Far North QLD - Conservation and Culture (2022)

Make your way to Sydney airport for your flight to Cairns departing at 9:30am with Qantas or Virgin.  On arrival at approximately 12:30pm, transfer via private coach to the Cairns Colonial Hotel (or similar) to check in.

After dinner in town, participate in an evening presentation with ‘Reef Teach’, run by a qualified marine biologist.  Learn all about the unique Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and have the opportunity to touch and handle a wide range of corals and other marine specimens.  Ask lots of questions in preparation for tomorrows Great Barrier Reef visit.

Early this morning, board your boat at the Cairns Marina and head to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest living thing on earth!  Participate in the Reef Teach 2 day ‘Reef Naturalist Program’ complete with your own Marine Biologist guide who will deliver private briefings about this unique environment and the environmental challenges currently being faced. 

Snorkel in the reef and learn about all the different corals (over 600 species!), see countless species of coloured fish, mollusks, starfish, plus turtles and even dolphins if you are lucky.

Learn to correctly identify the different marine species, as well as how to correctly record your findings in the Underwater ID activity.   All snorkeling equipment and qualified guides are included to ensure you have the best possible experience, as well as morning and afternoon tea and a buffet lunch on board your boat.

Return to Cairns Marina late afternoon and transfer back to Cairns Colonial Hotel for dinner & relaxation.

Overnight: Cairns

Participate in two ‘in-water’ sessions, with both the morning and afternoon sessions focussing on reef survey participation and taking in the best of what the reef has to offer.  On the return trip prepare and enter your survey data and sightings into the system, adding to the on-going research and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef called ‘Eye on the Reef’ which is a collaboration between Reef Teach, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the Australian Institute or Marine Science (AIMS).

Return to Cairns Marina late afternoon and transfer back to Cairns Colonial Hotel for dinner & relaxation.

Overnight: Cairns

This morning head to the Cairns Marina to catch the 8:00am Fast Cat Island Flyer to Fitzroy Island- a 45 minute boat trip.  Fitzroy Island is a continental island 1.5 sq miles in size and 97% of the island is National Park covered in tropical rainforest and surrounded by pristine waters and a reef system that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef.

After your arrival orientation with your marine biologist, make your way to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, a volunteer operated non- profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles.  The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the world’s 7 species of marine turtles and a number of these are seriously threatened by a diverse range of natural and more significantly, human induced factors.   Receive a full tour of the center and learn all about the work the centre does in taking care of and rehabilitating the turtles as well as what can be done to prevent them becoming sick or injured in the first place.  There will also be the incredible opportunity to meet some of the resident turtles!

After lunch, it’s time to get stuck into your Reef Restoration Project. Receive a full briefing on the reef and then snorkel with the Reef Restoration team to the nursery and outplant area to begin the project.  The Corals of Opportunity Program allows you to save dislodged coral colonies and reestablish them back into the reef. 

Over the next day and a half, also take part in fish feeding, a guided bush tucker walk and some invasive weed removal on the island.

Overnight: Coral Coast

Continue with your Reef Restoration Project today, assisting the Reef Restoration Foundation in collecting, cutting and planting coral to regenerate off shore coral nurseries on Fitzroy Island.

Reef Restoration Foundation is a not-for-profit social enterprise with the goal of developing a series of offshore coral nurseries, starting at Fitzroy Island. This process mimics nature and allows damaged reefs to re-open faster and increase resilience to future bleaching events.  To date they have out-planted over 300 coral trees back into the reef with no signs of  slowing down, with a goal to plant 1 Million corals by 2026.

At the end of the day catch the 16:00 flyer back to Cairns for some free time at your resort, then head into town for dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Cairns

You are off on a full day trip today! Starting on board the famous Kuranda Scenic Railway, built over 120 years ago it winds through the tropical mountain ranges between Kuranda & Cairns.  Arrive at Kuranda, a picturesque mountain retreat surrounded by World Heritage rainforest.  Have the opportunity to explore the ‘Village in Kuranda’ which has rainforest walks, markets, cafes, wildlife parks & galleries.

Next, it’s off to Rainforestation Nature Park where you will experience the Army Duck, Wildlife galore and watch the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers followed by lunch.

After lunch, enjoy some free time aboard the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a unique rainforest experience gliding effortlessly over 7.5 km of pristine Rainforest in Gondola cabins, just a few metres above the forest canopy.   

Disembark in Cairns for some shopping and dinner, followed by a transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight: Cairns

Today, journey from Cairns to Port Douglass’ stunning Mossman Gorge.  Experience the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk through Mossman Gorge, steeped in heritage, ancient culture and traditions.  Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) meaning stories and legends from a long time ago in local Kuku Yalanji language, will welcome you with a traditional welcome ceremony before taking you along private tracks, visiting special places and culturally significant sites, past traditional bark shelters and over meandering cool rainforest streams. Finish the tour with bush tea and damper.

After a well-earned lunch,  travel to the Daintree River where you will embark on a river cruise to take in the natural beauty and learn about the unique flora & fauna to be found here.

After your cruise, take a tour of Port Douglas, including a visit to the famous Flagstaff Hill, before grabbing an ice cream or snack and heading back to Cairns.

Have a final farewell BBQ and pool night at your resort this evening.

Overnight: Cairns

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to beautiful far north Queensland and transfer back to Cairns airport for your flight home.  

Participate in the Reef Teach 2 day ‘Reef Naturalist Program’ complete with your own Marine Biologist guide who will deliver private briefings about this unique environment and the environmental challenges currently being faced. 

Visit Fitzroy Island!  A continental island 1.5 sq miles in size and 97% of the island is National Park covered in tropical rainforest and surrounded by pristine waters and a reef system that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef.

Learn about the reef and take part in the 'The Corals of Opportunity Program' which allows you to save dislodged coral colonies and reestablish them back into the reef.