Walk the island’s signature Forts Walk, a gentle ascent through eucalyptus and hoop pine forest to rocky lookouts once used as coastal watchpoints. Keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the wild dozing in the branches, and pause at concrete WWII fortifications while soaking up sweeping views across Cleveland Bay and the Palm Island Group.

Built in 1943–44 to guard Townsville, the radar and gun sites add rich historical layers to Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), Country of the Wulgurukaba and Manbarra peoples. Guides and signage help you tread softly—giving wildlife space and hearing the island’s stories as you go.

Discover the Whitsunday Islands on a relaxed day cruise to Whitehaven Beach, gliding across jade passages to one of the Southern Hemisphere’s purest shorelines. Wade into turquoise shallows and snorkel over fringing coral reefs alive with darting reef fish. Powder-fine silica sands and the island’s sheltered coves set the scene for unrushed swimming and beach time.

Hear practical tips from the crew about reef etiquette and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and take time to simply breathe in this Whitsunday Islands National Park setting. During your time in Airlie Beach, this is the quintessential Whitsundays experience.

Stroll the short bush track above Picnic Bay to Hawkings Point Lookout, where golden-hour colours wash across the sea and the granite skyline. From the bouldered spur, savour the breeze and the island’s sculpted granite headlands; it’s an easygoing walk with memorable payoffs for photographers and daydreamers alike.

The panorama stretches over Nelly Bay and Cleveland Bay towards Townsville, with seabirds wheeling overhead and the late sun lighting the water to amber. Arrive in time to watch the light fade and the first stars appear—an unhurried island moment to reflect and recharge.

Head to the granite shores of Geoffrey Bay to meet the island’s shy locals: Rock Wallabies at Geoffrey Bay. In the gentle dusk light, these nimble marsupials emerge among the boulders, offering close yet respectful wildlife viewing and evocative photo opportunities as the sky deepens and the evening chorus begins.

Learn how this hardy colony thrives on the rocky headlands and why feeding wildlife is discouraged for their health. With patience and a quiet presence, you’ll witness natural behaviours—grooming, foraging, and bounding across the stones—framed by lapping tides and warm tropical air.

Taste North Queensland in an interactive chef-guided bush food tutorial that leads into a convivial dinner. Sample native spices and fruits—lemon myrtle, pepperberry, wattleseed, Davidson plum—and see how they season contemporary dishes featuring local produce and game. This hands-on MAKE TRAVEL MATTER experience celebrates flavour, sustainability, and community.

Set in Gimuy (Cairns), on the lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people, the session delves into cultural origins, traditional uses, and modern culinary techniques. Leave with practical tips and a new appreciation for the way ingredients carry stories of Country to the table.

Explore the ancient Daintree Rainforest, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, on shaded boardwalks beneath fan palms and strangler figs. Guided by local hosts, deepen your connection with a profound Kuku Yalanji cultural experience, including a cleansing smoking ceremony and an expressive art workshop at Janbal Gallery where symbols tell timeless stories.

Called “the most extraordinary place on earth” by Sir David Attenborough, the Daintree shelters rare wildlife and cultural knowledge stretching back millennia. Create your own canvas to take home, carrying the meanings you’ve learned and the rainforest’s cool, green hush.

Leap into Queensland’s tropical blue with a tandem skydive over the Whitsundays. After a comprehensive briefing, feel freefall thrills before the canopy opens and you float above turquoise reefs and islands, taking in sweeping views of the Whitsunday Passage and Conway peaks.

Operated by specialist instructors, this optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Photos and video are available to capture the moment you stepped outside your comfort zone over one of Australia’s most photogenic coastlines.

Soar above the Great Barrier Reef on a scenic flight tracing the chalk-white arc of Whitehaven Beach and circling the perfectly formed Heart Reef in Hardy Reef. Window seats deliver luminous blues, swirling tidal patterns, and postcard-perfect views of the Whitsunday archipelago.

Pilot commentary brings the reef’s scale and geology to life as you capture frame-worthy shots from the air. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with flight durations designed to maximise time over key highlights.

Unwind on a sunset boat cruise across Trinity Inlet, where mangrove-fringed waterways open to mountain silhouettes and the Coral Sea horizon. Sip a drink on deck as the city lights flicker on and the sky shifts from peach to indigo.

Skipper commentary weaves together Cairns’ maritime heritage and the inlet’s unique ecology. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering an easygoing evening with tropical breezes and soft, cinematic light.

Set out by catamaran to the Great Barrier Reef for a day of discovery. Choose to snorkel or dive among kaleidoscopic coral gardens frequented by turtles, parrotfish, and clownfish, with expert marine briefings and guides to enrich what you see.

All gear is provided, with stinger suits during warmer months and buoyancy aids for comfort. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; responsible practices help protect this precious World Heritage ecosystem for future travellers.

Dial up the adrenaline with your choice to bungy jump in the rainforest, repeat the skydive thrill over the coast, or tackle white-water rafting on the Barron or Tully rivers. Expect adrenaline choices set amid tropical peaks, warm air, and the thrum of the rainforest.

Each option is run by specialist guides with full safety briefings and quality gear. These optional experiences are at additional cost and bookable on tour—pick one or mix and match to suit your appetite for adventure.

Glide above the canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to the village of Kuranda, stepping off for boardwalk lookouts among giant ferns. Return on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, rattling past Barron Gorge and Falls through hand-cut tunnels and sweeping stone viaducts.

Browse local markets and enjoy the cooler upland air before your journey back through rainforest-clad ranges. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with flexible timings to balance exploration and relaxation.

Contiki

• 2 Lunch (L)
• 2 Dinner (D)
• 3 Breakfast (B)

• Sydney: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Sydney: Contiki acknowledges the Traditional and Torres Strait Island owners of the land, sea and waters of the spectacular Australian continent. Dual-naming reflects that, as we explore this remarkable land, we recognise and respect Indigenous custodianship of a unique, ancient culture and country.
• Gimuy (Cairns): It’s best to wait at least 24 hours after your last dive before flying.
• Yunbenun (Magnetic Island): During your 2-night stay in Magnetic Island, you’ll stay in multi-share rooms with the same sex even (if you’ve booked single or twin room for the trip duration). But if you’d like some privacy, you can request a paid upgrade to a single or twin room, but the confirmation would depend on availability.Please note that this is a modular trip. That means you’ll be joining a trip that started 1 week earlier – if you wish to do the full version, please refer to the Ultimate Australia trip.

• Airlie Beach: Grab your new buddies, snorkel round the reef, see ‘the world’s best beach’ and eat lunch on a boat. A proper ‘pinch yourself’ moment. 
• Whitsunday Islands: The Great Barrier Reef is home to nearly 9,000 species of sea creatures. This means it’ll impress even the saltiest ‘sea dogs’.
• Townsville: Catch a boat from the mainland to Magnetic Island.
• Magnetic Island: Pack some comfy shoes and climb up to Hawking’s Point for sundown. Yoga poses for Insta: optional. 
• Magnetic Island: Go koala-spotting, see WWII fortifications, or just have a beer in the sun. There’s something for everyone on this trail. 
• Magnetic Island: Mingle with Magnetic Island’s resident Rock Wallabies at dusk. Just watch these cheeky little guys don’t steal your wallet! 
• Magnetic Island: Catch a boat from Magnetic Island to the mainland. Wave goodbye to your new BFF Reggie the Koala and promise you’ll write. 
• Townsville: Things heat up as the landscape gets even more tropical. Soak up the scenery on this train trip from Townsville to Cairns. 
• Cairns: Eat like a local with this chef-guided bush food tutorial and dinner (thankfully, not a witchetty grub in sight!)
• Daintree Rainforest: Check out the oldest rainforest in the world, home to frogs, butterflies, bats and more.
• Daintree Rainforest: Tour the world’s oldest rainforest with an expert. Sir David Attenborough called Daintree: ‘the most extraordinary place on earth’. 
• Daintree Rainforest: Learn how ancient ‘Dreamtime’ stories were shared through art. Then unleash your inner Banksy and create a masterpiece at the Janbal Gallery.