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Itinerary
Day 1 - Cairns
Board your small ship cruise at Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal at 4pm. Enjoy welcome drinks and take in the views of Double Island and the seaside village at Palm Cove. Captain's Welcome Seafood Buffet this evening.
Day 2 - Cooktown
Spend the morning discovering historical Cooktown. Options today include strolling through the wide main street and see the buildings dating back to the 1870s, walk to the botanic gardens where you might see wallabies and kangaroos, visit the James Cook Museum to see original artifacts for his ship 'Endevour', snorkel over the reef on a desert island, SCUBA diving or glass bottom boat tours.
Day 3 - Lizard Island
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.
Day 4 - Ribbon Reefs
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.
Day 5 - Thetford Reef - Sudbury Cay
Briefly dock in Cairns before spending today cruising to the outer Great Barrier Reef, anchoring off Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay with snorkeling, glass bottom boat tours, fish feeding display and scuba diving.
Day 6 - Hinchinbrook Channel - Palm Islands
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. Highlights today include discovering a private tropical island, guided bushwalk, gourmet Aussie beach BBQ, snorkelling and diving over the reef, kayaking and glass bottom boat tours.
Day 7 - Dunk Island - Nathan Reef
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. 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.
Day 8 - Fitzroy Island - Cairns
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 to Cairns, arriving at the Cruise Liner Terminal at 1:30pm for disembarkation.
Itinerary subject to change due to weather and other operational requirements. 4 night cruises include days 1 to 5 and 3 night cruises include 5 to 8 of the above itinerary.