Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney to Coffs Harbour
You'll travel from Sydney north to Coffs Harbour on the mid-North Coast of New South Wales. The area's known for its beaches and national parkland, so after you arrive, head down to the beach to shake off the travel. Later that evening, there's a Welcome Dinner where you'll meet your fellow travelers and Travel Director.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner with fellow adventure-seekers and Travel Director)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner with Travel Director
Optional Activities
- Beach visit and exploration
Landmarks Coffs Harbour 
- Day 2
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay
Today takes you to Cape Byron Lighthouse at Australia's most easterly point, perched above the Pacific Ocean. Keep your eyes open for dolphins (they're around year-round) and whales if you're traveling during migration season. Grab lunch at a local Byron Bay fish-and-chip shop with sand between your toes, then move on to your next stop.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Surfers Paradise)
Included Activities
- Visit Cape Byron Lighthouse
Optional Activities
- Lunch at Byron Bay fish-and-chip shop
Landmarks Cape Byron Lighthouse Byron Bay 
- Day 3
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast
You're settled in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, and the day is yours to shape. You can wander the beaches and hang out in light-filled cafes and restaurants, or join an optional tour to Mt. Tamborine hinterland to check out the creative community and food scene. There's also an optional leisurely cruise through the Gold Coast's canal network if you want something different.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Surfers Paradise)
Optional Activities
- Beach exploration
- Gold Coast tour with Mt. Tamborine hinterland visit
- Leisurely canal cruise
Landmarks Surfers Paradise Mt. Tamborine - Day 4
Gold Coast to K'gari (Fraser Island)
After heading north, you'll take a ferry across the strait to K'gari (Fraser Island), a World Heritage-Listed spot. The ferry ride itself is the highlight, especially during whale migration when these animals come to the calm waters. Once you land, prepare yourself—it's the world's largest sand island and the only place where rainforest grows directly from sand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kingfisher Bay Resort)
Included Activities
- Ferry ride to K'gari (Fraser Island)
Landmarks K'gari (Fraser Island) 
- Day 5
K'gari (Fraser Island)
A 4WD tour takes you up 75 Mile Beach on the east coast to see the Pinnacles Coloured Sands, calm Eli Creek, and the Maheno shipwreck. Lake McKenzie is next—a blue patch formed only by rainwater that's definitely worth the stop. Before the day ends, explore the ancient rainforest at Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek with their huge satiny and scribbly gum and kauri trees.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kingfisher Bay Resort)
Included Activities
- 4WD Fraser Island tour across 75 Mile Beach
- Visit Pinnacles Coloured Sands
- Visit Eli Creek
- Visit Maheno shipwreck
- Visit Lake McKenzie
- Explore Central Station rainforest
- Visit Wanggoolba Creek
Landmarks 75 Mile Beach Pinnacles Coloured Sands Eli Creek Maheno Shipwreck Lake McKenzie Central Station Wanggoolba Creek - Day 6
K'gari to Rockhampton
You'll return to the mainland and head into Queensland's cattle country. At Langmorn Station, the Creed family will welcome you with afternoon tea and a tour of their historic cattle property (the original homestead dates back to 1873). After hearing stories about station life, you'll cross the Tropic of Capricorn to Rockhampton, Australia's beef capital, where you can sample local restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Quality Hotel Regent, Rockhampton)
Included Activities
- Visit Langmorn Station with afternoon tea
- Tour of Langmorn cattle property
- Meet the Creed family
Optional Activities
- Dine at Rockhampton restaurants
Landmarks Langmorn Station Rockhampton Tropic of Capricorn - Day 7
Rockhampton to Airlie Beach
Sarina's next on the itinerary—Australia's sugar capital. A guided tour through the Sarina Sugar Shed shows how sugar cane gets processed and distilled, plus you'll get to sample the products. From there, continue along the coast to Airlie Beach, which serves as the gateway to the Whitsundays and moves at a pretty relaxed pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mantra Club Croc)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sarina Sugar Shed
- Sugar sampling at Sarina Sugar Shed
Landmarks Sarina Sarina Sugar Shed Airlie Beach 
- Day 8
Airlie Beach, Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands offer 74 tropical pieces of land with powdery beaches and rainforest all ringed by the Coral Sea. You've got options for how to spend your day. Rise early for an optional helicopter ride over Heart Reef, or catch a catamaran to Whitehaven Beach, where the silica sand actually squeaks under your feet.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mantra Club Croc)
Optional Activities
- Helicopter ride over Heart Reef
- Catamaran to Whitehaven Beach
Landmarks Whitsunday Islands Heart Reef Whitehaven Beach Great Barrier Reef - Day 9
Airlie Beach to Cairns
After yesterday's action, today slows down so you can soak in the scenery. You'll travel through sugar cane fields and rolling paddocks framed by ocean and rainforest-clad mountains. Stretch your legs along the way as you head to Cairns, taking in this steamy part of Queensland.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Optional Activities
- Stops to stretch and explore en route
Landmarks Cairns - Day 10
Cairns, Atherton Tablelands, Skyrail
The Cairns Esplanade buzzes with active locals in the morning, so join in before heading inland to the Atherton Tablelands, a high tropical plateau covered in rainforest. Stop at the heritage-listed Curtain Fig Tree and waterfalls like Millaa Millaa. Later, explore Kuranda and use the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to travel through and above the canopy of Barron Gorge National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Included Activities
- Visit Cairns Esplanade
- Visit Curtain Fig Tree
- Visit Millaa Millaa Falls
- Explore Kuranda
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway experience through Barron Gorge National Park
Landmarks Cairns Esplanade Atherton Tablelands Curtain Fig Tree Millaa Millaa Falls Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Barron Gorge National Park - Day 11
Great Barrier Reef, Cairns
A high-speed catamaran takes you out over the Great Barrier Reef where you can snorkel with six of the world's sea turtle species over coral fans and countless fish. If snorkeling isn't your thing, check out the marine world from an underwater observatory or glass-bottom boat to stay dry.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran to Great Barrier Reef
- Snorkeling at Great Barrier Reef
Optional Activities
- Underwater observatory visit
- Glass-bottom boat experience
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 12
Cairns Departure
The beaches, rainforest, islands, and ocean you've seen along this east coast adventure are going to be hard to leave behind. Take time to reflect on the memories you've made and the fellow travelers you've met as your tour comes to an end.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell Dinner)
