Down Under Tours Waterfall, Wetlands and Scenic Rail (ex Cairns)

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A guided coach day from Cairns, the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas that takes in a palm forest walk at Cattana Wetlands, a welcome to Country from a Djabugay guide at Barron Falls, lunch on a Tablelands coffee plantation and a four-flavour ice cream tasting, before you ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway back down the range.

Days

Full day, about 9 to 11 hours

Age

Not recommended for children under 4

Group size

Guided coach tour

Start / finish

Cairns, Northern Beaches or Port Douglas / Cattana Wetlands / Barron Falls / Kuranda / Freshwater / your start
Cairns, about 6pm

Return

Cairns, about 6pm

Transport

Luxury coach with a driver-guide, and the Kuranda Scenic Railway

Meals

Morning refreshments, lunch, coffee tasting and ice cream

Route

Map of Down Under Tours Waterfall, Wetlands and Scenic Rail (ex Cairns)

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Included experiences

Cattana Wetlands — guided walk through feather palm forest past Jabiru Lake
Barron Falls (Din Din) — Calling to Country with a Djabugay cultural guide
Skybury — lunch and a coffee and coffee liqueur tasting on a coffee plantation
Emerald Creek Ice Creamery — taste four flavours made on site
Kuranda Scenic Railway — down through 15 tunnels to Freshwater

Down Under Tours Waterfall, Wetlands and Scenic Rail (ex Cairns)

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: CATTANA WETLANDS

Your driver-guide collects you in a luxury coach from Cairns, the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas, depending on the pick-up you chose. First stop is Cattana Wetlands at Smithfield, on the northern edge of Cairns, where your guide leads a walk through a remnant feather palm forest and along the still water of Jabiru Lake, named after the black-necked stork, Australia's only stork. Look for waterbirds on the lake and listen for the frogs and birds in the palms while your guide explains what lives in the wetland. Morning refreshments are part of the day.

LATE MORNING: BARRON FALLS WITH A DJABUGAY GUIDE

Next is Barron Falls, Din Din to the Djabugay people, a place of deep importance to them. A Djabugay cultural guide welcomes you with a Calling to Country and talks about the falls and the Djabugay nation's connection to this land, the kind of story you won't get from a signboard. The water drops through a deep gorge in the range above Cairns; in the wet season it roars across the whole rock face, and late in the dry it can thin to a few silver threads.

MIDDAY: LUNCH AT SKYBURY ON THE TABLELANDS

The coach climbs onto the Atherton Tablelands, high country of rich red volcanic soil, to Skybury near Mareeba, Australia's oldest coffee plantation and its largest papaya grower. Lunch works in the farm's own coffee and papaya. Afterwards you sit back with the view across the Tablelands and a tasting of Skybury's coffee and coffee liqueur. Mareeba sits about 400 metres above sea level, and its drier, sunnier climate is a world away from the rainforest you left an hour ago.

AFTERNOON: ICE CREAM AND THE TRAIN DOWN THE RANGE

The road runs through Tablelands farmland to Emerald Creek Ice Creamery, a locally owned creamery where you taste four flavours made on site. Then it's on to Kuranda to board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for the ride down the range. The line was built from 1886 by about 1,500 workers, and on the way down it passes through 15 tunnels and over the bridges of the Barron Gorge while the commentary tells their story. Your coach meets you at Freshwater Station for the drive back, reaching Cairns and the Northern Beaches at about 6pm and Port Douglas at around 6:45pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up in Cairns at about 8:15am, at Palm Cove and Trinity Beach at about 9am, or from your Port Douglas accommodation from 7:45am; your exact time and place are confirmed when you book.
Finishes: Back in Cairns or at Palm Cove and Trinity Beach at about 6pm, or in Port Douglas at around 6:45pm.
Duration: Full day.
Minimum age: Not recommended for children under 4, because of the length of the day and time spent on the coach.
Dietary needs: Vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free meals are catered for; tell us when you book and remind your guide in the morning.
Please note: Runs Monday to Friday from Cairns, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas. The tour is accessible for wheelchair users, but places are limited, so tell us when you book. Commentary is in English, with written and audio guides in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Chinese.

What to bring

Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Water bottle

What is included

Local driver-guide and coach from Cairns, the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas
Guided walk at Cattana Wetlands
Morning refreshments
Calling to Country with a Djabugay cultural guide at Barron Falls
Lunch at Skybury with coffee and coffee liqueur tasting
Tasting of four ice creams at Emerald Creek Ice Creamery
Kuranda Scenic Railway one way, Kuranda to Freshwater
Coach from Freshwater Station back to your pick-up area

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.