Tour title bar

6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday

6 days 5 nights
Cairns to Cairns
from NZD$2,513pp
Breadcrumb
Tour summary and feature with map

Australia's northeast is home to two of the most spectacular natural landscapes on earth. First, you will immerse yourself in the world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Next, travel to Cape Tribulation to set foot in the Daintree Rainforest, the oldest tropical rainforest in the world at an incredible 180 million years old. With fantastic accommodation and time in Cairns, Port Douglas and surrounds to explore incredible white sand beaches, this is the perfect Australian holiday for those who are short on time. Experience nature at its most magnificent!

Classic driving toursWildlife & nature

This Tour Also Features

Tour full itinerary
Itinerary
6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday - Day 1
Private transfer from Cairns Airport to your accommodation

A private transfer will meet you on arrival at the airport and transfer you to your Cairns accommodation.

Arrive into Cairns

Cairns has been home to indigenous Australians for more than 40,000 years and was settled by Europeans in 1876 who arrived in search of gold. These days, Cairns is seen as the city "where the rainforest meets the reef" as it is the gateway to both the 100-million-year-old Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. The main tourist centre in town is along the Esplanade, which has a swimming lagoon, bustling weekend markets, and plenty of great food options.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise

A Cairns dinner cruise is the perfect way to end a perfect day in paradise. Board the sailing catamaran and enjoy an evening of calm water cruising on Trinity Inlet, taking in the sights and sounds of this tropical port city and its surrounds as they transition from day to night.

Your accommodation: Mercure Hotel Cairns

Two blocks from the Esplanade and across the road from Cairns Aquarium, The Mercure Hotel in Cairns is centrally located. The property has a modern restaurant and bar with access to terrace and pool area, allowing guests to wind down and relax.

Return to Top

6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday - Day 2
Collect your rental car

Our rental car range includes the latest vehicles from the top suppliers. We have a fantastic range, from economy hatchbacks to prestige sedans and SUVs. Insurance can often be included with a small excess or deductible.

Collect your rental car from the Cairns City depot

Head to the Cairns City depot today to collect your chosen rental car, and continue your journey.

Cairns to Smithfield

Smithfield is home to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Terminal and the drive is a quick 20 minute drive to the outskirts of the city, taking you from the coast to the edge of the rainforest.

Classic Experience with Kuranda Scenic Railway

Experience this scenic journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway to the 'village in the rainforest'. Your day begins in Cairns as you board the train for a morning departure. Travel through unsurpassed views of World Heritage-listed rainforest and waterfalls, including Stoney Creek Falls and the breathtaking Barron Gorge. You will wind your way through 15 tunnels and over 37 bridges on your journey before reaching Kuranda, where you will have several hours to explore the village. In the afternoon you will board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for a journey up and over the rainforest canopy, back to the Skyrail terminal where you will be transported back to the Cairns railway station.

Smithfield to Port Douglas

It's less than an hour to Port Douglas from Smithfield and this short drive offers countless opportunities to stop and admire the breathtaking views, walk along the beach or take a quick dip in the sea. We recommend arriving to Port Douglas before dusk so that you can take in the beautiful sunset over the water.

Your accommodation: Peninsula Boutique Hotel Port Douglas

Port Douglas accommodation offers a boutique style adults only hotel experience – enjoying an unrivalled beachside location overlooking Four Mile Beach and is the only hotel in Port Douglas with beach and ocean views. 40 metres to the beach and a 2 minute stroll to the heart of Port Douglas with its cosmopolitan boutiques, restaurants and entertainment options.

Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 60 kms / 38 miles : 1.0 hours

Return to Top

6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday - Day 3
Outer Barrier Reef Cruise with Quicksilver Cruises

For your experience of a lifetime, Quicksilver’s wave-piercing catamaran and friendly crew will take you to a reef at the very edge of Australia’s Continental Shelf, to an underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour and brilliance.
Choose to dive, snorkel, or stay dry and explore the stunning reef from the comfort of a Quicksilver semi-sub, just one meter underwater. Watch the fish feeding from Quicksilver’s unique underwater viewing platform and underwater observatory. Whichever way you choose, you’ll bring home a lifetime of memories from this living natural wonder.

Your accommodation: Peninsula Boutique Hotel Port Douglas

Port Douglas accommodation offers a boutique style adults only hotel experience – enjoying an unrivalled beachside location overlooking Four Mile Beach and is the only hotel in Port Douglas with beach and ocean views. 40 metres to the beach and a 2 minute stroll to the heart of Port Douglas with its cosmopolitan boutiques, restaurants and entertainment options.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Return to Top

6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday - Day 4
Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation

The coastal route from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation looks reasonably short on paper but offers plenty of things to do and places to stop at, so allow plenty of time. Departing Port Douglas, you'll first pass through Mossman Gorge. A must-do for everyone who visits the Mossman Gorge is the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks. If your itinerary doesn't allow for you to meet up with a guided tour, you can also take a self-guided tour through the park. From here, continue north and cross the Daintree River on the ferry (at your expense) as you enter the Daintree Rainforest.
Cape Tribulation is a unique location as it is the only place in the world where two World Heritage Listed sites meet: The Daintree and the Great Barrier Reef.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Dreamtime Walk at the Mossman Gorge Centre

A visit to Mossman Gorge is a must-do for anyone travelling to the beautiful Far North Queensland region. The Mossman Gorge Centre is the gateway to the world’s oldest rainforest, the Daintree Rainforest, as well as a unique link to the lives, cultures, and stories of Australia’s Indigenous people and their connection to the natural environment.

Your accommodation: Daintree Wilderness Lodge

Daintree Wilderness Lodge is surrounded on all sides by the World Heritage-listed Daintree National Park and is ideally situated halfway between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, in the very heart of the worlds oldest rainforest.
Meals included: Breakfast

Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 77 kms / 48 miles : 1.7 hours

Return to Top

6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday - Day 5
Cape Tribulation to Cairns via Palm Cove

The drive south from Cape Tribulation takes you out of the Daintree Rainforest, across the Daintree River on the ferry and down towards Kuranda State Forest. An hour and a half into your journey is Mossman Gorge, an interactive ecotourism experience that introduces visitors to the Daintree Rainforest and the Indigenous communities who have lived there for centuries.
Just 20 minutes further south is Port Douglas, a bustling tourist town with no shortage of cafes, bars and restaurants. Continue on the Captain Cook Highway as it follows the Coral Sea until you get to Palm Cove. Palm Cove Beach is a great spot for a swim if you’d like to have an afternoon dip to break up the road trip, or there is a beautiful jetty to stroll along to stretch your legs. If you're not short on time, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach, and Clifton Beach are worth checking out as you continue to your destination, Cairns.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - General Admission to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is one of the longest continually operating tourist attractions in Australia. The business began in 1934 as a roadhouse for weary motorists. Legend has it the original owner Pop Evans entertained motorists by feeding Charlie the crocodile, while scones cooked in the woodstove. Eight decades later, Hartley’s world-famous Crocodile Attack Show is as popular as ever with daily presentations that strike a perfect balance between entertainment and education.

Your accommodation: Mercure Hotel Cairns

Two blocks from the Esplanade and across the road from Cairns Aquarium, The Mercure Hotel in Cairns is centrally located. The property has a modern restaurant and bar with access to terrace and pool area, allowing guests to wind down and relax.
Meals included: Breakfast

Driving distance and time (approximate) for this leg: 138 kms / 86 miles : 2.6 hours

Return to Top

6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday - Day 6
Cairns Classic Ballooning with Hot Air

This morning you will be collected from your accommodation before dawn and taken to the launch site to begin your adventure. Watch on as the balloon inflates and be amazed at its sheer size. Your guide will have you in the balloon ready for launch as the sun begins to rise, setting the scene for your breathtaking experience as you gaze out the views of the Atherton Tablelands and the Great Barrier Reef that greet you. As the flight is coming to an end, your pilot will slowly guide the balloon back to the landing point where the fun continues. Once you have landed, experience the pack down of the balloon and come together with the pilot and crew to share a toast with a glass of bubbly to celebrate your unforgettable experience.

Return your vehicle to Cairns airport

Drop your rental car at the airport depot and continuing your onward journey.

Return to Top

Tour quick quote rework

Get an Instant Quote or Book this Tour

6 Day Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest Self Drive Holiday

Step 1:
Step 2: Select preferred car type or size
No pricing loaded - please make sure you have selected a car type or contact us
Step 3: Select number of passengers and room configuration

Enter phone number to get a call from a travel planning expert within 24 hours

Enter email address to receive your instant quote

Tick this box if you do not wish to receive emails about special offers
No pricing loaded - please choose another date or contact us

Your quote for this tour:

Start date:
End date:
Guests:
Rooms:
Car type:

Total cost for ALL guests on this tour package is:

NZD$0

or
This quote is based on vehicles to accommodate your party in the vehicle type. We suggest changing the car type or contacting us for the best options.
The package cost above excludes rental vehicle hire as you are requesting a price for a vehicle outside of our designated season. Please reach out direct for rental vehicle rates.

NOTE: Quotes are subject to the availability of specific accommodations and other inclusions. Our touring experts will be in touch with you regarding this. Costs quoted in currencies other than Australian dollars (AUD$) are based on today's exchange rate and are subject to change. Terms and Conditions apply

Remember - we can create this itinerary with any style of accommodation or customise it to suit your interests and timeframe. Just contact us below!

Contact form
Enquire about this tour
Subscribe to our Regular Newsletter for Inspiring Holiday Ideas
Tour recommendation
Other tours you might like
6 days Map
Port Douglas Highlights Tour
View Tour
 
6 days Map
6 Day Tasmanian Roadtrip
View Tour
 
6 days Map
City to Sand East Coast Explorer
View Tour
 
Can we help?
Call us on +64 3 443 0812

Our friendly support team is just a phone call away.