Spend a morning or afternoon exploring the dramatic landscape and rainforest that surround Cairns. Aboard a 4X4 vehicle you will explore Barron Gorge National Park and Kuranda National Park. With a pass giving you exclusive access, you can visit areas closed to the public. This tour is ideal for people who are short on time and want to escape the crowds. A trip with a small group of no more than 13 ensures you'll discover some hidden gems of tropical North Queensland with personalized attention from your knowledgeable guide. The morning excursion departs from Cairns only and the afternoon excursion departs from Cairns and the Northern Beaches.
The tour does not operate from Port Douglas unless you can make your own way to Cairns.
After pickup from your hotel by your local guide, travel north to the lower Barron Gorge National Park in the heart of Cairns. Stop at Surprise Falls, a 243-meter high waterfall located in the lower Barron Gorge.
You will continue your ascent of the Lamb Range mountain range west of Cairns and enjoy spectacular views of the city of Cairns as well as Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef in the distance.
Then you will see Lake Morris and the Copperlode Dam; it is here that the city of Cairns gets its water supply in a setting surrounded by mountains covered with a world heritage equatorial forest. There will be time to stretch your legs in this unique place and take great photos from the viewpoint before crossing the dam.
Provided with an exclusive access authorization, your 4X4 will take you to areas that are closed to the public, far from the crowds. Wind through the most fabulous rainforest in the region and over the Great Australian Cordillera, one of the longest mountain ranges in the world and the largest in Australia.
Travel through the rainforest, crossing several streams and stopping at a wooden walkway for a glimpse of the rainforest with commentary from your guide. Here you will discover the Clohesy River Fig Tree, one of the most impressive fig trees in the tropics.
The next destination will take you from the lush humid tropics to the awe-inspiring rural savannah of Australia. You will truly be amazed by the rapidly changing forest types and landscape.
From here you will return on the paved road towards the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics and towards the village of Kuranda. Continue to the upper part of Barron Gorge National Park. Stop at Wrights Lookout for a great photo opportunity overlooking the Barron Gorge and return to the coastal plains and the city of Cairns. Then, take the very short drive to the Barron Falls Lookout to admire probably North Queensland's most famous waterfall — the mighty Barron Falls.
Travel back to Cairns via the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics Highway over the Kuranda Mountain Range, stopping at the Henry Ross lookout point overlooking the northern seaside suburbs of Cairns and the Coral Sea in the distance before be returned to your Cairns accommodation.
