Queensland: Sand & Sailing
12 days
from Brisbane to Cairns
From
$ 2249
Duration12 days
This is hardly a sleepy trip. Rather, this is the perfect 12-day adventure for sailing buffs that want to experience the blue waters of Australia, as well as off-road lovers looking to explore via 4x4. We’ve got a riverside camp to stay at in the gorgeous Noosa Everglades, and once we’ve left Airlie Beach, you'll learn about Indigenous artisan crafts from local Aborigines, then check out the swimming holes of the Atherton Tablelands. While “Dreamtime” is a mythology central to Indigenous Australian society, we’re pretty sure you’ll want to be wide awake for this trip.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 12 daysService level: Basic
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Starts in: BrisbanePhysical Grading: Average
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Ends in: CairnsAges: 18+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Brisbane
Start place: Brisbane
Arrive in Brisbane at any time. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city. Opt to visit the Botanical Gardens, admire views of the city from Mt Coot-tha, or relax at Streets Beach on the South Bank.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city. Opt to visit the Botanical Gardens, admire views of the city from Mt Coot-tha, or relax at Streets Beach on the South Bank.
Arrive at any time.
End place: Brisbane
Day 2: Brisbane/Noosa Everglades
Start place: Brisbane
Set off to the Noosa Everglades for an evening surrounded by stunning wilderness.
Please note that due to operational reasons, this night and the following night may be reversed. All activities and inclusions will remain the same.
End place: Noosa River
Meals: B, L
Day 3: Noosa Everglades/Fraser Island
Start place: Noosa River
Once on the island, enjoy a 4x4 tour of Fraser Island, driving along over 100km of beach. Go for a swim in Lake McKenzie, and enjoy a rainforest walk along the way.
Travel by private vehicle and ferry to reach Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. Explore the island by 22-seat 4x4 truck.
While on Fraser Island, main luggage will be stored in a secure storage facility. Each person will need to pack an overnight bag with max weight of 5kg, as access to main luggage will not be available again until the next day. This is due to luggage capacity restrictions in 4x4 vehicles.
End place: Fraser Island
Meals: B, L
Day 4: Fraser Island/Airlie Beach
Start place: Fraser Island
Enjoy a morning of exploring by 4x4 to hit the remainder of Fraser Island's highlights, before hopping an overnight train north to Airlie Beach.
End place: Airlie Beach
Meals: B, L
Day 5: Airlie Beach/Whitsunday Islands
Start place: Airlie Beach
After arriving in Airlie Beach and some time for brunch, head to the marina and embark on a maxi yacht which will be our home for the next two nights. Set sail to a secluded cove in the Whitsunday Islands where you will drop anchor for the night.
Embark on a 3-day maxi yacht sailing adventure. Enjoy beach visits, island bush walks, and time to snorkel the reefs. Anchor off of secluded tropical islands at night.
End place: Whitsunday Islands
Meals: D
Day 6: Whitsunday Islands
Start place: Whitsunday Islands
The sailing route today allows us to follow part of Captain Cook's route up through the Whitsunday Islands.
Planeterra has partnered with Reef Ecologic, a nonprofit specialized in creating innovative solutions to challenges facing coral reefs. In the Whitsundays they are working to engage the community and travellers to restore the reef following the 2017 cyclone. Reef Ecologic's new coral gardens in the Whitsundays foster natural coral fragments to be replanted into the reef for a healthy marine environment.
Planeterra has partnered with Reef Ecologic, a nonprofit specialized in creating innovative solutions to challenges facing coral reefs. In the Whitsundays they are working to engage the community and travellers to restore the reef following the 2017 cyclone. Reef Ecologic's new coral gardens in the Whitsundays foster natural coral fragments to be replanted into the reef for a healthy marine environment.
Hike to an island lookout over Whitehaven Beach, known for its stunning white sand, then enjoy free time on the famous beach. Learn about community efforts to protect and restore coral in the Great Barrier Reef before heading out to snorkel over a Planeterra-supported coral garden. Anchor off of a secluded tropical island at night.
Please note that snorkelling over the Reef Ecologic Coral Restoration project may occur on the first or last day of your Whitsunday Islands excursion, if weather conditions or tides are not ideal on this day.
End place: Whitsunday Islands
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: Whitsunday Islands/Airlie Beach
Start place: Whitsunday Islands
After three days at sea, we sail back to Airlie Beach for a night on land in a local beach hostel. Feel free to relax by the pool at the end of the day.
Continue sailing through the gorgeous backdrop of the Whitsunday Islands. Sail to the resort town of Airlie Beach for a night on the town.
End place: Airlie Beach
Meals: B
Day 8: Airlie Beach/Cairns
Start place: Airlie Beach
Admire the scenery on the train north to Cairns.
Get ready for an early morning wake-up today for the journey to Cairns. Make sure to stock up on snacks and bring personal entertainment – it may be one of the longer travel days on this trip, but it's worth it to reach The Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef!
End place: Cairns
Meals: L
Day 9: Cairns
Start place: Cairns
Opt to pre-book the "Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Enjoy a free day to visit the Great Barrier Reef or get the adrenaline pumping by whitewater rafting or bungee jumping. Cap it all off with a Big Night Out in Cairns.
End place: Cairns
Day 10: Cape Tribulation
Start place: Cairns
Head north to Cape Tribulation. Stop en route to explore Mossman Gorge and take an interpretive walk through the Daintree Rainforest.
Depart early and head north. Learn about the flora and fauna with local Aboriginals, before exploring Daintree National Park.
End place: Cape Tribulation
Day 11: Cape Tribulation/Yungaburra
Start place: Cape Tribulation
Up for a ziplining adventure? Opt to pre-book the "Jungle Surfing Through The Daintree Rainforest" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Enjoy free time in the morning to further explore the rainforest or chill out poolside. Head towards Yungaburra in the Atherton Tablelands for the night, and enjoy additional free time to explore the area.
End place: Yungaburra
Meals: B
Day 12: Yungaburra/Cairns
Start place: Yungaburra
Stop at Lake Eacham, a volcanic crater lake, before continuing on to visit some of the waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands, including Josephine Falls and the famous Millaa Millaa Falls. Later, go for a swim in the waters of Babinda Boulders before travelling back to Cairns where the tour ends upon arrival.
Ask your GCO about booking post night accommodation in Cairns, as this trip arrives back late in the evening.
End place: Cairns
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your G for Good Moment: Reef Ecologic Coral Restoration, Whitsunday Islands Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Cairns Your Big Night Out Moment: Cairns
- Fraser Island 4x4 excursion
- Noosa Everglades overnight experience
- Noosa Everglades canoeing excursion
- Entrance fees to Cooloola Recreation Area and Fraser Island in Great Sandy NP
- Whitsunday Islands sailing excursion (3 days)
- Whitehaven Beach visit
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Private vehicle, Maxi yacht, Boat, Train, 4x4 vehicle, Ferry, Walking -
Accommodation
Hostels (6 nts), Cabin (1 nt), Overnight train (1 nt), Maxi yacht (2 nts), Beach hostel (1 nt) All nights multi-share