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Dive instruction aboard the Coral Princess II

Great Barrier Reef: Cairns & Pelorus Island

Example 4 Day Cruise aboard Coral Expeditions I
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This 3-night Cairns – Pelorus Island – Cairns South Pacific cruise offers the perfect combination of experiences to make your holiday on the Great Barrier Reef truly memorable. This itinerary has been designed to provide ample time to explore the Reef through snorkeling, SCUBA diving and glass bottom boat tours, while also allowing plenty of time to discover exclusive private islands, tropical resort paradises and ancient rainforest trails.
Moor at exclusive reefs beyond the reach of larger shipsUncover the hidden secrets of the Great Barrier ReefSnorkel at exclusive Great Barrier Reef sitesRelax and enjoy the views from the SunDeckDive instruction aboard the Coral Princess II
Highlights
  • Discover Capt. James Cook's historic Cooktown.
  • Explore some of the most pristine areas of the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Discover Coral Expeditions' very own tropical paradise, Pelorus Island.
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Embark in Cairns

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Board the Coral Expeditions I for an 11:00 am departure from Cairns. While departing Cairns and cruising Trinity, meet fellow travelers, settle in and explore "home" for the next three nights. After a delicious lunch arrive at an exclusive Great Barrier Reef mooring at Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay. Join the Marine Biologist aboard the glass bottom boat for a first encounter with the reef before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish feed. Discover some of the 1,500 species of fish that live on the reef, including Spangled Emperor, Giant Trevally and the Hump-Headed Maori Wrasse as they are hand fed by the Marine Biologist. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon to snorkel in the shallow waters for up-close views of the hundreds of varieties of colorful corals and tropical fish. The experienced crew provides assistance, advice and guided snorkeling tours for less experienced swimmers. In the evening, join the crew and traveling companions in the top deck lounge as the sun spectacularly sets over the reef before sitting down to a memorable dinner.

Day 2: Hinchinbrook Channel & Pelorus Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Awaken this morning to the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel, discovering Hinchinbrook Island’s towering cliffs and mangrove ecosystems. Subject to tides, cruise the length of the channel, separating the Australian mainland and the island, one of the most diverse marine environments on the Australian coast. Keep an eye out for myriad marine life including crocodiles, dolphins, turtles and dugongs, all of which feed on the region’s plentiful sea grasses and can often be seen frolicking in these waters.

Enjoy the afternoon to discover Coral Expeditions' very own tropical paradise, Pelorus Island. Gather on the beach for a gourmet beach BBQ, freshly prepared by the Captain. Explore the surrounding rainforest on a guided nature walk. Pelorus’ fringing reef, in the shallow waters just meters off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkeling opportunities, including the opportunity to view a giant clam garden. Admire the colorful corals from the glass bottom boat with the Marine Biologist, accompany the Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive or simply relax on the long stretch of golden beach.

Day 3: Dunk Island & Nathan Reef

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Join naturalist guides on a fascinating rainforest walk discovering Dunk Island’s unique flora and fauna. Perhaps see the brightly colored blue-winged Ulysses Butterfly, impossible to miss against the ancient rainforest background. Keen birdwatchers should keep an eye out for many of the up to 100 species of native birds recorded on the island, including the Yellow-bellied Sunbird, Emerald Dove and Orange-footed Scrubfowl.

Following lunch, discover Nathan Reef, which has some of the most colorful coral gardens that can be found anywhere along the entire length of the reef. View many of the 400 different species of coral living in this World Heritage-listed wonderland. Venture in to the warm tropical waters to explore the corals and marine life on a guided snorkeling tour and join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour.

For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, accompany the Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. Discover some of the amazing creatures living on the reef at the on-board display tank. Enjoy the rare opportunity for a close up look at sea cucumbers, brightly colored starfish and other marine life. Laze away the late afternoon on the sun deck, enjoying the comfortable on-board facilities including the spa pool and sun lounges. Tonight, gather in the dining room for another sumptuous dinner while settling in for a final night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 4: Fitzroy Island and Cairns

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Travel ashore to explore beautiful Fitzroy Island. Surrounded by a reef system that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Fitzroy Island offers wonderful bush walking opportunities and idyllic white sandy beaches. Savor a final snorkeling opportunity over the island's fringing reefs, just meters from the beach in the sheltered waters.

Following lunch, cruise through Trinity Bay before arriving in tropical Cairns at 1:30 pm for disembarkation at Trinity Wharf.

Ship/Hotel

Coral Expeditions I

Coral Expeditions I - Open Bridge

Dates & Prices

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Notes

Solo Travelers:
A 50% single supplement is charged or select the “Single Guest Match” program. Single Guest Match is available for guests who have flexible travel dates and are willing to share a cabin with another guest of the same gender. Passengers are placed on a standby list and notified if a match becomes available. Once confirmed, they are charged at the twin-share rate (no single supplement). Cabin category requests are accepted.

Important Fare Information:
Rates are posted based off of the current exchange rates from Australian Dollars. Please contact us for current exchange rates.
Included
  • 3 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
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