11 Day Queensland Tropical Islands and Rainforest

Arrival in the sunny Gold Coast in southern Queensland, make your way to your hotel and settle in before getting to know the area. Maybe wander along the promenade, browse the shops or dip your feet in the cool ocean.  

Join your tour group and head north further into Queensland and enjoy the changing scenery of the rolling hills, mountain peaks and coastline of the Sunshine Coast. The destination for today is the beautiful K’gari, better known as Fraser Island. The coach will arrive in Hervey Bay in the afternoon and the group will transfer onto the ferry to cross over to the World Heritage listed island. Home for the next two nights settle into your accommodation on the largest sand island in the world!

Spend the day exploring this magical island aboard a 4WD bus, visit the serene Lake Mckenzie, walk through ancient rainforest and travel along 75 mile beach to Pinnacled Coloured Sands, plus take a dip on the cool waters of Eli Creek and see the famous Maheno Shipwreck. Head back to Kingfisher Bay and spend the evening at the resort. 

Your time on K’gari comes to an end, catch the ferry back across to the mainland and then head up the coast to Rockhampton. On route stop at Ohana Exotic Fruit Orchard for a guided tour and try some local produce. Later stop at Langmorn Station, a family run cattle station. Meet the family and enjoy a guided tour of the property before enjoying afternoon tea in the garden, there might even be a kangaroo or two joining you! The coach will then cross the Tropic Of Capricorn as the group arrive in Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia. The evening is yours so head out to one of the local restaurants for dinner.

Back on the road the coach travels through Sarina, Australia’s sugar capital, and makes a stop at Sarina Sugar Shed, a working miniature sugar mill. Get a sneck peck into sugar cane production and witness the processing and distilling happen right in front of you. You’ll also get to taste some of the product before sitting down for a light lunch. Carry on to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays. Spend the next two nights in this vibrant coastal town.

The Whitsundays are a collection of 74 tropical islands with white sand beaches, dense tropical rainforest and are surrounded by The Great Barrier Reef. The day is yours to do with however you want, why not get up early and take a scenic helicopter ride over Heart Reef, or head out on a day trip to Whitehaven Beach. There is also the option to cruise aboard a catamaran and then relax on the beach, swim in the ocean or get involved in some fun beach activities.

After a wonderful couples of nights in Airlie beach get back on board the coach and head to Cairns in the tropical north of Queensland. Take in the scenery as the coach travels along the Bruce Highway travelling through sugar cane fields and farming land. The coach will make a stop on route to Cairns so you can stretch your legs and soak up the laidback lifestyle. 

After breakfast travel through the high tropical plateau of the Atherton Tablelands, enjoy the lush rainforests, waterfalls and lakes. Visit the stunning Millaa Millaa Falls and the famous Curtain Fig Tree and keep your eyes peeled for the spectacular Ulysses Butterfly which call this area home. Carry on to Kuranda and enjoy some free time to explore the rainforest village. Afterwards take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which will take you high above the canopy of the Barron Gorge National Park and then head back to your hotel in Cairns.

It’s the penultimate day and it will be one to remember. Board a high-speed catamaran and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Listed reef and the only living organism you can see from the moon.  Spend some time snorkelling or view the spectacular coral and tropical fish from the underwater observation observatory or a glass bottom boat. You’ll get a delicious tropical buffet lunch included in the trip before returning to solid ground so you can get ready for the evening. As it’s your last night with the group enjoy a farewell dinner on Cairns Harbour.

Your wonderful holiday comes to an end today, after breakfast say your goodbyes to your fellow travellers and then make your way to the airport. If you’d like to extend your time in Australia then speak to our travel experts about add on or maybe ask about a few days stopover on route back home.