Great Barrer Reef: Cairns, Lizard Island & Pelorus Island (Weekday Departure)

Day 1 Embark in Cairns

Board your Coral Princess II small ship for a 5:00pm departure from Cairns. As you depart Cairns and cruise Trinity Bay, there is time to settle in and discover your “home” for the next four nights. In the evening, join your crew and traveling companions on the top deck to enjoy a glass of champagne while cruising northward, passing Double Island and the pretty beachside village of Palm Cove. Admire a spectacular sunset over the World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Macalister Range.

Day 2 Cooktown / Great Barrier Reef

Take the morning to discover historical Cooktown which is steeped in history with buildings dating back to the 1870s. It was here that the famous explorer Captain James Cook took refuge during his voyage of discovery after claiming Australia as a British colony in 1770. You have the option to visit Cooktown’s fascinating historical museum, featuring original artifacts from Cook’s ship – Endeavour. See the original anchor and cannon, jettisoned overboard after Endeavour struck a reef and began taking on water. Perhaps visit the Botanic Gardens, where you may catch a glimpse of some native Australian wildlife including Kangaroos and Wallabies.

This afternoon visit one of the remote uninhabited islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Join your marine biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colorful coral gardens and discover some of the 1500 species of tropical fish that call the reef home. You may wish to enjoy your first snorkeling opportunity for an up-close view of the hundreds of varieties of coral growing on this section of reef. The experienced crew will be on hand to provide assistance, advice and guided snorkeling tours for less experienced swimmers.

Day 3 Lizard Island / Ribbon Reef No 9

This morning awaken moored beside beautiful Lizard Island. The energetic may join your guides on a walk to “Cook’s Look” on the island’s peak (hiking shoes or boots are recommended). It was from here, the highest lookout on this part of the reef, that Captain Cook was able to navigate a safe passage back through the treacherous waters after repairing the Endeavour near Cooktown over 200 years ago. A photographer’s delight, the views from the lookout over the World Heritage-listed reef and surrounding tropical islands are magnificent.

Lizard Island’s fringing reef, in the shallow waters just meters off the beach, offers some fantastic snorkeling opportunities. Discover giant clams and a profusion of fish. Simply relax on the beach, join the Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour, or for the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, accompany your Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. The choice is yours!

This afternoon cruise to Ribbon Reef No 9, a spectacular and seldom visited part of the reef where your activities will include more snorkeling opportunities and glass bottom boat tours with the Marine Biologist.

Day 4 Ribbon Reef No 3 / Rachel Carson Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is not actually one continuous reef, but a series of thousands of individual coral cays stretching over 1800 miles between the town of Bundaberg and the tip of Australia at Cape York. Spend today visiting two of the most spectacular sections of the reef, Ribbon Reef No 3 and Rachel Carson Reef. Explore the coral gardens and marine life with guided snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours. Your Marine Biologist will explain the natural history and evolution of the reef and help you discover the local wildlife, which includes sea turtles, giant clams, rays and over 200 different species of native birds.

Day 5 Thetford Reef & Sudbury Cay

Enjoy the afternoon experiencing the reef at the exclusive Thetford Reef and Sudbury Cay moorings. Join your knowledgeable Marine Biologist for a glass bottom boat tour over the colorful coral gardens before gathering on the snorkel deck to participate in a fish feed. Discover some of the 1500 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. Your experienced crew will be on hand to provide assistance, advice and guided snorkelling tours for less experienced swimmers.

Day 6 Hinchinbrook Channel & Pelorus Island

Awaken this morning as you cruise the spectacular Hinchinbrook Channel, discovering Hinchinbrook Island’s towering cliffs and mangrove eco-systems. 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.

Next, enjoy the afternoon to discover Coral Princess' very own tropical paradise, Pelorus Island. You are invited to gather on the beach for a gourmet beach BBQ, freshly prepared by the Captain. Then, 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. Admire the colorful corals from the glass bottom boat with the Marine Biologist, accompany your Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive or simply relax on the long stretch of golden beach, the choice is yours!

Day 7 Dunk Island & Nathan Reef

This morning join your naturalist guides on a fascinating rainforest walk discovering Dunk Island’s unique flora and fauna. You may be lucky enough to 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 at your own pace. From your exclusive mooring experience 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 your Dive Instructor on an unforgettable SCUBA dive. Later, 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 onboard facilities including the spa pool and sun lounges. Tonight, gather in the dining room for another sumptuous dinner as you settle in for your final night cruising the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 8 Fitzroy Island & Cairns

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. Savour your final snorkeling opportunity over the island’s fringing reefs, just meters from the beach in the sheltered waters.

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