Tropical Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

Hello explorers, the diverse natural wonderland of tropical Far North Queensland is your home and playground for the next six glorious days. Wrapped in the lush greenery of the ancient Daintree Rainforest and colourful coral of the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, you'll kick things off in Cairns. Meet up with your Travel Director and fellow travellers in your hotel and get right into your adventure with a walking tour to discover the best tourist attractions in Cairns. Breathe in the fresh sea air from the beachfront boardwalk and crystal-clear saltwater swimming lagoon, no doubt beckoning you back for a relaxing swim.

Tonight, celebrate the start of the journey with a delectable dinner at Ochre Restaurant, this modern Australian menu features sustainable local produce washed down with Australian wine pairings. You'll love trying Aussie favourites like Gulf Bugs, Leaf Prawn and Rocky Creek Beef. Feeling refreshed, refuelled and relaxed, you'll be ready for the coastal adventures tomorrow. (D) Stay: DoubleTree by Hilton

Rise and shine explorers! Sand, sea and sunshine awaits as you set out to explore one of the seven wonders of the natural world on a Great Barrier Reef tour. Set sail on a Sunlover Reef Cruise for a bucket-list worthy journey with a Local Specialist. You'll visit Moore Reef on a catamaran that docks alongside a floating pontoon in crystal clear waters and join marine biologists, dive instructors and qualified lifeguards for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The world's largest coral reef system, the reef is home to unique wildlife like parrotfish, green turtles and clown fish in colourful coral. If you wish, you can pull on your snorkelling equipment and be prepared to be blown away at this underwater oasis.

If staying dry is more your thing, there's a spectacular glass bottom boat and underwater observatory available to join from the pontoon, where you'll get a front-seat to all the oceanic action and enjoy a tropical lunch. Feeling adventurous? You could choose to take your day to the next level with an optional scuba dive, Seawalker Helmet Dive or scenic helicopter flight above the picturesque reef. After ticking off this wonder of the world today, relax and unwind with a night in or graze your way around the buzzing restaurants and cafés along Cairns Esplanade. Cheers! (B/L)

Foodies, rejoice! The rich volcanic soil, lush green rolling hills and rainforest around Cairns provide the picture-perfect food trail to sample fresh mangoes, crunchy macadamia nuts and fragrant coffee to name a few and today is all about exploring through food, with plenty of tasty options to choose. You could choose to join an optional full-day tour with Brett's Outback Tasting Adventures.

Led by a Local Specialist, you'll make seven stops as you taste your way through growers' markets, cheese factories and coffee plantations. If you'd prefer to soak up the sun and sample some of the region's best fresh seafood, ask your Travel Director about the best places to find it freshest or head down to the waterfront lagoon to relax in the Queensland sun. (B)

Cameras at the ready! Today is the day we can make your travel dreams a reality with an Optional Experience in the Daintree, home to towering ancient trees, forested valleys, and emerald canopies in the world's oldest surviving tropical rainforest. At a whopping 180 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest is a treasured natural wonder that deserves a spot on everyone's Australian Bucket List. See it your way and discover the Daintree, Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge on a guided tour, cruising along the Daintree River and joining a guided walk through the rainforest after fuelling up with a delicious lunch.

Those who travel for culture and history will find it hard to pass up the chance join a local Aboriginal Guide at Cooya Beach to learn more about the Traditional Custodians of the land, visiting the traditional fishing grounds of the Kuku Yalanji people. You'll be welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony, learn the connections of the people, sea and land and discover how their fishing skills continue to be used to this day. With another day coming to an end, you could choose to visit Cairns Night Markets and feast your way around the many local stalls and ignite the tastebuds with fresh food options from across the globe right here in Australia. (B)

It's our final day of exploring together - and we've saved one of the best destinations for last! If you're looking to see even more of this lush landscape, you could choose an Optional Experience to visit the most picturesque town in Australia, the “Village in the Rainforest” Kuranda. With many ways to access this charming village through the Baron Gorge National Park you're spoilt for choice.

You could choose to begin your journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, relaxing as this heritage train winds its way up the mountain, framed by dense rainforest and dramatic waterfalls, before exploring the markets and stores at the top. The ride back down is just as thrilling, and as you settle in for a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Ticking off birds-eye views, green landscapes, rugged mountains, oceans and the 125m waterfall view of Barron Falls, you'll want to pinch yourself at seeing nature at its best.

Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers at the iconic waterfront restaurant, Salt House. You'll love raising a glass to your adventures on your Queensland tour before tucking into a three-course menu, proudly sourced by local fishermen and graziers to include ocean trout, pork belly, and sirloin with a tropical twist. This is the life! (B/D)

Bid farewell to the balmy weather of Far North Queensland, a place like other in the world! You may like to consider a trip south for a cosmopolitan getaway in vibrant Sydney and trendy Melbourne. (B)