Reef, Rail & Cruise: Brisbane to Cairns

Located in the city of Brisbane, with direct access to restaurants, shopping and bars, The Calile Hotel features an outdoor pool, fitness centre and spa facilities. You can complete your Brisbane experience with visits to the city's art galleries, museums and the CBD, all within a short drive from the property.

The Calile Hotel offers generous guest rooms, including city and pool view rooms. Each room is designed with the guest experience in mind, with most offering an individual balcony or terrace and all featuring Chromecast and Bluetooth sound bar, automated blackout blinds, Grown Alchemist bathroom amenities, a locally curated minibar, 55 inch UHD television and complimentary WiFi.

The RailBed is a spacious seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system, a 240v powerpoint and a USB point. In the evening the seat converts to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided.

The Pacific Hotel Cairns boasts a magnificent location, personalised service and award winning hospitality. Contemporary, and with a tropical ambiance, befitting a bygone era, an era when great service and friendly hospitality were the rule rather than the exception. Spacious rooms all offer balconies. Enjoy the onsite restaurant and bar, outdoor pool and complimentary WIFI throughout the hotel.

The Classic Kuranda Experience includes the main attractions of Kuranda, but gives you more free time to explore Kuranda. You will travel to Kuranda by scenic railway and then spend some free time in the village. Wander through the many shops and local markets, which offer a full range of local handicrafts, souvenirs, and gifts.

You will then be transferred to Rainforestation Nature Park, where you will enjoy a delicious Australian BBQ lunch, a guided tour of the rainforest on board an amphibious Army Duck, and the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dance performance, followed by the Dreamtime Walk. You will learn how to throw a boomerang, see a spear-throwing demonstrations, and learn about aboriginal culture.

A guided tour of the Koala and Wildlife Park will commence at the Cultural Centre. Your coach will then transfer you to Kuranda Skyrail Terminal for the 7.5 kilometre Skyrail Rainforest Cableway journey down the mountain. Your coach will then return you to your accommodation.

4:00pm: Board your Coral Expeditions small ship for a 5:00pm departure from Cairns. As you depart Cairns and cruise Trinity Bay, there is time to settle in and discover your home for the next four nights. In the evening, join the crew and your fellow travellers in the lounge to enjoy a glass of champagne as you cruise northward with views of Double Island and the pretty beachside village of Palm Cove. Admire a spectacular sunset over the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Macalister Range before sitting down to a sumptuous dinner.

You have the morning to discover historic Cooktown. It was here that the famous explorer Captain James Cook took refuge during his voyage of discovery after claiming Australia as a British colony in 1770. You have the option to visit Cooktown's fascinating historical museum, featuring artefacts from Cook's ship, Endeavour. See the original anchor and cannon, jettisoned overboard after Endeavour struck a reef and began taking on water. Cooktown is steeped in history with most stone buildings dating back almost a century. Enjoy time to discover Cooktown at your own pace. Perhaps visit the Botanic Gardens, where you may catch a glimpse of native Australian wildlife including kangaroos and wallabies.

This afternoon, you will visit one of the remote uninhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Join the marine biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colourful coral gardens and discover some of the 1,500 species of tropical fish found in these waters. Enjoy your first snorkelling opportunity for an up-close view of the hundreds of varieties of coral growing on this section of reef. The experienced crew will be on hand to provide assistance, advice and guided snorkelling tours for less experienced swimmers.

This morning, awaken moored beside the beautiful Lizard Island. The energetic may join the guides on a walk to 'Cook's Look' on the island's peak. It was from here, the highest lookout on this part of the reef, that Captain Cook was able to navigate a safe passage back through the treacherous waters after repairing the Endeavour near Cooktown over 200 years ago. A photographer's delight, the views from the lookout over the World Heritage-listed reef and surrounding tropical islands are magnificent. Lizard Island's fringing reef, in the shallow waters just metres off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkelling opportunities. Discover giant clams and a profusion of fish. Enjoy the remainder of the morning at your leisure. You may wish to simply relax on the golden beach soaking up the sun, join the marine biologist for a glass bottom boat tour, or for the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, take the plunge with the dive instructor on a guided SCUBA dive. The choice is yours!

This afternoon, cruise to Ribbon Reef No. 9, a spectacular and seldom visited part of the reef where your activities will include more snorkelling opportunities and glass bottom boat tours with the marine biologist.

The Great Barrier Reef is not actually one continuous reef, but a series of thousands of individual coral cays stretching over 3,000 kilometres between the town of Bundaberg and the tip of Australia at Cape York. Spend today visiting two of the most pristine sections of the reef, Ribbon Reef No. 3 and Rachel Carson Reef. Explore the coral gardens and marine life with guided snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours. The on board marine biologist will explain the natural history and evolution of the reef and help you discover the local wildlife, which includes sea turtles, giant clams, rays and over 200 different species of native birds. Today will also be your last opportunity to experience the reef through SCUBA diving, so allow the dive instructor to guide you on an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. This evening, enjoy your final memorable night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.

8:00am Bid farewell to your Captain, crew and new-found friends before disembarking at Trinity Wharf in Cairns.