Shortly after departing Los Angeles you will be served dinner and you will be given breakfast before landing in Brisbane.

Relax, watch some movies, and try to get some sleep!

Please confirm with the airline at check-in that they have all your Frequent Flyer information on record (if applicable).

Travel within Australia by domestic air from Brisbane to Cairns.

Travel by shuttle from the Cairns Airport to your vacation accommodation in Cairns, Australia.

Need to Know
Luggage Restrictions: 1 checked bag and 1 hand luggage is free of charge per person in the shuttle. Additional luggage is 10$ each. Strollers are free. Bikes need to be in a bike bag. Fishing rods need to be broken down and in a container.

Travel to your accommodation in Cairns, Australia, where you will be staying while on vacation for 1 night.

The Pacific International has the best 4 star location in Cairns, on the Esplanade overlooking Trinity Harbour and parklands. It is also opposite the major departure point to the Great Barrier Reef, casino, central shopping and resort style swimming lagoon nearby. A Brazilian inspired, Australian style restaurant and bar is located within the hotel.

Fly / Dive Cod Hole. 3 nights 12 dives
Imagine yourself on a spectacular “flying start” to Lizard Island. On the way you will have a birds-eye view of the Great Barrier Reef. Half of your 150 mile flight is at a very low 180 metres (600ft) above the sites you will dive along the Great Barrier Reefs continental shelf. A truly spectacular beginning to your expedition.

Monday: Check-in and Departure & Ribbon Reef #10 & #9 – Cod Hole, Cod Wall, Challenger Bay
Spectacular low level 150 mile reef flight to Lizard Island. Explore the rarely dived Cod Wall at the outer reef edge that disappears into 60 meters(200ft). Glide back towards the Cod Hole while enjoying the clear water and spectacular coral formations. Shallow but fantastic, Challenger Bay is extremely rich in biodiversity from spectacular coral gardens and unusual critters through to large schooling fish. Great night dive location watch out for Baza the Barra!

Tuesday: Ribbon Reef #9, #5, #4 – Lighthouse Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, Andy’s Postcard, Clam Beds, Vertical Gdns Circumnavigate Pixie Pinnacle and Lighthouse Bommie shrouded in fusilier baitfish.Fluorescent purple and orange anthias attract predatory fish to these photogenic sites. Majestic Minke whales are seen here in June and July. Rising from 80 meters the pinnacle of Andy’s Postcard is encrusted in had corals, lion fish, nudibranchs, octopus, schooling trevally and barracuda. See spectacular giant clams at Clam Beds as well as caves, canyons and coral encrusted bommies awaiting exploration. Sheer walls covered in whip corals and sea fans brim the natural amphitheatre of Vertical Gardens. Marine life varies from the many colourful nudibranchs to large schooling bump head parrotfish.
Night dive.

Wednesday: Ribbon Reef #3 – Flare Point, Joani’s Joy, Steve’s Bommie
Spiral majestic coral pinnacles teeming with marine life. See huge schools of baitfish stalked by barracuda, mackerel and trevally. Anticipate spectacular coral gardens, spotted rays, reef sharks and green turtle sightings.

Thursday: Dock at Trinity Wharf, Cairns
Early morning docking at Trinity Wharf – Cairns, breakfast, courtesy transfers to Cairns city hotels.

This itinerary has been designed to include the ‘prime’ Ribbon Reef and Coral Sea dive sites. If weather forces an itinerary change our surety of access to the prime Ribbon Reef sites is your guarantee of the best diving.

Travel to your accommodation in Cairns where you will be staying while on vacation for 3 nights.

The Pacific International has the best 4 star location in Cairns, on the Esplanade overlooking Trinity Harbour and parklands. It is also opposite the major departure point to the Great Barrier Reef, casino, central shopping and resort style swimming lagoon nearby. A Brazilian inspired, Australian style restaurant and bar is located within the hotel.

This fun, exclusive tour allows you to join in a real Aboriginal cultural experience, combining
pristine natural beauty of the World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park. A day you will
never forget!

Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours: Travel to Cooya Beach north of Port Douglas and meet with the Kubirri Warra brothers who follow the traditions of their ancestors. This special place is a traditional fishing ground of the Kuku Yalanji. This unique coastal place has three diverse ecosystems – beach, mangroves and coastal reef – that are connected to each other by the every changing mud-flats and tidal lagoons.

The brothers teach their guests how to throw a spear and demonstrate how to search and hunt for fish, mud crabs and mussels. Learn about bush tucker and medicines before enjoying homemade damper on the balcony of the family home and taste your catch of the day.

Welcome to Country at Mossman Gorge: You are welcomed with a traditional ‘smoking’ ceremony. This ceremony is conducted by Aboriginal people with specialised cultural knowledge and will protect you whilst visiting Kuku Yalanji country.

Mossman Gorge Centre: Enjoy a delicious lunch infused with local flavours.

Mossman Gorge: Wander into the lush rainforest of the World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park – Mossman Gorge, home of the Kuku Yalanji people and experience one of the world’s oldest and most beauLful rainforest. An easy going walk is across boardwalks, tracks & bridges protecting the delicate eco system that adorns spectacular waterfalls and mountain ranges. Your guide will explain the rich flora, fauna and eco system of this amazing rainforest. Ensure you bring your swimming bathers so you can make the most of the beautiful private swimming hole that is encased in the rainforest.

What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, swimmers and bottle of water.
Please note: Itinerary can operate in reverse subject to tides.

Tour Operates on: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun

Enjoy a day exploring the rainforest and amazing landscapes of the Cape Tribulation wilderness area with a visit to Mossman Gorge Center and Cape Tribulation.

Mossman Gorge Centre: Visit the Mossman Gorge Gateway Centre for morning tea before boarding your shuttle for the transfer into Mossman Gorge. Your driver/guide will take you for a guided walk, sharing their knowledge of this enchanting rainforest environment. Learn about the fascinating secrets of one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests.

Daintree River Cruise: Reach an understanding of this wildlife environment for one hour, habitat of birds, tree snakes, unique plants and of course the estuarine crocodile.

Tropical Lunch: With special access at a private rainforest property, enjoy a short walk along a delightful rainforest creek before a delicious tropical lunch. Choice of quality steak, fish or vegetarian meal with fresh salads and fruit platter, followed by coffee or Daintree Tea.

Cape Tribulation: Walk on this world-renowned rainforest beach and admire the coastline and fringing coral reef from the Kulki Lookout.

Daintree Ice Cream Company: Enjoy an afternoon refreshment at the Daintree Ice Cream Company. Included is a delicious cup of exotic fruit ice cream, made from fruit grown on their on-site orchard. Gluten / Dairy free options are available.

Alexandra Lookout: After winding through the rainforest of the Alexandra Range, enjoy this spectacular lookout over the Daintree River estuary, Snapper Island and beyond to the Coral Sea.

Operates: Daily (Does not operate on Christmas Day); Departs around 6:45am & Returns around 7:00pm

Includes:
– Return Hotel Transfers
– Professional driver/guide
– Mossman Gorge Centre with Morning Tea
– Driver Guided Walk in Mossman Gorge
– Daintree River Cruise
– Lunch at Noah Valley in rainforest setting
– Cape Tribulation Beach & boardwalk
– Daintree Ice Cream Company
– Alexandra Lookout

Need to Know: Tour not recommended for children under 4yrs due to the length of the tour & time spent in the vehicle.

Experience a personalized 4WD tour with expert guides through Queensland’s Chillagoe Outback and McAllister Ranges.

Your naturalist guide will meet you at your accommodation, where you’ll board the custom built 4WD vehicle and travel through the back blocks of the McAllister Ranges and Mareeba. On the way you can spot wallabies, emus and other wildlife, and then along the agricultural paddocks you will have a chance to see paw paw, lychee, longan, mangoes, and other tropical fruiting trees. You’ll stop for morning tea before crossing over the Great Divide and into the Western watershed to enter the Australian Outback, taking you back to prehistoric times when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. Travel through historic towns and rolling hills, rich in minerals, eventually giving way to towering limestone karsts scattered around Chillagoe.

Here delve into the National Parks Cave tour. The fossilized remains of the ancient coral reefs with hidden limestone labyrinths give a portal to a lost world. Millions of years in the making, the limestone formations are nothing short of spectacular. Then delve into the history of the copper smelters, whose old chimneys dominate the western horizon. Visit the remains of these once mighty smelters before viewing ancient Aboriginal Rock Art. Afterwards you’ll enjoy an Aussie lunch at a true Australian Outback pub.

After lunch and a visit to the local souvenir shop, you’ll head back towards the east coast, stopping at Granite Gorge where you can feed wallabies and hold other indigenous animals. The tour then returns down the range to Port Douglas.

Operates
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Departs Cairns at 7:00am, Returns 6:00pm (approx.)
Does not operate December 25th and January 1st

Includes
– Return transfers from your hotel
– Small group tour in a premium 4WD
– Morning Tea at Skybury Coffee Plantation
– Visit the local Aboriginal rock art and Balancing Rock
– Local Chillagoe gift shop visit
– Find fossils in ancient limestone casts at Chillagoe
– Explore the famous Chillagoe Caves
– View the Chillagoe smelter ruins
– Visit the wallabies at Granite Gorge

Need to Know
Please bring a hat, sunscreen, camera with extra batteries, water bottle, extra cash for cold drinks, souvenirs or ice cream. Please wear close-toed shoes (required for entering the caves) and weather appropriate clothing. This experience can be catered to your dietary needs. Please advise of any special dietary requirements when completing your Traveler Information Form.

Upgrades
Private tours available

Travel by shuttle from your Cairns vacation accommodation to the Airport in Cairns, Australia.

Need to Know
Luggage Restrictions: 1 checked bag and 1 hand luggage is free of charge per person in the shuttle. Additional luggage is 10$ each. Strollers are free. Bikes need to be in a bike bag. Fishing rods need to be broken down and in a container.

Travel within Australia by domestic air from Cairns to Brisbane.

Mid-day Departure from Brisbane, In-flight Dinner and Movie with arrival in the USA. Note: You will be traveling back across the International Date line so you will gain a day. You actually arrive in the USA on the same day you leave Australia.

Pricing is ‘per person’ based on Double Occupancy (2 Adults) in hotels. Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard is based on a Quad Share Cabin type (4 Adults), Mike Ball is based on Twinshare Club Cabin type (2 Adults), and Pro Dive is based on their Standard Twinshare Cabin (2 Adults). Single Supplements apply. Upgrades available on request (upgrade supplements apply). Any flights booked will be in economy class of service on Qantas. Upgrades available on request (fare upgrade supplements apply). Flight & Accommodation availability is limited. This offer is subject to availability. Black-out dates and seasonal supplements will apply. No refunds are allowed. Changes are permitted (fees may apply). Additional Day Tours may be purchased and added to your itinerary at a later date (prior to your USA departure). Other restrictions may apply. Frequent flyer mileage accrual not permitted.

Permitted USA Departure Dates: 1 February – 31 March 2014.

Book By: 15th July 2013

Book your Australian Diving Vacation Today

Call 888-983-3739 (8.30am – 5pm, CT USA)

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