Essential Brisbane to Cairns

Essential Brisbane to Cairns

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10 Days From

$2610

Essential Brisbane to Cairns

10 Days Starting in Brisbane and ending in Cairns

Visiting: Brisbane, Noosa, Noosa / Overnight Train, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

PZYB

Group size:

1 - 16

Physical rating:

Low, Low

Age range:

18-35 years

Trip Styles:

Sailing

Activities:

Snorkeling, Walking

From: $2610

NB: Prices correct on 24-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

This 10-day adventure from Brisbane to Cairns is perfect for those seeking the natural beauty of Queensland. You’ll explore the popular town of Noosa, home to the Coastal Walk, Sunshine Beach and Hell’s Gate lookout. Bliss out with a full free day to take an optional eco-safari and canoe adventure in the Everglades or maybe hop in 4WDs for a guided tour of K’gari. Then, you’ll have a two-night sailing experience with other young, likeminded travellers – cruising through the Whitsundays, you’ll be diving, snorkelling, swimming, visiting secret beaches and chilling in the jacuzzi. Couple these with a tour of Mungalla Station with a local First Nations guide, a full day to explore the lush Magnetic Island and a free afternoon on Mission Beach, and you’ve got a pretty epic adventure along the east coast!

Highlights

  • Hop aboard for an epic two-night sailing adventure through the stunning Whitsundays. Go stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling or scuba diving from the boat, relax in the onboard jacuzzi and soak up the landscape as you cruise through the untouched islands.

  • Meet with a First Nations guide at Mungalla Station to learn about history and culture of the Nywaigi people. Then, discover the wetlands and abundance of birds that call this place home.

  • Spend two nights on Magnetic Island, known for its amazing natural scenery, lush walking trails, secluded beaches and koalas that live here in the treetops.

  • Relax among the palm trees on Mission Beach, with a free afternoon to dig your heels into the warm sands, look out at the ocean over sunset or watch the cassowaries cross the road.

  • Discover the town of Noosa, where you’ll take the Coastal Walk to Hill’s Gate lookout. Then, enjoy heaps of free time to maybe go surfing, take a day trip to K'gari (Fraser Island) or an eco-safari through the lush Everglades.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Brisbane

Location: Brisbane

Accommodation: Hostel (Multi-share)

Welcome to Brisbane! Or Meanjin in the language of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Brisbane is now located. Your adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not explore the Botanic Gardens, Roma Street Parkland or chase views overlooking the city at the Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout. After your meeting tonight, maybe head to dinner with your group and get to know each other better – your leader will always have some great recommendations.

Day 2: Noosa

Location: Noosa

Accommodation: Hostel (Multi-share)

This morning, you’ll head for Noosa – a serene town along the Sunshine Coast and home to Sunshine Beach (popular for surfing) and Noosa National Park. You’ll head straight for the park’s lush surroundings and take on part of the Coastal Walk hike. Walk along the shoreline and the headlands, which make way for sweeping ocean views, rocky bays and sandy beaches. Look out for marine life cruising by and if you’re lucky, spot some koalas in the trees munching on eucalyptus. The pinnacle of the walk will be Hell’s Gate Lookout, which offers 270-degree views of the ocean beyond. Look for ospreys soaring above or pods of dolphins playing below. Maybe grab some lunch, then check into your accommodation for the night, getting ready for a free evening to spend however you like. You could take on an afternoon surf lesson, go for another walk or maybe just relax at the beach and watch the sunset.

Included Activities:
-Noosa - Hell's Gates Lookout
-Noosa - Coastal Walk

Day 3: Noosa

Location: Noosa

Accommodation: Hostel (Multi-share)

Today is a free day to explore Noosa and the surrounding areas. Consider taking a day trip to K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island). This guided 4WD tour around the world's largest sand island takes you to Lake McKenzie, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest, 75 Mile Beach, Eli Creek and the Maheno Shipwreck. Alternatively, you can hit the waters on a boat tour through the Noosa Everglades. This eco-safari will take you on a guided cruise through the everglades, where a vast array of birdlife call home. From the boat, you can also opt to jump in canoes and paddle among the mirrored waterways to the historic Harry’s Hut.

Optional Activities:
-Noosa - K’gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour

Day 4: Noosa / Overnight Train

Location: Noosa / Overnight Train

Accommodation: Overnight Train

Today is free to take the everglades eco-safari if you didn’t get the chance to yesterday. Alternatively, just chill out in Noosa, explore the town or hit the beach. Tonight, you’ll take an overnight train to the Whitsundays region – maybe grab some bits to have for dinner and snacks on board and settle in for a fun night with your bunkmates (cards, anyone?).

Optional Activities:
-Noosa - Everglades Explorer Tour (from)

Day 5: Airlie Beach / Whitsunday Sailing

Location: Airlie Beach / Whitsunday Sailing

Accommodation: Overnight Sailing (Multi-share)

Meals Included: dinner

Arrive in Proserpine early this morning and meet your new leader at the station. From here, you’ll drive to Airlie Beach for some free time to go for a dip, grab breakfast or chill out on the sand. This afternoon, you’ll embark on a special two-night sailing trip in the Whitsundays – a group of islands in the Coral Sea, popular for the gorgeous natural scenery, bright blue waters and white sands. Climb aboard the boat, your home for the next two days, and set sail! During your time aboard, you’ll have the luxury of an onboard jacuzzi (is there a better spot to watch the sunset?) and opportunities to go scuba diving, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding.

Included Activities:
-Whitsunday Islands - Sailing Excursion (2 Nights)

Day 6: Whitsunday Sailing

Location: Whitsunday Sailing

Accommodation: Overnight Sailing (Multi-share)

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Wake up early this morning to make the most of your day at sea – take in the gorgeous landscapes and seascapes of the Whitsundays and make stops at the gorgeous Whitehaven Beach, – in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands, this beach also sits in the centre of the Great Barrier Reef – Hill Inlet lookout, and some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling spots in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Enjoy deliciously fresh meals on the boat, meet some new friends and soak up the beauty of this scenic area. Tonight, you might even head to a secret beach for sunset drinks!

Included Activities:
-Whitsunday Islands - Sailing Excursion (2 Nights)

Day 7: Magnetic Island

Location: Magnetic Island

Accommodation: Hostel (Multi-share)

Meals Included: breaksfast

Soak up the bliss of your last morning on the boat, then disembark in Airlie. After some free time to relax on the beach or grab some lunch, you’ll drive to Townsville. As soon as you arrive, hop on the ferry to Magnetic Island – this mountainous island in Cleveland Bay is known for its scenic national park, abundance of koalas, secluded beaches and hiking opportunities.

Day 8: Magnetic Island

Location: Magnetic Island

Accommodation: Hostel (Multi-share)

Today is dedicated to soaking up all the natural scenery of Magnetic Island. Explore at your own pace – maybe go in search of a secluded beach and set up shop, take on a hike or just chill out with a drink. Later, hike along the Forts Walking Track with your group, looking out for the resident koalas and enjoying the gorgeous views. There are even some World War II relics to see among the tropical landscape. 

Included Activities:
-Magnetic Island - Forts Walking Track

Day 9: Mission Beach

Location: Mission Beach

Accommodation: Rainforest Retreat (Multi-share)

Meals Included: dinner

Say goodbye to the island as you take the morning ferry back to Townsville. From here, drive to Mungalla station, where you’ll meet the First Nations owners of the land – the Nywaigi people – and learn about their culture and history, including the brutal conflicts with European settlers. The story you’ve been told will come to life as you visit an exhibition of pictures within the historic homestead. Then head out and explore the Mungalla wetlands in search of aquatic birdlife. Drive to Mission Beach this afternoon – a small coastal town with expansive beaches, lined with palm trees.

Included Activities:
-Mungalla Station - Nywaigi First Nations Guided Tour

Day 10: Cairns

Location: Cairns

Your last day of adventure begins with a drive to Cairns, where your trip will come to an end. Along the way, maybe stop by some waterfalls and swimming holes, soaking in the last of the gorgeous natural scenery. When you arrive, it’s time to say goodbye to an awesome adventure! If you’d like to extend your stay and explore Cairns further, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hostel (Multi-share) (5 nights), Overnight Train (1 night), Overnight Sailing (Multi-share) (2 nights), Rainforest Retreat (Multi-share) (1 night)

  • Meals
    2 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 3 dinners

  • Noosa - Hell's Gates Lookout

  • Noosa - Coastal Walk

  • Whitsunday Islands - Sailing Excursion (2 Nights)

  • Magnetic Island - Forts Walking Track

  • Mungalla Station - Nywaigi First Nations Guided Tour

Transport

  • Private Vehicle , Overnight Train , Overnight Sailing , Ferry , Bus

Accommodation

  • We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible properties in line with the Intrepid 18 to 35s style of travel. Our first accommodation choice is always as close to the main attraction of the destination as possible, however, sometimes we are not in the right centre of action, which means you may need to hop on a public transport to get to the city centre. Your accommodation will not always have private ensuite facilities or air-conditioning.
  • OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
  • ROOMING ALLOCATION
  • Accommodation on this trip is on a multi-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with other travellers of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports.
  • CHECK-IN TIME
  • Throughout the trip we request that our accommodation prepares rooms in time for your arrival, especially if you're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means you won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some properties. Instead, you can store your luggage and go exploring.
  • PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
  • If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

Important Information

  • 1. A single room supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. If you are a single traveller this will give you a single room, if you are travelling as a couple a double/twin room will be allocated to you. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Overnight Train) and Days 5 & 6 (Whitsundays Sailing) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 2. Accommodation on this trip is in multi-share hostels. Multishare typically includes 4-8 beds. You may be required to share with non-Intrepid travellers outside of your group. People travelling together may occasionally be separated due to single gender dorms.
  • 3. The overnight train is in economy seats and is not accompanied by a tour leader. Luggage weight allowance is one checked piece (20kgs) and one carry on hand luggage.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    This trip includes accommodation in multi-share dormitories, where you won't be staying in twin share hotels, but rather cool hangouts with shared facilities. This means travellers on the same booking may be split between rooms due to the single gender dormitories. You may also be required to share with non-Intrepid travellers outside of your group. Single room supplements are available (on request).

    This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has plenty of free time where your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in and public transport to those activities.

    There are some long travel days on this trip, but it’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The overnight train is in comfortable economy seats and is not accompanied by a tour leader.

    This trip is part of a longer itinerary. You might be joining travellers who have already spent some time together. If you have more time to explore, you might like to check out Real Australia.

  • 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

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

Just leaving a review to...

24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

LivvyGrace 4 (Google Reviewer)  

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15-Jul-2024

I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon!

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

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26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X

Nicole  

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12-Oct-2021

This was my first international solo trip, but I never felt “alone” - there was always someone to go shopping, hike, or grab a quick bite with. The itinerary was a great balance between organized activities, while still allowing free time for exploring. Each location was unique and charming in its own way. Spending the night in the holy city of Moulay Idriss and wandering the winding streets of Chefchaouen were especially memorable. Thank you Mustapha and Intrepid for an incredible adventure!

Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

I have just completed a...

29-Feb-2024

I have just completed a 12 day food tour of Vietnam, and had an amazing time. Our tour leader was great, knowledgeable and kind, who helped throughout the trip with recommendations for places on our free days, and spas. All the food we tried was delicious. It is a very fast paced tour, and Bon tried to maximise our experiences for the best.

Henry Guy Robinson   United Kingdom

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Book 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.

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