Beaches and Reefs

Picture this: A tour that puts you so close, so often to the Australia’s famed beaches and reefs that you and the fish communicate on a first-name basis. If that sounds like exaggeration, perhaps it is. It’s also our promise of intense, oceanic intimacy, and priceless, timeless moments that become scorched into your memory. You’ll swim, snorkel, shop and surf, and perhaps, you’ll even towel off for some bushwalking, and scuba diving. Now that's beach travel for the beach lover.

Please Note:
The Beaches & Reefs operates in both directions, so you can choose to start your trip in Sydney or in Cairns.

Use the links below to see to the itinerary that interests you:

* Sydney to Cairns - Code BRSI
* Cairns to Sydney - Code BRCI

Trip Itinerary
Sydney to Cairns - Tour Code: BRSI

Day 1: Sydney to Coffs Harbour: Meet your Contiki crew and before heading across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, we'll make a photostop taking in the harbour and Opera House. Then to the picturesque vineyards of the Hunter Valley to sample some of the local Hunter wines before continuing along the "holiday coast" to our accommodation at Coffs Harbour. Then it's playtime - a drink, a dip or maybe a stroll along the beach. Resort

Day 2: Coffs Harbour to Surfers Paradise: Heading northwards, we'll stop at Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point. Then onto trendy Byron Bay where you can shop or swim. By evening, we'll have crossed the Queensland border arriving at Surfers Paradise. After dinner, try your luck at Jupiter's Casino! Hotel (B)

Day 3: Surfers Paradise: So much to do in the name of leisure. Here goes! Relax on 42km (26miles) of white sand beaches, or if you're feeling adventurous - why not try a tandem skydive or a Harley Davidson ride. All are available in Australia's biggest playground. Hotel

Day 4: Surfers Paradise to Country Homestead: First up we'll take in the sights and sounds of Brisbane, before heading into the fertile farming lands of the Darling Downs. Enjoy a good ol' Aussie 'knees-up' tonight at our Country Homestead near Toowoomba. Country Homestead (B,D)

Day 5: Country Homestead to Fraser Island: Onwards to Noosa Heads with its stunning beaches and great shopping. We'll continue north along the coast meeting our launch to Fraser Island. Eco Lodge (B,D)

Day 6: Fraser Island: Now you're on the largest sand island in the world! What to do? Here are a few clues. Why not take a 4-wheel drive bus tour through the rainforests, a guided bushwalk or a swim in the fresh water lakes? With this many options there's no chance of going troppo! Eco Lodge

Day 7: Fraser Island to Capricorn Coast: Returning to the mainland, we'll travel north to Rockhampton - gateway to the tropics. This evening why not come face-to-fang with huge estuarine crocodiles at the Koorana Crocodile Farm? Hotel (B)

Day 8: Capricorn Coast to the Whitsundays: On our way to Airlie Beach, gateway to the Whitsundays, we'll visit Mackay - Australia's sugar capital. Boarding our launch at Shute Harbour, we make the short journey to Long Island one of the jewels of the Whitsundays. Resort (B,D)
Days 8-10: Optional Whitsunday Sailing: Maybe take the 'Sailing the Whitsundays' tour option. As an alternative to 2 days Island Resort stay, you can spend 2 days sailing the Whitsundays. Swim, snorkel, orlaze your way around this tropical paradise, on board a flotilla yacht. Book in conjunction with your East Coast tour to guarantee a place on board. NB: There is an additional charge for this option. Twin share supplement not applicable. For further details, click on this link - Optional Whitsunday Sailing Yacht (D)(B,L,D)(B,L) More info>>

Days 9-10: Whitsundays: Time to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and great amenities of Long Island. Feeling energetic, why not go bushwalking, play tennis or beach volleyball, take to the water with a snorkel or a jet ski? Want to relax? Then unwind on the palm-lined beach, have a massage, or sip cocktails on the verandah as you watch another perfect sunset. Resort

Day 11: Whitsundays to Cairns: It's north to Townsville to explore the scenic lookout of Castle Hill, overlooking Magnetic Island. This evening we'll check into our Cairns hotel, situated in a lush tropical setting. Resort (B)

Days 12-13: Cairns: For the adventurous a chance to do some white water rafting on the rapids of the Tully River, or take the opportunity to visit the famous Outer Barrier Reef aboard a high-speed catamaran. Why not scuba dive amidst amazingly colourful tropical fish? Or if you prefer, maybe spend the days at leisure doing some shopping in town. In the evening we'll check out more tropical wildlife at one of Cairns' nightclubs! Resort (B)

Day 14: Cairns: Our final morning is spent with a visit to Tjapukai and Kuranda to watch traditional aboriginal dancers, learn how to throw a boomerang and to appreciate the beauty of the Atherton Tablelands. What a way to finish...see you next time! Say a final farewell as your tour ends upon our return to Cairns at midday.

Stay Longer before and/or after your trip:
Why not spend a few extra days before and/or after your Contiki trip getting to know and see a little more of Australia? Take advantage of our special accommodation rates in the cities where your trip starts and/or finishes. For further details contact your Travel Agent or Contiki. Please book these at the same time as you book your Contiki trip. (Subject to availability)

Trip Itinerary
Cairns to Sydney - Tour Code: BRCI

Day 1: Cairns: Meet your Contiki crew then we're off to visit Tjapukai and Kuranda to watch traditional aboriginal dancers, learn how to throw a boomerang and to appreciate the beauty of the Atherton Tablelands. This evening get to know your new travel buddies with a night on the town! Resort

Days 2-3: Cairns: For the adventurous a chance to do some white water rafting on the rapids of the Tully River, or take the opportunity to visit the famous Outer Barrier Reef aboard a high-speed catamaran. Why not scuba dive amidst amazingly colourful tropical fish? Or if you prefer, maybe spend the days at leisure doing some shopping in town. In the evening we'll check out more tropical wildlife at one of Cairns' nightclubs! Resort

Day 4: Cairns to Whitsundays: We'll leave this morning to travel South to Townsville to explore the scenic lookout of Castle Hill. This evening we'll board our launch at Shute Harbour and make the short journey to Long Island - one of the jewels of the Whitsundays. Resort (B,D)
Days 4-6: Optional Whitsunday Sailing: Maybetake the 'Sailing the Whitsundays' tour option. As an alternative to 2 days IslandResort stay, you can spend 2 days sailing the Whitsundays. Swim, snorkel, orlazeyour way around this tropical paradise, on board a flotilla yacht. Book in conjunctionwith your East Coast tour to guarantee a place on board. NB: There is an additionalcharge for this option. Twin share supplement not applicable. For further details,click on this link - Optional Whitsunday Sailing Yacht (D)(B,L,D)(B,L) More info>>

Days 5-6: Whitsundays: Time to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and great amenities of Long Island. Feeling energetic, why not go bushwalking, play tennis or beach volleyball, take to the water with a snorkel or a jet ski? Want to relax? Then unwind on the palm-lined beach, have a massage, or sip cocktails on the verandah as you watch another perfect sunset. Resort

Day 7: Whitsundays to Capricorn Coast: From Airlie Beach we'll visit Mackay - Australia's sugar capital. This evening why not come face to fang with huge estuarine crocodiles at the Koorana Crocodile Farm? Hotel (B)

Day 8: Capricorn Coast to Fraser Island: This morning as we leave Rockhampton we will cross the Tropic of Capricorn before hooking up with our launch to Fraser Island. Eco Lodge (B,D)

Day 9: Fraser Island: Now you're on the largest sand island in the world! What to do? Here are a few clues. Why not take a 4-wheel drive bus tour through the rainforests, a guided bushwalk or a swim in the fresh water lakes? With this many options there's no chance of going troppo! Eco Lodge

Day 10: Fraser Island to Country Homestead: Today we travel South along the coast to Noosa Heads with its stunning beaches and great shopping. From there we'll head along the fertile farming lands of the Darling Downs to the edge of Queensland's Outback to enjoy a good ol' Aussie 'knees up' tonight at our Country Homestead. Country Homestead (B,D)

Day 11: Country Homestead to Surfers Paradise: From the fertile farming lands of the Darling Downs we'll take in the sights and sounds of Brisbane before arriving in Surfers Paradise. After dinner, try your luck at Jupiter's Casino! Hotel (B)

Day 12: Surfers Paradise: So much to do in the name of leisure. Here goes! Relax on 42km (26miles) of white sand beaches, or if you're feeling adventurous - why not try a tandem skydive or a Harley Davidson ride. All are available in Australia's biggest playground. Hotel

Day 13: Surfers Paradise to Coffs Harbour: This morning we'll cross the Queensland border into New South Wales. We'll stop at Cape Byron, Australia's most easterly point then on to trendy Byron Bay where you can shop or swim. Tonight will be our last night together in our accommodation at Coffs Harbour! Resort (B)

Day 14: Coffs Harbour to Sydney: We head south along the 'holiday coast' and across the famous Harbour Bridge, we'll make a photostop taking in the harbour and Opera House. Time to exchange addresses, snapshots and stories as we return to Sydney where our tour ends and the memories begin! (B)

Stay Longer before and/or after your trip:
Why not spend a few extra days before and/or after your Contiki trip getting to know and see a little more of Australia? Take advantage of our special accommodation rates in the cities where your trip starts and/or finishes. For further details contact your Travel Agent or Contiki. Please book these at the same time as you book your Contiki trip. (Subject to availability)