Daintree 4WD Wanderer
INCLUSIONS
Hotel pick up and drop off, highly qualified and knowledgeable guide, travel in luxury air – conditioned vehicles, home-made morning teas, all entry fees, sumptuous lunch, Daintree River Cruise, River Barge Crossing and wilderness walks.
ITINERARY
Departing your accommodation we travel through the rich farming areas toward the World Heritage Listed forest region of the Daintree National Park. We step aboard our own personalized craft for a cruise on the mirrored smooth waters of the Daintree River. We cruise close to riverbanks and under the overhead canopy of the rainforest seeking out the vivid Ulysses Butterfly, Kingfishers and various other wildlife. The cruise takes us through silent backwaters where crocodiles can normally be seen basking on the muddy banks.
Arriving on the northern side of the river we now enter the Daintree section of the Wet Tropics World Heritage protected rainforest. Our journey takes up the beautiful Alexandra Range passing through rainforest and on to our first stop for home style morning tea deep in the rainforest at the Jindalba boardwalk. Jindalba is an area of protected forests and your guide will take you on a walk to view plants of ancient linage right through to examples of our more recent species of flowering plants. The sounds of various birdlife sing along as we stroll. You may even hear the Wompoo fruit doves with their distinctive “Womp pooooo” call. There is the possibility of seeing the elusive and brightly colored Southern Cassowary (A primitive and sadly, endangered species of flightless bird, standing up to an impressive (1.8m/5ft high).
Continuing along we stop at the magical Thornton Beach. Here our guides will highlight the amazing wildlife and ecosystems unique to this part of the world – “where the rainforest meets the sea”. Usually we are one of the only people on this stretch of wilderness beach if not the only people. Many who have travelled remark how they feel like Robinson Crusoe. This is also where Cooper Creek started its life on Thornton’s Peak, passing through forest which scientists refer to as an ancient “refugium” (dating back around 120 million years) and finally meeting up with the Coral Sea.
Lunch is a special treat today, deep under the Rainforest canopy. We enjoy a delicious lunch of tropical rainforest-inspired local produce. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy quality food, whilst bathed in the serenity of the Tropical Rainforests. We have the chance for a private rainforest walk here as well, and may possibly spot rainforest lizards, birds, butterflies and perhaps even marsupials! This is also your opportunity to immerse yourself in the fresh, clear, rainforest creek. Surely this is a once in a lifetime experience.
After lunch we get to see unusual, exotic fruit originating from all over the globe’s tropical regions. Along with the fruit trees the orchid is also a host to beautiful species of tropical flowering plants, both native and introduced. The sole purpose for the fruit grown at this orchard is to make pure, fresh, ice cream which is made on the property and sold nowhere else on the globe. For all those ice cream lovers this is your chance to add to your list of flavors (optional extra)
Our last stop and final lasting impression will be at the outstanding panoramic picture postcard view at Alexandra Range Lookout. From here you’ll have a spectacular view of the mouth of the Daintree River, Snapper Island and on a clear day Port Douglas. One final treat for the day is the crossing on the Daintree River Ferry – the iconic vehicle punt which transfers you out of the world heritage rainforest and on to your home-ward road. You will be back at your accommodation early in the evening.
Please note during wet season the itinerary may change due to higher water levels
Outer Barrier Reef full day tour
Get set for an exhilarating day of fun, discovery and adventure when you step aboard the ultramodern dive and snorkel catamaran Silverswift. Departing daily from Cairns, this is a day designed for small groups of people to experience the thrill of diving and snorkeling at three spectacular Outer Great Barrier Reef sites. Visit 3 sites at the Outer Barrier Reef and spend a leisurely 5 hours at play. Certified divers can enjoy up to 3 dives, with introductory divers able to do a second dive.
Adventure snorkelers can explore spectacular coral formations and underwater gardens awash with vibrantly colored marine creatures. Locations vary with the conditions however each site is chosen for visual impact, ecological diversity and the challenge of discovery (Milln, Pellowe, Flynn & Thetford reefs).
Onboard, your crew will encourage you to relax and enjoy the comfort of Silverswift with its full bar facilities, fresh water showers, air-conditioning and a delicious lunch for hungry adventurers. There’s morning and afternoon tea as well and the spacious deck areas are just ideal for sharing a cold drink and tales of your adventure.
Silverswift is part of the multi-award winning Quicksilver Group – Australian and Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame Winner.
Cairns White Water Rafting
It’s all about team adventure! White Water Rafting is not for the faint-hearted, but an exhilarating ride down a raging river in an inflatable rafting boat provides excitement that will be difficult to beat on any Cairns holiday. The white water rafts are tough inflatable’s with self-draining floors. All the water that comes in over the side of the rafts and drains right back out again so there is no risk of sinking while you’re white water rafting. Not only is white water rafting exciting, it’s a fantastic source of exercise!
You are assured of complete safety during your Cairns white water rafting tour. All white water rafting guides are fully trained and have experience handling the raging waters. All rafting guides have rode the rivers many times and have an intimate knowledge of its curves, bends, drops and tricky spots before they are permitted to take visitors in the boats. Of course, everyone must wear a life jacket and the white water rafting guides give a full safety demonstration before the trip. No need for a camera on the ride as there are staff that work at the best picture points of the rivers to snap those action packed photographs that can be purchased for a very reasonable price at the end of your day. With the exception of The Family Rafting Adventure, the minimum age for rafting is thirteen years of age and if under eighteen years, a form must be signed by a parent or guardian. Be sure to bring a towel, sunscreen, closed in shoes that will not fall off and money for optional extras such as rafting photos and snacks. Wetsuits and rafting shoes are also available for hire.
Rivers in Cairns vary from mild to wild, in fact this is one of the slogans of a Cairns white water rafting company. Depending on your taste you can opt for gentle rivers with a minimum of white water for family rafting or your first time introduction to rafting, or absolutely raging torrents where you need to keep your wits about you and listen to your guide.
Cairns Night Zoo – this is definitely a dinner with a difference!
The night commences with a friendly greeting from our Team Leader and this same genuine Aussie hospitality continues throughout the rest of the night. At 7.00pm the chef rings the cowbell and it’s time for dinner. Our Aussie BBQ buffet includes juicy sirloin steaks, special sausages, chicken, fresh local prawns, salads, rice and vegetables, and delicious desserts. To help wash all this down are complimentary beers, red, white and sparkling wines, and a selection of juices and soft drinks. This is the most relaxed part of the night before everyone heads off on the wildlife tour, so sit back and enjoy some live music from the resident musician.
After dinner, pick up your provided flashlight and prepare to have fun during the fascinating guided wildlife tour. You will learn how owls hunt, crocodiles attack, and also see some nice soft and cuddly animals. This is an easy tour for everyone with minimal walking involved. The pathways are all wheelchair friendly. There is the opportunity during the tour to have a souvenir digital photo taken with one of our friendly koalas. The cost is $16.00 and you will get to take home a great memory.
Whilst on tour make sure you sample some Billy Tea & Damper at the “Swaggie’s” camp. He will be joined by his mob of friendly kangaroos and you will have them eating out of your hand. Now it’s time to head back to base camp where a welcome home drink will be waiting for you. Our Aussie musician will play some well known songs for you to sing along with, and then everyone gets involved with some not-so-serious bush dancing. All too soon it’s 10.00pm and the party is over – but don’t forget to say hooroo to our friendly wombat as you pass through the souvenir shop.
Cairns Night Zoo appeals to all ages and nationalities and is just great fun! Cairns night zoo operates five nights per week – Monday to Thursday and Saturday nights, 7.00 to 10.00pm, and bookings are essential.
Hartley’s Creek Crocodile Adventures
Located on a 10 hectare World Heritage site just 40 minutes north of Cairns and 15 minutes drive north of Palm Cove and 20 minutes south of Port Douglas. With over 2100m of easy boardwalks and pathways to follow the whole family can discover the five distinct wildlife zones of this innovative tourist attraction and wildlife park.
A multi-faceted eco-adventure facility, most areas of Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures can be explored independently, while others do require special transport and or a wildlife park tour guide for safety reasons.
Take a boat cruise on the wetlands and try and spot the crocodiles lurking in the murky waters below. See them leap from the Hartleys Lagoon to jump up and grab the chicken being dangled from a pole on the side of the boat. Just make sure you keep your arms inside the boat at all times as crocodiles do not discriminate on what is being offered in this lagoon at feeding times.
Cassowaries are under the threat of extinction in the not too distant future if something is not done to preserve our rainforests and the natural habitat of these giant birds. Hartleys Creek Crocodile Adventure Park has set up an informative sanctuary for visitors to explore and get to understand the fragility of our rainforests and what they mean to us as humans today and the existence of our future generations health. Cassowaries are one of the most important links in the survival and regeneration of our rainforests as they are the only animals capable of consuming and distributing large rare seeds around their habitat regenerating the rainforest as they go.
Take all the family for an adventure thru the wildlife discovery trail to see all the exotic species of tropical north Queensland animals on display. See huge old saltwater crocodiles basking in the sun and their smaller relatives the freshwater crocodile in the pens next door waiting to be fed. See the brilliant colorful tropical birds endemic to Cairns North Queensland, turtles, lizards, butterflies, huge pythons and of course Australia’s cuddly koala. Whilst the crocodiles at Hartleys Crocodile Wildlife Park are the main event, these Koala’s are simply irresistible to children and adults alike. People come from all over the world to see these cute furry little creatures and have a photograph taken with them and have the opportunity to give them a cuddle at the same time.
Make sure you are back at this Wildlife Trail location at 2 .00 pm for the snake show and especially at 3.00 pm for “The World Famous Crocodile Attack Show”. One of Hartleys zoo keepers bravely gets into a pen with a huge saltwater crocodile and hand feeds it a dead chicken. The massive beast comes flying out of the water and jumps up and snatches the chicken from his hand and then stealth fully crawls backwards into the murky depths to drown and consume its victim.