Day 1: Depart Cairns
This morning, you'll board your Coral Expeditions small ship for an 11 am departure from Cairns. As you cruise towards Trinity Bay, you can explore the ship that will be your home for the next three nights and meet your fellow travellers. After a delicious lunch, you’ll arrive at an exclusive mooring on Thetford Reef, where you’ll take a glass-bottomed boat trip before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish-feed and snorkelling yourself. There will be hundreds of fish in the clear waters, including Spangled Emperor, Giant Trevally and the Hump-Headed Maori Wrasse.
The crew are always on hand to help identify species fish and help inexperienced snorkellers get the best out of the trip. In the evening, you’ll enjoy dinner in the top deck lounge as the sun sets over the reef.
Day 2: Cruise Great Barrier Reef
This morning, you'll cruise through the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel, passing the towering cliffs and mangroves of the island as you sail. This channel between Hinchinbrook Island and the mainland is one of the most diverse marine environments in Australia, so you're in for a treat. Home to crocodiles, dugongs, dolphins and turtles that feed on the plentiful sea grasses, it's packed full of stunning wildlife.
For lunch, you’ll enjoy a gourmet beach BBQ prepared by the Captain himself before exploring the island's rainforest on a guided nature walk. The fringing reef offers fantastic snorkelling, including the opportunity to view a giant clam garden. Spend the afternoon admiring colourful corals from the glass-bottomed boat, trying an introductory SCUBA lesson or relaxing on the golden beaches – the choice is yours.
Day 3: Cruise Great Barrier Reef
Today you’ll set off on a fascinating rainforest walk to discover the unique wildlife of Dunk Island. You might even be lucky enough to spot the blue-winged Ulysses Butterfly. There are over 100 bird species on the island, from Yellow-bellied Sunbirds to Emerald Doves, to keep your eyes peeled at all times. After lunch, you can discover Nathan Reef at your own pace, snorkelling through the kaleidoscopic corals in the warm water. Learn about the creatures beneath the water by getting up close to sea cucumbers and starfish from the onboard display tank, then laze away the afternoon on the sun deck for before a final dinner under the stars.
Day 4: Arrive Cairns
This morning, you'll travel ashore to explore wild Fitzroy Island, which offers wonderful bushwalking opportunities and idyllic white beaches. Enjoy your final snorkelling experience in the fringing reefs, just a few metres from the shore, before cruising back through Trinity Bay and arriving in Cairns around lunchtime.
