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Whitsundays to Uluru | With Sailing | From Apr ’27 | 2027 – 2028 route map

Arrive in Airlie Beach and meet the group at Nomads Airlie Beach to kick off the trip.

Transfer to the marina and board a converted racing yacht (your home for 2 nights). Sail the Whitsundays with a day trip to Whitehaven Beach including snorkelling; lunch and dinner served on board.

Meals: Lunch,Dinner

Continue cruising the Whitsundays with freshly prepared meals on board and time to snorkel, swim and relax in the sun.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Disembark the yacht and travel by coach to Townsville, then ferry to Magnetic Island (Yunbenun). Explore coastal trails, look for koalas, try water sports or hike to Hawkings Point Lookout; enjoy sunset over the bay.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Free day on Magnetic Island: walk the Forts Walk for views of the Palm Island Group and WWII sites, relax at Horseshoe Bay, and spot Rock Wallabies at dusk; evening at leisure.

Ferry from Magnetic Island to the mainland, then train from Townsville to Cairns (Gimuy) arriving early evening. Enjoy an interactive Bush Food tutorial and included dinner featuring native ingredients.

Meals: Dinner

Optional day trip to the Daintree Rainforest; optional sunset boat cruise in the evening.

Optional catamaran trip to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel or dive, with marine briefings by the crew; evening free.

Choose adventures such as bungy jumping, skydiving or whitewater rafting, or ride the Skyrail rainforest cableway to Kuranda with guided rainforest stops; return on the Kuranda Scenic Railway.

Early flight from Cairns to Uluru arriving mid-morning. Option to visit the Field of Light installation; included group dinner.

Meals: Dinner

Witness sunrise at Uluru, then explore Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with hikes to Walpa Gorge and the Valley of the Winds; optional Segway tour in the afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

Day trip: included Big BBQ breakfast at Kings Creek Station, guided hike at Kings Canyon with the Garden of Eden, then sunset drinks to close your final evening in Uluru.

Meals: Breakfast

Trip ends in Uluru; farewells and departure.

What’s included

Snorkelling equipment provided during the Whitsundays sailing.
4 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 5 dinners included across the 13-day itinerary. Highlights include a chef-guided bush food tutorial and dinner in Cairns, freshly prepared onboard meals (including dessert) during the 2-night Whitsundays sailing, a group dinner in Uluru, and a Big BBQ breakfast at Kings Creek Station.
12 nights of accommodation: 2 nights aboard a converted racing yacht in the Whitsundays; 2 nights in multi-share rooms on Magnetic Island; and stays in Airlie Beach, Cairns and Uluru at the properties listed (or similar).
On-trip transport between included destinations: marina transfer in Airlie Beach; coach to Townsville; return ferries between Townsville and Magnetic Island; scenic train from Townsville to Cairns; domestic flight from Cairns to Uluru; plus sailing between the Whitsunday Islands.
Included experiences: 2-night Whitsundays sailing with a visit to Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling time (led by an experienced skipper and crew); sunrise viewing at Uluru; hikes at Kata Tjuta (Walpa Gorge and Valley of the Winds); and a full-day Kings Canyon trip with guided hike, sunset drinks and nibbles.

What’s not included

International flights to and from the tour start/end points are not included.
Entry visas for Australia (if required) are not included and must be arranged by the traveller.
Travel insurance is not included and should be arranged by the traveller.
Meals not listed in the itinerary/dining summary are at your own expense.
Optional activities at additional cost: Daintree day trip, Cairns sunset boat cruise, Great Barrier Reef catamaran snorkel/dive, bungy jumping, skydiving, whitewater rafting, Skyrail/Kuranda Railway day trip, Field of Light (Uluru) and Segway tour (Uluru)
Paid upgrades to single or twin rooms on Magnetic Island (subject to availability).
Personal expenses such as drinks, snacks, laundry and souvenirs.

Additional information

Witness sunrise over Uluru as the rock moves through russet, apricot, and crimson. The morning hush, desert air, and changing colours create a contemplative mood at this sacred monolith in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Guides share perspectives from the Anangu custodians and Tjukurpa (creation stories). Use designated viewing areas to pause for photos and reflection while appreciating the cultural significance and timeless presence of this sandstone giant.

Glide along Trinity Inlet at golden hour, where mangrove-fringed waterways reflect the ranges beyond Cairns. The calm of evening sets an easy pace as seabirds wheel over the harbour and lights begin to twinkle.

From the water, watch the skyline and rainforest hills shift through rose and indigo while the captain shares local stories. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Float above the canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, pausing at rainforest stations and the thunderous Barron Falls boardwalks. Gondolas deliver panoramic views of palms, gullies, and distant Coral Sea.

Return on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through hand-cut tunnels and bridges that cling to the escarpment. Time in Kuranda village adds artsy markets and tropical vibes. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Step aboard an ex-racing yacht and set sail through the 74 Whitsunday Islands, skimming over the Coral Sea with a seasoned skipper and crew. Learn the ropes, help trim the sails, and unwind on deck as tropical isles drift by in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Sleep at anchor beneath southern stars and wake to quiet coves. Between swims and beach time, share hearty onboard meals and sea stories with shipmates while taking in aquamarine horizons and warm trade winds.

Glide ashore to Whitehaven Beach, famed for its powder-fine silica sands and glassy, turquoise shallows. Kick off your shoes, wade through warm water, and capture luminous blues and chalk-white curves that make this stretch a global coastal icon.

After beach time, slip into the sea to snorkel coral gardens where parrotfish flit and giant clams rest. Crew briefings reveal the delicate ecology of the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef and how its fringing reefs shelter schools of vivid reef fish.

Follow the island’s signature Forts Walk, tracing WWII lookouts and fortifications with wide views across the Coral Sea. Keep your eyes peeled for koalas in the wild, often curled among eucalyptus branches along the track.

Time your hike to catch sunset from Hawking Point Lookout, where granite headlands glow amber. As dusk settles, meet the charismatic rock wallabies at dusk among boulder-strewn bays on Yunbenun (Magnetic Island), part of Wulgurukaba Country.

Join a chef-guided bush food tutorial to smell, grind, and taste native staples—think lemon myrtle, wattleseed, and pepperberry. Learn preparation techniques and how these flavours pair with seafood, game, and seasonal produce.

In rainforest-meets-reef Gimuy (Cairns), hear how First Nations knowledge shaped sustainable foodways. Cap the experience with a convivial shared dinner featuring native game, where aromatic spices and smoke tell a distinctly Australian culinary story.

Explore Walpa Gorge, walking between soaring conglomerate walls where desert breezes funnel through a cool, shaded corridor. The track reveals hardy flora clinging to ancient rock in a landscape shaped over hundreds of millions of years.

Continue to the Valley of the Winds for viewpoints among towering domes that glow with shifting light. Guides discuss geology, rare plants, and cultural context, encouraging respect for Country while you savour sweeping Central Desert panoramas.

Fuel up at an outback station with a hearty Big BBQ breakfast before stepping onto sandstone. The red earth, creek beds, and open skies set an energising stage for the day’s walking.

Join the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, climbing the famed “stairway to heaven” to a labyrinth of domes and cliff-edge vistas. Descend to the shaded Garden of Eden, where cycads and a sheltered waterhole offer a cool contrast to the sun-baked rim.

Raise a glass at sunset over Uluru as the rock’s colours deepen and long shadows sweep the spinifex plains. Shared nibbles and Outback sundowners set a relaxed tone with a front-row view of Australia’s most storied silhouette.

Guides point out the evening light across Uluru and Kata Tjuta while the desert sky readies for its nightly star show. A quietly celebratory close to your Red Centre exploration.

Venture into the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, where fan palms and strangler figs form emerald tunnels. Boardwalks and lookouts reveal cassowary habitat, reef-draped headlands, and beaches where rainforest meets sea.

Guides share stories of Kuku Yalanji Country and the unique ecology of this ancient, UNESCO-listed environment. Continue to Cape Tribulation for sweeping coastal vistas. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cruise by fast catamaran to the outer reef and drop anchor over kaleidoscopic bommies. Slip into clear water to snorkel or dive vibrant coral gardens teeming with reef fish, rays, and giant clams.

Marine biologists deliver a reef ecology briefing and share conservation insights for the Great Barrier Reef. Quality gear, flotation, and guided support help all levels feel at ease. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Pick your rush: launch into a rainforest-framed bungy jump, soar over coast and cane fields on a tandem skydive, or tackle grade-III rapids on a whitewater rafting adventure.

Professional crews handle safety, training, and gear so you can focus on the thrill and the views. Photos and videos are often available to capture the moment. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

As darkness falls, wander through Field of Light by Bruce Munro, where more than 50,000 illuminated stems ripple across desert sands. Paths thread a dreamlike landscape with Uluru a quiet silhouette beyond.

The desert night sky deepens as colours ebb and flow, offering a contemplative counterpoint to the day’s red-rock vistas. Transfers and viewing time allow you to linger. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a guided Segway tour to circle sections of the base of Uluru, gliding quietly between desert oaks and red sand. Guides share Tjukurpa stories and point out caves, rock textures, and seasonal waterholes.

Training and helmets are provided, with respectful routing that observes cultural sensitivities. It’s an engaging way to cover more ground while keeping the focus on Country. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Price & availability

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