Cairns Hostel
Hostel
Days 1, 2, 4, 8
Cairns & the reef — 6 days (Great Barrier Reef, Daintree, Cape Tribulation, Airlie Beach & Whitehaven)
Nine days, two hours out to the outer reef. Six days around Cairns and the Daintree without the Whitsundays leg or its flights.
Saltline Outfitters
Runs this trip
Snorkelling
Nine days, two hours out to the outer reef
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Cairns EsplanadeNine days on the Queensland coast — the reef, the oldest rainforest on earth, and the Whitsundays. Outer reefThe outer reef is two hours out and in better condition than the inshore sites. DaintreeThe Daintree is the oldest continuously surviving rainforest on earth, and Cape Tribulation is the only place it meets the reef.
Itinerary
Nine days on the Queensland coast — the reef, the oldest rainforest on earth, and the Whitsundays.
CairnsHow the day runs
- 0 hrsTransfer, then the lagoon and the night market
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationCairns Hostel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Hotel night
- Reef briefing
LANDMARKS Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Marina Start point Cairns, Cairns Airport (CNS), Cairns 00:00 - 23:59The outer reef is two hours out and in better condition than the inshore sites. Going the distance is the whole point.
Cairns, Great Barrier ReefHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — out to the outer reef pontoon
- 8 hrs10:00 AM — three snorkel sites, then back
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationCairns Hostel
Included Activities
- Full-day reef trip with gear and lunch
- Reef tax
- Hotel night
Optional Activities
- Introductory dive for non-certified snorkellers
LANDMARKS Outer reef Ribbon reefs Coral gardens The Daintree is the oldest continuously surviving rainforest on earth, and Cape Tribulation is the only place it meets the reef.
Cairns, Daintree, Cape TribulationHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — north over the Daintree river ferry
- 3 hrs11:00 AM — boardwalks and the beach where the reef meets the forest
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationDaintree Hostel
Included Activities
- Ferry and park fees
- Rainforest lodge
LANDMARKS Daintree Cape Tribulation Mossman Gorge Cassowary The Ngadiku walk is run by Kuku Yalanji guides on their own country, and it is the part of this trip people remember.
Daintree, CairnsHow the day runs
- 3 hrs8:00 AM — the Indigenous-guided Ngadiku walk
- 3 hrs1:00 PM — south to the city
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationCairns Hostel
Included Activities
- Guided walk with Kuku Yalanji guides
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Mossman Gorge Kuku Yalanji country Rex Lookout Airlie exists to put people on boats and does very little else.
Cairns, Airlie BeachHow the day runs
- 2 hrs10:00 AM — the hop to Proserpine
- 1 hrs12:30 PM — to the marina
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationAirlie Beach Hostel
Included Activities
- Flight and transfer
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Airlie Beach Coral Sea Marina Whitsunday passage The sand is 98% silica and does not hold heat, which is why you can walk it barefoot at midday.
Airlie Beach, WhitehavenHow the day runs
- 2 hrs7:30 AM — across the passage
- 2 hrs10:00 AM — up to the Hill Inlet lookout
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationAirlie Beach Hostel
Included Activities
- Day boat with lunch
- Marine park fee
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Whitehaven Beach Hill Inlet Hook Island The passage is protected water, which is why boats of every size run it and why it is a good place to sail if you never have.
Airlie Beach, WhitehavenHow the day runs
- 8 hrs8:00 AM — a full day on a sailing yacht
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationAirlie Beach Hostel
Included Activities
- Day sail with snorkelling and lunch
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Whitsunday passage Hook Island reef Border Island An evening in Cairns before the international connection.
Airlie Beach, CairnsHow the day runs
- 2 hrs11:00 AM — the flight back north
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationCairns Hostel
Included Activities
- Flight
- Hotel night
Cairns flies direct to Asia and domestically to every Australian capital.
CairnsHow the day runs
- 0 hrsTransfer to the airport
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Reef briefing
- Day 2Full-day reef trip with gear and lunch
- Day 2Reef tax
- Day 2Introductory dive for non-certified snorkellersCosts extra
- Day 3Ferry and park fees
- Day 3Rainforest lodge
- Day 4Guided walk with Kuku Yalanji guides
- Day 5Flight and transfer
- Day 6Day boat with lunch
- Day 6Marine park fee
- Day 7Day sail with snorkelling and lunch
- Day 8Flight
- Day 1 · 2 nightsCairns Hostel
- Day 3 · 1 nightDaintree Hostel
- Day 4 · 1 nightCairns Hostel
- Day 5 · 3 nightsAirlie Beach Hostel
- Day 8 · 1 nightCairns Hostel
- Day 1Cairns to CairnsTransfer, then the lagoon and the night market
- Day 3Cairns to Daintree8:00 AM — north over the Daintree river ferry
- Day 4Daintree to Cairns1:00 PM — south to the city
- Day 5Cairns to Airlie Beach10:00 AM — the hop to Proserpine
- Day 5Airlie Beach to Airlie Beach12:30 PM — to the marina
- Day 8Airlie Beach to Cairns11:00 AM — the flight back north
- Day 9Cairns to CairnsTransfer to the airport
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Daintree Hostel
Hostel
Day 3
Airlie Beach Hostel
Hostel
Days 5–7
What you'll eat
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners across 9 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 9.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 3
- BreakfastServed on days 2–9
- LunchServed on days 2, 6, 7
13 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.1/5
Based on 11 reviews
Review summary
Food3.8/5
Guide3.9/5
Itinerary3.8/5
Transport3.8/5
Accommodation3.7/5
Tour operator4.1/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
A
Arjun Pillai – Lucknow2025-09-25 · Verified booking
Kit was in good condition, which matters more than people realise. Nothing fancy about the beds, and nothing wrong with them either. Never went hungry, and the tea appeared exactly when it was needed. Recommended.
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4
A
Ananya Gupta – Lucknow2025-09-25 · Verified booking
Kit was in good condition, which matters more than people realise. Solid operator.
Reply from Saltline Outfitters
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
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5
M
Manav Sethi – Hyderabad2025-09-25 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Would send friends their way.
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5
I
Ishita Ghosh – Chandigarh2025-09-25 · Verified booking
Kit was in good condition, which matters more than people realise. Hostel nights are basic but clean, and that's what the price says. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Would send friends their way.
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4
N
Nina Hoffmann – Dubai2025-09-25 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Solid operator.
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2
D
Daniel Okafor – Dublin2025-09-25 · Verified booking
Boat was crowded. Fine for the diving, less fine for the surface intervals.
Reply from Saltline Outfitters
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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3
D
Dev Chatterjee – Indore2025-02-22 · Verified booking
Boat was crowded. Fine for the diving, less fine for the surface intervals. Crew were professional without being stiff about it.
Reply from Saltline Outfitters
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
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5
E
Elena Petrova – Zurich2025-02-22 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Nothing fancy about the beds, and nothing wrong with them either. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Recommended.
Reply from Saltline Outfitters
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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Questions people ask
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