On arrival in Cairns you meet your driver near the luggage carousel and travel to Hartley's Creek Crocodile Adventures for a private Ranger-led tour enroute to your accommodation.
You will participate in the following:
- Big Croc Feed - a personalised, ranger-led activity where you can pole feed a huge saltwater crocodile, learn interesting facts on fresh and saltwater crocodiles, and meet and hold a juvenile crocodile for a souvenir photo. (Minimum age of 16 years to participate in feeding. Younger children may watch but cannot physically participate)
- Mammal Magic Tour - an interactive guided tour where you can feed, pat and hold some of the most adorable Australian marsupials. This experience includes a koala talk and souvenir koala holding photo.
- Lagoon Cruise - you may also join the lagoon cruise to view crocodiles in their natural environment and watch them be pole fed from the safety of the boat.
- Croc Taste - served on the deck area of Lilies restaurant.
At the conclusion of the "formal" tour you are welcome to stay on and enjoy the other exhibits before continuing on to your accommodation.
You are met this morning by your private guide for a full day of private touring, including lunch.
You travel to the Botanical Ark and spend time viewing the gardens and learning about the philosophy behind the Botanical Ark project. You will have the opportunity to view stunningly beautiful plants and taste some very interesting and exotic fruits.
The Botanical Ark project commenced more than 37 years ago, as a subsistence farm and then more recently as a private ethno-botanical gardens. The owners travel to the tropical regions of the world collecting plants that indigenous rainforest cultures have and still use for their foods, spices, shelter, medicines, cosmetics, fibres, oils, dyes – in fact everything used in their everyday needs. The emphasis is on the link between the plants and peoples and the aim is to educate visitors to the real values of tropical rainforests and to help save some of these forests for the people who depend on them.
Enjoy a walk around this stunning property before enjoying morning tea.
You then continue to Mossman Gorge for a private guided Dreamtime Walk (1.5 hours).
A "must do" for every visitor to Mossman Gorge are the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks, conducted by the local Indigenous people. Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) means stories and legends from a long time ago in local Kuku Yalanji language. The walks take visitors on a journey along private, gentle tracks, visiting special places and culturally significant sites, past traditional bark shelters and over meandering cool rainforest streams.
You are welcomed with a traditional ‘smoking’ ceremony that cleanses and wards off bad spirits. The walk then meanders through stunning rainforest and takes in traditional huts or humpies. Your experienced interpretive Indigenous guide demonstrates traditional plant use, identify bush food sources and provide an enchanting narrative of the rainforest and their special relationship with this unique tropical environment. Your guide demonstrates traditions like making bush soaps and ochre painting. At the end of the tour enjoy bush tea and damper.
You are returned to your accommodation in the late afternoon.
Please make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes as the paths at Mossman Gorge can be uneven. You may also like to bring insect repellent, a hat, sunscreen and an umbrella/rain poncho.
Today you enjoy a private charter to the Great Barrier Reef aboard MV Monsoon to snorkel and fish, including lunch.
You are met by your driver and transfer to the Port Douglas Marina. MV Monsoon is located on the main finger wharf, just after The Lady Douglas (an old paddle steamer).
MV Monsoon is a 54ft classically styled, custom-built vessel built for comfort and will take you to the best snorkelling, diving and fishing destinations within a day charter.
All snorkel/diving and fishing equipment is provided, as well as a gourmet lunch, canapes, cheese platter and seasonal tropical fruits for lunch.
On return to Port Douglas you are met by your driver and returned to your accommodation.
Please be sure to bring your swimmers, a towel and protective sunwear (hat, sunglasses and sunscreen).
Non-alcoholic beverages are provided. Alcoholic beverages are BYO.
If a private charter is not for you then arrangements to join a shared tour to the reef can be made.
Meet your driver in the hotel lobby and transfer to Cairns General Aviation.
11.00 am - Fly on the scheduled flight to Lizard Island, arriving at 12 noon.
Lizard Island is one of a kind – a work of nature’s art. Located right on the Great Barrier Reef, it is a private paradise with 24 powdery white beaches. During his epic voyage of 1770, Captain James Cook climbed the peak on Lizard Island to chart a course out to sea through the maze of reefs which confronted him. Today Lizard Island offers an escape of a different kind, a unique holiday on the Great Barrier Reef's premier island.
Lizard Island offers a plethora of activities (https://wetu.com/iBrochure/en/Home/10589_58274/lizard_island_great_barrier_reef), some at additional cost, all of which can be arranged in situ. Options include:
- climbing Cook’s Look, the island’s highest point, for a stunning view over the Coral Sea back to the mainland,
- snorkel the fringing reef around the island,
- take advantage of the non-motorised water craft available,
- take a glass bottom boat ride, or
- pamper yourself with a spa treatment (at additional cost).
No activities have been planned and the afternoon is at your leisure.
Sometime this afternoon please make your way to the Beach Club to collect your snorkel gear for use throughout your stay. If you are a diver and plan to dive during your stay please also complete your pre-dive paperwork and measure up for your dive gear.
Note: Luggage limit is restricted to a total of 25kg per person including one small carry-on piece of hand luggage not exceeding 4kg. Soft suitcases are preferable. Luggage storage facilities are available whilst on the island.
Today you may choose to venture to the Outer Barrier Reef aboard the MV Duyfken (at additional cost).
Duyfken is a 51 foot Flybridge Cruiser that provides the perfect platform for snorkelling/diving and fishing. Your captain will show you some wonderful locations that are within easy reach of the island. You dive/snorkel the spectacular drop offs on the edge of the outer barrier reef and the sensational coral bommie gardens which abound on the leeward side of the Ribbon Reefs. The Cod Hole, famed for its family of potato grouper and maori wrasse is sure to provide the highlight of your dive experience (weather dependent).
Should you wish to fish, this can also be arranged. The warm summer waters abound in pelagic fish species such as spanish mackerel, wahoo and mahi mahi. The rich diversity of bottom dwellers like coral trout and red emperor not only provide great sport fishing but are considered to be the prime eating species in Australia.
The Great Barrier Reef is a world “icon” and is home to an amazing variety of fascinating animals. While most people are familiar with the colourful corals and the beautifully bright fish, other creatures on the reef are just as intriguing. First time visitors can expect to be amazed at the many thousands of animals found throughout the reef. The variety of organisms found beneath a coral rock is astonishing, ranging from different types of colourful encrusting sponges, softer colonial and solitary sea squirts, delicate lace corals or bryozoans, slithering serpent stars and worms, and scores of colourful and oddly shaped animals.
The water temperature is conducive to spending many hours in the water. It is advisable to bring sun protective shirts for swimming in to prevent excess sun exposure. A hat and sunscreen will be essential.
Divers - please be advised that safety regulations require that you are not permitted to fly for a minimum of 24 hours after your last dive. As you will fly to and from the island, this is critical for your planning.
If a private charter reef trip is not for you you may choose to join MV Serranidae (shared basis) for either a full or half day reef trip to dive or snorkel.
No activities have been planned and these days are at your leisure.
We suggest you consider taking a either a hike up to Cook's Look, enjoy a picnic to a deserted beach or have the staff drop you at the end of the airstrip and snorkel the mangroves of Blue Lagoon. Please speak to the Activities Coordinator for activity ideas and to obtain best local information.
Fly to Cairns on either the 12.25 pm or the 3.25 pm scheduled flight.
On arrival in Cairns you are transferred by private car to the Cairns Airport for your onward flight.
END OF ARRANGEMENTS
The scheduled flight time will be dependent on your onward flight. If either of these times do not allow you to connect with your homeward flight then a private charter flight can be arranged. Alternatively an overnight stay in Cairns can also be arranged.
