Tour Code: WETTROP Departs and Returns: Cairns Departure Dates: 21 June - 02 July, 2011 ITINERARY DAY 1: Cairns (D) Arrival day and first group dinner at the hotel. Next three nights: Cairns Queenslander Resort DAY 2 AND 3: Cairns (BLD) The first two days are spent in and around Cairns and to maximise wildlife experiences there are a few must dos – but not necessarily in this order. The 7.5 kilometre cableway journey (Skyrail) with its combination of interpretive boardwalks, unique views of tropical rainforest and combined return rail journey is first on the list. Cairns is a birding hotspot, with the Cairns Esplanade being famous for shore birds. The Botanical Gardens, Centenary Park (and Boardwalk) and Mt Whitfield Environmental Park are also great places to find birds. Further afield a visit to Lake Morris, Barron Gorge Road and the Mangrove Boardwalk near the airport may be rewarding. Our local guide “Chook” will have a few favourite spots of his own. DAY 4 AND 5: Cairns - Atherton Tablelands (BLD) Leaving Cairns we travel south towards Innisfail through lowland sugar cane country (once tropical rainforest) past Bellenden Ker and Bartle Frere - Queensland’s highest mountain (1622m) - accessing the Atherton Plateau via the Palmerston Highway. This gives us access to the relatively new Mamu Rainforest Canopy Walkway - an easy but spectacular walk with great views and plenty of wildlife. The richer basaltic soils of the tablelands support a larger population of rare possums, birds and marsupials so they are often more easily spotted. There are also several types of rainforest patches surrounding Atherton Tablelands as well as some dry sclerophyllous eucalypt forest so there is often more variety than in the lowland forests.

From Mamu we will visit the Milla Milla area, Mt Hypipamee National Park, Wongabel and the southern end of the Tablelands. Tomorrow will be spent in the Crater Lakes area, Hasties Swamp National Park, Yungaburra, Bromfield Swamp and Lake Tinaroo. For those who are keen, night spotlighting will be offered on one of our two nights in Atherton. Next two nights: Rainforest Motel

DAY 6 AND 7: Atherton Tablelands - Daintree (BLD)
Heading for Daintree today, our first stop is the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve. Chook and his wife ran the Jabiru Safari Lodge until recently, so he knows the area well. Passing Lake Mitchell we travel through the mining town of Mt Molloy and follow the Rex Range Road to Mossman for a short break. Mossman Gorge is the southern end of the Daintree National Park - which stretches north to Cooktown. This dense tropical rainforest has World Heritage Listing and is some of the most magnificent lowland rainforest in the world. This afternoon and tomorrow are spent in and around Daintree visiting wildlife hotspots, cruising on the Daintree River, spotlighting at night, looking for the unique species which make this region one of the richest animal (and plant) habitats on earth. More than 400 of these profoundly diverse plants and animals are in the rare or endangered category. Next two nights: Red Mill House

DAY 8: Daintree (BLD)
Leaving Daintree early, we cross over the Daintree River heading for the Cape Tribulation section of the National Park. There are lookouts and boardwalks along the way and visit to the Daintree Rainforest Environmental Centre is very worthwhile. (As is the Daintree Icecream Company with icecream made from local rainforest fruit). Other stops include the Daintree Entomological Museum and Gallery (62% of Australia’s butterfly species are found here in the Daintree); morning tea and a walk at Kulki (Cape Tribulation) and lunch and a walk at Wujal Wujal (Bloomfield River) on our way to our overnight stay at Mungumby Lodge. There are various endemic species living around Mungumby Lodge including the elusive Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo, and the birding can be exceptional on the property itself. Overnight: Mungumby Lodge

DAY 9: Daintree - Cooktown (BLD)
A lazy start from Mungumy giving us tome to make the most of the tracks and wildlife around the lodge. Cookwotn is not far away but some stops along the way - Black Mountain and Keatings Lagoon (Mulbabidgee) Conservation Park – gives us time to enjoy this historic and interesting river port town in the afternoon. Visits to the James Cook Museum (in the old convent), Grassy Hill, Nature’s Powerhouse and the Botanical Gardens should all be enjoyed. Next two nights: Sovereign Resort

DAY 10: Cooktown (BLD)
Another early start today for our exploration of Lakefield National Park. We access this area from Cooktown along Battle Camp Road. This is Queensland’s second largest National Park and includes tropical savannah; gallery rainforest and sandstone escparpment scrubland – wildlife gathers around permanent billabongs left on the vast floodplains. Returning to Cooktown through Laura, we will visit the Quinkan Rock Art Sites and the Quinkan Rock Art Centre.

DAY 11: Cooktown - Cairns (BLD)
Our return to Cairns today finds us following the Mulligan Highway to Lakeland, then joining the Peninsular Development Road to Mount Molloy. We then head down to the coast and Port Douglas before taking the scenic drive along the coast to Cairns and our farewell dinner. Overnight: Cairns Queenslander Resort

DAY 12: Departure day (B)
The tour ends today after breakfast. Please let us know if you want to extend your stay in Cairns and we can organise this for you.