Australia: North Queensland Adventure
From CAD $2,142
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
Experience Overview
Get ready to uncover Queensland's many wonders. From the pure sands of Whitehaven Beach, there's so much laid-back beauty in this part of Australia. And that's before you head to Magnetic Island, taking epic coastal walks and spotting Rock Wallabies at dusk, then ending on a high with an expedition to the Great Barrier Reef itself.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 2 Lunch (L)
- 2 Dinner (D)
- 4 Breakfast (B)
FAQs
- Sydney: Why does the itinerary use dual-names for locations (ie. Warrane/Sydney)? Contiki acknowledges the Traditional and Torres Strait Island owners of the land, sea and waters of the spectacular Australian continent. Dual-naming reflects that, as we explore this remarkable land, we recognise and respect Indigenous custodianship of a unique, ancient culture and country.
- Sydney: What does a modular trip mean? A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
- Gimuy (Cairns): Can I catch a flight the next day after diving at the Great Barrier Reef? It’s best to wait at least 24 hours after your last dive before flying.
- Yunbenun (Magnetic Island): Can I get a single or twin room upgrade in Magnetic Island? During your 2-night stay in Magnetic Island, you’ll stay in multi-share rooms with the same sex even (if you’ve booked single or twin room for the trip duration). But if you’d like some privacy, you can request a paid upgrade to a single or twin room, but the confirmation would depend on availability.Please note that this is a modular trip. That means you’ll be joining a trip that started 1 week earlier – if you wish to do the full version, please refer to the Ultimate Australia trip.
- Airlie Beach: What is the sailing boat like in the Whitsundays? Pretty darn epic, if you ask us. It’s a converted racing yacht that sleeps up to 20 people with all the basic amenities. It’s snazzy – perfect if you’re all about fun adventures out on the sea.
Included Experience
- Airlie Beach: Grab your new buddies, snorkel round the reef, see ‘the world’s best beach’ and eat lunch on a boat. A proper ‘pinch yourself’ moment.
- Whitsunday Islands: The Great Barrier Reef is home to nearly 9,000 species of sea creatures. This means it’ll impress even the saltiest ‘sea dogs’.
- Townsville: Catch a boat from the mainland to Magnetic Island.
- Magnetic Island: Pack some comfy shoes and climb up to Hawking's Point for sundown. Yoga poses for Insta: optional.
- Magnetic Island: Go koala-spotting, see WWII fortifications, or just have a beer in the sun. There’s something for everyone on this trail.
- Magnetic Island: Mingle with Magnetic Island's resident Rock Wallabies at dusk. Just watch these cheeky little guys don’t steal your wallet!
- Magnetic Island: Catch a boat from Magnetic Island to the mainland. Wave goodbye to your new BFF Reggie the Koala and promise you’ll write.
- Townsville: Things heat up as the landscape gets even more tropical. Soak up the scenery on this train trip from Townsville to Cairns.
- Cairns: Eat like a local with this chef-guided bush food tutorial and dinner (thankfully, not a witchetty grub in sight!)
- Daintree Rainforest: Check out the oldest rainforest in the world, home to frogs, butterflies, bats and more.
- Daintree Rainforest: Tour the world’s oldest rainforest with an expert. Sir David Attenborough called Daintree: ‘the most extraordinary place on earth’.
- Daintree Rainforest: Learn how ancient ‘Dreamtime’ stories were shared through art. Then unleash your inner Banksy and create a masterpiece at the Janbal Gallery.
Trip Details
Product Code: 17377
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Contiki (CA)
Supplier Code: 392.1445A
Starts: Airlie Beach, Australia
Finishes: Cairns, Australia
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,142 ($238 /day)
Itinerary
Hello Airlie Beach! This tropical paradise is the perfect place to kick off our adventure. Our trip starts at Nomads where we'll meet our fellow adventurers.
Accommodation: Base Backpackers (or similar)
Is there anywhere in the world more beautiful than the Whitsundays? We think not. With 74 perfect islands at your fingertips, an open sea calling your name, today you'll get to explore one of the worlds most lusted-after holiday destinations with a day trip to the spotless Whitehaven Beach, including snorkelling. This is as close to heaven as you can find on planet earth.
Accommodation: Nomads Airlie Beach (or similar)
Meals: Lunch
We've got a free day in Airlie Beach today! This vibrant hub of the Whitsundays is ours to explore. We could take to the sky with a Skydive over Australia's most beautiful drop zone or even a relaxing scenic flight over the Whitsunday islands including Whitehaven Beach and Heart Reef. For those looking for a more relaxed option, kick back on the beach sipping something sweet or explore the cute boutiques, bistros and alfresco restaurants that adorn the seafront. It's a hard life.
Accommodation: Nomads Airlie Beach (or similar)
Is there anything better than the Whitsundays? We think our next destination definitely comes close! We'll board a coach this morning heading for Townsville. Here we'll board the ferry to our next destination. Magnetic Island (Yunbenun) is an apt name for this captivating isle, with its coastal walking trails and gum trees teeming with lazy koala bears. We'll have plenty of time to explore, partake in watersports in the bright turqouise waters or meet some of the local marsupials. But this evening, we'll enjoy the sunset over the bay.
Accommodation: Nomads Magnetic Island (or similar)
Meals: Dinner
We have a whole day on this paradise island - lucky us! Check out some of the walking trails - such as the Forts Walk which offers up stunning views of the Palm Island Group as well as WWII fortifications, and the chance to see koalas in the wild - or enjoy some free time at Horseshoe bay, taking a dip on the azure waters and relaxing on the beach. See Magnetic Island's resident Rock Wallabies at dusk before a free evening, where we can watch the sunset and check out some of the local bars.
Accommodation: Nomads Magnetic Island (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we'll say farewell to our koala friends and depart Magnetic Island on a ferry. But we'll never forget its singular beauty. Back in Townsville we won't hang around too long, as we're hopping on a train headed to Cairns, where we'll arrive late afternoon after a gloriously scenic journey along Australia's East Coast. Welcome to the city of Cairns (Gimuy), where rainforests meet reefs. We'll enjoy one of the most memorable meals you've ever experienced today with our interactive Bush Food MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® tutorial and dinner. An experienced chef will guide us through a history of Bush Food as you sample a variety of native spices and fruits, explaining their tastes, origins, and traditional uses before we enjoy our dinner, which features native game. It's an incredible cultural feast, and the perfect way to start our adventure in Cairns.
Accommodation: Gilligans (or similar)
Meals: Dinner
Rise and shine, our entire day today is an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience, packed with history, heritage and natural beauty, as we enjoy a spectacular a day trip to the oldest tropical rainforest in the world: Daintree.With its ancient ferns and vibrant canopies, this place will take our breath away. There's a reason David Attenborough called it 'the most extraordinary place on earth.' As well as admiring the lush rainforest, we'll also meet the local Kuku Yalanji people and learn about their rich Aboriginal culture and history. We'll get the chance to view a smoking ceremony and take an art class with an Aboriginal artist. We'll also learn about ancient Dreamtime stories, local history and how these are shared through art. Then, we'll get to create our own unique souvenir to take home in the form of a canvas that tells our own stories.What a day; and our time in Cairns isn't over yet. Tonight, we’ll keep the magic going with the option of a sunset boat cruise.
Accommodation: Gilligans (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you'll have the option to board a catamaran out to the reef to snorkel or dive in the crystal waters and gaze at the colourful coral and even more vibrant marine life. Back on board, the expert marine crew will tell us all there is to know about this stunning, but vulnerable, natural miracle.
Accommodation: Gilligans (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast
Our adventure ends this afternoon, but not before we have a chance to escape our comfort zones and try some of the adventurous activities that Cairns is famous for - think bungy jumping, skydiving and whitewater rafting. Or, sign up for a day trip on the scenic cable car, Skyrail. Gain a unique perspective of Australia's World Heritage listed tropical rainforest, gliding above the canopy before descending to the forest floor to continue your guided journey in the tropical hippie paradise of Kuranda, a village known for its appreciation of sustainable living and alternate therapies. Take the famous Kuranda Railway back to Cairns for a relaxing end to the trip.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Bonang - Traveled, May 2024
The trip over exceeded my expectations and my expectations were high! The trip manager was absolutely fantastic which made the group of travelers be as great and become one happy family. They threw me a surprise 30th birthday dinner, which I will forever cherish. The included experiences were amazing and the logistics from taking train, bus and ferry went really smooth! Everything about the trip was amazing! It was easy to book. I would recommend also having the option to pay for the FTAs before the trip. Even if it means we have a “Contiki wallet” and we can use the funds for other FTAs if the supplier is not available or for future travels. It was cool to book the trip online with the deposit and have the opportunity to pay over a couple of months, would be nice to add the FTA during that too…
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/14/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2024
Great experience. Steph was fantastic. Accommodations were nice but the beds could be a little more comfortable. Great options for excursions. The sailing cruise and the scuba diving were both incredible. Not a huge fan of the modular groups. Would be better if everyone got to know each other at the same time on day 1.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/15/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, July 2024
I loved meeting new people and the various activities including snorkelling diving etc. I just don't want to give 5 stars on account of me waiting excessively long for my refund additionally as someone who doesn't drink I feel the social elements fell flat. I used a travel agent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/16/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, September 2024
It was a great trip. I will 100% do it again. Our trip manager was amazing and the people on our trip were great! We had great weather and the locations were really cool.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/18/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, August 2024
Was the most fun i’ve had traveling. loved meeting new people and visiting new places with them for the 9 day tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/17/2024
Daniel - Traveled, October 2024
Fantastic trip and heaps of fun, all awesome places to go on the trip, especially if you love beaches, water and outdoors. Not a major, as everyone on the trip got on well but be aware that if your starting in Airlie Beach your joining onto the Beaches and Reefs trip that originates in Sydney. Booking was straightforward, booked online. Trip manager was awesome, very knowledgeable and trip ran without a hitch.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/19/2024
Sinead - Traveled, January 2024
This trip flowed so well thanks to our tour manager. It was the most incredible time and I have made memories for life. For my first time travelling solo internationally, it was super easy and there was constant communication about small details, which helped put me at ease. Meeting people from all around the world helped me have so much fun and experience things from different perspectives. I would highly recommend this trip as you get to experience the city, the sea, and a little bit of the Daintree forest. Absolutely phenomenal!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/10/2024
James - Traveled, February 2024
It was a great holiday seeing new destinations and meeting new people. All the documents should be sent out all at once rather then 21 days prior so it gives people more time to do them.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/11/2024
Kate - Traveled, March 2024
Overnight sailing on the Yacht, our crew with Prosail were absolute legends ankyou foe the 6 snorkelling opportunities, sunrise walk at Hills Inlet & swimming with Manta Rays!! Ocean Freedom Great Barrier Reef Cruise, so personable and got fed well. Barron River Rafting, so much fun. I would have loved to include Uluru, sadly short on time. Easy to contact Contiki, super prompt and professional.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/12/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, April 2024
A very fun and adventure packed trip. Lots of things to do and see and a perfect amount of time in each location. Still felt I was able to relax and have chill time too.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/13/2024
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