Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef program pitch

Day 1

Feel the balmy air as you arrive at Cairns International Airport, your gateway to Tropical North Queensland. Check-in to the 5-star Riley, one of three luxury Crystalbrook Collection hotels in Cairns. 

Transfer 20-minutes by car with ecotourism Cairns Adventure Group to the Barron Gorge National Park. Take a white-water rafting adventure on the Barron River, amongst impressive scenery of the gorge. Groups of up to 150 guests are carried through small rapids in 7-person rafts. Refuel on a hearty lunch at Hemingways Brewery back in Cairns, washed down with locally crafted beer with views of Trinity Inlet. After lunch head to Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome on the rooftop of the Reef Hotel Casino. With an adventure challenge to meet all levels, choose from more than 65 challenge elements including a ropes course, ziplines, free fall power jump and external walkway. Alternatively get up close to Australia’s wildlife at the Wildlife Park. Celebrate your first day of adventure with dinner at Rocco on the 12th floor of your hotel. Toast the 270-degree views as the sun sets over the Coral Sea with drinks and canapes from the city’s highest rooftop bar before you dine on contemporary Mediterranean inspired cuisine.

Day 2

Rise early to transfer to Thala Beach Nature Reserve for breakfast with a view overlooking the Coral Sea before continuing on to the Crystalbrook Marina at Port Douglas. Embark on a 90-minute voyage on a luxury catamaran with Quicksilver to spend the day on their private pontoon at Agincourt Reef at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Scuba dive with an instructor among the colourful corals of this ribbon reef or snorkel with a marine biologist to learn about the reef’s ecosystem. Those who prefer to stay dry can ride a semi-submersible through the reef lagoons or watch the marine life from Quicksilver’s underwater observatory. Enjoy a buffet lunch that includes fresh oysters, prawns and tropical fruit after your dive. Kick back on a deck chair with views to the Low Isles or hand feed tropical fish from the edge of the pontoon. To finish up, take off from a nearby helipad for a scenic helicopter flight over the Agincourt Reef system and Great Barrier Reef. Transfer back to Cairns to refresh before you head to Salt House on the marina to sip on cocktails in the garden before a dinner created from fresh local produce and complemented by waterfront views in the restaurant.

Day 3

Transfer by road to Palm Cove to experience barefoot luxury with breakfast on the beach at Nu Nu. Think fresh local flavours and modern Australian cuisine enjoyed with a backdrop of tropical palm trees and the Coral Sea. Continue to the Mossman Gorge Centre in the Daintree National Park. Here you will take a private 90-minute tour on the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk, led by a Kuku Yalanji guide. A traditional smoking ceremony welcomes you before you follow gentle meandering tracks through lush rainforest and over cool streams. Witness traditional huts, identify native bush foods, visit significant sites and learn to make bush soaps and ochre paint. Learn Dreamtime stories along the way then share a morning tea of damper and bush tea. Head to Port Douglas to a relaxed lunch at Salsa and Grill where fresh seafood and produce fuses with Asian and Italian cuisine. Return to Cairns and refresh at the hotel ready for the evening. Transfer to the privately owned Australian Armour and Artillery Museum to view the exhibition of more than 190 armoured vehicles and artillery from WWII. Then enjoy a gala dinner catered by Ochre Restaurant and Catering and complemented by Australian wines.