Delve Deep: Australia North Queensland 2022-23

You’ve just touched down in Cairns for the adventure of a lifetime. Crikey! First: say g’day to the fellow explorers sharing the ride. Then: get pumped for good times at our first included group dinner. Ready to delve deep into all the mind-blowing, jaw-dropping and eye-popping experiences that North Queensland has to offer? You’re in EXACTLY the right place.

Catch ya later Cairns – after brekkie we’re making our way to GORGEous Barron Gorge (sorry not sorry). Treat your peepers to the rip-roaring waterfalls that gush from the Barron River and plummet through the steep slopes of the gorge below. Here in wet season? (That’s November to April, FYI). *Poof* – prepare to disappear in a cloud of mist. Next: the quirky mountain village of Kuranda is calling our name. Wander the spice-filled, rainbow-coloured craft markets and pick up a souvenir for the cat, then hunt down some fresh falafels or crispy crêpes for lunch. Mmmm. Finally: it’s onwards to Port Douglas, our b-e-a-u-t base for the next few days.

Strap on those hiking boots: this morning we’re heading to Mossman Gorge for a locally guided tour. Home to the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people for thousands of years, this sacred site is a tropical maze of ancient woodland, bubbling creeks and sparkling waterfalls. Wait, is that a turtle? Then: *Daintree Rainforest joined the chat*. It’s time to delve deeper into this magical wonderland. We’ll play spot-the-croc as we cross the Daintree River (they’re more scared of you than you are of them... jk). After an included lunch smack-bang in the middle of this fairytale forest, Cape Tribulation is our final stop of the day. Gawp at the immense mountain and ocean views from Mount Alexandra Lookout. And keep your eyes peeled for cassowaries – aka ‘the world’s most dangerous bird’. Hard pass on saying hi.

It’s Great. It’s a Barrier Reef. And today it’s yours to explore = WIN. There's an optional full-day tour of this bucket-list topping world wonder on the cards, so make the most of it. Get the lowdown from a marine biologist on how we can help protect this incred place for gens to come. Then: dive in and find Nemo! It’s time to get snorkelling and meet the locals – we’re talking clownfish, manta rays, giant clams and turtles, all going about their business in a watery neon nightclub. Sebastian the crab was right – it IS better under the sea. Tonight, shake the salt from your hair and fill up at our included dinner. Those cals need topping up, pronto.

So long and thanks for all the fish, Great Barrier Reef. This morning we’re voyaging through the day-glo-green sugarcane fields towards Mission Beach. When we jump off, your mission = complete your own spontaneous this-is-what-I-came-for thing. Want local tips? Your expert Trip Leader’s got ‘em. Head to Shanti Café for coffee, craft beer and tropical vibes. Make a beeline for Brookes Beach in neighbouring Bingil Bay for chill, off-the-beaten-track vibes. Or just lounge poolside with the swaying palm trees back at the hostel. It’s a mood. This evening: gather the fam and head to Clump Point Lookout for all the sunset feels.

Another day, another magical coastal landscape. Today we’re on the move to Airlie Beach – BFF of the Whitsunday Islands. Once we’ve checked into our digs, it’s time to go walkabout. Zip up that windbreaker and make like the locals with a bracing stroll along the waterfront. Get involved in the lagoon pool. Or just soak up some good times in the lively bar scene along the bay. Later, rock up at the boardwalk and watch the ocean turn 50 shades of pink. Cue: alllll the goosebumps.

All aboard! The REAL way to explore the gobsmackingly gorgeous Whitsundays? By private boat, duh! Expect: a tropical jigsaw of greener-than-green forests and dreamy turquoise waters. We’ll motor our way to dazzling Whitehaven Beach, famed for having the whitest sand in the world (sunnies = essential). Snap on those goggles – there’s a whole Little Mermaid world under the water’s surface, including stingrays and baby lemon sharks in the shallows. Lunch is on us today: sweeeeet. Then perfect those pano skills as we seek out the crazy-beautiful views from Hill Inlet Lookout with a local guide. This eve we’ll drop anchor for sunset bevvies and dinner before bunking down for the night. Opt for a cabin or snooze under a blanket of stars on deck. This is your chance.

Hear that? That’s what waking up in paradise sounds like. This morning is all about boat life perks – swimming, snorkelling, snacking and... did someone say banana boat? Show off your mad skills (read: cling on for dear life) before we make tracks for Townsville. Need some hot recommendations for your free evening here? *Grabs foam finger and points at Trip Leader* – they’ve got it covered.

Nobody panic – it’s our last full day, but there’s more exploring in store yet. Northwards! First stop, a refreshing (spoiler: it’s freezing) dip at Millaa Millaa Falls in the Wet Tropics rainforest. Fun fact: the Herbal Essences advert was filmed here. Slo-mo hair flicks complete, next we’ll discover the monster Curtain Fig Tree – a ginormous ‘strangler fig’ that grows on other trees and then kills them. Savage. After we’ve soaked up the lush AF scenery of the Atherton Tablelands, we'll roll into Cairns for our last group dinner. Let’s give this unreal Aussie adventure the send-off it deserves!

You met the locals. You said yes to culture. Yes to history. Yes to allllll the spine-tingling landscapes. And now – after one last group brekkie – it’s time to say goodbye. Swap those digits and lock in a date for the reunion. We hear Topdeck’s New Zealand trips are pretty legendary...