19 day adventure - Cairns to Sydney - Kookaburra

G’day and welcome to your epic East Coast adventure. If you’ve just flown in, we recommend jumping on a shuttle bus from the airport to our centrally located accommodation. You can check into your hotel between 2 and 4.30pm. At 5pm head down to reception where you’ll meet your Stray guide and your new Stray mates, who you’ll be travelling with for the next few weeks. Then, everyone will head out for a special welcome dinner - a Taste of Australia Experience with a bush food tutorial and a 3- course menu featuring native foods that have been used by indigenous Australians for thousands of years. What a way to start your adventure right?! Accommodation included: Mercure Cairns in hotel rooms or similar Included activities: Native Australian bush food tutorial Optional activities: Explore Cairns Esplanade and lagoon, have a cocktail at Salt House on the water, visit Cairns Night Markets Meals included: Dinner

Today you’re free to do whatever you choose. Walk the Esplanade and go for a refreshing dip, check out the many shops and cafes in town, the new Forever Reef exhibit at the aquarium or visit the tropical Botanical Gardens. If you’d like to visit Cape Tribulation, the Great Barrier Reef or even skydive on this day please let Stray or your agent know in advance so we can reserve your spot as the best activities book up quickly (additional cost). Accommodation: Mercure Cairns in hotel rooms or similar Meals included: Breakfast Meal options: Local cafes, restaurants Free activities: Relax around the resort pool, walk the Esplanade, visit the Botanical Gardens Optional Activities: Cape Tribulation day trip, bungy jump, skydive, rafting, visit Cairns Aquarium, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Great Barrier Reef snorkel or scuba trip

This morning we’ll jump on the Stray bus and head south, stopping at the famous Josephine Falls along the way for a refreshing dip and some amazing photos. Next, we’ll dry off and make our way to Townsville where we’ll catch the ferry to our destination for the next two nights, Magnetic Island (known to the locals as ‘Maggie’). Nearly 50% of Magnetic Island is national parkland so it’s absolutely steeped in natural beauty, it’s surrounded by beaches and is also home to loads of wildlife, including koalas! Settle in for a dreamy couple of days in an island paradise. Accommodation included: Selina Magnetic Island in cabins or similar Included activities: Magnetic Island ferry, swim, walk, waterfall spotting Included meals: Breakfast, welcome drink Meal options: Self-cater, onsite restaurant, local restaurants or cafes

Today you have a full free day to explore so have a relaxing sleep-in or get an early start with a morning hike! This beautiful island is home to the historic Forts Complex, which you’ll get to see during a scenic walk with your Guide, finishing with amazing views over the island and ocean beyond. Spend the rest of your day relaxing on a secluded beach, hiking through native bush, searching for wildlife or joining in on a wellness activity at your accommodation. Top tip: throughout the day, make sure you stay alert and keep your eyes on the trees - Maggie Island is one of the best places in Australia to see koalas in the wild. Accommodation: Selina Magnetic Island in cabins or similar Meals included: Breakfast Meal options: Self-cater, onsite restaurant, local restaurants or cafes Included activities: Scenic walk with your guide Free activities: Walk, swim Optional activities: Snorkel

This morning we’ll say goodbye to Maggie Island and catch the ferry back to the mainland where we’ll hit the road travelling south to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the amazing Whitsunday Islands! Check in and then spend some time checking out Airlie Beach - we recommend heading to the lagoon for a swim and then to one of the many local bars for sundowners. Accommodation included: Colonial Palms Motor Inn in hotel rooms or similar Included activities: Magnetic Island ferry Free activities: Explore Airlie Beach, swim Included meals: Breakfast Meal options: Local cafes, restaurants & bars

Today you’ll head out on the water to see the spectacular Whitsundays Islands up close. Starting with an exhilarating ride to the world-famous Whitehaven Beach where you can actually polish jewellery with the white silica sand, we’ll explore Hill Inlet Beach and a guided walk-through Whitsunday Island National Park to the lookout for the most amazing views. We’ll have lunch together and then do some snorkelling over vibrant fringing reefs. If you’d like to see the Islands from above, there’s time for a scenic flight (optional extra) over the outer Great Barrier Reef (including Heart Reef) in the morning before the Whitsundays tour departs. Accommodation included: Colonial Palms Motor Inn in hotel rooms or similar Included Activity: Ocean Rafting Whitsunday Islands day tour including Whitehaven Beach and snorkelling Optional activities: Scenic flight over Whitehaven Beach & outer Great Barrier Reef Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Meal options: Local cafes, restaurants & bars

Today is a big travelling day to Bargara, a beachside suburb of Bundaberg, so load up on snacks, make sure all your devices are charged and keep your eyes on the road for some amazing views along the way. We’ll make some stops to stretch our legs and arrive in Bargara in the evening, where we’ll have a bush BBQ dinner together. Accommodation: Kelly’s Eco Resort in villas or similar Included meals: Breakfast, BBQ dinner Meal options: Self-cater, onsite restaurant, local cafes, bakery or restaurants

Rise and shine this morning for a big adventure, today is going to be special so make sure to pack your camera! We’ll head to the marina where we’ll board the Reef Empress, a luxury high speed catamaran. To wake us up we’ll get a barista-made coffee which we can enjoy as we set sail for Lady Musgrave Island. The Island is a 14 hectares coral cay, a turtle breeding area and is the second southernmost island in the Great Barrier Reef chain of islands so it’s pretty spectacular. STRAY AUSTRALIA 5 On arrival to Lady Musgrave Island, we’ll be welcomed by one of their guides who will share some history and acknowledgement of our traditional owner tribes, as well as the important safety points about visiting this highly protected marine park. After exploring the island, we’ll have a delicious lunch and then we’ll get to go snorkelling in the Lady Musgrave Lagoon. There’s so much vibrant coral and marine life including manta rays, turtles and reef sharks, as well as ledges and caves just waiting to be explored. After all the under the sea fun, we’ll head back to the mainland in the late afternoon. Accommodation included: Kelly’s Eco Resort in villas or similar Included activity: Lady Musgrave Island Day Tour Optional activity: Scuba dive (must be booked in advance) Included meals: Morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea

Today we’ll have a leisurely start to the morning and then jump back on the bus to head down towards the Sunshine Coast, arriving at Habitat Noosa, an Eco Camp where we’ll spend the next three nights. Set amongst 65 acres of the Great Sandy National Park and perched on the edge of picturesque Lake Cootharaba, your accommodation is super close to some awesome walking trails that show you the rich history of the region and help you get up close and personal with some wildlife! Habitat is the gateway to one of only two everglades in the world, and it has its own bar and bistro serving up local produce plus there’s also a Microbrewery onsite - we know, it all sounds un-beer-liveable doesn’t it? Accommodation included: Habitat Noosa in glamping safari tents or similar Optional paid activity: Stand up paddle boards, canoes, wave skis, kayaks and tinnie hire. Beer tasting Free Activity: Bush walks Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner Meal options: Local cafes, bakery, restaurants STRAY AUSTRALIA 5 On arrival to Lady Musgrave Island, we’ll be welcomed by one of their guides who will share some history and acknowledgement of our traditional owner tribes, as well as the important safety points about visiting this highly protected marine park. After exploring the island, we’ll have a delicious lunch and then we’ll get to go snorkelling in the Lady Musgrave Lagoon. There’s so much vibrant coral and marine life including manta rays, turtles and reef sharks, as well as ledges and caves just waiting to be explored. After all the under the sea fun, we’ll head back to the mainland in the late afternoon. Accommodation included: Kelly’s Eco Resort in villas or similar Included activity: Lady Musgrave Island Day Tour Optional activity: Scuba dive (must be booked in advance) Included meals: Morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea

Today you have a completely free day to spend doing whatever you like. Explore the Everglades by kayak or boat (optional extra), head into Noosa town and check out the boutiques and cafes on Hastings Street, or just spend the day at Habitat and enjoy some beer tasting or water sports (optional extra). The Noosa Surf Club is one of our faves so if you’d like a long lunch in the sunshine, you can’t go wrong with a local hotspot! Accommodation included: Habitat Noosa in glamping safari tents or similar Optional paid activity: Stand up paddle board, canoe, wave ski, kayaks or tinnie hire, Beer tasting, Everglades tour Free Activity: Explore Noosa, swim, bush walks Included meals: Breakfast Meal options: Self cater, local cafes, bakery, restaurants or onsite restaurant

This morning, get an early start to make sure you can explore as much of the world's largest sand island as possible on a specially curated one-day 4WD adventure. Led by an experienced local guide, you’ll see K’gari's most iconic sights from Lake McKenzie and 75 Mile Beach to Eli Creek, World Heritage-listed rainforest and the historic Maheno Shipwreck. After all the action of the day it’s back to Habitat and our glamping tents under the stars. Accommodation included: Habitat Noosa in glamping safari tents or similar Included Activity: K’gari Island Day Tour Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Today we’re heading off towards Byron Bay, stopping along the way in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. We’ll stretch our legs in Surfers Paradise where you can explore the golden beaches and cafes before arriving ready for the weekend in the iconic Byron Bay! Accommodation included: Beachcomber Resort Byron in studio rooms or similar Free activities: Visit Surfers Paradise, explore Byron Bay, swimming Included meals: Breakfast Meal options: Local cafes, bakery, restaurants

Today you have a full day in Byron Bay to really embrace the Byron Bay motto: "cheer up, slow down, and chill out”. Start your day off with a morning swim in the ocean then spend your day exploring the laidback hippy town. Walk up to Cape Byron Lighthouse, mainland Australia’s most easterly point, or check out the many eclectic boutiques and cafes around town. If you’re looking for adventure, join a sea kayaking or snorkel trip and search for dolphins and other marine life, or even go for an iconic Australian activity - learning to surf. Accommodation included: Beachcomber Byron in studio rooms or similar Free activities: Explore Byron Bay, relax on the beach, Cape Byron lighthouse walk, swimming Optional paid activities: Surf lesson, Dolphin Kayak tour, Skydive, Rail Trail Meal options: Local cafes, bakery, restaurants

Enjoy a bit more of Byron Bay this morning until we make our way further south to the super scenic Coffs Coast. On the way there, we’ll stop in the picturesque seaside town of Yamba for lunch. We'll also visit the Angourie Blue Pool, an old quarry that was accidentally filled by an underground spring, meaning you can now cool off in a freshwater pool right on the beach. For the next two nights we’re staying in villas at a beachfront holiday resort set amongst 110-acres of beachside rainforest, so it’s the best of both worlds. Jump in the pool, take a heated spa, grab a cocktail at the bar or head to the beach. Feeling active? Go for a bike ride, a spot of archery or nine holes of golf if you fancy it. Accommodation included: Darlington Beach Resort in Villas or similar Free activities: Explore Byron Bay, relax on the beach, swimming Optional activities: Push bike hire, golf Meal options: Self cater, onsite restaurant, local cafes, bakery or restaurants

Today we’ll have a relaxed morning followed by a stop in Coffs Harbour for lunch and then a special Aboriginal experience learning about the First Nations people of Australia. Your Cultural Experience takes place at an important cultural site of the Gumbaynggirr people, the stunning location of Niigi Niigi (Sealy Lookout) within the Orara East State Forest. You’ll go for a 2-hour tour and see 360-degree views, as well as getting the opportunity to immerse yourself in culture through stories, songs, language and the uses of native plants. This will be an unforgettable cultural experience with an emphasis on authentic connection and contributing to helping a community regain their culture and identity.

We’ll depart Darlington Beach this morning and make a stop at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital to see the amazing work being done to protect koalas from loss of habitat and injury. On the way into Port Stephens we’ll stop at Murray’s Brewery, one of Australia's leading craft beer brewers, where we’ll enjoy a tour and beer tasting. Not into beer? Not to worry, there is a spritz, ginger beer and a gin drink to try out instead. Accommodation included: Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort in a hotel room or similar Included activities: Koala hospital visit, Brewery tour & tasting Included meals: Breakfast Meal options: Local cafes, bakery, restaurants or onsite restaurant

This morning you have the choice to sleep in, go for some first-class sandboarding down the Stockton Sand Dunes (optional expense), or join your Stray guide for an energising hike to the summit of Tomaree Head, which stands at 161 metres above the Port Stephens entrance. This short 2.2km return track offers breathtaking views of the coastline and panoramic views of Yacaaba Head, Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah islands- you might even be lucky enough to see some dolphins. In the afternoon spend some time relaxing at the resort pool (one of the largest in Australia) or jump on a Dolphin discovery cruise (optional expense). Accommodation included: Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort in a hotel room or similar Free activities: Sleep in, swim, relax on the beach, Headland Walk Optional paid activities: Sandboarding or Dolphin discovery cruise Meal options: Onsite restaurant, local cafes, bakery, restaurants, self cater

Today we head to Sydney, our final destination! Along the way, we’ll stop at the popular Hunter Valley wine region to visit an organic vineyard. Learn about how through years of research and development, they have become one of Australia's largest producers of award-winning organic, vegan- friendly, and no added sulphur wines. Their contemporary organic philosophy aims to produce wines of terroir while limiting environmental pollution and leaving the land in the best condition possible for generations to follow. On arrival in the beautiful harbour city of Sydney, we’ll check in then head to a nearby restaurant for dinner and drinks to celebrate our last night on tour and say some emotional farewells to our group! Accommodation included: Vibe Sydney in a hotel room or similar Included activities: Hunter Valley organic winery visit with wine & cheese tasting Included meals: Farewell Dinner Meal options: Onsite restaurant, local cafes, bakery, restaurants, self cater

Today is the final day of your Stray adventure. Give a hug or a wave to your new mates and head off for the next leg of your adventure, taking with you the most incredible memories, everything you’ve learned about Australia’s special culture and wildlife, and of course some classic Aussie lingo - G’DAY MATES! Included meals: Breakfast