4 day Nature Wildlife and Conservation Safari

DATES

21-24 May 2024

18-21 June 2024

30 July - 2 August 2024

20-23 September 2024

FEATURING REGIONS

• Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation
• Julatten
• Shared Earth Reserve
• Atherton Tablelands
• Crater Lakes National Park.

FNQ CONSERVATION GROUPS: Rainforest Rescue, Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruises, Tolga Bat Hospital, Wildlife and Raptor Care Queensland

A signature of FNQ Nature Tours, is our ability to guarantee immersive wildlife encounters. This is achieved through exclusive access to areas such as the Forever Wild Tropical Wetlands Shared Earth Reserve, a landscape of old growth savannah woodlands, lakes, swamps and creeks.

TOUR ITINERARY:

DAY 1 - 07:30am Pickup  Cairns Accommodation

Travel the Great Barrier Reef Drive as we head north learning about the unique habitats within the local environment and observe the changes in biodiversity as we get closer to the Daintree Tropical Rainforest 

0900 Rainforest Rescue is a not-for-profit organization that has been protecting and restoring rainforests since 1999 by providing opportunities for individuals and businesses to Protect Rainforests Forever. 

1130 Lunch the Daintree Tea House Lunch with views of tropical rainforest and  the continuous sounds of birds and nature. A fruit tasting presentation is often a part of their wonderful service.

1330 Jindalba Interpretive Rainforest  trail offers unique and remarkable opportunities to experience the natural scenery and endemic wildlife within the National Park.

1500 Cape Tribulation (where the rainforest meets the reef)

This famous valley resembles a giant amphitheatre with a semicircle of hills dominated by Mt Sorrow (850m) and Mt Hemmant (1000m). The south-eastern rainfall trapped by this valley results in a lush tropical climate with high temperatures, humidity and rainfall.

Several walks, scenic lookouts and beach areas are located in the coastal community. We often spend up to an hour exploring

1630 Overnight stay at Heritage Lodge in beautiful rainforest clad accommodation. Heritage Lodge is an environmentally friendly resort set back in the heart of a lush coastal rainforest, a short stroll from Cooper Creek. Enjoy a dip before settling in for dinner and accommodation for this evening.

Dinner at Heritage Lodge

DAY 2 

0730 Continental Breakfast at Heritage Lodge

0830 Depart Heritage Lodge - A short 45 min drive to our Daintree River cruise location.

0930 Private Daintree Cruise - Solar Whisperer spotting wildlife on a quiet, clean solar electric boat with zero impact on the environment. Get closer to nature... hear, smell & experience without noise & fumes.

We have a 99% success rate for spotting crocodiles, excellent bird watching opportunities and other wildlife possibilities such as snakes, frogs and fish and bats. The cruise is two hours!

1200 Lunch at Beechwoods Café in Mossman

1330 Wildlife & Raptor Care Queensland (WARCQ)

Amber Dahlberg is the founder and coordinator of WARCQ, is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisation based in Julatten in Far North Queensland. The WARCQ rescue and rehabilitate, mammals, marsupials, birds, owls and Australian raptors. At present, the WARCQ facilities comprise a purpose-built 15m care and flight aviary for raptors and birds of prey as well as a treatment clinic and other support services. A raptor prey-breeding facility is also located on-site. Guests will meet Amber and gain insight into her lifelong passion of educating the public through caring for injured and rehabilitated wildlife.

1530 Arrive at the Curtain Fig Tree.   This ancient fig tree is an epic rainforest survivor with a very complex ecosystem surrounding its lifecycle. The birdlife that can be heard in the surrounding forest is quite amazing here.

1630 Overnight stay at Chambers Wildlife Lodge - hidden in 1200 acres of Lake Eacham's lush, tropical highland rainforest in the beautiful Waterfalls and Crater Lakes district. As pioneers in eco-tourism the lodge specifically caters for birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, naturalists and photographers.

Dinner at Malanda Lodge

DAY 3

0730 Breakfast at Whistle Stop Café in Yungaburra

0830 Yungaburra

We try our hand at spotting Platypus in the WILD. Learn about their elusive behaviour and have your camera ready for a photograph. This is one of the most iconic wildlife experiences on the Atherton Tablelands, we will take our time here and often return for a second time when required.

1200 Lunch in Malanda Township

1330 Lake Eacham

A chance to cool down during the hottest part of the day; swim in an extinct volcanic crater with pristine clear water surrounded by Rainforest. For our guests who would prefer not to swim, other nature sites are available close by!

1530 Tolga Bat Hospital.  They have been awarded  Advanced Ecotourism accreditation, for offering one of Australia's leading and most innovative ecotourism experiences.

1730 Overnight stay at Chambers Wildlife Lodge

Dinner at Nick's Restaurant

1930 Night spotting (optional)

A wildlife tour in the Far North Queensland is not complete without a night walk. A large portion of the local wildlife has adopted a nocturnal lifestyle to avoid the heat of the day in the tropical climate. We often visit 2 sites to experience the overall diversity of nocturnal wildlife in the Wet Tropics.

Guests can opt out of the night activities and be returned to the lodge before-hand.

DAY 4

0830 Breakfast in Malanda - 0930 Malanda Conservation Park

This conservation park is invaluable to the elusive Mapee ( Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo) They are seen on a regular basis in this small patch of protected forest. Malanda falls is a beautiful photo opportunity on the walk and several other wildlife opportunities are available here, such as the Freshwater Snapping Turtle and the Grey-headed Robin.

1130 Lake Barrine - The famous volcanic crater lake is an outstanding location for nature activities. Several walks are available offering great wildlife and bird watching opportunities. 

1230 Lakeside lunch at Lake Barrine

1530 Etty Bay

Heading down the mountains once more to re-join the coast. Etty Bay is one hour south of Cairns and is often frequented by the famous Southern Cassowary, seen patrolling the area most days with sights more common during the early morning and late afternoon.

1730 Return to Cairns