At a Glance
Discover the raw, untamed natural beauty of Tropical North Queensland with this 9-day eco-luxe package that showcases the region’s best eco-adventures and its fascinating history.
Departing from Brisbane, start your adventure with a luxury overnight rail journey aboard the Spirit of Queensland. As well as being a great experience, travelling aboard this legendary train is the perfect way to skip the traffic and an eco-friendly way to access this special part of the world.
After a night of 5-star resort luxury in Cairns, travel along the famous Bloomfield 4WD track to Cooktown, where you will retrace the path of Captain James Cook and his ship Endeavour. Visit famous must-see sites including the Captain James Cook Museum and Grassy Hill and learn the story behind the first meaningful contact between Europeans and Indigenous ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 8-nights’ luxury accommodation in Cairns, Cooktown, Thala Beach, the Daintree and aboard the Spirit of Queensland
- 2-day guided tour of Cooktown and the surrounding area
- Daily scheduled guided tours at Thala Beach and Daintree Eco Lodge
- Daintree River Cruise (sunrise or sunset)
- Meals: 8 x breakfast, 4 x lunch 3 x dinner
- All transport
- All national park passes
Itinerary
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Departing in the afternoon from Brisbane, set out on Queensland’s ultimate overnight rail journey aboard the iconic Spirit of Queensland. Onboard this legendary train, you’ll travel in style along Queensland’s stunning coastline. You’ll have your very own RailBed – a spacious seat by day and a lie-flat bed by night with all linen provided including sheets, duvet and pillow for your comfort. Settle in and watch the scenery go by or make the most of your state-of-the-art in-seat entertainment including large screen and on-demand movies, music and audio books. You may also venture down to the club car to purchase a light snack or refreshment between your meals. |
Spirit of Queensland
Dinner |
Arrive into Cairns Railway Station at 4:30pm, where you will be greeted by your private chauffeur who will transfer you to your accommodation for the evening: the 5-star Riley resort. Spend the rest of the day settling into your beautiful and chic Urban Room, with a view of the Cairns city skyline. Stake your claim beside the pool. Revitalise your mind, body and soul at the Eleme Spa. Enjoy rooftop cocktails and delicious Mediterranean cuisine with a 270-degree panoramic view of Cairns and the Coral Sea at Rocco restaurant onsite. Or, head down to the main street and immerse yourself in everything tropical North Queensland has to offer. The choice is yours! |
Riley, CairnsBreakfast, Lunch |
With pick up included from your accommodation, head north for a two-day tour of Cooktown and the surrounding area. As you drive through some of the most amazing scenery and natural beauty in Australia, your experienced guide will enthrall you fascinating stories and history along the famous 4WD-only Bloomfield Track, one of the most scenic 4WD drives in Queensland. Enjoy a delicious pub lunch at the infamous Lions Den Hotel, the last stop before Cooktown and the rugged Black Mountain pass. With live entertainment on weekends, Lions Den is the perfect place to pull up! In the early afternoon, arrive in historic Cooktown named for Captain James Cook whose arrival on the banks of the Endeavour River in 1770 led to his first recorded meaningful contact and reconciliation with the Aboriginal people. Head up Grassy Hill for sweeping views that have changed little since Cook and crew climbed the hill to find a way through the surrounding reefs to safe passage. After, you’ll be dropped at your accommodation for the evening: Sovereign Resort. Settle into your well-appointed Resort Room and cool off with a swim in the hotel pool before venturing out to find your own dinner in town. |
Sovereign Resort, CooktownBreakfast, Lunch |
Delve deeper into historic Cooktown. First stop is the Heritage-listed Cooktown Cemetery which bears testimony to the diverse nationalities who came to Cooktown and the Palmer Goldfields in the late 19th century. Visit the James Cook Museum for a guided tour where you will find an original anchor and cannon from Cook’s HMB Endeavour among many of the fascinating exhibits. Next, onto the Cooktown Botanic Gardens for a driver/guided walk among many of the same plants collected by botanists Sir Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, as well as plants traditionally used by the local Aboriginal people. Enjoy a delicious lunch at Nature’s Powerhouse café, Art Gallery and Visitor Information Centre. Head south now along the Mulligan Highway, briefly stop at Black Mountain, Byerstown Range lookout and the Palmer River Roadhouse. The outback landscape is dotted with termite mounds and numerous Eucalypt species. Keep your eyes peeled for livestock that graze along the roadside before arriving at your accommodation for the next two nights: Thala Beach. |
Thala BeachBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Enjoy a day of complementary nature reserve tours at Thala Beach. Depending on the day of the week and the schedule, you’ll have an opportunity to explore, with a local ranger or guide, many interesting and rare habitats with a constantly changing kaleidoscope of natural wonders. Eat and drink from very young green coconuts and learn the truth about their health benefits on a Coconut Odyssey. Wander among 145 acres of native flora on a guided nature and garden walk. Hunt for rare birds and butterflies with local experts. Listen in on stories from an Aboriginal Elder. And, at night look up at the vast night sky and view the many fascinating stars and planets through telescopes and binoculars at the unique outdoor observatory. |
Thala BeachBreakfast, Dinner |
In the morning, a private chauffeur will meet and transfer you to Daintree Ecolodge, a boutique eco-luxury accommodation in the heart of the magnificent World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest. Here, you’ll stay three nights in one of just 15 bayans (treehouses) immersed in the rainforest canopy amid a breathtaking environment of refugial habitats, native flora and fauna, authentic Indigenous culture and sacred and striking diversity. | |
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During your stay, wake to the sound of birds in the canopy above, take in the majesty of the enchanted rainforest and discover the lodge’s sacred private waterfall. Each day, you’ll enjoy a curated rainforest experience such as a sunrise or sunset river cruise, a guided ‘Walk Through Time’ rainforest walk or a Julaymba Bar Cocktail Class. You’ll also have the opportunity to rebalance your mind, body and soul at the Daintree Wellness Spa, which uses pure waters from the pristine onsite waterfall to create a healing environment. On one of the days, choose from one of two full-day cultural adventures. Ngana Julaymba Dungay explores the region from Daintree Village south, primarily around Mossman, including Mossman Gorge or a freshwater stream and Cooya Beach or other coastal environment. Tour includes a walk along the coastline with spears and learning the traditional hunting techniques. Ngana Kulkinga Dungay, meanwhile, explores the region further north, crossing the Daintree River by ferry and reaching Cape Tribulation – renowned as ‘where the rainforest meets the reef,’ stopping for guided walks and a swim in a freshwater creek |
Daintree EcolodgeDaily Breakfast, 1x Lunch |
All good things must come to an end! After breakfast, transfer to the airport at a pre-arranged time to commence your onward journey. |
NoneBreakfastAccommodation
Dates & Prices
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat departure on request. Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available. Surcharge applies to festival/holiday season.
More Info
The starting point is Roma Street Station, Brisbane
The finish point is Cairns Airport
The Far North Queensland region has a diversity of climates based on distance from the coast and elevation but is generally hot and humid with a distinct wet season (December–March) and dry season (April–November). The current average annual temperature is 24°C. The December to February average temperature is 27°C; for July to August, the average is 20°C.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
