5-Day Cairns Exclusive Tour

Upon arrival, a Mandarin-speaking guide welcomes you at the airport and takes you to Cairns Botanic Gardens, which has one of Australia's most comprehensive collections of tropical plants from Australia and other tropical regions. Continue into Cairns city centre, where the boutique shopping streets, the Esplanade, the marina and the large open-air swimming pool that is a Cairns landmark are all popular with visitors. After the city sightseeing, transfer back to the hotel for rest.

Between 09:30 and 10:00, walk to the Great Barrier Reef terminal and board a luxury cruise to Green Island. Green Island is a lush green cay in the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage-listed area protected under national park law, and is surrounded by beautiful coral reef. Choose either a glass-bottom boat or snorkeling to enjoy the colorful corals, tropical fish and sea turtles. You may also feed fish and watch fish shows at extra cost, or relax on the white sandy beach. Optional paid activities include scuba diving (AUD194/person), sea walk (AUD198/person), and helicopter reef flight (AUD205 for 10 minutes / AUD275 for 15 minutes). Other outer reef cruise upgrades are available, including Sunlover AUD140, Great Adventures Outer Reef AUD145, Great Adventures Double Reef AUD175, Reef Magic AUD195, and Quicksilver. After the cruise, return to the hotel in Cairns.

At 09:30, depart for the rainforest park, where you can watch Aboriginal dance performances, see boomerang and spear throwing, and ride a WWII amphibious vehicle into the ancient rainforest to discover its plants and animals. A buffet lunch is available at the park. In the afternoon, continue to Kuranda Village, known as the 'first village of the tropical rainforest', with free time to browse local souvenirs, Aboriginal artefacts, and local fruit or ice cream. Optional: take the scenic train (AUD55 adult / AUD27.5 child) or the rainforest cable car (AUD68 adult / AUD34 child) for views of the rainforest and Barron Falls; the guide will pick you up at the train or cable car terminus. Note: in the 3-day and 4-day tour versions, guests are transferred to the airport after today's tour and the tour ends; the 5-day tour continues.

Depart from the hotel in the morning for Paronella Park. The Spanish castle ruins are said to be the inspiration for the Japanese animation classic 'Castle in the Sky', which is why the site is also called 'Sky City'. A park guide takes you through the carefully planned castle, restoring the splendour of the old castle and telling the story behind it. There is a lunch stop at the park. Continue to Millaa Millaa Falls, known for its beauty and sometimes called the Bride's Veil, like a white curtain falling through the rainforest. Drive on through red-soil farmland beneath wide blue northern skies and stop at the Curtain Fig Tree, an enormous strangler fig whose roots have grown together like a curtain. Continue through tropical rainforest to Lake Barrine, a peaceful volcanic crater lake. Walk along the lakeside trail to look for the thousand-year-old lovers' tree, or enjoy coffee and homemade scones at the lakeside café while overlooking the lake surrounded by rainforest. Return to Cairns at sunset.

At 09:00, depart by coach for Palm Cove, the first beach town north of Cairns, lined with resort hotels and palm-fringed blue sea, a popular spot for locals to relax. Then explore Port Douglas, a former small fishing village that has become a world-famous resort town with upscale holiday villas and fine restaurants. Walk along golden Four Mile Beach, swim in the clear water, or lie under the swaying palm trees. An optional visit to Wildlife Habitat is available (AUD46). Continue to Daintree National Park; at Mossman Gorge, clear streams flow over rocks beneath the ancient rainforest. The area contains some of the best-preserved tropical rainforest in North Queensland. After the tour, transfer to the airport for your flight. Note: please book a flight departing after 6:00 pm.