Queensland: Sand & Sailing

Arrive at any time. Welcome to the “Land Down Under”! Tonight, gear up and get ready for a night out in Brisbane with the group. Enjoy an evening filled with friendly vibes, epic times, and dope views of the city as you sip some local bevvies on the rooftop bar of the YHA Brisbane Hostel with your new travel tribe by your side.

Escape the city as you journey north up the coast to the Noosa Everglades. Get ready for an evening surrounded by stunning wilderness in one of the most pristine wetlands in the world. Relax as you cruise along this "river of mirrors" and chow down with a delicious Aussie BBQ lunch before further exploring your surroundings. Grab a kayak to get up and personal with the dark, tranquil waters as you paddle through ancient landscapes and sub-tropical rainforest. Then relax around the lake or hike one of the trails to further appreciate the serenity that seeps from this unique landscape.

On your mark...get set.... go! Travel by private vehicle and ferry with your group to reach K'gari (Fraser Island); for a true Aussie experience. K'gari (Fraser Island) is the largest sand island in the world and the only known place where rainforest grows on sand. Think pure paradise; with striking blue lakes, crystal clear creeks, giant dunes, and dense rainforests in a place truly unlike any other. Once on the island the group will go for a 4x4 tour, driving along over 100km of beach to get a sense of your surroundings. Then take a swim in Lake Mckenzie, or be on the lookout for wild Dingoes (this is one of the few places in Australia where you are able to see them).

Your second day on K'gari (Fraser Island) comes with more free time to enjoy this paradise. In the morning continue exploring by 4x4 along wide stretches of pearly white beach and then duck into the shade of the forest to really appreciate the peaceful solitude that surrounds you. In the afternoon board an overnight train (get ready to post some ‘grams) north to Airlie Beach, where more sand, sun, and fun await you.

Awake as the train pulls to a stop in your next destination. Hop out, stretch those legs, and head out for brunch with the group in Airlie Beach; home to the Whitsunday Islands and located on the Great Barrier Reef. Then head to the marina and embark on a maxi yacht which will be your home for the next two nights. Set sail to a secluded cove (we’re so excited for you) in the Whitsunday islands where you will drop anchor for the night. Our only advice; try not to pinch yourself too many times because no, this is not a dream, it is reality and we want you to experience it as best you can!

Remember those stranded-on-a-deserted island fantasies that we all had growing up? (no, just us?) Either way get ready to relive that castaway dream as you hike to an island lookout over Whitehaven Beach (one of the most famous beaches in the world) and enjoy the views of powdery sand and the Coral Sea’s azure waters. You probably won’t ever want to leave. And you haven’t even gone below the surface yet! After some free time on the beach basking in the sun you’ll spend time as a group learning about the community efforts to protect and restore coral in the Great Barrier Reef before heading out to snorkel; over a Planeterra-supported coral garden. Then it’s off to another secluded tropical island spot where the group will anchor for the night.

Expected forecast today is; peace, serenity, paradise, and lots of gorgeous views. You may want to pull out your phone or camera every chance you get, but try to refrain and simply enjoy the moment as you and the group continue sailing through the picturesque backdrop of the Whitsunday Islands. Swim, snorkel, or lounge on the boat deck before sailing to the resort town of Airlie Beach for a night on the town with your best adventure buds! Live it up because let’s face it, how often are you really in this kind of paradise?

With an early morning departure, admire the scenery on the train ride north to Cairns.

Cairns is quite the place to visit if you love warm weather (it would be headline news for the city’s temperature to drop much below 20°C (68°F)) and want to visit the Great Barrier Reef. Take advantage of a free day to book one of the many optional activities that will get you out in nature’s playground. Snorkel or dive in the Great Barrier Reef, get that adrenaline pumping by whitewater rafting, skydiving, or bungee jumping and cap it all off on a Big Night Out in Cairns with your fellow travellers. Drinks all around are well deserved after spending the day escaping your comfort zones.

Today, let the scenery guide you to some new adventures. Wave “see ya later” to Cairns before heading north to Cape Tribulation. Along the way; hop out, stretch those legs, and explore Mossman Gorge — home to the oldest continuously surviving rainforest on earth. Then follow an Indigenous guide through the Daintree Rainforest on an interpretive walk to better understand the lasting relationship of the Kuku Yalanju people with their natural environment.

There’s more to discover in Cape Tribulation today! Explore more of the rainforest or chill out poolside and catch some rays in the place where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. Canter along the beach on horseback, trek to Mason’s secret (croc-free) swimming hole, or reward that sweet tooth craving with some exotic fruit ice cream from Daintree Ice Cream Company. Then it’s time to move on to Yungaburra in the Atherton Tablelands for the night. Think boho-boutiques, farm-to-table cafes, and eerie volcanic lakes as set off on foot to get to know this historical place.

Today is full of possibilities! Stop at Lake Eacham, a volcanic crater lake (make sure you have those swimmers packed to take a dip), before continuing the adventure as you visit some of the best waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands; Josephine Falls and Millaa Millaa Falls. Later on, go for a swim with your pals in the waters of Babinda Boulders. Grab a photo with the group, have a few laughs, plot your move to this gorgeous oasis, and then get ready to travel back to Cairns. Tour ends upon arrival.