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North Queensland Adventure

Operated by Intrepid Travel

Tripcode: PZSUC

Overview

Destination:

Australia,

Duration:13 days

Type:Group tour (max 16)

Style:

Adventure,

Explorer,

Travel Period

April 2026 - March 2028

Explore Australia’s beautiful northeastern corner – home to rainforests, coral reefs and white sand beaches. This 13-day adventure starts strong with a dose of serenity in Noosa, before whisking you to the stunning surroundings of K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) and the ancient wilderness of the Daintree Rainforest. Explore the expanse of the iconic Great Barrier Reef and the bliss of the Whitsundays and enjoy free time in Airlie Beach, Hervey Bay, Mission Beach and more – on this whirlwind through north Queensland, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to kick back on the warm sands with a good book or get right in on the action.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

START & END TIMES
The trip starts in Brisbane with a Welcome Meeting at 10am on Day 1 at our joining point hotel and finishes on arrival in Cairns on Day 13 at our finish point hotel around 5 pm. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement can be booked if you prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.

OVERNIGHT TRAIN
The overnight train is in RailBed class and is not accompanied by a tour leader. Luggage weight (max 20kg for main luggage, 7kg for hand luggage) and size (23cm x 34cm x 48cm) limits apply for our overnight train journey. Please note that throughout the year scheduled railway track works may take place on the route from Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach, sometimes at short notice. Should the train not operate due to track works or other factors outside of our control, you will be driving with your leader instead, with an overnight in Tannum Sands, taking approximately 15 hours split across two days. Departures may be affected at short notice. Please check back here closer to your departure date.

COMBINATION TRIP
This is a combination trip made up of two shorter trips. This means the composition of your group may change in Cairns as some group members leave and new ones join you. It’s also part of a longer itinerary.

Highlights:

START & END TIMES The trip starts in Brisbane with a Welcome Meeting at 10am on Day 1 at our joining point hotel and finishes on arrival in Cairns on Day 13 at our finish point hotel around 5 pm. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT A Single Supplement can be booked if you prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability. OVERNIGHT TRAIN The overnight train is in RailBed class and is not accompanied by a tour leader. Luggage weight (max 20kg for main luggage, 7kg for hand luggage) and size (23cm x 34cm x 48cm) limits apply for our overnight train journey. Please note that throughout the year scheduled railway track works may take place on the route from Hervey Bay to Airlie Beach, sometimes at short notice. Should the train not operate due to track works or other factors outside of our control, you will be driving with your leader instead, with an overnight in Tannum Sands, taking approximately 15 hours split across two days. Departures may be affected at short notice. Please check back here closer to your departure date. COMBINATION TRIP This is a combination trip made up of two shorter trips. This means the composition of your group may change in Cairns as some group members leave and new ones join you. It’s also part of a longer itinerary.

Standard inclusions

Meals: Meals: 7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner.
Transport: Private vehicle, Ferry, Overnight train, Boat, 4WD.
Accommodation: Cabins (2 nights), Overnight train (1 night), Hotel (7 nights), Holiday Apartments (2 nights).
K'gari - Full day tour.
Airlie Beach - Full day Whitsunday Islands & Whitehaven Beach Tour with Snorkelling.
Paluma Range National Park - Crystal Creek.
Townsville - Castle Hill Lookout.
Mungalla Station - Nywaigi First Nations Guided Tour.
Cairns - Mandingalbay First Nations tour.
Atherton Tablelands - Tolga Bat Hospital.
Mareeba Wetlands - Forever Wild sunset wildlife experience.
Kuranda - Kuranda Markets.
Barron Gorge National Park - Din Din Barron Falls lookout.
Daintree National Park - Mossman Gorge.
Daintree National Park - Nature Walk.
Great Barrier Reef - Half Day Cruise & Snorkelling Experience.
Cape Tribulation - Kulki walk & lookout.
Cape Tribulation - Mason’s Swimming Hole.
Daintree National Park - Nature Walk.

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Hervey Bay

Welcome to Brisbane! Or Meanjin in the language of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Brisbane is now located. Your adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 10 am. After, you’ll drive straight to Noosa Heads, where you can grab some lunch, relax on the beach or go shopping in the boutique shops. If you’d like, maybe use your free time here to explore part of the Noosa Coastal Walk and look out for local flora and fauna. This afternoon, you’ll hit the road again for the coastal city of Hervey Bay, where you’ll spend the night.

Day 2: Hervey Bay

After breakfast this morning, you’ll head to the island of K'gari (previously known as Fraser Island) by ferry for a daytrip. The name change is a major milestone in a long-running campaign by the Butchulla people, whose original name for this place means ‘paradise’ – and you’ll soon see why. Set off on an adventure through the landscape, starting with an adventurous drive along the sand roads of 75 Mile Beach Road. Then, take a dive into the clear rainwater lake of Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie), famous for its turqouise water filtered by its 92 per cent pure silica sand. Head over to another of the island’s safe swimming spots, the fresh waters of Eli Creek, before a visit to the Maheno shipwreck and coloured sands of the pinnacles. Tonight, head back to Hervey Bay for a free evening to rest and recharge.

Day 3: Hervey Bay

Enjoy a free day in Hervey Bay today – a prime location for observing humpback whales during migration season and the world’s first certified Whale Heritage Area. If the month is right, maybe spend the morning whale-watching on the water, or rent a bike to cycle along the foreshore. You could also take a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge, go kayaking or just enjoy one of the many Queensland beaches nearby. Make sure you pick up some snacks for tonight's overnight train journey north on the famous 'Spirit of Queensland.' Depart from the train station at Maryborough West and arrive in Proserpine, south-west of Airlie Beach, arriving early tomorrow morning.

Day 4: Airlie Beach

Your new leader will meet you at Proserpine train station early this morning. Head for an optional breakfast and caffeine hit at a local café in Airlie Beach. Your day is free to explore this hub town of the popular Whitsundays, which has plenty of beer gardens, trendy cafes and a lawn-fringed swimming lagoon. Whether you want to just kick back by the water or get out into nature on a coastal hike, there’s plenty on offer. Get to know your new leader tonight with an optional group dinner.

Day 5: Airlie Beach

Today you’ll head out on a full-day tour to Whitehaven Beach in the heart of the Whitsunday Islands and the centre of the Great Barrier Reef. Start with a walk to the Hill Inlet Lookout – one of the most famous lookout spots for wide spanning views of the Whitsundays’ white sands and blue waters. Then, throw your swimsuit on to go snorkelling at one of the secret spots that your guide will show you. See coral reefs, tropical fish, turtles, clams and other marine life. Then, enjoy an included lunch and take a boat to the southern end of the 7 km stretch of Whitehaven Beach, taking the chance to kick back and relax in the sun after a day of outdoor adventures. Tonight, back in Airlie Beach, maybe head to one of the local bars for a toast at sunset.

Day 6: Lucinda

Today is a long day of travel with some stops to stretch your legs. Your first stop is Townsville, where you’ll head to Castle Hill lookout, walking the track up to the 360-degree viewpoint of the town, Coral Sea and Magnetic Island. You’ll have some free time for lunch and to chill by the water. Then, carry on to Big Crystal Creek in the Paluma Range National Park for a stroll, swim in the creek or quiet time relaxing to the sounds of local birdlife. This afternoon, depart for Lucinda, your location for the night.

Day 7: Mission Beach

This morning after breakfast, drive to Mungalla Station to meet the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Nywaigi people. Learn about their culture and history, including the brutal conflicts with European settlers, during a guided tour. The story you’ve been told will come to life as you visit an exhibition of pictures within the historic homestead. Then, head out and explore the Mungalla wetlands in search of aquatic birdlife like spoonbills, magpie geese and egrets. Drive to Mission Beach this afternoon – a small coastal town on the Cassowary Coast known for its beaches lined by palm trees and rainforests filled with cassowaries. Stop in Tully along the way to stretch your legs and tonight, maybe ask your leader for their favourite local restaurant.

Day 8: Cairns

This morning, after breakfast, drive to Millaa Millaa Falls for a nature walk and perhaps a refreshing swim in the cascades. Stop in for lunch at a local cafe at Yungaburra, then take the Curtain Fig boardwalk to see the iconic tree this park was named after – this park protects endangered mabi forest and a large green fig tree with extensive aerial roots that drop 15 m to the forest floor, forming a ‘curtain’. After, head to Lake Eacham – the site of an old volcano and home to Australia’s largest python! Here, maybe take a swim (just keep an eye out for the resident freshwater crocodile). This afternoon, you’ll drive to Cairns, where you may say goodbye to some of the group who are finishing their travels here. Tonight, you'll have another welcome meeting at 6 pm.

Day 9: Cairns

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. Then, 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.

Day 10: Kuranda to Mareeba

This morning, enjoy breakfast and then drive to Kuranda – perched at the top of a mountain. Start with a visit to nearby Barron Falls lookout for the best photo spots, then head into town. 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. 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.

Day 11: Mossman Gorge (Manjal Dimbi) to Cape Tribulation

This morning, 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.

Day 12: Cape Tribulation

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.

Day 13: Cairns

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 another 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.

Dates

Select a date or submit general enquiry

Operator

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.

Important Information

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*Terms and conditions

Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use

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Price from

$6,585 $6,256 *

Member price from

$6,256*

per person twin share

12 nights