Starting in Brisbane, this 13-day Sustainable Journey will take you first to Lady Elliott Island where you’ll have two days of exploration, snorkelling or diving to witness the kaleidoscope of underwater wonders on this coral cay at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Then, you’ll take the overnight sleeper train to Cairns where you’ll spend two nights, allowing you to explore the Atherton Tablelands before heading to the Thala Beach Nature Reserve. Here you’ll have four full days to discover the Daintree Tropical Rainforest, go on a thrilling sailing adventure at Port Douglas and learn all about this magical coastline with a local Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal guide. On your return to Cairns, you’ll have gained a true sense of the sheer expanse of this beautiful part of Queensland and a greater appreciation for its diversity of wildlife and nature.
Journey Overview
Day 1 – Arrival in Brisbane
Day 2 – Brisbane to Lady Elliot Island
Day 3 – Exploring Lady Elliot Island
Day 4 – Lady Elliot Island to Brisbane
Day 5 – Embarking on the overnight Spirit of Queensland Train
Day 6 – Arrival in Cairns
Day 7 – Exploring the Atherton Tablelands
Day 8 – Cairns – Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Day 9 – Exploring Daintree National Park
Day 10 – Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Day 11 – Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Day 12 – Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Day 13 – Transfer to Cairns for your journey onward or home
What’s included?
- Accommodation: 12 nights (2 nights in Brisbane, 2 nights on Lady Elliot Island, 1 night on sleeper train, 2 nights in Cairns, and 5 nights at Thala Beach Nature Reserve)
- Meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
- Transport: In destination transfers, return scenic flight from Brisbane to Lady Elliot Island
- Overnight Spirit of Queensland Train Journey
- Atherton Tablelands private day tour with experiences and naturalist guide
- Complimentary activities on Lady Elliot Island and Thala Beach Nature Reserve
- Daintree afternoon and Nocturnal Tour with a naturalist guide
- Sailaway Great Barrier Reef Cruise
- Aboriginal culture half-day guided tour
What’s not included
- Flights to/from Australia, or any flights within Australia (except those included in the itinerary)
- Pre- or post-tour accommodation
- Pre-registration, late check-out, or day use at hotels other than specified
- Meals and beverages other than those specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional tours & services
- Hotel/ airport porterage
- Personal travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature, such as medical or hospital expenses, mini-bar, beverages, hotel porterage, laundry service, room service, internet usage, and telephone calls.
How is this tour sustainable?
Supporting the local environment: Your stays at Thala Beach Nature Reserve and Lady Elliot Island directly support their conservation efforts and restoration work. Thala Beach Nature Reserve is a family-owned eco and wildlife retreat that has been designed specifically around its environment. Its main reason for being is the restoration of the complex forest systems on land that was previously degraded by intensive sugar cane farming. Through their habitat and biosphere improvements, combined with ecotourism practices, Thala has seen a dramatic increase in native forest, biodiversity and wildlife populations.
The Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is also a family-run and operated eco-tourism business dedicated to protecting and enhancing the island, the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding communities. Their mission as custodians of this environment is to enable it to exist and be preserved as nature intended, while allowing you to experience it in an economically and ecologically viable way, without interfering with or having any adverse impact on the long-term sustainability of the island’s unique ecosystem. Both resorts have achieved the highest levels of eco-certification through their efforts and sharing their stories is very much part of the experience you’ll have when staying there.
Accommodation: In addition to the sterling work of the Lady Island Elliot Island Resort and Thala Beach Nature Reserve, you will also get to experience the sustainability efforts of two hotels in the Accor Group, a pioneer in bringing sustainability to the hotel industry. Focusing on local issues, the Novotel Cairns is committed to First Nations Engagement, preserving the unique ecosystems of the Yidinjdji Country rainforests in which it is located, and prioritising locally sourced, organic ingredients to support local farmers and reduce food miles. It was the first resort in North Queensland to achieve Sustainable Tourism Certification awarded by Eco Tourism Australia. The Ibis Style Brisbane has eliminated single use plastics, bid farewell to PET water bottles and installed water refill stations. They actively support local conservation efforts, have implemented an extensive energy management plan and also been awarded Eco Tourism Australia’s prestigious certification.
Food and drink: During this journey, you will sample local Australian specialities as well as a range of local produce sourced straight from the land (especially with your Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal tour guide), giving you the chance to experience different flavours and recipes of Queensland. By eating in locally owned and operated establishments you are helping support the local economy.
Local staff: Your hosts and guides are predominantly local Queenslanders, living in the destination. They own, manage or are employed by each hotel, activity provider or tour company, meaning the money paid to them goes directly into the local economy.
Sustainability challenges
Transport: One thing you’ll soon appreciate about Australia is that it is vast! Getting around in Australia is easy and using public transport is considered an integral part of any Sustainable Journey, however, due to the distances involved, a return flight on a small aircraft between Brisbane and Lady Elliot Island is required on this tour. By being there, and learning about the reef, its struggles and opportunities, you will come away with a better understanding of how conservation in action is so important for this incredible organism and what is being done to protect it… and you’ll see how you can play a part. On a two-week journey taking in the key destinations of Queensland, flying is the quickest option, giving you a greater amount of time to explore and experience each place.
The journey from Brisbane to Cairns has been booked on the overnight sleeper train, taking 25 hours. This journey enables you to see much of the landscape which you would otherwise miss if up in the air. Within Australia’s cities and towns, you can use the local public transport networks, all of which are easy to navigate.
