Pre Tour

JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF AUSTRALIA’S TROPICAL WORLD HERITAGE TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS AND CHALLENGES OF SHARED HERITAGE AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES, FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND’S WORLD HERITAGE – REEF, RAINFOREST, ROCK ART & RECONCILIATION

Journey into the heart of Australia’s tropical world heritage to experience the wonders and challenges of shared heritage and shared responsibilities on this 5 day/4 night tour. Visit 40,000 year old Nugalrock art with Nugal storytellers, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef with marine biologists, explore the World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest and visit historic Cooktown’s Reconciliation Rocks.

Itinerary

Please make your own travel arrangements to arrive at Cairns Airport by 1400 hours.

1400hrs Depart Cairns Airport for the coach journey to Port Douglas, travelling along the scenic Cook Highway.
1530hrs Arrive Port Douglas and check in to your accommodation.
1830hrs Enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the Palmer Sea Reef Golf Club and hear from a local guest speaker.

Accommodation: Paradise Links Resort x 2 nights (4 star)
24 – 70 Nautilus St, Port Douglas
Phone: +61 (0)7 4099 1511

0700 – 0800hrs

Breakfast at the Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course.
0820hrs Please be waiting in the hotel foyer.
0830hrs Depart the hotel for a full day Outer Barrier Reef cruise including snorkelling and reef activities.
1700hrs Return to the Marina and transfer back to the hotel.
1900hrs Enjoy an optional dinner at the historic Court House Hotel (optional – own expense).

Accommodation: Paradise Links Resort (4 star) night 2
24 – 70 Nautilus St, Port Douglas
Phone: +61 (0)7 4099 1511

 

0700 – 0800hrs

Breakfast at the Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course.

 

Please settle any incidentals on your room account and check out of your hotel.

0815hrs Please be waiting in the hotel foyer.
0830hrs

Depart the hotel for a full day of touring and transfer on to Cooktown.

0915hrs Arrive Mossman Gorge and enjoy a 90-minute Dreamtime Gorge Guided Walk exploring the Daintree Forest.
Enjoy lunch in the Mayi Café, located in Visitor Centre.
1330hrs Transfer by coach to Cooktown (approx. 4 hours travel time).
1730hrs Arrive Cooktown and check into your hotel
1830hrs

Enjoy a 3 course dinner at the Balcony Restaurant, Sovereign Resort Hotel
Remainder of the evening at leisure

Accommodation Option One: River of Gold Motel x 2 nights (3.5)
128 Charlotte Street, Cooktown Queensland 4895
Phone: +61 (0)7 4043 0500

Accommodation Option Two: Sovereign Resort Hotel x 2 nights (4 star)
16 Walker Street, Cooktown Queensland 4895
Phone: +61 (0)7 4069 5222

0700 – 0830hrs

Breakfast is available in your hotel

0900hrs

National Trust of Australia (Queensland) Workshop “Shared heritage – shared responsibility” workshop with local Bama people.
The NTAQ is Queensland’s leading community heritage organisation. Their mission is to protect, conserve and celebrate Queensland’s environmental, built and cultural heritage

1330hrs Enjoy a walking tour of historic Cooktown with James Cook Museum guides.
1530hrs Visit the James Cook Museum and enjoy afternoon tea.
1700 – 1930hrs Enjoy an optional Riverbend Sunset Cruise and Dinner (optional – own expense).

Accommodation Option One: River of Gold Motel (3.5) night 2
128 Charlotte Street, Cooktown Queensland 4895
Phone: +61 (0)7 4043 0500

Accommodation Option Two: Sovereign Resort Hotel (4 star) night 2
16 Walker Street, Cooktown Queensland 4895
Phone: +61 (0)7 4069 5222

 

0630 – 0730hrs

Breakfast is available at your hotel

 

Please settle any incidentals on your room account and check out of your hotel

0745hrs Please be waiting in the hotel foyer
0800hrs

Depart the hotel and transfer by coach to Hopevale, approximately 45 minutes travel time.
Visit Rock Art just outside of Hopevale

1230hrs Enjoy bush picnic lunch
1300hrs

Depart Hopevale for the return coach journey to Cairns, approximately 5 hours travel time.
Enjoy afternoon tea enroute

1800 – 1830hrs

Approximate return time to Cairns and drop off at Cairns Airport or Cairns city accommodation

We recommend participants overnight in Cairns on the evening of the 28th September (at your own cost) before transferring to Sydney, in case the tour has unexpected delays on its return from Cooktown.
Cairns accommodation is not included in the tour. Please make your own arrangements for accommodation on this night and any subsequent airport transfers required.

 

Hosted by: The National Trust of Australia (Queensland).

Tour Cost:
3.5 Star accommodation:
$1,783 per person based on double occupancy
$1,965 per person based on single occupancy

4 Star accommodation: (limited room availability, we recommend booking early to secure a 4 star room)
$1,822 per person based on double occupancy
$2,050 per person based on single occupancy

Tour Inclusions:
• Accommodation as specified (where possible)
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• English speaking commentary
• Breakfast daily and other meals as specified (Breakfast = B, Lunch = L, Dinner = D, Afternoon Tea = AT)
• The Great Barrier Reef trip includes lunch and afternoon tea only. This trip includes all snorkelling equipment but excludes scuba diving.

Not Included
• Airfares to/from destination.
• Meals other than specified.
• Personal expenses.
• Two dinners are leisure, at the attendees own cost. NTAQ will make group bookings at a preferred location however there is no obligation to join the group for these two dinners.
• Beverages & anything not specifically mentioned.
• Departure Airport transfers in destination.

Airfares
Domestic airfares to pre and post tour destinations are not included in the ground cost of the tour. Please advise the ICOMOS GA2020 Managers of your flight details so that they are aware of your arrival and departure time, . You may still register on the pre and post tours if you have not finalised your travel arrangements. On completion of the registration form, you will be issued with an access key, which you need to record as this key allows you to access and update your booking and registration details at a later date.

Restrictions/Accessibility: Access to Rock Art sites and Mossman Gorge is via bush track. Participants will need appropriate mobility to access these aspects of the tour.

Fitness level: Moderate / Active

Minimum number of participants: 35

Maximum number of participants: 12 rooms for 4 star and 24 rooms/participants for 3.5 star. Total maximum of 40 participants.

Is French speaking commentary available: No