This is the Sunshine State in focus; across three weeks, you’ll self-drive the Pacific Coast from Brisbane to Port Douglas.

This is a full-day exploration of K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), designed to give you a broad, well-paced introduction to one of Australia’s most unusual landscapes. You’ll travel by ferry and four-wheel-drive coach, visit freshwater lakes, rainforest and ocean beaches, and cover a lot of ground. It’s a long day, but if you want to see the island’s key highlights in one go, this does exactly that.

The day begins inland at Central Station, once a busy logging settlement with shops and a school, now reclaimed by rainforest. From here, you’ll follow the boardwalk along Wanggoolba Creek, a slow-moving, glass-clear stream shaded by ancient king ferns, ghost gums and towering pines. It’s calm and cool, and a gentle way to ease into the day before the beach driving begins.

From the forest, you’ll head to Lake McKenzie. The water is an unreal shade of blue, the sand almost white, and the atmosphere often speaks for itself. After time here, the tour moves onto Seventy-Five Mile Beach, which doubles as the island’s main highway. If you want a different perspective, there’s also the option to book a scenic flight during the day, offering a clear sense of just how vast and unconventional the island really is.

Next comes Eli Creek, where you can wade or float downstream in clear, fast-flowing freshwater as it spills out into the ocean. A photo stop at the Maheno Shipwreck follows.  The final highlight is the Pinnacles Coloured Sands. Layers of red, yellow and orange reveal both a long geological history and an important Butchulla Dreamtime story connected to the island. 

• Start time: 8.30am
• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round

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Spend a full day exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Board a high-speed catamaran at either Hamilton Island Marina or Port of Airlie and set sail for the Whitsunday Islands and Hardy Reef, where you'll spend over three hours at Reefworld. This pontoon facility makes exploring the reef comfortable, with seating, freshwater showers, and changing rooms. You'll have full use of snorkelling equipment and wetsuits but access to an underwater viewing chamber and semi-submersible rides for coral viewing if you don’t fancy getting into the water. There are also presentations by reef experts. Optional activities like certified and introductory scuba diving and helicopter scenic flights are also available but charged separately. Lunch is served back on board, and the day concludes when you arrive back at either Hamilton Island Marina or Port of Airlie.

• Duration: 8 hours from Hamilton Island or 10 hours from Port of Airlie
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Spend a morning cruising the Whitsunday Islands, stopping for a walk on Whitehaven Beach. As you sail, your skipper will provide an informative commentary on the area's highlights as you cruise to the world-famous Whitehaven Beach. You’ll have time to wander along the beach or swim at your own pace before returning to Hamilton Island Marina or Port of Airlie before lunch.

The morning begins at either Hamilton Island Marina or Port of Airlie, where you’ll board the vessel for a morning Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Beach cruise. The boat has ample seating areas inside and out. Morning tea is included onboard as you overlook the crystal-clear waters and immaculate white sand along Whitsunday Island, the largest of the 74 islands.

• Duration: 4 hours from Hamilton Island or 6 hours from Port of Airlie
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round 
• Group experience

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On a full-day Nagana Kulkinga Dungay tour, you'll be collected from your hotel and taken on an adventure through Kuku Yalanji country. You'll see some culturally significant sights and local attractions, including the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest. A local Aboriginal guide will lead the way, and you'll learn about the relationship the Kuku Yalanji people still have with their land. You'll walk through the world's oldest living rainforest, see natural wonders, and see where the rainforest meets the reef.

Plus, you'll explore coastal habitats and learn about the environment, different foods, and medicines that are derived from nature. There’s the chance to sample some bush tucker and take a dip in one of the pristine freshwater streams in the area.

• Duration: 8½ hours
• Start time: 8am
• Monday to Saturday departures
• Operates year-round 
• Group experience

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From Port Douglas, head off on this personalised and engaging small group tour to spend the day with a local Aboriginal guide. Visit a number of culturally significant areas and learn about the amazing relationships that the Kuku Yalanji have with their land. Walk through the rainforest and coastal habitats to learn about the environment, different foods and medicines utilised from nature, sample some bush tucker and try traditional Aboriginal hunting practices. Complete the adventure with time to enjoy lunch and cool off in a freshwater stream.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 8am
• Departs Monday to Saturday
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Wander through the recreated natural environments of Wildlife Habitat on an immersive guided experience where you will learn about the many species in our region. Then cross the Daintree River for lunch at Mason’s Café and enjoy a dip in the freshwater swimming hole. Explore the world’s oldest rainforest with one of the knowledgeable local guides and visit Cape Tribulation Beach. Stop at Alexandra Lookout before boarding a cruise and search for wildlife including Estuarine Crocodiles.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7.15am
• Daily departures from Cairns
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Travel on board this fast stable motor catamaran for 1½ hours to reach Marine World on the Outer Barrier Reef. You’ll spend around 5 hours at this private reef platform, which provides the ideal base for activities including snorkelling, glass bottom boat tours, underwater observatory viewing and relaxing on the spacious sundeck. Other activities – such as scenic helicopter flights and diving – are available at extra cost.

• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Spend a full day diving and snorkelling around the Outer Reef. Embark on an unforgettable adventure as you enter a world teeming with exotic fish life and coral gardens. Whether you decide to snorkel or scuba dive, you'll have the opportunity to see green turtles, manta rays, clownfish, and soft and hard corals up close. After exploring, relax in comfort and style on a luxury catamaran as you cruise back to Cairns.

• Duration: 9 hours
• Start time: 8am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Take in one of the world’s most famous city skylines from the harbour on this evening dinner cruise. Take in the views of the lights reflecting on the water as you sit down to a three-course meal with regionally source ingredients and wines.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Time: 6pm to 9pm
• Departure days vary
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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You’ll board a Captain Cook Cruises vessel for a Harbour Experience cruise to catch some incredible views. Over 90 minutes, you’ll hear anecdotes and stories that bring the history and culture of Sydney alive.

• Duration: 1½ hours
• Start time: Midday or 1.30pm
• Wednesday to Sunday departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Discover the joys of surfing on famous Bondi Beach. Learn how to safely get out and up onto your first wave, with plenty of hands-on help. Your instructor will provide lots of feedback and specific instruction, helping you to surf at your best possible pace. Once you’ve built up your confidence and technique, hit the surf and have fun! This half-day experience also includes a tour of Bondi with your instructor, with a visit to a surf life-saving club and a casual beachside lunch

• Duration: 4 hours
• Start time: 10am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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This behind-the-scenes experience is ideal if you want to see what happens beyond the footlights and step into the working world of one of the planet’s most famous performance venues. You’ll begin at Stage Door, the same entrance used by artists and crews, before following your guide through backstage corridors, rehearsal spaces, and hidden technical areas that shape every production.

You’ll stand in the orchestra pit, wander through spots where props are stored and costumes are prepped, and walk paths used by countless performers over the decades. The tour ends in the Green Room, the private hub for cast and crew, where you’ll sit down to breakfast and get a sense of the building’s day-to-day heartbeat. It’s a rare chance to explore the Opera House from the inside out and see the details most visitors never glimpse.

• Duration: 2½ hours
• Daily departures 
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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