Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Board your small ship cruise at 4:00pm for a 5:00pm departure from Cairns. Join our crew and travelling companions on the top deck to enjoy a glass of champagne as we cruise northward, passing Double Island and the pretty beachside village of Palm Cove. Admire a spectacular sunset over the World-Heritage-listed Rainforest of the Macalister Range.

Spend the morning to discovering historical Cooktown. Optional visit to Cooktown's fascinating historical museum, featuring original artefacts from Cook's ship Endeavour. This afternoon we visit one of the remote uninhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef and join our marine biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colourful coral gardens and discover some of the 1500 species of tropical fish that call the reef home.

This morning we awaken moored beside beautiful Lizard Island. The energetic may join our guides on a walk to 'Cook's Look' on the island's peak. Spend the morning relaxing on the beach, snorkeling in Lizard Island's turquoise bays. This afternoon we cruise to Ribbon Reef No 9, a spectacular and seldom visited part of the reef where our activities will include more snorkelling opportunities and glass bottom boat tours with the Marine Biologist.

We spend today visiting two of the most spectacular sections of the reef, Ribbon Reef No 3 and Rachel Carson Reef. Explore the coral gardens and marine life with guided snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours. Our Marine Biologist will explain the natural history and evolution of the reef and help you discover the local wildlife, which includes sea turtles, giant clams, rays and over 200 different species of native birds.

Spend this afternoon cruising to the outer Great Barrier Reef, anchoring off Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay. Join the knowledgeable Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colourful coral gardens before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish feed. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon to snorkel in the shallow waters for up-close views of the hundreds of varieties of colourful corals and tropical fish.

This morning cruise the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel, discovering Hinchinbrook Island's towering cliffs and mangrove eco-systems. Cruise a length of the channel, separating the Australian mainland and the island. Keep an eye out for marine life including crocodiles, dolphins, turtles and dugongs. This afternoon visit the tropical paradise, Pelorus Island. Enjoy a BBQ on the beach then explore the surrounding rainforest on a guided nature walk. The reefs off Pelorus offer great snorkelling opportunities.

This morning join the guides on a fascinating rainforest walk discovering Dunk Island's unique flora and fauna. You may be lucky enough to see the brightly coloured blue-winged Ulysses Butterfly. Keen birdwatchers should keep an eye out for many of the up to 100 species of native birds recorded on the island. Following lunch, discover Nathan Reef at your own pace. From our exclusive mooring experience some of the most colourful coral gardens that can be found anywhere along the entire length of the reef. Venture in to the warm tropical waters to explore the corals and marine life on a guided snorkelling tour and join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour. For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, accompany our Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. Later, discover some of the amazing creatures living on the reef at the on-board display tank.

Travel ashore to explore the beautiful Fitzroy Island. Surrounded by a reef system that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Fitzroy Island offers wonderful bush walking opportunities and idyllic white sandy beaches. Savour our final snorkelling opportunity over the island's fringing reefs, just metres from the beach in the sheltered waters. Following lunch, early this afternoon we cruise through Trinity Bay before arriving in Tropical Cairns at 1:30pm for disembarkation at Trinity Wharf.