Down Under Tours Waterfall, Wetlands and Skyrail

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A guided day from Cairns, the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas that strings together a wetland boardwalk, Barron Falls with a Djabugay cultural guide, lunch and coffee tastings at Australia's oldest coffee plantation, an ice cream stop, and a ride down the range on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Morning tea, lunch, tastings, entry and transfers are all included.

Days

Full day, about 9 to 11 hours

Age

Not recommended under 4

Group size

Guided coach tour

Start / finish

Cairns, Northern Beaches or Port Douglas / Atherton Tablelands / your start
Cairns, around 6pm

Return

Cairns, around 6pm

Transport

Coach with driver-guide, Skyrail cableway down the range

Meals

Morning refreshment, lunch, coffee, liqueur and ice cream tastings

Route

Map of Down Under Tours Waterfall, Wetlands and Skyrail

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Included experiences

Cattana Wetlands — guided boardwalk walk past Jabiru Lake
Barron Falls (Din Din) — Calling to Country with a Djabugay cultural guide
Skybury — lunch, coffee and coffee liqueur tasting with Tablelands views
Emerald Creek Ice Creamery — taste four flavours made on site
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway — 7.5 km over the rainforest from Kuranda to Smithfield

Down Under Tours Waterfall, Wetlands and Skyrail WWS

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

MORNING: CATTANA WETLANDS

Your driver-guide collects you from Cairns at about 8am, or from Palm Cove and Trinity Beach or Port Douglas, and there's a morning refreshment along the way. First stop is Cattana Wetlands near Smithfield, where your guide leads a walk on boardwalks through remnant feather palm forest and past the still water of Jabiru Lake, named after the black-necked stork, Australia's only stork, which locals call the jabiru. Your guide points out the plants and animals that make this quiet wetland home.

LATE MORNING: DIN DIN, BARRON FALLS

Up the range at Barron Falls, known to the Djabugay people as Din Din, a Djabugay cultural guide welcomes you with a Calling to Country and explains what the falls mean in Djabugay history and belief. The falls drop into the Barron Gorge, part of the Wet Tropics, World Heritage-listed since 1988. In the wet season they thunder; in the dry, a weir upstream for the hydro scheme takes much of the flow, and the bare rock shows how the river has cut down through the range.

LUNCH: SKYBURY ON THE TABLELANDS

Inland on the Atherton Tablelands, an old volcanic plateau of red soil and farms, lunch is at Skybury, Australia's oldest coffee plantation and its largest papaya grower. Coffee and papaya turn up all through the tropical lunch. Afterwards you look out over the Tablelands while tasting the farm's coffee and its coffee liqueur. The next stop is Emerald Creek Ice Creamery, a locally owned maker, where you taste four flavours made on site.

AFTERNOON: SKYRAIL DOWN THE RANGE

The day ends on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which opened in 1995 and runs 7.5 km from Kuranda down to Smithfield over and through the rainforest. Step off at Barron Falls station for The Edge Lookout, and at Red Peak, 545 metres up and the line's highest point, for a boardwalk among kauri pines and a free ranger-guided walk. With stops the ride takes about an hour and a half. Your guide meets you at the bottom, and you're back in Cairns or the Northern Beaches at about 6pm, or Port Douglas at about 6:45pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up from your Cairns accommodation, or from listed hotels and bus stops in Palm Cove, Trinity Beach or Port Douglas.
Departure time: Around 8am from Cairns, about 9am from Palm Cove or Trinity Beach, or about 7:45am from Port Douglas. From the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas the tour runs on set days of the week. Your exact pick-up time is confirmed when you book.
Finishes: Back in Cairns, Palm Cove or Trinity Beach at about 6pm, or in Port Douglas at about 6:45pm.
Minimum age: Not recommended for children under 4, because of the length of the day and time on the coach. Ages 4 to 14 pay the child rate.
Fitness: Short boardwalk walks at Cattana Wetlands, Barron Falls and the Skyrail stops; the rest of the day is by coach or gondola.
Suits: Wheelchair users: the tour is accessible, but places are limited, so tell us when you book. Skyrail gondolas take wheelchairs up to 63 cm wide and 95 cm long that can tilt back to lift the front wheels.

What to bring

Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Water bottle
Insect repellent
Umbrella
A small bag or day pack only (no luggage on Skyrail)

What is included

Pick-up and drop-off by coach at Cairns accommodation, or return coach transfers from Palm Cove, Trinity Beach or Port Douglas
Local driver-guide for the day
Morning refreshment
Guided walk at Cattana Wetlands
Barron Falls visit with a Djabugay cultural guide, including a Calling to Country
Tropical lunch at Skybury, with coffee and coffee liqueur tasting
Four-flavour ice cream tasting at Emerald Creek
One-way Skyrail Rainforest Cableway ride

Not included

Travel insurance

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.