tropical hiker
cairns, atherton tablelands, daintree, cape tribulation, mission beach, dunk island
highlights
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Daintree World Heritage Area - where the rainforest meets the reef
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Learn how the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people lived in the tropical rainforests
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Unique wildlife - azure Ulysses butterflies, platypus, cassowaries
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Unwind at beautiful Mission Beach - all rooms have ocean views
Variety and more variety – that’s what you’ll get on this holiday. The walking is outstanding, with everything from very easy to hard (optional) walks. You’ll visit numerous waterfalls, walk through World Heritage rainforests, stroll along isolated tropical beaches, circumnavigate freshwater lakes, see one of the largest trees in Australia with an estimated one tonne of leaves and visit a picturesque tropical island.
This is a circuit trip from Cairns. Destinations include the Atherton Tablelands – home of the famous Millaa Millaa Falls. Rainforest walks will lead us away from the tourist route to remote gorges, cascading waterfalls and secluded lakes. In the Daintree World Heritage Area we’ll learn about the importance of mangroves, walk to Cape Tribulation and enjoy a stay at a rainforest retreat. At Mossman Gorge we’ll walk with the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people and learn about their bush foods, medicine and way of life. A highlight for many will be three nights at Mission Beach where we’ll enjoy beach walks, rainforest hikes and a day of walking on nearby Dunk Island.
Rainforests, beaches, mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and a tropical island – this trip has it all!
Click here to see clients' photos of this holiday.
Idyllic tropical beaches and lots of sunshine!
location
This is a circuit trip starting and finishing in Cairns.
travel
Air conditioned mini bus. Total travel distance 700km.
grading
You should be in reasonable shape, but there’s certainly no need to be a triathlete! Full day walks generally involve a total of 4-7 hours on the track at a moderate pace and on some days we will do two or three shorter walks. There are two guides on this trip. We have designed this itinerary so that nearly every day, one guide can offer a faster, longer or harder walk, while the other guides people on the standard itinerary. So, most people should find options that suit their fitness level.
The rainforest walking in the Daintree and Mission Beach is easy and includes boardwalks, sandy beaches and foot tracks. The opportunity to stretch out comes on the Atherton Tablelands and Dunk Island - the harder options will be quite challenging, with easier walks being offered as well. For those choosing to do the easier options, this is probably one of our easiest walking holidays - great for beginners. Those seeking challenges won't be disappointed though with longer, quite hard walks on offer too.
Crystal clear tropical waters
accommodation
We want you to enjoy every aspect of our walking holidays. So, in addition to finding great walks, we have also made an effort to find interesting and comfortable accommodation for you. On some nights we will stay in motel-style properties. They are all very comfortable and clean and offer quality beds, ensuite bathrooms and are in quiet locations. In many aspects, quality Australian motels are similar to 3-4 star hotels in some other countries. In the Daintree we will stay in cottages in a rainforest retreat. And a Mission beach we will stay in a tropical resort hotel.
regional food highlights
Far North Queensland is the home of the barramundi - a delightful white fleshed fish that lives in river estuaries. There will also be plenty of interesting tropical fruits to try.
There are many pristine waterfalls on this trip
what's included
Accommodation, most meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners), 2 guides, all transport from Cairns, guided Kuku-Yalanji Aboriginal walk, ferry across the Daintree River, ferry to Dunk Island, national park fees, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, notes, maps.
not included
Alcohol, meals not listed in itinerary, drinks with meals except for tea/coffee and fruit juice with breakfast.
departure dates
1 August 2009, 1 August 2010
prices
Please see our Prices section of the website
itinerary guide - 8 days
(includes 7 nights accommodation)
Day 1: This holiday starts in Cairns at 10.00am. Today’s walking starts with an easy stroll at the nearby Flecker Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes. After lunch we’ll climb through forested mountain country to the summit of Mt Whitfield. From here there are sweeping views of Trinity Inlet, the Coral Sea and the city of Cairns. Accommodation: Hotel in Cairns
Day 2: We’ll start the day with a scenic coastal drive heading north to Mossman. The beautiful Mossman Gorge rainforest circuit walk is accessed by a high suspension bridge over a fast flowing, turbulent river. The gorge teems with wildlife, especially birds. During the walk you’ll also encounter the first large buttressed trees of the tour. Next is a special treat – the Kuku-Yalanji Bush Tucker Walk with the traditional custodians. Here you can learn how the Aborigines prepared and used various rainforest plants for shelter, medicines and food. This walk is a very popular part of our trip. Finish the walk sharing tea and damper with locals from the nearby village. Then it’s northwards and across the Daintree River by ferry into the heart of the Daintree National Park. This is the first crocodile territory encountered during the tour, so we’ll keep well away from the edge! We’ll spend the night in the heart of the rainforest in an area frequented by elusive cassowaries.Accommodation: Cottage / motel-style rooms in a tropical retreat in the Daintree area
Swing bridge at Mossman Gorge
Day 3: On the route to Cape Tribulation the distances are small, but the steep, rainforest-covered mountains and narrow roads reduce driving speeds, eventually averaging just 40kph. Our Daintree walk starts out along a picturesque stretch of sandy beach. Along the way we’ll head inland along an elevated boardwalk through tidal mangroves and freshwater swamps where we often see kingfishers and catbirds (you’d swear that it was a cat calling). The track eventually emerges at a tropical beach overhung by the lush rainforest at Cape Tribulation – where the rainforest meets the reef. After lunch we leave the Daintree behind and hike up the historic “Bump Track”, an old trail blazed by early settlers to move supplies from the coast onto the Atherton Tablelands. Home for the next two nights will be in the historic tablelands village of Yungaburra. Accommodation: Motel in Yungaburra
Licuala palms in the tropical rainforest
Day 4: After an el fresco breakfast we’ll enjoy a day of exploring the Atherton Tablelands. First stop is the Curtain Fig Tree, a strangler fig that is one of the largest trees in Queensland and has a distinctive shawl of aerial roots. Next is Mt Hypipamee where we’ll hike to an unusual volcanic crater formed in the shaped of a deep cylindrical hole. The Tablelands were formed after many volcanoes erupted. Some of these have now filled with water, are surrounded by rainforest and are home for numerous birds. Our final walk is a circuit walk right around the edge of one of these pristine crater lakes. Accommodation: Motel in Yungaburra
Day 5: Today we start with the scenic Waterfalls Circuit drive where we’ll visit four waterfalls including picture-postcard Millaa Millaa Falls. There are waterfalls of all descriptions – gigantic, pretty, invigorating, serene and intimidating. Time to leave the tourists behind now and walk to Nandroya Falls walk in the Wooroonooran National Park. This delightful hike is our favourite and culminates in several waterfalls, cascading one after the other right beside the track. It makes a great picnic lunch stop. Then we’ll leave the Atherton Tablelands behind and head for Mission Beach on the coast. Finish the day with the short Licuala Walk and the hope of spotting a cassowary. Licualas are commonly known as fan palms and these spectacular palms tower overhead as the path meanders below. Accommodation: Tropical resort hotel at Mission Beach. We will stay here for 3 nights.
Giant fig tree
Day 6: The morning walk features picturesque beaches and rocky coves of the Kennedy Track as we head towards the remote Hull River. After a beachside picnic lunch and swim in the crystal clear waters there will be a choice of afternoon walks – an easy beach stroll back to Mission Beach or a more challenging hike through rainforest to a high vantage point overlooking the region. Accommodation: As for last night
Dunk Island rainforest walk
Day 7: Travel to Dunk Island by ferry and spend the day enjoying rainforest and beach walks. The island circuit walk includes picture-postcard beaches like Coconut Beach and Muggy Beach with giant callophylum trees stretching their long shady branches over the sand. There will also be time to enjoy some water activities such as swimming, snorkelling, sailing or sea kayaking. A fitting finale! Accommodation: As for last night
Day 8: Travel back to Cairns after breakfast, finishing around 1100.
fact sheet
Would you like more detailed information about this trip?
Download our Tropical Hiker Group Guided Walking Holiday Fact Sheet.
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prices
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how to book
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