Australia • New Zealand • Fiji • Tahiti

Rainforest and Reef Cruise: 7 Days

Code: NA03

Description: 3 Nights Silky Oaks Lodge/3 Nights Coral Princess Spend seven days in North Queensland exploring the islands of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree National Park. Begin with three nights at Silky Oaks Lodge & Healing Waters Spa, the Daintree's ultimate resort, a great base to explore the Daintree and the whole of Tropical North Queensland.

Then relax with four days aboard one of the two Coral Princess luxury cruise ships, each with a maximum capacity of 54. Their size ensures passengers experience the most intimate and educational of Reef encounters in the most environmentally sensitive way possible.

Inclusions: 3 nights Treehouse accommodation in Daintree Rainforest, Return private chauffeured car transfers from Cairns, Day trip to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree River including afternoon tea & barbecue lunch, Tropical breakfast & 4 course table d'hote daily, Many activities in the rainforest, Stateroom accommodation on Coral Princess for three nights, All meals on cruise, morning and afternoon teas while on cruise, Use of all snorkeling and fishing equipment while on Cruise, Access to all islands, resorts, marine and national parks visited while on cruise, Taxi transfer to or from Townsville Marina/Townsville Airport and to or from Cairns Trinity Wharf/Cairns Airport.

Itinerary

Day 1

On arrival in Cairns you will be met and transferred to Silky Oaks Lodge by private chauffeured car. After settling into your Treehouse, the rest of the evening is yours to enjoy. Maybe attend a briefing by Silky Oaks Lodge activity staff outlining the activities you can experience in and around Silky Oaks over the coming days.

Day 2

This morning, depart on your day trip with Australian Wilderness Experience to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree River. On your guided cruise on the Daintree River, you'll discover a fascinating and diverse array of bird and animal life. As you journey up to Cape Tribulation you'll enjoy spectacular coastal scenery. Then it's a hearty barbecue at our private lunch site on the edge of Myall Creek. Finally, there is a guided walk along the Marrdja Boardwalk, where you'll discover amazing plants and animals.

Day 3

The day is free for you to explore Silky Oaks Lodge and Tropical North Queensland. Visit Port Douglas, have a round of golf, take a guided rainforest walk or a mountain bike ride to the Mossman Gorge National Park. Alternatively, try canoeing or just relaxing around the Lodge swimming pool or river lagoon. In the evening you might like to join our evening rainforest walk in search of nocturnal rainforest creatures.

Day 4 - 7

After your tropical breakfast at Silky Oaks Lodge, it is time to say farewell. Depending on which day or which port you would prefer to start your Coral Princess Cruise, you have the choice of two options...

Option One commences with a private chauffeured car transfer from Silky Oaks Lodge to Cairns Trinity Wharf.

Option One - a transfer from Townsville Marina to Townsville Airport is provided for the flights back to Cairns.

Option Two starts with a transfer to Cairns Airport and a flight to Townsville, followed by a transfer to Townsville Marina.

Whichever option, the next two days will be spent cruising on board the state of the art Coral Princess. One day is devoted to cruising the Outer Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling, coral viewing, scuba diving and reef fishing at Nathan or Coates Reef and Sundbury Coral Cay.

That night, experience a magical evening anchored at the Sundbury Reef lagoon.

After breakfast next morning, there is time to explore Pelorous Island with its magnificent fringing reef and sandy beaches. An Australian-style barbeque on the island is followed by a cruise through the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel and the Family Group of Islands that contain the only tropical rainforest islands on the Australian Coast.

That night, the Coral Princess on nearby Dunk Island, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the entertainment and use some of the resorts facilities.

Option Two - includes a transfer from Trinity Wharf, Cairns to Cairns Airport.

Tour schedule:

Option One

Wed: Commence Package at Silky Oaks Lodge

Sat:  Join Coral Princess at 8.45am at Cairns Trinity Wharf, departing 11am

Tue:  Arrive Townsville Breakwater Terminal at 10.00am.

Option Two

Sat:  Commence package at Silky Oaks Lodge

Tue: Fly Cairns to Townsville, Join Coral Princess at 12:15pm at Townsville Breakwater Terminal (departs 1pm)

Fri: Arrive Cairns Trinity Wharf at 1:30pm

Availability:

Between 10 April - 9 Oct 2004 - Option 1 package commences every second Wednesday

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