Cooktown And Tablelands Explorer

Day 1

Home - Cairns - Port Douglas
After arrival in Cairns, begin your North Queensland winter escape with a stop at the Flecker Botanical Gardens, renowned for having one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia. After lunch at the gardens, set off north on the Captain Cook Highway winding your way along Cairns’ northern beaches, where in places the mountains are divided from the tropical beaches only by a roadway, before arriving in Port Douglas for the next two nights.

Day 2

Daintree and Cape Tribulation
Today we journey with Down Under Eco Tours for a day exploring the rainforest and amazing landscapes of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation wilderness area. Travel to the beautiful Mossman Gorge for a guided walk, before travelling along one of Australia’s great scenic highways. Arrive at the Daintree, enjoy spectacular views from the Alexandra Lookout over the Daintree River estuary, Snapper Island and beyond to the Coral Sea. After lunch, continue onto Cape Tribulation Beach where you can walk on this world- renowned rainforest beach or boardwalk. This afternoon, on our return journey, stop at Daintree for a river cruise, before arriving back at your motel for dinner.

Day 3

Port Douglas - Cooktown
Departing Port Douglas we make our way to Lakeland via Mt Molloy. Enjoy morning tea at the Palmer River Roadhouse before continuing our journey to Cooktown—Australia’s first non-indigenous settlement, discovered and settled by Captain Cook and his crew in 1770. After lunch, a local guide will take us to many of Cooktown’s historic sites and, if weather permits, we will also take in the view from Grassy Hill Lookout.

Day 4

Cooktown - Port Douglas
After breakfast, visit the Cooktown Historical Society where the award winning displays depict what life used to be like in Cooktown. Spend time wandering the main street taking the time to purchase your own morning tea before visiting the James Cook Historical Museum. Late morning, we travel south, stopping for lunch at the Lion’s Den Hotel before arriving back in Port Douglas for our overnight stay.

Day 5

Port Douglas - Mareeba
Today we travel to one of Queensland’s scenic delights—The Atherton Tablelands, with its World Heritage upland rainforests, picturesque mountain areas with National Parks, sparkling streams, lakes in extinct volcano craters, magnificent waterfalls and unique wildlife. Explore the Mareeba Heritage Museum which offers a comprehensive catalogue on the history and culture of the Mareeba district, including a unique, one of a kind Rail Ambulance, a historic railway carriage and a workable blacksmith shop. Travel to one of the twin crater lakes, for lunch at the award winning Lake Barrine Teahouse, followed by a rainforest and wildlife cruise. Continue on to view Lake Eacham, the second of the twin craters, before arriving at the Curtain Fig Tree near Yungaburra. Travel back to Mareeba and settle in for the next three nights.

Day 6

Mareeba - Chillagoe - Mareeba
Following breakfast, travel part of the Wheelbarrow Way via Dimbulah and Almaden to the small outback town of Chillagoe. Chillagoe is a remarkable destination that blends history and folklore with ancient coral reefs, fantastic cave systems and the debris of numerous mining ventures. Ensure you have comfortable walking shoes today to negotiate the constructed paths as you are guided through the sheer-sided limestone towers that form the natural wonder of the Chillagoe Caves. Enjoy lunch at the Post Office Hotel before returning to Mareeba for dinner at your motel.

Day 7

Mareeba - Water Falls - Mareeba
This morning we visit the Herberton Historic Village, where collector Harry Skennar’s collection of Australiana is regarded as the most significant private collection ever assembled in Queensland. From Herberton we travel on the Tumoulin Road, the highest road in Queensland, to Ravenshoe, the highest town in Queensland. View the towering Windy Hill Wind Farm before arriving at Big Millstream Falls, reputedly the widest singledrop waterfall in Australia, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way. This afternoon continue on to Millaa Millaa Falls before returning to your motel for dinner and a well-earned rest.

Day 8

Mareeba - Home
This morning travel to Kuranda where we take time to wander around the many shops and markets, or perhaps visit the Butterfly House or Birdworld (own expense). Purchase your own lunch before boarding the Kuranda Skyrail for the 7.5km cableway journey through the World Heritage rainforest. Upon arrival into the Caravonica Skyrail Station, we will board the coach and travel to the airport for your flight home.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner