Intrepid Travel: Daintree & Cape Tribulation Adventure

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 Daintree Rainforest. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive in Cairns with time to spare, why not check out the Cairns Botanical Gardens or simply wander the waterfront promenade, popping into any of the local bars that take your fancy.

Today's welcome meeting will take place at 6 pm this evening at the starting point hotel. Please see details in the joining point section in the Essential Trip Information document. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

This morning after breakfast, head out on a First Nations-guided eco-tour of Mandingal Bay. The traditional owners of this land will teach you about Country, where mountains are home to rainforests and vast wetlands are home to local birdlife. Walk to Hills Creek, where the sea meets the fresh water and attend a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony. Join your guide on a rainforest trail and learn about ancient Aboriginal traditions, customs and artefacts as you listen to the sounds of nature. After, you have a free afternoon in Cairns to grab some lunch, head to a local art gallery, explore the aquarium or just soak up some sun on the promenade.

Please note that the First Nations-guided eco-tour today is on a join-in basis. Other travellers from outside our Intrepid group may join us.

Activities:

• Cairns - Mandingalbay First Nations tour

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

This morning, enjoy breakfast and then drive to Kuranda – perched at the top of a mountain. You’ll have some time to explore this charming rainforest town and its surroundings at your own pace. Maybe check out the famous Kuranda Markets, or relax at one of the town’s many restaurants and cafes, where outdoor dining is one of the joys of the cooler mountain climate. After, head to nearby Barron Falls and walk to the lookout for the best photo spots. Continue to Mareeba, where you’ll take a leader-led orientation walk. This afternoon, visit the Tolga Bat Hospital – Australia’s largest bat rehabilitation facility. Here you’ll learn about the facility's research, advocacy and community education and make some new upside-down friends. Tonight, you’ll head to the Mareeba Wetlands for an exciting wildlife spotting experience at sunset, hosted by Forever Wild – an organisation that creates community and nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. After dark falls, head back to your accommodation for an included group dinner.

This morning you have the option to travel to Kuranda via the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway (at your own expense). We recommend you book this option well ahead of time on the respective operator's website as these activities can sell out. For the Skyrail please book the 9:30am time slot from Smithfield or for the Scenic Railway please book the 8:55am departure from Freshwater. Your leader will drop you at the Skyrail terminal or at Freshwater station, and will collect you upon arrival in Kuranda. Please note that these activities are optional and are not included in the price of your trip. If you don't want to take advantage of this optional activity you are free to stay on the vehicle and drive with the leader to Kuranda. The walk to Din Din Barron Falls lookout is an easy 1.2km return walk, taking around 40 mins.

Activities:

• Atherton Tablelands - Tolga Bat Hospital
• Mareeba Wetlands - Forever Wild sunset wildlife experience
• Kuranda - Kuranda Markets
• Barron Gorge National Park - Din Din Barron Falls lookout

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

This morning, maybe head out bright and early for a unique optional birdwatching experience in the wetlands – the best time to witness the local birdlife in their natural habitat! Then, enjoy some breakfast and head to the idyllic Mossman Gorge for a refreshing morning swim and a nature walk. After, you’ll continue to not one but two UNESCO World Heritage areas – Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest. Head off on another nature walk and immerse yourself in the sounds and smells of the rainforest, keeping your eye out for local birdlife. Daintree is over 135 million years old, making it the oldest rainforest in the world! This afternoon, continue exploring the area or kick back and relax at your accommodation.

Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours. Your leader will choose the most appropriate walk in Mossman Gorge for your group today. They vary from easy to moderate in difficulty and may include boardwalks, small lookouts, suspension bridges, slippery steps, and may be up to 45 mins in length.

Activities:

• Daintree National Park - Mossman Gorge
• Daintree National Park - Jindalba circuit track

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

After breakfast, head out on an early morning tour of the Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll swim with turtles and snorkel in the pristine waters off the Daintree Coast, visiting two different snorkel locations. What better way to spend a morning!? The rest of the day is free to relax on the beach, swim, take a hike or just find a good spot to sit and people-watch. This is a nature-lovers paradise, so there are plenty of activities and laidback options to choose from.

Please note that the Great Barrier Reef cruise & snorkelling experience today is on a join-in basis. Other travellers from outside our Intrepid group may join us. Additionally, please note that today's activity is not suitable for travellers with pre-existing back, neck or hip injuries or who are pregnant. A signed release will be required from all participants on departure.

Activities:

• Great Barrier Reef - Half Day Cruise & Snorkelling Experience

Staying in:

• Hotel (1 night)

This morning visit Kulki Lookout, where you can stroll along the boardwalk for some iconic views of Cape Tribulation and steep, rainforest-covered slopes that meet the sandy beaches below. Next, head to Madja boardwalk for a scenic circuit that takes you through dense lowland forests and mangrove-lined creeks. Then visit Mason’s Swimming Hole for a gorgeous tropical swim among lush flora and friendly fish and turtles, where you'll have time to have lunch. When you’re refreshed from a dip in the water, continue to Cairns via the idyllic Palm Cove. On arrival in Cairns your trip will come to an end at around 5 pm. If you want to extend your stay and explore Cairns further, just speak to your booking agent.

Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours. The Kulki boardwalk is Grade 1 walk, 600m/10 mins. The Madja boardwalk is a Grade 1, 1.2km circuit taking around 45 min to complete.

Activities:

• Cape Tribulation - Kulki walk & lookout
• Cape Tribulation - Mason’s Swimming Hole
• Daintree National Park - Madja boardwalk