Watch little penguins come ashore at Phillip Island on an optional excursion from Melbourne. At the Penguin Parade, observe the birds returning from the sea at dusk and making their way across the beach towards their nesting areas.

This wildlife experience offers a memorable glimpse of one of Australia’s smallest penguin species in its coastal habitat. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask your Travel Director for availability and excursion details.

Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over an included dinner at South Wharf in Naarm (Melbourne). Share a meal beside the Yarra River and get to know the group in a relaxed waterfront setting.

South Wharf sits among former docklands buildings that recall the river’s role in Melbourne’s trading history. The dinner offers a welcoming introduction to the city and the people you will travel with.

Walk through Naarm (Melbourne) with your Travel Director, exploring the laneways and arcades that give the city its distinctive character. Look for street art, heritage buildings and grand Victorian facades as your guide brings the streets into focus.

Melbourne’s arcades and richly decorated buildings reflect the prosperity of the nineteenth-century gold rush, while its laneways remain centres of contemporary creativity. This guided walk reveals both sides of the city at street level.

Visit the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery in Naarm (Melbourne) for insight into the cultures, stories and creative expression of Aboriginal peoples of south-eastern Australia. This included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience places First Nations perspectives at the heart of your time in the city.

Through the gallery’s work, learn more about living Koorie cultures and communities. The visit offers a meaningful way to engage with the place beyond its streetscapes and colonial-era architecture.

Cruise the wetlands at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures near Gimuy (Cairns) with a guide, watching for crocodiles among the water and Melaleuca trees. The boat offers a close-up perspective on the habitat of one of Tropical North Queensland’s most formidable native animals.

Listen for wildlife and scan the banks as your guide helps you spot crocodiles. This included cruise brings the region’s wetland environment into view without entering the water.

Plant trees with Rainforest Rescue in Tropical North Queensland as part of an included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Take part in hands-on restoration work intended to help protect the ancient Notophyll Vine Forest and strengthen a vital wildlife corridor.

The activity connects you with conservation efforts in a region known for its extraordinary rainforest biodiversity. Rather than simply observing the landscape, contribute directly to its restoration and gain a closer understanding of why connected forest habitat matters.

Cruise by high-speed catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef from Gimuy (Cairns), with a local guide sharing insights into this living marine ecosystem. Snorkel among coral and colourful fish using the provided equipment, or stay dry and view the reef from a semi-submersible and underwater observatory.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. A buffet lunch, afternoon tea and coffee are included, leaving you free to concentrate on the marine life beneath the turquoise water.

Dine with your fellow travellers at Ochre Restaurant in Gimuy (Cairns), where the menu celebrates Australian flavours and local produce. This included group dinner provides a distinctive taste of the region rather than a routine hotel meal.

Cairns sits between the Coral Sea and the tropical landscapes of Far North Queensland, a setting reflected in its food culture. Enjoy conversation around the table while discovering how regional ingredients are presented in a contemporary Australian restaurant.

Glide above tropical rainforest on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda, explore the village, and travel aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway on this optional excursion from Gimuy (Cairns). Together, the cableway and historic railway offer contrasting views of the forested ranges.

The route takes in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed region recognised for its ancient rainforest. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask your Travel Director for availability and details.

AAT Kings

• 2 Dinner (D)
• 5 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

• Comfortable walking shoes Warm layers in cooler months Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat Water bottle Camera

• Day 1: Flights to arrive prior to 12 noon into Melbourne AirportDay 6: Flights to depart anytime from Cairns Airport Airport to Hotel transfers are available to purchase on request. Flights to and from your tour are not included in the tour price. Internal-holiday flights IncludedPlease note that prices include land and internal-holiday airfares, which AAT Kings will book in order to fulfil the holiday itinerary: Day 3: Melbourne to Cairns

• Low level of fitness required