Far North Exploration

Collect your rental car and make your way to Port Douglas, an hour’s drive north of Cairns, via the spectacular coastal road which is bordered by forest and the Coral Sea. Make your way to Thala Beach Lodge and settle in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Thala Beach Lodge (Eucalypt Bungalow)

This morning head to the marina for your full day shared snorkelling tour to the idyllic Low Isles. There are 150 different species of hard corals in the waters here, although these are dominated by 15 species of soft corals. Marvel at the variety of fish, molluscs, sea cucumbers and other animals which live amongst the corals. Spot the colourful blue, green and purple parrotfish as well as angelfish, damselfish, clownfish, trevally, sweetlip and moon wrasse, just to name a few. In addition, the island has a prolific turtle population with underwater sightings common.

There is also time to explore this protected coral cay, with its white sandy beaches and coconut palms. Your vessel moors in a sheltered blue lagoon allowing you to relax on the island, join the guided snorkel tour, take a trip on the glass bottom boat or laze on deck before an exhilarating sail back to Port Douglas.

Thala Beach Lodge (Eucalypt Bungalow)  | Meals: BL

Today your guide accompanies you on a private adventure to the Mossman Gorge for a rainforest experience like no other! Begin the day at a secret location on the Mossman River for a one-of-a-kind river drift snorkelling tour; searching for turtles, water dragons and the elusive platypus. Step into the cool, crystal-clear water and drift with the current as you explore life under the water’s surface. Watch fish dart in and around the river stones and keep your eyes out for the occasional turtle. After a well-earned lunch, enjoy a traditional Kuku Yalanji smoking ceremony at the Mossman Gorge where you’ll be cleansed of harmful spirits and have traditional rainforest body paint applied. Continue exploring the Daintree National Park on an interpretive 1.5 hour walk leaving you with a deeper understanding of this complex ecosystem.

Thala Beach Lodge (Eucalypt Bungalow)  | Meals: BL

Today depart Port Douglas and make your way north to Cooktown, a journey of approximately 3 hours. Along the way, visit a private tropical garden at the end of a jungle-clad valley in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest. Meet the founders of this tropical oasis who are recreating small microcosms of rainforest from the four corners of the globe, protecting and preserving the world's most unique plant species. Enjoy a fascinating interpretive tour of the garden and be inspired as you learn about the intrinsic link between rainforest plants and different cultures. Then relax and unwind over lunch on the veranda of their beautiful Queensland home hearing tales of travels to remote indigenous communities where they further enhance their broad knowledge of anthropology and collect examples of rare equatorial plant life. Arrive at your hotel in Cooktown late this afternoon.

Sovereign Resort Hotel (Deluxe Resort Room)  | Meals: BL

This morning, meet your A&K representative for a full day private tour of Cooktown, where Captain James Cook's ship, the Endeavour, came ashore in 1770. Wander down the main street to Endeavour Landing Site and venture up to the Grassy Hill Lookout for panoramic views of Cooktown, the Coral Sea and the Endeavour River. Continue with a visit to the James Cook Museum, located in the heritage-listed former 19th century convent and school, where an extensive collection of local Guugu Yimithiir artefacts are housed along with an original anchor and cannon from HMB Endeavour.

Later, explore the Cooktown cemetery and the innovative Nature’s Powerhouse in the botanical gardens where the Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery displays the only collection of original botanical illustrations of flora from the region. Many of the plants can be found in the adjoining gardens. Lunch today is at the historic Lion’s Den before visiting the Annan river crossing and Black Mountain. Return to your hotel later this afternoon.

Sovereign Resort Hotel (Deluxe Resort Room)  | Meals: BL

Your journey concludes today as you depart Cooktown.

Meals: B