation / Port Douglas
Location: Daintree Rainforest / Cape Tribulation / Port Douglas
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: lunch
Today, you’ll visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest. When you arrive, head out on a one-hour crocodile and wildlife spotting boat tour along the Daintree River (Julaymba). On the electric Solar Whisper, you’ll hear the sounds of nature around you as you look out for crocs, birdlife, snakes, frogs, crabs and fish. Your experienced guide will be accustomed to the nuances of the river, the rainforest and the mangroves, meaning you’ll be able to find wildlife you wouldn’t be able to find on your own. After you find some feathered friends and long-toothed foes, head north to Cape Tribulation, stopping at Jindalba Boardwalk and a local ice cream factory on the way.  
Included Activities:
-
-
-
Day 4: Great Barrier Reef / Port Douglas
Location: Great Barrier Reef / Port Douglas
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: lunch
This morning, you’ll head out on a fantastic full-day boat tour from Port Douglas. Explore the stunning Coral Cays on the Great Barrier Reef on a sailing boat guided by marine biologists, who will share their passion and knowledge of the reef as you float along the expansive blue waters. Learn about the fragile environment, enjoy presentations on the reef by experts on board and head to an exclusive site for a spot of wildlife-focused snorkelling (equipment provided). There are vast coral gardens to explore at your own pace – as a protected and shallow area, you’ll see corals, giant clams, turtles and fish in their natural habitat. Enjoy a buffet lunch (including prawns) and afternoon tea on board (including local Daintree produce) while you continue to spot wildlife from the glass-bottomed boat. Tonight, enjoy a night to relax in Port Douglas after a spectacular day on the water.
Included Activities:
-
Day 5: Mossman Gorge / Palm Cove / Cairns
Location: Mossman Gorge / Palm Cove / Cairns
This morning, you’ll head to Mossman Gorge for a fascinating Ngadiku Dreamtime walking tour, led by a local Aboriginal guide. Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) means stories and legends from a long time ago in the local Kuku Yalanji language and you’ll learn about these stories on a guided walk along private, gentle tracks, visiting culturally significant sites, traditional bark shelters and cool rainforest streams. Witness a traditional smoking ceremony to cleanse and ward off bad spirits and then stroll through the lush rainforest, learning about traditional plant use, bush food sources and the connection to this unique tropical environment. After, enjoy a traditional bush tea and damper (a loaf or cake of flour and water that’s baked in wood ashes). Drive south to Palm Cove, stopping along the way to explore the scenic beachside town where you can grab some lunch. You can end your trip here or carry on to Cairns, where your trip will come to an end at approximately 4pm.
Included Activities:
-
What's Included
-
Accommodation
Hotel (4 nights) -
Kuranda - Skyrail (one-way)
-
Kuranda - Kuranda Markets
-
Kuranda - Kuranda Village Visit
-
Port Douglas - Leader-lead Orientation Walk
-
Daintree National Park – Solar Whisper Daintree River Wildlife Cruise
-
Daintree National Park - Jindalba circuit track
-
Daintree National Park - Cape Tribulation Lookout & Beach Walk
-
Port Douglas - Full-day Great Barrier Reef tour
-
Mossman Gorge - Ngadiku Dreamtime walk
-
Meals
1 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
What's Not Included
-
Insurance
-
International Travel
Transport
- Private vehicle , Boat
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- START & END TIMES
- The trip starts in Cairns with a Welcome Meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 at our joining point hotel. The trip finishes in Palm Cove on Day 5 early afternoon or in Cairns at our finish point hotel at approximately 4 pm. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request (Cairns only).
- SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
- A Single Supplement can be booked if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.
Mode of Transport
- Private vehicle , Boat
Check out our Q&As
-
Is this trip right for you
This trip involves plenty of walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with good fitness and mobility. See information about specific walks in the itinerary.
Some activities on this trip are subject to weather and water conditions and on occasion, may be cancelled for safety or operational reasons. In the case of cancellation, we will endeavour to find a suitable replacement activity.
This trip forms part of some longer combination tours. If you would like to continue exploring Australia with us, consider booking our Best of Australia (PZKAC) trip. See our website for details. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
2024 Dec
2024 Jan
2025 Feb
2025 Mar
2025 Apr
2025 May
2025 Jun
2025 Jul
2025 Aug
2025 Sep
2025 Oct
2025 Nov
2025 Dec
2025 Jan
2026 Feb
2026 Mar
2026 Apr
2026 May
2026 Jun
2026 Jul
2026 Aug
2026 Sep
2026 Oct
2026 Nov
2026 Dec
2026 Jan
2027 Feb
2027 Mar
2027
Thursday - Monday
Nov 21, 2024 - Nov 25, 2024Thursday - Monday
Dec 05, 2024 - Dec 09, 2024Thursday - Monday
Jan 02, 2025 - Jan 06, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jan 16, 2025 - Jan 20, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jan 30, 2025 - Feb 03, 2025Thursday - Monday
Feb 13, 2025 - Feb 17, 2025Thursday - Monday
Feb 27, 2025 - Mar 03, 2025Thursday - Monday
Mar 13, 2025 - Mar 17, 2025Thursday - Monday
Mar 27, 2025 - Mar 31, 2025Thursday - Monday
Apr 24, 2025 - Apr 28, 2025Thursday - Monday
May 22, 2025 - May 26, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jun 12, 2025 - Jun 16, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jun 19, 2025 - Jun 23, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jul 03, 2025 - Jul 07, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jul 17, 2025 - Jul 21, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jul 31, 2025 - Aug 04, 2025Thursday - Monday
Aug 14, 2025 - Aug 18, 2025Thursday - Monday
Aug 28, 2025 - Sep 01, 2025Thursday - Monday
Sep 11, 2025 - Sep 15, 2025Thursday - Monday
Sep 25, 2025 - Sep 29, 2025Thursday - Monday
Oct 09, 2025 - Oct 13, 2025Thursday - Monday
Nov 06, 2025 - Nov 10, 2025Thursday - Monday
Nov 20, 2025 - Nov 24, 2025Thursday - Monday
Dec 04, 2025 - Dec 08, 2025Thursday - Monday
Dec 18, 2025 - Dec 22, 2025Thursday - Monday
Jan 01, 2026 - Jan 05, 2026Thursday - Monday
Jan 15, 2026 - Jan 19, 2026Thursday - Monday
Jan 29, 2026 - Feb 02, 2026Thursday - Monday
Feb 12, 2026 - Feb 16, 2026Thursday - Monday
Feb 26, 2026 - Mar 02, 2026Thursday - Monday
Mar 12, 2026 - Mar 16, 2026Thursday - Monday
Mar 26, 2026 - Mar 30, 2026Thursday - Monday
Apr 23, 2026 - Apr 27, 2026Thursday - Monday
May 21, 2026 - May 25, 2026Thursday - Monday
Jun 11, 2026 - Jun 15, 2026Thursday - Monday
Jun 18, 2026 - Jun 22, 2026Thursday - Monday
Jul 02, 2026 - Jul 06, 2026Thursday - Monday
Jul 16, 2026 - Jul 20, 2026Thursday - Monday
Jul 30, 2026 - Aug 03, 2026Thursday - Monday
Aug 13, 2026 - Aug 17, 2026Thursday - Monday
Aug 27, 2026 - Aug 31, 2026Thursday - Monday
Sep 10, 2026 - Sep 14, 2026Thursday - Monday
Sep 24, 2026 - Sep 28, 2026Thursday - Monday
Oct 08, 2026 - Oct 12, 2026Thursday - Monday
Nov 05, 2026 - Nov 09, 2026Thursday - Monday
Nov 19, 2026 - Nov 23, 2026Thursday - Monday
Dec 03, 2026 - Dec 07, 2026Thursday - Monday
Dec 17, 2026 - Dec 21, 2026Thursday - Monday
Dec 31, 2026 - Jan 04, 2027Thursday - Monday
Jan 14, 2027 - Jan 18, 2027Thursday - Monday
Jan 28, 2027 - Feb 01, 2027Thursday - Monday
Feb 11, 2027 - Feb 15, 2027Thursday - Monday
Feb 25, 2027 - Mar 01, 2027Thursday - Monday
Mar 11, 2027 - Mar 15, 2027Thursday - Monday
Mar 25, 2027 - Mar 29, 2027Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions