Adventure Itinerary

Minke Whale Research and Monitoring

Depart: Cairns/Return Cairns 4 -7 days.

During the late June to early August period each year Dwarf Minke Whales are found north of Cairns in large numbers.Guests can snorkle with these whales whilst collecting data to assit with research on these whales. Photos taken of the sides of the whales are used to identify individual whales and their locations and actions are recorded. A marine researcher accompanies these expeditions. Other activities like diving, snorkelling and island visits are also incorporated into these expeditions.

Shark Tagging and Monitoring

Depart: Cairns/Return Cairns 4 - 10 days.

Ongoing research is being conducted into the location, range, population size and activity of Reef Sharks, Whaler Sharks and Tiger Sharks on the Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Reef areas north of Cairns. Guests can witness the researchers conducting their capture, tagging and monitoring programs or for the very keen guests they can be involved in the actions if they wish. A marine reasearcherteam accompanies the expeditions. Other activities like diving, snorkelling and islands visits can also be incorporated into these expeditions.

Cairns to Portland Roads

Depart: Cairns/Return Portland Roads for flight back to Cairns 7 – 10 days *

Cairns to Cape York

Depart: Cairns/Return Horn Island north of Cape York 10 – 12 days *

Steam north to reach Lizard Island for snorkelling, swimming and an optional hike to Cooks Lookout. A morning snorkel or scuba dive at Eyrie Reef then travel to the Flinders Group of Islands to see Aboriginal Rock Art Sites, catch a barramundi and view saltwater crocodiles. Morris Island lies to our north and has a single grave site of an unknown pearl/trochus diver. A long sand cay runs north from the island. Morris provides great beachcombing, snorkelling and swimming. Tijou Reef lies on the edge of the continental shelf and offers exceptional scuba diving, snorkelling and fishing. Further north Great Detached Reef rises from the depths of the Coral Sea. Schools of pelagic fish fill the water. Raine Island awaits us just to the north – nesting turtles (in season) cover this island with their tracks. Tiger sharks patrol the shallows for weakened turtles. Further north Triangle Reef provides an entry into sheltered reef for scuba diving and snorkelling. We head west carefully navigating through the labyrinth of reef areas then north to anchor in the shadow of Cape York, the northern most tip of Continental Australia. If the tides are suitable we can dive the wreck of the Quetta which sank in 1890 with the loss of 133 soles. The Torres Strait Islands including Horn Island are a short sail north. Flights are available from Horn Island to Cairns.

* These itineraries require vessel repositioning and attract an additional charge.