MELBOURNE TO PORT DOUGLAS

Welcome to our 9 Day Tropical North Queensland tour. With chauffeured pickup from home, we travel to Melbourne Airport. Here we’ll be greeted by an O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours representative who will assist us with check-in and see us onto the plane for our flight to Cairns. Arriving at Cairns Airport, we will be welcomed by our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach crew who will help us with our luggage. We board the coach and travel the very scenic route north following the beautiful coastline to Port Douglas and our accommodation for the next three nights. There’s time to unpack and relax before joining the group for our first dinner together.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement / Refreshments available on the flight

OVERNIGHT: Oaks Resort, PORT DOUGLAS 

MOSSMAN GORGE & DAINTREE

This morning we enjoy the beautiful Mossman Gorge. A shuttle bus will take us to the heart of the Gorge where we will journey through the lush green rainforest, taking in views of the Mossman River and the mountain ranges beyond. From here we continue further north to the quaint township of Daintree. We enjoy lunch before we take a cruise on the Daintree River. Our cruise takes us through tranquil everglades and mangroves, where we hope to see different species of birds and butterflies, and maybe even a crocodile basking on one of the riverbanks. 

OVERNIGHT:  Oaks Resort, PORT DOUGLAS

CAPE TRIBULATION

With a unique start to our day we enjoy “Breakfast with the Birds” at the Wildlife Habitat Sanctuary. This award-winning Wildlife Habitat is Australia’s leading environmental wildlife experience. It allows you to wander along elevated boardwalks, observing up close a huge range of flora and fauna as birds fly and roam freely. We depart the sanctuary continuing to the real tropical part of North Queensland, crossing the Daintree River on the Ferry. A trip to Far North Queensland just isn’t complete without experiencing the raw, prehistoric beauty of the mighty Daintree Rainforest. We visit the Daintree Discovery Centre to view the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, estimated to be over 150 million years old!  The Daintree Rainforest is home to the endangered Southern Cassowary and the oldest flowering plant species known as the Idiot Fruit. There are many interesting things to see as you step back into a prehistoric era, learning all about the weird and wonderful things you can see in North Queensland. The Daintree Discovery Centre is an award-winning world-class interpretive facility that allows visitors easy access to every level of the Daintree Rainforest - from the forest floor to the uppermost reaches of the canopy.

 OVERNIGHT: Oaks Resort, PORT DOUGLAS

PORT DOUGLAS & CROCODILE FARM TO CAIRNS

This morning we enjoy some free time in the township of Port Douglas. Wander the 

tree-lined street of Macrossan where you can find locally run art stores and fashion boutiques or wander through Anzac Park and see the historic church, “St Mary’s by the Sea”. From Port Douglas, we make our way to Hartleys Crocodile Farm. Lunch today is at your own expense at the Croc Farm – “a crocodile burger please… and make it snappy!" Their award-winning waterhole and feed station has a variety of food to choose from. After lunch, we take an informative lagoon boat tour to observe the behaviour of the crocodiles and all the other plants and animals that share their home. Every cruise is different. You might see a majestic Sea Eagle or a jewel-like Azure Kingfisher, a 

bright-eyed Tree Snake, or an impossibly delicate wild orchid. One thing remains constant, the crocs are always there - waiting! We then head to our accommodation in the heart of Cairns City on Pier Point Marina. All rooms have private balconies along with memorable views of tropical gardens or Marlin Marina.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Shangri-La Hotel, THE MARINA CAIRNS 

GREEN ISLAND & CAIRNS

Today we head off to explore Green Island, a beautiful 6000-year-old coral cay located in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Just a short journey in an airconditioned vessel to the island, where you can enjoy the tropical rainforest on the island and the coral formations of the reef in a glass bottom boat. Take a visit to Marineland Melanesia, a unique attraction on Green Island, home to over 50 crocodiles, marine aquariums with coral, fish, giant sea turtles, and a magnificent range of tribal carvings. Also displayed are a number of old and restored marine artefacts and stationary engines. After a few hours on the island and a delicious buffet lunch on the catamaran, we make our way back to the mainland.

OVERNIGHT:  Shangri-La Hotel, THE MARINA CAIRNS

KURANDA RAILWAY, SKYRAIL & MARKETS

A “must do” tour in Cairns is a ride on the historic Kuranda Railway for the spectacular journey to the famous Kuranda Station. The train journey takes us through the magnificent Barron Falls National Park. Highlights of the ride are picturesque valleys, railway bridges, 15 tunnels built over a century ago and the Barron Falls themselves. Time to wander through the village of Kuranda and enjoy the famous markets. This afternoon we catch the World Heritage-listed Skyrail Rainforest Cableway - one of the world's longest gondola cableway, stretching 7.5 kilometres across the rainforest canopy. The rest of the day is free in Cairns to relax.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT: Shangri-La Hotel, THE MARINA CAIRNS

ATHERTON TABLELANDS

Our first stop this morning will be in Mareeba at Jaques Coffee Plantation. Our tour starts off with a short "Jaques Coffee Movie" in the purpose-built theatrette where you are shown the different aspects of the Coffee Plantation and we learn about the processing and harvesting of coffee in Australia. Take a walk to see the coffee trees and harvester and enjoy a Cappuccino, Latte, Short Black or Long Black. We continue across the top of the Atherton Tablelands driving through the townships of Tolga and Yungaburra. What makes the Tablelands so special is its geographic location in the Tropics (between 400 and 1100 metres), its pleasant climate and the volcanic activities that have shaped parts of its landscape. One of the most dramatic examples of this is Lake Barrine – a beautiful volcanic crater lake. Here we will enjoy lunch and a cruise, taking in the most amazing rainforest ecosystems, with a good chance of seeing turtles and eels. We then make our way back into Cairns via Millaa Millaa Falls.

OVERNIGHT: Shangri-La Hotel, THE MARINA CAIRNS

INNISFAIL – PARONELLA PARK

We travel south this morning, stopping on the way for a walk into Josephine Falls. From here we continue through Innisfail, before arriving at the Sugar Museum. Here we view an informative video on the Sugar Cane process and have a look around the museum. It is only a short drive to historic Paronella Park, arriving in time for some lunch. Paronella Park is an amazing place created in the 1930s by Spanish immigrant Jose Paronella. This “castle” is surrounded by acres of gardens, modelled on the best botanic gardens in Europe. The castle was lit by power generated by North Queensland’s first hydroelectric scheme. Our walking tour takes us through the “Kauri Avenue”.

OVERNIGHT:  Shangri-La Hotel, THE MARINA CAIRNS

CAIRNS TO MELBOURNE

Completing our memorable tour of naturally beautiful Tropical North Queensland, we have time this morning to relax and do that last-minute shopping, before arriving at the Cairns Airport for our return flight to Melbourne. Upon arrival in Melbourne, our chauffeurs will be waiting to take us safely home with many interesting stories to tell of our Tropical Queensland adventure, all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours service.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement / Refreshments available on the flight