Heron Island (Great Barrier Reef) and Rainforest Holiday
Day 1 Thu	Arrive Brisbane Depart Brisbane by air Arrive Gladstone Transfer to Heron Island by helicopter, a spectacular flight. Hotel: HERON ISLAND RESORT
	Heron Island is a true coral cay, located right on the Great Barrier Reef. Being on the Reef gives Heron an advantage over other island resorts. From November till March, turtles arrive to lay their eggs and from December onwards, the hatchlings emerge for a frantic scramble to the water. From June to October, Humpback Whales can be sighted offshore. All through the year, Heron Island is home to thousands birds, some to nest, others permanent residents.
	Heron is acknowledged as offering some ofthe best diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Non-divers can enjoy the Reef by snorkeling or in Heron's semi-sub which takes you on a guided tour along the Reef's edge.
	Other facilities and activities include Interpretive Reef Walks, a Tennis Court, Swimming Pool, Games Room, Bird Watching, Guided Reef and Island walks, Turtle Watching and Star Gazing
Day 2 Fri and Day 3 Sat.	Do as much or as little as you want. Discover the secrets of the reef on a guided and reef walk, or through the windows of the semi-sub on an underwater coral tour. There's snorkeling, diving, reef fishing, or just relaxing around the pool and enjoying the resort facilities.
Day 4 Sun.	Enjoy the morning and afternoon on Heron Island for that last minute swim in a coral lagoon or a nature walk around the island. Late afternoon, join your helicopter for a spectacular flight across the Great Barrier Reef to Gladstone.
	Limousine Service and then driven to Flinders Restaurant where you will enjoy a delicious set dinner menu. In the meantime the driver will deliver you luggage to the railway booking office. Your driver will pick you up after dinner when you will experience a short tour of Gladstone including Round Hill lookout before your departure on "The Queenslander". Settle back in style and soak up the luxury of Grand Train Travel on your way to Cairns. Once again all meals are included in your tariff. "The Queenslander" has everything you would expect from a first class hotel, except that you can also enjoy the experience the beauty and diversity of North Queensland. "The Queenslander" has first class sleeping facilities. The Coral Cay Restaurant provides excellent cuisine, all included in the fare, and a wide range of Australian wines to suit all tastes. Relax and enjoy the live entertainment in the Daintree Lounge or relax over a drink in the Cane-Cutters Bar.
Day 5 Mon.	After breakfast in the Coral Cay Restaurant, take in the ever-changing scenery of the tropical north, with all the colours of the rainforest and the reef. Relax the day away in the Cane-Cutters Bar, the ideal place to escape. Catch up on the latest novel in the reading area, or take on your partner at the games table and if you lose - it's your turn to buy the drinks.
	Before you know it, the day has gone, it's late afternoon and "The Queenslander" is pulling into Cairns Railway Station. Here you will be met by your chauffeur for a limousine drive to Silky Oaks Lodge. Hotel: SILKY OAKS LODGE After settling into your rainforest chalet and after a look around the Lodge, the rest of the evening is yours to enjoy. Perhaps you'll find time to chat with the Silky Oaks Lodge Activity Staff, to whet your appetite for the days ahead. Silky Oaks Lodge has won repeated acclaim as the Daintree's ultimate rainforest resort, an idyllic World Heritage retreat that pampers you with an air of casual sophistication. Set on the Mossman Gorge, the Lodge overlooks a rainforest lagoon so idyllic it has no equal for natural beauty. Even though you are so close to nature, there is no sense of roughing it. At Silky Oaks Lodge you get an armchair view of one of the most diverse ecosystems on this planet. Always attentive but never obtrusive, the service at Silky Oaks will immediately put you at ease. The cuisine at the Treehouse Restaurant is innovative and rewarding. When you withdraw to your individual rainforest chalet you’ll enjoy every comfort and stand alone privacy. Other facilities and activities includeTennis Court, Swimming Pool, year-round Natural Swimming Lagoon, Canoeing trips on the Mossman River, Horse Riding, Great Barrier Reef Cruises, fishing, Golf at the Mirage Country Club or Mountain Biking.
Day 6 Tue.	The day is free for you to explore Silky Oaks Lodge and the Far North Queensland region. Visit Port Douglas, have a round of golf at the Mirage Country Club, take a guided rainforest walk or a mountain bike ride to the Mossman Gorge National Park. Then there's canoeing or just relaxing around the Lodge swimming pool or river lagoon. If you're after just one more day on the Reef, you could take a Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise. In the evening you might like to join our guided walk in search of nocturnal rainforest creatures. You could encounter sleeping birds, possums, pythons (completely harmless), fluorescent fungi or tree frogs, to name a few.
Day 7 Wed.	After breakfast, depart on your Australian Wilderness Safari to Cape Tribulation. The first point of call is the Daintree River for a guided cruise where you will discover a complex array of bird and animal life. It's not uncommon to see the Daintree's fearsome Estuarine Crocodiles basking on the banks. As you journey up to Cape Tribulation you'll enjoy spectacular coastal scenery. Then it's a hearty barbecue lunch at our private safari site on the edge of Myall Creek. While you are there take a refreshing swim, it's safe all year round. Finally, there is a guided walk along the Marrdia Boardwalk, where you'll learn more about the fascinating world of the rainforest.
Day 8 Thu.	After your tropical breakfast it's time to say farewell to Silky Oaks Lodge. Sit back and enjoy the scenic drive on your chauffeured limousine transfer to Cairns. Airport. Depart Cairns
This is a suggested itinerary only, which can be varied to suit individual requirements.