Eclipse Trip by Reef Boat - 8 Days

Overview - 8 Days / 7 Nights

A total eclipse of the sun is one of nature's most spectacular shows, and we invite you to witness the November 14, 2012 eclipse with us. Join an enthusiastic group of other like-minded adventurers and witness the full solar eclipse at its centreline from the incomparable Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's greatest natural wonders.

Small World Journeys has secured the exclusive use of a live aboard boat from which you can watch the early morning eclipse. You will have the most direct line-of-sight over the Coral Sea, and you will experience just over two minutes of totality.

Snorkel and scuba dive at one of the most biodiverse locations on the planet, and walk tropical UNESCO World-Heritage rainforest with your naturalist guide. On the evening of Day 5, astronomer and Nobel Laureate Dr. Brian Schmidt will also dazzle you with his knowledge of the stars and planets.

In a group of no more than 12 guests, you will enjoy other adventure activities like riding the rollicking rapids of the Tully River and discovering the rainforest by mountain bike (no experience necessary!)Four-star accommodation and delicious modern cuisine ensures you don't have to give up your creature comforts on this small group adventure.

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Day 1 (8 Nov): Arrival, Welcome Orientation and Sunset Cruise

After transferring from the Cairns airport, you settle into your accommodation at The Cairns Central Plaza Apartments - elegant and spacious suites that offer views over Cairns, across the Coral Sea and beyond. Suites have CD and DVD player and wide flat screen tv, ipod docking station, hair dryer, WiFi, kitchenette, and private laundry. The rooftop pool is a perfect place to relax and soak up the sun.

You gather in the afternoon for a welcome orientation over drinks and tapas with your naturalist guide who will lead you on your trip. Then you board a sunset boat cruise on Trinity Inlet—a perfect introduction to Cairns and its harbour. Afterwards you enjoy a 3-course meal at one of Cairns restaurants in the heart of the city, where you sample classic Australian cuisine and get to know the other travelers in your group.

Accommodation: Cairns Central Plaza Apartment Hotel
Included: Dinner

Day 2 (9 Nov): Aboriginal-Guided Hike, Daintree National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary and Port Douglas

The Kuku Yalanji are the only tribal rainforest people in Australia who still have their own culture and language, and this morning you join an aboriginal guide for a hike to see the rainforest through their indigenous eyes. You discover how these aboriginal people found their way through dense rainforest and learn what native plants were used for food, medicine, and even soap. You listen for the call of the wild cockatoo or the laughing kookaburra, view traditional rock art, and perhaps learn to paint your faces with traditional ochre rock paint. Your guide recounts stories from the aboriginal Dreamtime, and a sonorous didgeridoo demonstration completes your morning.

From here your indigenous guide leads you into Mossman Gorge, part of the celebrated Daintree National Park. Considered one of the most biologically diverse places in the entire world, this UNESCO World-Heritage site is home of animals found nowhere else on earth, such as the Daintree River ringtail possum, the southern cassowary (a giant flightless bird) and Bennett's tree kangaroo.

In the afternoon you visit a wildlife park that is an award-winning refuge for Australian animals such as the endangered cassowary, crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas, and countless exotic birds. Your guide teaches you more about these different species, and you have an opportunity to interact with the animals up close, whether it's holding a python, feeding a lorikeet or meeting a mother kangaroo and her joey. For those who have always wanted a quinetssential photo with a koala - here's your chance. This evening you have time for a stroll and a savory seaside dinner in the charming town of Port Douglas before returning to Cairns.

Accommodation: Cairns Central Plaza Apartment Hotel
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 (10 Nov): Mountain Biking, Wooroonooran National Park and Natural Rainforest Waterslide

Mountain biking in Cairns is a biker's dream: mild to challenging singletrack, fun rolling terrain, gorgeous vistas and little-seen wilderness areas. This morning you are fitted to superbly crafted Canadian Norco mountain bikes, and mountain biking basics are reviewed for the first-time—or more timid—biker. You can choose from one of two options: a thrilling singletrack circuit or a more relaxed scenic route. Either path rewards you with a gorgeous ride ending at a refreshing swimming hole. Not to miss Australia's other type of watering hole, you stop for "a stubbie" at a classic Aussie pub at route's end.

Later you take a short hike through the jungle to Josephine Falls—where the triple tiered cascades end with a natural waterslide and a refreshing swimming hole. This is a hidden gem in Wooroonooran National Park, and one of our guests' best-loved locations.

In the late afternoon you travel to Mission Beach, home of at least 33 rare and threatened plants, including endangered ferns, orchids and flowering plants. Situated on absolute beachfront property, your stylish resort-style hotel boasts ocean views, a day spa, and delicious meals al fresco. Voted #1 on Frommer's "World's Best Beachfront Hotels" in 2011, this tropical retreat is a perfect hideaway beneath the palms.

Accommodation: Castaways Resort
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 (11 Nov): Whitewater Rafting the Tully River OR Sea Kayaking the Coral Sea

The Tully River ranks high with rafting enthusiasts around the globe for its stunning course through national parklands, thrilling Class III-IV rapids, and its reliable year-round flows. First timers and experienced rafters alike will be spoiled by the Tully's non-stop action and gorgeous pristine wilderness.

From your lodge you travel a short distance to your put-in at Tully Gorge National Park. There you are fitted with life jackets and helmets and after a safety briefing you are on the water. You raft through lush UNESCO-World Heritage rainforest and below waterfalls that tumble from the walls of the gorge. Rousing rapids with evocative names like The Staircase, Corkscrew and Alarm Clock mark the start of your day, after which you paddle through another 41 rapids, stopping midway for a riverside BBQ.

As an alternative, you can spend the day with your guide sea kayaking from Mission Beach. Using proper ocean-going kayaks, you gently paddle the cobalt waters of the Coral Sea, arriving at nearby Dunk Island after about an hour and a half. Dunk Island, with its rainforest-draped peaks, coconut palms and sugar-sand beaches was named "the island of peace and plenty" by the local aboriginal people. You have a chance to snorkel the fringing reefs of the island, enjoy a picnic lunch and explore the rainforest before paddling together back to the mainland in the late afternoon.

You return to your resort in the late afternoon where you can relax by the pool, stroll the beach, or take advantage of a luxurious spa treatment. Dinner is a sumptuous meal at a seaside restaurant with your guide and fellow travellers.

Accommodation: Castaways Resort
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 (12 Nov): National Park Hiking, The Waterfalls Loop and Astronomy Presentation

Wooroonooran National Park hosts some of the oldest continually surviving rainforest in the world, and the park reaches its highest diversity in the area of today's hike. You hike to an enchanting set of falls, where the creek drops in a narrow, uninterrupted, 50 metre fall from a basalt parapet. Your guide helps you look for Australia's unique rainforest species like the brilliant blue Ulysses Butterfly, the giant tree frog, and the musky rat kangaroo, which you may spot along the way. This magical section of the park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Wet Tropics, and has a special connection to the Wari and Dulgubara aboriginal people who once lived here.

Then you explore the Waterfalls Circuit: a series of three grand waterfalls under which you can swim or view from above. Millaa Millaa Falls are the icon of north Queensland and perhaps one of the most photographed sites in the region.

As a special treat tonight back in Cairns, you have Nobel Laureate Dr. Brian Schmidt introducing you to total solar eclipses. By studying exploding stars, astrophysicist Dr. Schmidt helped discover the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, for which he won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2011. He has extensive public speaking experience, having given last year's Halley Lecture (named after Edmund Halley, as in the comet) at Oxford and appearing occasionally on ABC Television's Catalyst. Speaking only to Small World Journeys' guests, Dr. Schmidt will cover a variety of topics, conversing in layman's terms about astronomy and the significance of total solar eclipses. There will also be time to chat with Dr. Schmidt after the presentation about your eclipse-related questions.

Accommodation: Cairns Central Plaza Apartment Hotel
Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 (13 Nov): The Great Barrier Reef: Snorkeling or SCUBA Diving

No trip to Cairns is complete without a visit to the outer Great Barrier Reef--a UNESCO World Heritage Site and easily one of the world's top natural wonders. It is also one of the most unique sites from which to view the total solar eclipse.

Small World Journeys has secured an exclusive booking aboard a live aboard reef boat for this special event. Early this morning you travel to the outer Great Barrier Reef, your captain choosing between fourteen permanent moorings (including Norman and Saxon reefs) that allow snorkelers fantastic access to this underwater universe. Upon arrival at the reef, snorkelers will delight in viewing the incredible array of life and colours that exist just below the surface.

Snorkelers can also opt to learn about SCUBA diving one-on-one from the dive instructor—Intro Diving (also known as "resort diving") is a fantastic way to see the reef without having a certification. SCUBA divers can log 6 dives during these two days at the reef, diving along bommies and coral walls with mysterious swim-throughs that dance with light. Divers can also get to experience the magic and glow of the reef at night. There will be a maximum of 38 Small World Journeys guests on the live aboard boat, and you will enjoy sumptuous buffet meals. Accommodation is in twin share cabins (upgrade to ensuite cabin available, limited numbers) with air conditioning.

Accommodation: Live Aboard Boat
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7 (14 Nov): TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE at The Great Barrier Reef, Snorkeling or SCUBA Diving.

In the early morning, you prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - the chance to see a total solar eclipse as the shadow of the moon passes over you. The Cairns region will be the best place in the world to witness this exciting event, and your position on the ocean will allow for the best line-of-sight of this early morning eclipse. Your boat will have the flexibility to moor at the eclipse centre line of totality and special solar eclipse glasses will allow you to view the event. Totality will last just over two minutes after which the shadow will move out across unpopulated areas of the South Pacific.

Following the eclipse, you spend another day exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling or optional diving on reefs that offer you exclusivity and a variety of underwater features. Coral thrives in this clear water, creating spectacular gardens and drawing a mosaic of marine life. Among the 1,800 species of fish and 450 species of coral, you can expect to see turtles, gigantic Maori wrasse, giant clams, fan corals, sea cucumbers, stag horn coral gardens, and just about the whole cast of Finding Nemo. On the way back to Cairns, you can keep an eye out for dolphins swimming and playing in the wake.

This evening you recount your adventures from the week with a celebratory dinner with your guide and new-found friends.

Accommodation:Cairns Central Plaza Apartments
Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8 (15 Nov): Trip Conclusion or Extension

After breakfast, you prepare for your journey home or enjoy a few optional activities such as the Kuranda Skyrail, bungy jumping, or skydiving.

Included: Breakfast

What's Included:

• All activities as described in the itinerary
• Small World Journeys naturalist guide
• 2011 Nobel Laureate guest speaker and astronomer Brian Schmidt
• Transportation to activities in an air-conditioned 12-passenger mini bus
• All breakfasts
• All lunches
• All dinners (except one free choice dinner) - we choose elegant and unique restaurants
• 4 nights 4-star central Cairns hotel (standard room, based on double occupancy)
• 2 nights beachfront resort (Resort Room, based on double occupancy)
• 1 night live aboard boat (cabin with shared bathrooms) **
• Mask, fins and snorkel rental
• A basic field guide of local flora and fauna
• Water bottle and cloth carry bag
• Special eclipse-viewing solar filter glasses
• 24-hour local emergency assistance
• Background information and cultural etiquette tips
• 5 square metres of Daintree rainforest adopted in your name by Rainforest Rescue
• Climate Care™ carbon-offsetting for a carbon-neutral trip
  
  **Ensuite cabins available on request - limited number only.
  Additional cost is $200 AUD per person.
  

What is not Included:

Airfare to Cairns and travel insurance; airport transfers (about $10-20 AUD one way); alcohol; one dinner; optional SCUBA diving; optional guide gratuity and items of a personal nature (internet, phone, laundry etc.)

Optional SCUBA Diving:

Certified SCUBA diving: $50 AUD for a 7-dive package, including a night dive. Includes wetsuit and equipment hire.

Intro Dive with a dive instructor: $200 AUD for a 5-Intro Dive package. Includes wetsuit and equipment hire.

All divers must fill out a diving medical form, and some medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and certain medications may disqualify a guest from diving. Tell us if you are interested in SCUBA diving, and we will forward you the medical form in advance.

Please remember to bring your certification card. Please note that if you are a certified diver, then you are able to dive with a buddy and without a dive master. If you wish to have a dive master accompany you, it is $15 AUD per person, per dive.

Other Post-Trip Optional Add-Ons:

Skyrail, Kuranda Village and Historic Train: Soar above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail eco-attraction, explore the markets in Kuranda mountain village, and wind down through Barron River Gorge on a historic train. $111 AUD adult and $56 child includes transport from Cairns.

Bungy Jumping: Jump from a tower in the rainforest with spectacular views over Cairns or try the equally thrilling Midjin Swing. Bungy: $139 AUD and includes Jumpers edition t-shirt, certificate and transport from Cairns. Bungy & Midjin Swing Combo: $204 AUD and includes Jumpers edition t-shirt, certificate and transport from Cairns

Skydiving: You're adventurous – why not take the ultimate plunge? Take to the skies and jump tandem with an instructor from 14,000 feet. Unparalleled views over the reef and rainforest. $334 AUD, which includes levies and transport from Cairns

Other Destinations in Australia, Pre or Post Trip:

Ask us about continuing your Australian adventures in Sydney, Melbourne & The Great Ocean Road, or Uluru (Ayers Rock) and The Red Centre!

Once I arrive at the Cairns airport - what next?

Please plan to transfer on your own to Cairns Central Plaza Apartments at the corner of McLeod and Aplin Streets, Cairns when you arrive at the Cairns airport. The transfer is approximately 10 minutes. You may take a taxi cab (immediately outside terminals; fare is about $18 AUD) or use Sun Palm Transport (airport shuttle bus service located in arrival halls at either terminal; fare is $10 AUD per person to Cairns)

When you arrive at your hotel, a hard copy of your detailed itinerary (you will have already received an electronic copy of your itinerary 2 weeks before your trip) will be waiting for you at reception. Your guide will then meet you at 4:00 pm in reception.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens during the day. When the moon passes between the earth and the sun and covers the sun, a solar eclipse occurs. This creates a shadow on the Earth, which moves in a narrow path across the planet. When a solar eclipse begins, it appears as though a bite is being taken out of the sun. In the last few minutes before the total eclipse, points of light around the moon appear, which are called Bailey's Beads. When the eclipse finally occurs, the sun is completely blocked out, with only a ghostly corona visible. This occurrence has been described as eerie and unearthly—animals become quiet, the temperature drops, and you are shrouded in darkness. It is truly one of nature's greatest spectacles.

Where will be the best place to view the eclipse?

Our research has concluded that a viewing spot over the ocean at the Great Barrier Reef will provide a location with the least likelihood of coastal cloud cover and a direct line-of-sight of the eclipse.

In Cairns, warm winds from the Coral Sea (the SE tradewinds) carry moisture-laden air towards the coast, and clouds form when it hits these mountains. Therefore, a viewing spot free from these coastal mountain effects is highly desirable. It is fortunate that the eclipse occurs in the early morning when the least build up of cloud has occurred.

According to The Astronomical Society of Australia, "from Cairns any viewing spot selected should have an unobstructed view over the ocean so that a clear view of totality can be obtained with the Sun low in the eastern sky." Our research has concluded that a viewing spot over the ocean at the Great Barrier Reef will provide a location with the least likelihood of coastal cloud cover and a direct line-of-sight of the eclipse.

We consulted with Jay Anderson, veteran eclipse chaser, meteorologist and co-author of the NASA eclipse circulars.  Jay told Small World Journeys: “Under more typical Cairns conditions, only small position changes would be needed to get out from behind a cloud, since the patches are usually small and slow moving. Your boat on the outer reef would be suitable under those circumstances.”

Jay has also stated, “In November, the cloud along the Australian coast is about 10 percent more than over the adjacent ocean. The mobility of a ship adds to this advantage, and gives eclipse-viewing prospects in the 60-65% range, as good as it gets for this eclipse.”

WARNING: Do not look directly at the sun. All Small World Journeys guests will be provided with special eclipse-viewing glasses. The only time that the Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye is when the moon completely covers the disk of the Sun during the total eclipse.

What will the weather be like?

It will be impossible to predict the weather or cloud cover for the day of the eclipse. However, we can consider seasonal averages. Cairns has a tropical climate, and it is highly likely there will be scattered to broken clouds on the morning of the eclipse. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's climate statistics for Cairns, November has a mean maximum temperature of 30 degrees celsius and mean minimum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. The mean number of clear days is 7.9, while the mean number of cloudy days is 7.6. Taking into account the eclipse occurs in the early morning, chances are greater that the skies will be clear at that time of day. Please note that while we can hope for sunny skies, we cannot guarantee them!

Is the eclipse on November 13th or 14th?

Both are correct. In Universal Time, the total eclipse begins in northern Australia at 20:35:08 UT on November 13 (which is November 14 Australian time), and ends in the South Pacific at 23:48:24 UT on November 13.

In simple terms, eclipse totality begins at 6:39 am in Cairns on 14 November.

What should I bring with me?

We will provide you with a suggested packing list in your Confirmation Packet. Some important things to remember to bring are lightweight clothes for the tropics, sunscreen, hat, swim suit and SCUBA certification card (if applicable).

What about sharks or jellyfish?

The ocean is home to sharks, but the ones you may encounter at the Great Barrier Reef are small and pose little threat to swimmers. In fact, divers and snorkelers often consider themselves lucky to spot one of these shy, magnificent creatures. Australia's famed Great White sharks prefer cold water, and therefore are not found at the Great Barrier Reef.

Box jellyfish, irukandji and other jellyfish, collectively known as "stingers" breed along the coast in estuaries and are not commonly found at The Great Barrier Reef. Therefore, they do not pose a major threat to snorkelers or divers at the reef. However, as a precaution you can use a full body lycra suit available on the reef boat if you wish so that you may still enjoy snorkeling and/or diving. Stingers are only a consideration between November and April/May.

What about flying after SCUBA diving?

The Diver's Alert Network recommends that for multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface interval of 18 hours is suggested. For a single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface interval of 12 hours is suggested.

Therefore, even if your last dive is at 2 pm on Day 7, you will still be outside of the 18 hour window if your flight is at 8:30 am the next day.

Do I need a visa to visit Australia?

All visitors to Australia need a visa, with the exception of visitors from New Zealand. An Australian entry visa, commonly known as an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) will let you spend up to three months in Australia. In most countries it is easily obtained by the travel agent who issues your ticket, and should be free of charge. You can also get an ETA on line by visiting www.eta.immi.gov.au. There is no need for you to visit an Australian diplomatic office to submit an application, and you do not need a stamp or label in your passport. Upon check in at the airport, the airline agent will be able to confirm your ETA electronically. All visitors will also need a passport, valid for at least six months after the planned return date.

Why should I travel with Small World Journeys?

LOCAL SUPPORT & KNOWLEDGE
Our office is in Cairns – this means we are right around the corner for 24-hour support, to answer your questions, or if you have an emergency in the middle of the trip. 

Local knowledge means we know the restaurant owners who catch their own fish (and then deliciously prepare it for you!), where to buy the real indigenous-made souvenirs, and where the mobs of people will be on the morning of the eclipse (hint: we’re not going there.)  

ECO-CREDENTIALS 
Being an “eco” tour operator means more to us than just offering walks outdoors. It means we pay to offset the carbon emissions from your trip, give a percentage of profits to local environmental and community organizations, plant trees, recycle, and participate in Rainforest Rescue’s Adopt-a-Square program.  See 10 Reasons Why We’re Eco for more on what we do for our environment and community.

HUNDREDS OF HAPPY GUESTS
We could tell you that we provide highly professional customer service, respond attentively and consistently exceed our guests’ expectations.  But don’t believe us! Read some of our testimonials or ask us for references from past guests who are willing to tell you all about their experience with Small World Journeys.

GOODIES! 
You get a Small World Journeys water bottle, a cloth carry bag, a regional field guide, eclipse-viewing glasses, and a 5 square metre of Daintree rainforest adopted in your name, as well as a certificate. Plus you get an unforgettable trip too.

Other Questions?

Once you book your trip, we will send out a Confirmation Packet to you with detailed information that should answer most of your questions. In addition, you can feel free to email us anytime at: info@smallworldjourneys.com.au