Tropical Queensland: Cairns to the Gold Coast

There aren’t many places in the world where you can experience two World Heritage Sites at the same time. Cairns is one – this is where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics of Queensland. Needless to say, it’s a pretty special destination. Touch down and take your time soaking up the tropical surrounds of this city, whether you’re wandering along the buzzy Esplanade, enjoying seafood by the marina or checking out one of the hip bars and lounges that now call Cairns home.

Bring your stamina and sense of adventure as you zip over the Great Barrier Reef in a high-speed catamaran. Pull on your mask and snorkel and dive into this marine wonderland to swim with turtles, moray eels, giant clams and a menagerie of tropical fish. Your guides will tell you how important this ecosystem is to the biodiversity of the planet. If you prefer to keep your hair dry, the marine world can also be glimpsed from an underwater observatory and glass-bottom boat.

‘A village in the rainforest’ is Kuranda’s catchphrase. Indeed, this picturesque mountain retreat on the eastern edge of the Atherton Tableland is surrounded by the world’s oldest living tropical rainforest. It’s an important floral and faunal corridor, as you’ll discover when you arrive and explore at your leisure. A great way to take the natural drama in is from the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, whisking you high over strangler figs, orchids and palms, not to mention gushing waterfalls. Keep watch for the elusive cassowary, which calls this part of the world home.

From the rainforest back to the reef – your journey today takes you to a very special pocket of national parkland, just off the coast of Townsville. Alight your ferry to discover Magnetic Island with a guide, glimpsing palm-fringed beaches backdropped by enormous granite boulders, hidden waterfalls and forests of lush hoop pines and eucalypts where koalas like to hang out. Fun fact: the island is home to the largest population of koalas in northern Australia. It’s all enveloped by opaline lagoons that glimmer in Queensland’s tropical sun. More than two-thirds of Magnetic is protected parkland, and with 25km of hiking trails on offer, there’s a lot to take in.

You’re in the middle of the Coral Sea – needless to say, one of the best ways to explore is by boat. Jump aboard your floating chariot for the day to cruise around the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, learning about what’s being done to protect this ecosystem while you glide in and out of bays – there are 23 across the island – and skirt endless unpeopled beaches. It can get warm in these parts; thankfully you’ll have plenty of time to cool off with a dip or snorkel before heading back to land. Tonight, take the pulse of the island’s restaurants and bars at your own pace.

All palm trees and golden sand, Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays, 74 tropical drops of land all ringed by the Coral Sea. Life moves at a slow pace here, in keeping with the balmy climes. Follow the lead of locals and soak it all in – slowly – while getting a taste for the produce of the region at any number of alfresco restaurants and bars. Or splash about in Airlie’s enormous man-made lagoon, particularly pretty at sunset. The choice is yours this afternoon and evening.

You may have heard of Hayman, Hamilton and Daydream islands. But there are endless other rainforest-clad islets to discover off the Airlie Beach coast. And there are just as many ways to take them all in – today we’re letting you decide. Perhaps rise early for an optional helicopter ride over Heart Reef. Or catch a catamaran to Whitehaven Beach, with sand so high in silica it squeaks underfoot. You can also opt to go chasing waterfalls in the lush hinterland, where hiking trails weave through the emerald canopy and lead to gem-like waterholes. Whichever way you go, be sure to pack your swimsuit.

Be sure to nab a window seat on your flight from Airlie Beach to the Gold Coast, so that you can gain some perspective of the Whitsundays from above. It’s hard to say goodbye, but the prospect of your next destinations should put you in a cheery mood. The Gold Coast enjoys 300 days of sunshine every year, which means you’re guaranteed a good time along its 57km-long coastline home to world-class surf beaches and colourful neighbourhoods. Get your bearings with a guide from the SkyPoint Observation Deck on level 77 of the iconic Q1 building. Back on the ground, spend the evening restaurant-hopping at your leisure.

The hardest thing you have to do today is decide which direction to set your compass – we have a few ideas, if you need inspiration. Perhaps cruise the ‘Goldie’s’ enormous network of canals on a cruise, ogling mansions that cling to the banks of waterways. Or check out the city’s cultural vibe, visiting museums and galleries and lingering in markets. You can’t visit this part of Queensland and not feel the sand between your toes, and there are dozens of beaches to choose from, whether backdropped by the gleaming towers of Surfers Paradise or hidden among rainforest. You might decide to go further afield to see another side of the region in the Mt. Tamborine hinterland – a hub for creatives and foodies. Endless sunshine, countless beaches, memories of coral reefs and tropical fish, rainforests and waterfalls… you’ll be glowing when it’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travellers after your Farewell Dinner.

We bid you farewell after breakfast. We wouldn’t blame you for lingering to catch a final few rays before you fly home, though.