Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays
10 days, Brisbane to Cairns
Itinerary Notes
Please note that most 18-to-Thirtysomethings accommodation in Australia is multi-share. For more info, see our Trip Details.
Itinerary
Day 1Brisbane
Arrive at any time.
Arrive in Brisbane at any time. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city. Opt to visit the Botanical Gardens, admire views of the city from Mt Coot-tha, or relax at Streets Beach on the South Bank.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Brisbane/Fraser Island
Travel by private bus, private 4x4 and ferry to reach Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. Explore the island by 4x4.
Once on the island, enjoy a 4x4 tour of Fraser Island, driving along over 100km of beach. Go for a swim in Lake McKenzie, and enjoy a rainforest walk along the way.
While on Fraser Island and the Noosa Everglades, main luggage will be stored in a secure storage facility. Each person will need to pack a bag for two nights with max weight of 5kg. This is due to luggage capacity restrictions in 4x4 vehicles and canoes. Your CEO will explain further details on arrival into Rainbow Beach.
Depending on the day of the week, some groups may swap the order of the Fraser Island and Noosa Everglades days. Some groups will first travel to the Noosa Everglades for a night before travelling on to Fraser Island. All inclusions will still be offered but just in a different order.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
K'gari (Fraser Island) Flight
75AUD per personThe world's largest sand island is home to some of the most stunning landscapes. Keep your eyes peeled for Lake Mckenzie, Eli Creek, and maybe even a breaching whale (in season) as you soar above the island. On top of it all, take off and landing is directly on 75 Mile Beach – epic!
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Fraser Island/Noosa Everglades
Enjoy a morning of exploring by 4x4 to hit the remainder of Fraser Island's highlights, then set off to the Noosa Everglades for an evening surrounded by stunning wilderness.
4x4 Excursion
Embark on a private excursion taking in the highlights of this amazing island including Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora) and the forest around Central Station.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Noosa Everglades Overnight Excursion
Stay at the edge of the stunning Noosa Everglades, one of only two everglade systems in the world. Take it easy and relax around the lake, or hike one of the nearby trails.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4K'gari (Fraser Island) to Airlie Beach
Hop on board a northbound train. Travel to laid back Emu Park on the Capricorn Coast, and enjoy an Aussie barbecue in the evening.
Catch a train up the 'Capricorn Coast' which is well-known as 'Cattle Country'.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 5Emu Park/Whitsunday Islands
Embark on a 3-day maxi yacht sailing adventure. Enjoy beach visits, island bush walks, and time to snorkel the reefs. Anchor off of secluded tropical islands at night.
Travel north to the town of Airlie Beach and embark on a maxi yacht which will be our home for the next three days. Set sail to a secluded cove in the Whitsunday Islands where you will drop anchor for the night.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Whitsunday Islands Sailing Trip
Board a maxi-yacht formerly used to circumnavigate the globe, and get used to being on the water. Lend a hand hoisting the sails or just sit back and enjoy the breeze.
Maxi Yacht
Climb aboard a speedy racing yacht (and hang on to your hat).
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 6Whitsunday Islands
Hike to an island lookout over Whitehaven Beach, known for its stunning white sand, then enjoy free time on the famous beach. Anchor off of a secluded tropical island at night.
The sailing route today allows us to follow part of Captain Cook's route up through the Whitsunday Islands. Again we drop anchor in a secluded bay for the night.
Maxi Yacht
Climb aboard a speedy racing yacht (and hang on to your hat).
Whitsunday Islands Sailing Trip
Set off towards Whitehaven Beach, and hike to a lookout over the beautiful white-sand beach and shallow turquoise waters off its coast. Take advantage of the included snorkel gear, throw on a mask and see what lives in the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way experience parts of the Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Whitsunday Islands Snorkelling
FreeTake advantage of the included snorkel gear, throw on a mask and see what lives in the Great Barrier Reef. (Note that fins are not provided in order to adhere with local coral conservation efforts.)
Scuba Diving
75AUD per personGet the chance to scuba dive the beautiful coral reefs of the Whitsunday Islands.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 7Whitsunday Islands/Airlie Beach
Continue sailing through the gorgeous backdrop of the Whitsunday Islands. Sail to the resort town of Airlie Beach for a night on the town.
After three days at sea, we sail back to Airlie Beach for a night on land in a local beach hostel. Feel free to relax by the pool at the end of the day.
Maxi Yacht
Climb aboard a speedy racing yacht (and hang on to your hat).
Whitsunday Islands Sailing Trip
It's the final half-day at sea! Enjoy sailing through the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands in the morning, passing by secluded coves and tiny islands. After some free time, sail in style back into Airlie Beach.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Whitsunday Islands Snorkelling
FreeTake advantage of the included snorkel gear, throw on a mask and see what lives in the Great Barrier Reef. (Note that fins are not provided in order to adhere with local coral conservation efforts.)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Airlie Beach/Cairns
Admire the scenery on the train north to Cairns.
Get ready for an early morning wake-up today for the journey to Cairns. Make sure to stock up on snacks and bring personal entertainment – it may be one of the longer travel days on this trip, but it's worth it to reach The Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef!
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Your G for Good Moment: Cafe Chloe
Enjoy a tour of the G Adventures-supported Ingan Cultural Centre and have an opportunity to participate in a painting activity with traditional Jirrbal Aboriginal artists - an excellent opportunity to see the diversity of an Aboriginal people from a local perspective!
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
LunchDay 9Cairns
Enjoy a free day to visit the Great Barrier Reef or get the adrenaline pumping by skydiving, whitewater rafting or bungee jumping. Cap it all off with a Big Night Out in Cairns.
Please be aware that if you decide to book the optional scuba diving activity in the Great Barrier Reef and are taking any prescription medications, you will need a doctor’s release giving you permission to dive.
Your Big Night Out Moment:
Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a bonfire on the beach, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Cairns, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, whitewater rafting, and skydiving. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Skydiving
310-400AUD per personEnjoy the awe-inspiring beauty of Cairns from an eagle's perspective. Suit up, get briefed and board the prop plane to soar high above the land and sea. Strap onto your instructor, take a breath and leap into a once-in-a-lifetime free fall. This is what a natural high truly feels like!
Great Barrier Reef Diving from Cairns
245-289AUD per personExperience the largest coral reef in the world from beneath the ocean's surface on a scuba diving day trip. Packages vary and include 1, 2, or 3 dives in a day. The Great Barrier Reef teems with 1500 species of tropical fish, as well as whales, dolphins and porpoises. Bring an underwater camera and go crazy!
Please be aware that if you decide to book the optional scuba diving activity in the Great Barrier Reef and are taking any prescription medications, you will need a doctor’s release giving you permission to dive.
Skyrail Experience : Kuranda to Smithfield
116-171AUD per personSettle into a comfortable 6 seat gondola for a ride with a spectacular view along the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Pass over the canopy one of Australia's tropical rainforests, so close to the tree tops it's as if you could reach out and touch the leaves. After, ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway through a lush tropical paradise framed by rugged mountains, waterfalls and ravines back to Cairns. Travel on authentic timber carriages via hand-hewn tunnels and across towering bridges, through the awe-inspiring Barron Gorge. Experience the exotic beauty of North Queensland’s tropical rainforests, marvelling at the incredible array of plants and animals encountered all along the way.
Bungee Jumping
179AUD per personLeave your fears at home and prepare to have your breath taken away as you jump from 164ft. Now's the time to release your inner daredevil – what are you waiting for?
Whitewater Rafting
138-210AUD per personPut on a helmet, grab a paddle and raft the Class 3 & 4 rapids of the mighty Tully River, considered the best rafting river in all Australia & New Zealand.
Minjin Swing
129AUD per personSoar through the rainforest on the fastest jungle swing in the world. Suit up and be pulled to 150ft above the ground before flying over the canopy at a heart-racing, adrenaline-pumping 120km/hr. We can already hear your screams!
Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling from Cairns
Don a mask and snorkel the largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Say g'day to Nemo, the clown fish, and some of the 1,500 other species of tropical fish that thrive in the warm waters off Australia's east coast.
Depending on availability of Dive Instructors, an upgrade to SCUBA diving may be possible but is by no means guaranteed. Please speak to your CEO to see if this is available.
Day 10Cairns
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.