3 Day Reef, Rainforest and Outback Package, Cairns & the Tropical North

About this activity

Save up to 15% off with this 3 day package!

Experience the best of Cairns and the Far North Queensland Region with a Great Barrier Reef Cruise, 4WD to the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation and then another 4WD full-day tour to the Outback Chillagoe.

Your Rainforest and Outabck Day is a small personalised tour with custom-built 4WD vehicles. Your naturalist driver-guide has extensive knowledge of flora, fauna, history of the area and aboriginal culture, which will ensure your day will be a memory of a lifetime.

Cruise to the reef onboard a luxury 35-metre superyacht to two outer reef sites. Enjoy unlimited snorkelling over 5 hours, delicious BBQ lunch onboard and a free glass of wine for the journey home to Cairns.

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At a glance

Duration: 3 days
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 20 people
People per booking: 1–10
Guide: English
Operated by: Billy Tea Safaris

Ages: Children (4–16 years) · Adults (17–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Full Day Tour to the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation
Included: Full Day Tour to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, snorkel at 2 Outer Reef Sites
Included: Transfers for the Rainforest and Outback (additional costs apply for some locations- see exclusions)
Included: Local eco-accredited driver guide for the Rainforest and Outback Days
Included: Lunch
Included: Glass of wine, cheese and biscuits on Reef Cruise return journey
Included: Ice-Cream on the Rainforest Day
Included: Full Day Tour to the Outback and Chillagoe Caves

Not included

Not included: Outback Day - Port Douglas transfers (min 2 people, contact reservations after booking to confirm)
Not included: Southside accommodation transfers on 4WD tours - make your own way to operator's office to join tour
Not included: Reef Day transfers - can be added for an additional cost. Book directly with tour operator.
Not included: Accommodation

Itinerary

Day 1 · Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling

Stop 1

one hour

Check-in at Reef Fleet Terminal between 7.15am - 7.45am. Once checked in, you can make your way down to the boat, Evolution. Be greeted by your friendly crew, who will provide you with masks and snorkel, and then enjoy arrival tea, coffee and muffins before departure.
Great Barrier Reef

3 hours

Evolution departs Cairns at 8 am with a safety briefing on your way to your first reef location. After 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will arrive at the first reef location. This will either be Saxon Reef or Norman Reef based on weather conditions and water clarity, to ensure the best experience for all activities.
Great Barrier Reef

one hour

Enjoy a BBQ lunch onboard (special dietary requirements catered for). The spread features an Australian barbecue with fresh fish, steak, prawns, and a variety of salads, and breads.
Stop 4

one hour

Evolution arrives at the second reef location for more snorkelling and/or scuba diving. Marvel at the incredible richness and diversity of marine life as you snorkel at another Outer Reef location. If you prefer to stay dry, sit back and enjoy the views with our three deck spaces available for lounging. Dial up the adventure and choose the package with the 10-minute scenic helicopter flight to experience the Great Barrier Reef from above!
Stop 5

1 h 30 min

As you return to the mainland after a full day in paradise, enjoy complimentary afternoon tea of cheese, biscuits and a glass of wine as you toast to a great day visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Evolution arrives back to Cairns at approximately 4.30pm.

BBQ lunch with fish, prawns, steak, breads & variety of salads (notify reservations of any special dietary requirements)

No accommodation is available. This is not an overnight tour.

Day 2 · Outback and Chillagoe Caves 4WD Tour

Stop 1

30 min

The heart of one of Australia’s most diverse and richest food bowls Skybury Tropical Plantation has grown the country’s best coffee and tropical fruit for the past 30 years. Enjoy morning tea, with coffee, tea and sweet treats.
Chillagoe

Passing by

Travel through historic mining towns, small outback communities and classic Outback Railway Stations, preserved in time providing perfect outback photo opportunities.
Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park

2 hours

Explore the Chillagoe Caves. Follow your guide through the fossilized remains of the ancient coral reefs over 400 million years old. Once an inland sea, these limestone labyrinths are a spectacular sight to see.
Chillagoe Smelters

30 min

Here we delve into the history of the Chillagoe copper smelters, whose old chimneys dominate the western horizon. We visit the remains of the once-mighty smelters to ponder what it was like working there.
Balancing Rock

one hour

Visit Balancing Rock for an iconic photo opportunity. Then, see Aboriginal Rock Art and learn about some Dreamtime stories with your guide.
Stop 6

one hour

Enjoy lunch at a true Australian Outback Pub for lunch in the heart of Chillagoe town. Please advise of any special dietary requirements before travel.
Granite Gorge Nature Park

one hour

A privately owned nature park near Mareeba with stunning scenery as you walk along the short circuit navigating massive boulders. Striking scenery and wildlife galore.

The big drawcard at Granite Gorge is the rock wallabies. This colony is an endangered species that is unique to the Mareeba area. Plus, you’ll see other native wildlife.

Outback Aussie lunch in 100-year-old pub.

No accommodation is available. This is not an overnight tour.

Day 3 · Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation 4WD Tour

Daintree Region

one hour

Pick up by your local guide from Cairns, Beaches or Port Douglas. Note: Southside accommodation - please make your way to the tour operator's office to join tour. Then enjoy a scenic coastal drive with your driver guide to the Daintree Rainforest. Learn about the history of the Daintree and what you are about to explore for the day.
Stop 2

one hour

Enjoy light refreshments before a 1 Hour Daintree River Cruise. Relax and enjoy the splendour only the Daintree Rainforest can offer as you learn and try to spot Estuarine Crocodiles in the wild and see mangrove forests and endemic wildlife, this is nature at its best!
Mount Alexandra Lookout

10 min

We make our way up over the Alexandra Range and pause for a panoramic view of World Heritage, Wet Tropics, and Tropical Rainforest merging with the azure colours of the Coral Sea.
Daintree National Park

45 min

Experience the rainforest intimately on one of our guided elevated National Park Boardwalks. Your experienced guide will take you on a wonderful journey through this ancient rainforest whilst giving you an interpretation of flora and fauna and you will have ample time for photographs and questions as we search for the elusive, rare and totally unique Southern Cassowary and other wildlife species within this particular habitat.
Daintree

one hour

Lunch and a swim - including tea/coffee and a seasonal fruit platter is served in a beautiful rainforest setting with opportunity for an invigorating rainforest swim including chance sightings of jungle perch, saw-shelled turtles and the dazzling electric-blue Ulysses butterfly.
Cape Tribulation Beach

45 min

Stroll along the beach and boardwalk to the photographers' platform overlooking the mountains and coast where the 'Rainforest meets the Reef.'
Stop 7

30 min

The day concludes with a delicious tropical fruit ice cream made from 100% locally sourced ingredients (Signature ice cream cup included).
Daintree Region

20 min

Cable ferry crossing back over the Daintree River before returning to your accommodation late afternoon.

Lunch, tea/coffee and fruit platter. Special dietary requirements can be catered for - notify reservations before tour.

No accommodation is available. This is not an overnight tour.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

For the Reef Day, please make your way to Reef Fleet Terminal (1 Spence Street) for check-in from 7:15am - 7.45am. Boat departs at 8am sharp.

End point

For the Reef Day, please make your way to Reef Fleet Terminal (1 Spence Street) for check-in from 7:15am - 7.45am. Boat departs at 8am sharp.

Pickup points

Mercure Cairns
Mantra Trilogy Cairns
Coral Tree Inn
Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns
Bay Village Tropical Retreat
Crystalbrook Bailey
Tyrconnel Historic Goldmine
Cairns Queenslander Hotel and Apartments
Crystalbrook Riley
The Reef Hotel Casino Cairns
Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut
Aspect Central Motel

and 50 more pickup points

For the Rainforest and Outback days, you will be picked up from all hotels and hostels in the Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas Area. Southside accommodation transfers - please make your own way to the tour operator's office to join the tour.

Using your ticket

Reef Day: please make your own way to Reef Fleet Terminal, 1 Spence Street Cairns for check-in from 7.15am to 7.45am. Boat departs at 8am sharp. Transfers are available for an additional cost - contact reservations before travel to book.

Rainforest and Outback Day: you will be picked up from your accommodation. Please reconfirm pick-up location and special dietary requirements at least 48 hours before travel with reservations. Please note that on the Outback Day transfers from Port Douglas and Cairns Beaches are an additional cost, please speak with reservations before travel to book. Southside accommodation transfers - please make your own way to tour operators office to join tour.

Please contac the tour operator to confirm special dietary requirements (if any), before your tour start date.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Please wear closed-toe shoe and bring a light jacket or sweater for Outback and Rainforest
For the Outback Tour, a reasonable level of fitness is required, as there are steps and uneven terrain leading into the caves
Please choose your Rainforest Tour as the first day of your booking. Once booked, please contact the tour operator once booked to choose your other tour days.
The tours do not need to be on consecutive days. Please speak to the tour operator once booked.