Australian Tropical Biology

• Explore the undersea world of The Outer Great Barrier Reef
• Set up camp on a tropical island for marine studies
• Walk with an Aboriginal guide to discover rainforest plants and animals
• Soar high above the jungle in James Cook University’s canopy crane
• Visit a turtle rehabilitation centre and a bat hospital
• View unique Aussie wildlife while nocturnal spotlighting
• Tour massive underground lava tubes in the arid outback
• Stay overnight in a rainforest research station
• Learn both marine and terrestrial data sampling techniques
• Contribute to both reef and rainforest tree health research

• Risk assessment
• All activities as described in the itinerary
• Cairns airport transfers
• All transportation
• Small World Journeys naturalist guide for terrestrial segment
• Small World Journeys marine biologist guide for inner reef segment
• 6 nights at a central Cairns 3-star hotel (2, 3 or 4-share rooms)*
• 2 nights Undara camping (tents, sleeping bags and pads provided)
• 1 night Cairns Highlands cabins (students in single-gender cabins)*
• 1 night island camping (tents and sleeping pads provided)
• 1 night Daintree eco-lodge (students in single-gender 4-6 share cabins)
• 1 night live aboard boat (students in single-gender quad- or twin-share cabins)
• All continental breakfasts
• All lunches (except on Free Day 7)
• All dinners (except on Free Day 7)
• 101 Animals of the Wet Tropics, 101 Plants of the Wet Tropics, and 101 Animals of the Great Barrier Reef field guides for each student
• Mask, fins, and snorkel hire
• Donation made to Rainforest Rescue on behalf of your group (we give you a certificate on your trip)
• Reusable water bottle and cloth shopping bag
• Donation made to Reef Restoration Foundation to the “Care for Coral” program on behalf of your group (we give you a certificate on your trip)
• NEW: we offset the carbon emissions from your trip activities AND your flight to Cairns!

*Two teacher rooms (private twin or triple share rooms) are included in the trip price for groups of 15 students or more. For trips with low numbers (10-14), one teacher room is included. A single supplement is charged if an additional private room is required for the trip. If teachers are happy to share a room, no additional costs are incurred.

Small World Journeys reserves the right to change the order of activities for logistical reasons. Prices are valid for travel until 31 March, 2026.

• Airfare to Cairns
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• One lunch and two dinners
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, etc.)

• Photo cuddling a koala ($28 AUD)
• Certified SCUBA dive package – 5 dives + 1 night dive ($125 AUD including equipment)
• Introductory SCUBA dive package – 2 Intro Dives ($175 AUD including equipment)

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SCUBA DIVING: In order to participate in SCUBA diving, you will be required to fill out a medical form which can be forwarded to you in advance. Some of the medical conditions that may disqualify you from diving are, but not limited to, the following: Diabetes, Asthma, Ear/Nose/Throat Conditions, Migraine Headaches, Previous Head Injuries, Epilepsy/Seizures/Convulsions, Pregnancy and/or Poor Physical Conditioning. We can forward you this medical form before the start of your trip.

Planning Your Trip

ACCESSIBILITY MENU: Small World Journeys’ website provides an accessibility menu. Visitors to our website can click on the “person” icon on the right side of the screen to bring up this menu. Options include increasing/decreasing font size, increasing/decreasing contrast, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and the ability to hide images, among other things.

BOOKING FORM: On our online booking form, we ask all participants to list any special needs they have, be them medical, dietary, or accessibility needs. We also offer free sensory packs to our guests who are neurodivergent, which include headphones, a timer for transitions, a squeezy fidget toy, and other treats to appeal to the senses like flavoured lip balm.

WAIVER FORMS: We understand that not all of our participants’ parents have a strong command of written English and therefore understanding and signing our on-line waiver may prove challenging. We therefore have our wavier form available in the following languages on request: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.

Arrival at Cairns Airport

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS: Public toilets are located throughout the terminals. Each toilet facility includes an accessible toilet suitable for wheelchair access.

TGSI and HEARING LOOPS: The Cairns Airport makes use of Tactile Ground Service Indicators (TGSI) and Hearing Loops to assist people with vision impairments and hearing difficulties, respectively.  For example, Braille is included on toilet doors/signs to assist a person with vision impairment locate the correct facility.

ASSISTANCE FOR HIDDEN DISABILITIES: If you or someone you are travelling with has a hidden disability, you can request a hidden disability lanyard through a form here.  Wearing a sunflower lanyard when you are at Cairns Airport is a discreet way for you to indicate to the airport team that you may need a little extra help, guidance or time with the airport processes. The airport team has been trained to recognise the lanyard and provide the assistance and support you may need. Some of the airport staff will also be wearing a Sunflower badge on their shirts or lanyards to help you feel a little more at ease.

VISUAL AND WRITTEN STORY GUIDES: Visual Story Guides are available for Domestic Arrivals and have been designed to help you to understand how an airport works and what to expect. Written Story Guides are also available for Domestic Arrivals.

Our Safety Talks

Our arrival safety talk is done verbally but is supported by cards that illustrate the main talking points. Similarly, our snorkelling safety talk is done in the same manner, supported by cards with pictures and illustrations.

We can provide a transcript of our safety talk to any hearing-impaired guest.

Transport

Our buses have two steps up of approximately 40 cms to get inside. There is no lift for a wheelchair or mobility device. Similarly, on occasion we hire large coaches for bigger groups and those buses also have two steps up of about 40 cms to get inside. All buses are equipped with seatbelts.

Presentations & Workshops

OUR OFFICE & PRESENTATION SPACE: We use the Small World Journeys office space for presentations, workshops and some community service projects. There is a rise of approximately 2 cm to enter the presentation room. We have one accessible, gender-neutral toilet block with shower.

In the outside area of our office, planes fly overhead frequently and the noise can be startling and confronting. However, as part of the terms of construction, the entire building has sound mitigation devices (double glazed windows, etc.) which creates the opportunity for multiple breakout spaces for neuro-divergent people who desire a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

Our presentations are designed to appeal to both visual and auditory learners.   We can provide a transcript of our presentations to any hearing-impaired guest.

NOVOTEL PRESENTATION SPACE: We also use Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort for presentations at dinnertime.

Overall accessible resort information:

• All entries to the hotel are wheelchair-accessible
• 2 accessible spaces in the on-site car park, near lifts
• 1 accessible toilet in hotel lobby (hand rail | grab bar)
• Most walkways within the hotel are wheelchair-accessible
• Well-lit main areas
• All meeting rooms are accessible
• Braille call buttons for lifts on each floor (external)
• On-site restaurant & breakfast buffet is mostly accessible – Please ask for assistance at hot food station.

Hotels

FLEXIBILITY WITH ACCOMMODATION: We have flexibility with the accommodation we choose; therefore if we know in advance that we have a guest with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or is short statured, we can choose hotels that cater accordingly.

PREFERRED HOTEL 1:  One of our preferred Cairns hotels is centrally located and one block from the waterfront.  The reception and breakfast room are widely accessible through a double automatic door as there are no steps or thresholds. Accessible guest rooms are all on the ground level.  The staff are happy to move the furniture around if required, and the rooms are fitted with a zipped-together queen bed or two single beds depending on preference. The under-bed clearance is 40mm, and there’s around 1000mm of space between the side of the bed and the wall. Unfortunately, the balconies have sliding door tracks and may not be completely accessible. Light switches are all large dish-style type and located 1000mm from the floor in accessible locations. The air conditioning can be remotely controlled. Moving into the bathroom: the hotel boasts accessible showers and toilets that are hobless and fitted with a fold-down seat. Both horizontal and vertical grab rails are fitted and the shower is home to a hot and cold flick mixer tap. The lifts which provide access to the third accessible room provide ample space for wheelchairs, and also boast buttons fitted with Braille.

PREFERRED HOTEL 2:  A second preferred hotel is also centrally located.  With accessible rooms that boast a double bed and a single bed, the staff at Coral Tree Inn are also happy to move the room furniture around to suit guests who use a wheelchair or mobility device. With a coffee and tea making space and a small bar fridge at hand, the TV can also be controlled by the remote. It’s worth noting that at this hotel the air conditioning unit cannot be operated by a remote. There is an accessible combined toilet and shower facility fitted with grab rails and a fold-down set. The shower is also hobless for added accessibility. Unfortunately, the balconies have sliding door tracks and may not be accessible to all guests, and there are also no designated accessible parking bays. However, there is ample room for drop offs immediately in front of reception.

Entering the reception may also be a little difficult as the door is manual, but staff are always happy to assist (and man the desk 24 hours). There are wide paths that lead from the reception to every area of the resort, including the BBQ area, the pool and the adjoining dining room.

Meals & Restaurants

FLEXIBILITY WITH RESTAURANTS & CATERING: We have quite a bit of flexibility with the restaurants we choose; therefore if we know in advance that we have a guest with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or is short statured, we can choose restaurants that cater accordingly.

We offer flexible menu options for people who have food allergies or intolerances, and in many cases religious requirements relating to food.

Guests are given space on our online booking form to specify their allergy, intolerance or religious requirement. On arrival we then give them a bag containing, for example, lactose-free milk, nut-free cereal and snacks, and/or other food items that cater to this allergy or intolerance. Unfortunately, we are not able to guarantee catering for preferences like low carb meals or FODMAP.

Similarly, we inform all caterers and restaurants of our guests’ food allergies or intolerances.  Breakfast is typically served at the hotel, whilst lunches are often boxed lunches as we move around quite a bit on our tours.

Activities

If we are informed in the planning phase of your trip about  any participants or (potential participants) who have disabilities or special needs, we can suggest certain activities over others or suggest certain boats to the reef.  For example, one boat that travels to the reef has a lift for a guest in a wheelchair to get in and out of the water which is a great choice for guests with wheelchairs or mobility devices. Conversely, we know that the facilities on the boat that travels to the Fitzroy Island reef is not well set up for those with wheelchairs or mobility devices.  We also can include activities such as the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which recognises and supports the Sunflower program for people with hidden disabilities.

On this particular trip, there are quite a few activities:

Bat Hospital:

Undara National Park:

The Kalkani day-use area has wheelchair-accessible toilets. Road Cave has ramps and a lift that can be accessed as part of a guided tour. While the “glamping” tents are not suited for those using a wheelchair or mobility device, there is accessible accommodation available in the refurbished train carriages that not serve as hotel rooms. Train carriages by nature are narrow but Undara has an option with some accessible features including ramp access and open plan bathroom with shower chair. It should be noted, space is limited due to the structure of a rail carriage and this accommodation won’t be suitable for everyone with access needs.  There are spots on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

A fair level of mobility is required for the The Undara Lava Tubes tour as it does include around 300 stairs. They are properly constructed and maintained with landings and some rest benches.

James Cook University:

There are ramps and lifts that give wheelchair and mobility device access to most of the University and there are accessible toilets in every building on the University campus. There are spot on campus where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. As the presentations and information about the marine labs are given verbally and there is limited support for people with hearing impairments.

JCU Research Station

The station is not well-equipped for people using wheelchairs or mobility devices. All of the activities we do on site are within a 5 minute walk from the station, terrain is uneven, on grass, pebbles or dirt.  There is an ambulant bathroom and toilet in the block directly opposite the students dorms, without walking up or down stairs. There are spots on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli.

Mossman Gorge Walk

The Visitors’ Centre and toilets are accessible for wheelchair or mobility devices. People using a wheelchair or mobility device can access the the river track & first 500m to the look-out on board walk. Groups can be kept to under 10 people for guests with mild to moderate hearing impairments so guide can project their voice loud enough for guest to hear; guides like to have one on one conversations & questions if guests needed.  There are many quiet spots in the park where people who are neurodivergent can rest. As the presentations and information given about the fieldwork are given verbally, there is limited support for people with hearing impairments; however our guides will be able to assist those with vision impairments.

The Inner Reef Trip:

• The boat cannot accommodate persons using wheelchairs and mobility devices.
• Safety instructions are given verbally (no written instructions available).
• The captain is the first point of call for any questions or queries in regards to accessibility and/or special requirements that guests may have on the day.
• Assistance dogs are permitted, but must be confirmed with the reservations team prior to the trip.
• The boat uses pictogram signs (for example a pictogram showing feet standing on coral with a red line through it) to assist people with low literacy levels or who speak English as a second language. The company also has risk snorkel assessment forms in Japanese & Chinese for those nationalities.
• The distance from the Reef Fleet terminal to the vessel is approximately 150 metres; unfortunately no assistance is available for guests with mobility impairments.
• Lunch catering is sourced from a third party contractor who supply very detailed ingredient lists on request. Most dietary restrictions (gluten or lactose free, vegan, nut-free) can be accommodated.
• Although the boat itself does not have a specific low-stimulus quiet area, there are places on the island that could serve in this capacity.
• The island has dirt tracks and uneven terrain to get to the turtle rehab centre, and the beach front is mostly coral rubble.

The Outer Reef Trip: Liveaboard Boat

• The liveaboard boat is not equipped to accommodate wheelchairs or mobility devices.
• Safety instructions are given verbally (no written instructions available).
• The captain is the first point of call for any questions or queries in regards to accessibility and/or special requirements that guests may have on the day.
• The boat uses pictogram signs (for example a pictogram showing feet standing on coral with a red line through it) to assist people with low literacy levels or who speak English as a second language.
• The distance from the Reef Fleet terminal to the vessel is approximately 150 metres; unfortunately no assistance is available for guests with mobility impairments.
• Most dietary restrictions (gluten or lactose free, vegan, nut-free) can be accommodated.
• There are limited spots where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli on the main decks; however the sleeping cabin can act in this capacity.

Fieldwork

In most cases where we do our fieldwork, there are no accessible toilets and no provisions for people who use a wheelchair or mobility device. There are spots where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. As the presentations and information given about the fieldwork are given verbally, there is limited support for people with hearing impairments; however our guides will be able to assist those with vision impairments.

Optional Mangroves Workshop

There are no accessible toilets at the mangroves boardwalk and the sites where we do this project and no provisions for people who use a wheelchair or mobility device. There are not necessarily any spots on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. People with hearing impairments can easily be shown visually how to do this project and but there are no special accommodations for those with vision impairments.

Optional Drain Stencilling Project For The Reef

There are no accessible toilets at the sites where we do this project and no provisions for people who use a wheelchair or mobility device. There are not necessarily any spots on site where a person who is neurodivergent could find a quiet space with reduced stimuli. People with hearing impairments can easily be shown visually how to do this project and but there are no special accommodations for those with vision impairments.

Departure at Airport

VISUAL AND WRITTEN STORY GUIDES: Visual Story Guides are available for Domestic Departures and have been designed to help you to understand how an airport works and what to expect. Written Story Guides are also available for Domestic Departures.

Arrival in Cairns: Welcome to Cairns! You are met at the airport by one of our staff and transferred to your award-winning hostel in the town’s restaurant and shopping district.

Accommodation: Your accommodation is at a comfortable hostel in the centre of Cairns’ restaurant and shopping district, and only a few blocks from the waterfront. The hostel is committed to sustainability and even has their own herb garden for guests use! A lush swimming pool and spa, and large common areas, the hostel also features free internet in common areas and air conditioning in each room.

Biodiversity Presentation:  Before visiting the rainforest, you first learn about the biodiversity of The Wet Tropics, of which the Daintree Rainforest is a part. More than 100 animals are rare or threatened here and dozens of species live nowhere else in the world. Plants that ruled alongside dinosaurs still stand today. You learn about how Traditional Owners managed the rainforest in the past, and how The Wet Tropics is being managed currently at the local, regional and national levels. You learn why this corner of Australia with its jade mountains and lush emerald rainforest is a geographical anomaly. You discuss effects of climate change, vulnerability versus resilience and biophysical interactions within The Wet Tropics. You leave with insight about and appreciation of this globally significant area you are about to visit.

Before dinner, you can explore the nearby Esplanade – a lively stretch of waterfront with night markets, occasional performers and an expansive swimming lagoon. This evening you enjoy a welcome dinner at one of Cairns’ waterfront restaurants.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Dinner

Introduction to Field Work & Species Transects: Today with your guide you discuss biologists’ field techniques and interpretation.  The setting for today’s field work is the Cairns Highlands, which protects swathes of emerald rainforest. Dividing into small groups, you learn how to set up a vegetation/habitat transect, and then you collect data on rainforest species within a defined area.

Researchers Techniques: During your transect exercise, you keep an eye out for the red-legged pademelon, the Eulamprus Tigrinus skink – a rare reptile – and the endangered and giant flightless bird, the cassowary.

Bat Hospital: Later you visit the Tolga Bat Hospital to discover the cuddly side of bats.  Fruit bat pups are brought in when they are afflicted by tick paralysis or when their mothers have died or become too ill to feed them. Volunteers at the hospital nurse the bat pups back to health and then release them into the wild. The hospital also serves as a sanctuary for bats who have retired from zoos.

Savannah Lands and Outback: Then you head west through a changing landscape of different geological and rainfall patterns and see how this changes the biota. You cross over the Great Dividing Range and the rainforest gives way to the arid outback where giant termite mounds dominate the landscape and kangaroos roam freely.  Late in the day you arrive at Undara National Park. You set up camp tonight in Undara (an Aboriginal word meaning ‘long way’) National Park, where you have access to toilets and hot showers.

Accommodation: “Glamping” safari-style tents
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Undara National Park: Today you spend the day discovering Undara National Park and Lava Tubes — one of Australia’s great geological wonders. They are the largest, longest and most accessible lava tubes on earth. The tubes and a cave network formed from an eruption by Undara 190,000 years ago and its resulting lava flows. While the geology is fascinating, equally as interesting is the unusual flora and fauna that have evolved in the depressions caused by collapses in the tube roofs as well as in the tubes.

Lava Tubes Tour: This morning the focus turns to geology- on a 2 hour tour that winds through the cool underground lava tubes, tunnels and caves, a local guide discusses the shield volcano origins, the unusual “granitic basement” and why this site was of great interest to NASA.

Field Work: In the park with your guide you continue your field work, comparing soils, vegetation and fauna in the tubes and depressions that vary greatly to the surrounding woodland. You encounter a kaleidoscope of bird life –of which over 150 species have been recorded—and discover creatures previously unknown to science, including two new snail varieties and two species of insect-eating bats.  You also discuss unique blind insects, colourless shrimp and beetles which have evolved without the need for a sense of sight or colour camouflage in the black basalt tubes.

Wildlife at Sunset Tour: Late in the afternoon you discover iconic Australian wildlife, like kangaroos and wallabies, colourful cockatoos and other wild creatures in their natural environment. At dusk you are then taken to the entrance of a lava tube where thousands of tiny insect eating micro-bats emerge from the darkness to find food, which attracts pythons and brown tree snakes that hang from the trees and strike out at the bats to capture a meal.

Accommodation: “Glamping” safari-style tents
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Field Work and Vegetation Studies: Today you explore Forty Mile Scrub National Park – a unique “dry” rainforest.  Known for its rainfall extremes, the park boasts semi-evergreen trees that soak up the considerable rainfall in the summer months, and then drop their leaves in the exceptionally dry winters.  Through a walk under a closed canopy packed with vine thickets, Burdekin plums, lemon-scented gum trees and broad-leafed bottle trees with massive trunks, you discover a bizarre landscape that straddles the line between outback and the Wet Tropics. Your studies of the ground cover, soil type, vegetation and fauna will reveal red-necked pademelons found nowhere else in this climate, flying foxes that set up seasonal camps, and the near-threatened white flowered onion vine.

Wet Tropics and Glowworms: This afternoon you return to the Wet Tropics. After dark you walk a path through the rainforest to view some of Australia’s most unusual creatures – glow worms – that attract mates through bioluminescence and make tiny twinkles in the night.

Nocturnal Wildlife Spotlighting:  Later tonight you head to Mt. Hypipamee National Park to explore a rare type of volcanic pipe – a.k.a “the Crater”- and the abundance of wildlife that appears in the rainforest once the sun sets. Your guide will present a spotlighting exercise, during which you look for crepuscular and nocturnal species, focusing on endemics such as Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo, Green Ringtail Possum, musky rat-kangaroo, and numerous other marsupial, reptile and mammal species that live in the forest.

Accommodation: Highlands Cabins
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Platypus Spotting: Early this morning with your guide you look for the unique and elusive platypus–without question the most unique mammal on earth–in its natural habitat. Seeing a platypus in the wild is a truly fascinating experience and your guide describes the habits of these creatures. The unique features of the platypus (an egg-laying mammal) make it an iconic symbol of Australia.

Data Interpretation and Presentations: After breakfast you gather together as a group to discuss your findings over the past few days.  You also have a chance to present the data you have collected and discuss and interpret your results.

Rainforest Discovery with Indigenous Guide:  Today you discover the Daintree Rainforest at Mossman Gorge, an area important to the Kuku Yalanji. Beginning with a traditional smoking ceremony, you wander rainforest paths, discovering with your guide how these Aboriginal people found their way through dense rainforest, made shelter and learned which native plants were tasty to eat and those that served as weapons and medicine.   As your guide shares his stories, you learn how the seasons dictated life, what falls under men’s and women’s “business”, how to make fire in the rainforest and how to make fish very easy to catch.   This is a positive interaction with traditional owners during which you learn how they survived on this land for thousands of years.   You then sample billy tea and wattle seed damper (bread) made on the fire topped with jam from rainforest berries.

Daintree Rainforest: Later you enter the magical Daintree Rainforest – the oldest continually growing rainforest on earth. For tropical biology students, this is an important area for study: this area of the country has the highest concentration of primitive flowering plant families in the world, Australia’s rarest mammal (the Murina florious bat) and 13 species of birds found nowhere else on earth.

Daintree Rainforest Observatory & Research Station: Next you arrive at the Daintree Rainforest Observatory, an eco-monitoring site and research station with wet and dry labs. It lies in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest, and claims the highest biodiversity of anywhere in Australia! You get a safety orientation and then a presentation about the significance of this rainforest and about the important research happening here.

Accommodation: Your lodging for the night is in the brand-new facilities at the station.  Rooms are single gender, four- and six-bed rooms.  These have access to a communal industrial kitchen, and an amenities block nearby provides laundry, bathroom and shower facilities.  Tonight your JCU researcher also takes you around the station to look for Australian frogs and you finish up the day with a bonfire and stargazing (weather depending).

Accommodation: Daintree Rainforest Research Station
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Environmental Debate: This morning you participate in a debate which focuses on issues of development and effects on biodiversity. Students are given background information and a summary of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) about a major resort development proposed for Cairns and then given different roles to play of community members.  They then argue for or against the building of the resort. This requires evaluating projected economic, social and environmental impacts as well as proposed sustainability efforts. This is a fun way for you to get involved with all sides of an environmental debate with a real-life example that has gained significant national media attention.

James Cook University Canopy Crane: Next you have the extraordinary opportunity to visit the canopy crane operated by James Cook University which is not open to the general public. The unique canopy crane in the Daintree rainforest is the only research station of its kind in the country and is an important link in an international network that monitors both tropical and temperate forest canopies around the world.

After a safety orientation and a discussion about the significance of this rainforest by an on-site expert, you climb into a suspended gondola in threes with the crane operator. The crane then ascends over the rainforest and can swing 360 degrees over the canopy, surveying the incredible biodiversity that has earned this UNESCO World Heritage status. Like the visiting researchers, you as students can prepare hypotheses to test whilst in the crane. (Students must be at least 16 years old to go up in the Daintree canopy crane.)

Service Project: Whilst not in the crane, the group participates in an important service project at the research station.  Hundreds of trees have been planted for re-growth on site, and students are taught how to do condition assessments of the trees as biologists and botanists do in the field. Students learn about pioneer species, herbivory, and how to use a clinometer and DBH tapes to measure tree growth.  The results of the condition assessments are then contributed to the ongoing research on the success of “pioneer species” used by JCU staff.

Insect Traps and Visit to the Lab: The on-site JCU researcher/guide helps you construct insect traps, which are used to assess the biodiversity of the invertebrate population of the area. You discuss the various adaptations each insect species has evolved to allow them to thrive in the rainforest environment. Students engage in hands on practical experiences which complement their studies particularly in biology and ecology.

Water Quality Measurements:  With your guide you discover the language of water and what it says about the creatures that can survive in it. You take water quality measurements involving indicators like pH, nitrate, dissolved oxygen and phosphate levels.  Testing for these elements may reveal the presence of fertilizers or biological extremes, which will also aid in your discussion about species survival rate and eutrophication.

In the late afternoon you return to Cairns for a group dinner.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you have the day to finish your notes and findings for your terrestrial portion of your tropical biology trip. You can relax at the public swimming lagoon, shop for souvenirs at the Night Markets, and sample some local fare.

You can also choose to get an iconic photo with a koala in your free time – we’ll tell you where to get one (extra costs).

Optional Evening Activity – Documentary Film: Documentary films can inspire discussion and action, in addition to complementing the content of your trip. Tonight you have a choice to view one of several optional documentary films that relate to the reef and the environment (no extra cost).

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast

Marine Science Seminar: Today you head to James Cook University for a marine-focused seminar. JCU is Australia’s highest-ranked university in environmental science and offers marine biology studies not found anywhere else. Through a custom-designed interactive workshop today you have the opportunity to engage with world leading researchers like venomologist Dr. Jamie Seymour and Richard “The Shark Wrangler” Fitzpatrick.

Mangrove Biome: On campus you investigate a working model of a mangrove biome—with a resident crocodile—which is an important tool for studying effects on water quality and salinity as well as climate change mitigation.

Venomous Creatures: You also have access to samples of some of the world’s deadliest marine creatures:  the Stone Fish, Cone Shell, and the Box Jelly Fish, and you discuss the progress of JCU researchers are having in developing anti-venoms.

Observation of Marine Animals: Sophisticated camera equipment placed in the tanks let you observe animals up close, such as sharks, rays, cleaner wrasse and clownfish and you learn about the role of the university in creating films and documentaries. You have access to animals such as the rare lung fish that until now have not been successful in captivity.

Perhaps most importantly today, in a controlled environment you closely view elements of the underwater world with which you will be interacting over the next week.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Ferry Ride to Fitzroy Island: This morning you meet your marine biologist guide and you are ferried to the pristine Fitzroy Island – a green gem in a turquoise sea.  Over time a fringing coral reef surrounded the island, providing a sheltered home for a variety of fish and coral species. The island is now protected as a national park, with 94% of the island covered in lush rainforest and surrounded by waters ripe for discovery. With a prime spot on the inner Great Barrier Reef, Fitzroy Island and the surrounding reefs support some of the world’s greatest biodiversity.

In-Water Assignments and Island Lectures: On the island you alternate between mini-lectures and practical hands-on assignments in the water. Your first discussion with your marine biologist focuses on Major Fish Families on The Great Barrier Reef and Fish Identification. You can apply this knowledge to other regions, as this lecture is relevant to all coral fish around the world.  Afterwards you collect your snorkel gear and head out to Welcome Bay with the goal of spotting cuttlefish, parrot fish, wrasse and lionfish, among others.

Field Guide:: 101 Animals of The Great Barrier Reef, written by Dr. Martin Cohen, helps you to better understand the underwater world and is yours to keep.

CoralWatch Data Collection: In the afternoon you engage in an activity that addresses concerns over climate change and coral bleaching. During this exercise you find out more about how and why coral bleaches.  You learn how to identify different kinds of coral, match its colours to a waterproof chart, and then record what you observe in teams of two.  The data then goes back to the University of Queensland’s Coral Watch scientists, where they analyse the results over time and look for any long-term trends. Your results also go into a database to track bleaching around the world, and your group receives a graph of your results.

Island Camping & Evening Lecture: Following your snorkelling session, you return to your campground, which is beautifully situated only steps from the water.  Here you can set up your tents (provided) and there is a BBQ area for preparing meals (we give you the food), and both indoor and outdoor cold showers. Your evening lecture addresses human impacts on the reef and protected area management, after which you can enjoy the island resort’s games area and nightly music.

Accommodation: Fitzroy Island Campground
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Lighthouse Hike: This morning for a challenge, you can walk a gorgeous but steep rainforest track—keeping an eye out for the elusive yellow-spotted reptilian monitor—to the island lighthouse for a 360-degree panorama.

Guided Snorkelling: Using a life ring and a floating bar this morning, you swim along with your marine biologist who leads you to underwater examples of some of the reef’s best examples of camouflage, symbiosis, mimicry and conspicuous colouration.

Field Techniques and Sampling:  Later your discussion centers on Field Techniques and Sampling, followed by instruction on how to perform an underwater transect. This involves a 50-metre transect line and waterproof data collection sheets; each person in the group has a job which is vital to the research but it is teamwork that makes it happen.

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre: Later you visit the island’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, where a collection of volunteers help save sick, injured or stranded sea turtles.  During your visit, you learn about the feeding and mating habits of turtles, the major causes of their deaths and the process of rehabilitating them.   This afternoon you return to Cairns by ferry.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Boat Trip to Outer Reef: 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.  This morning you transfer from Fitzroy Island to the outer reef. Your captain then heads toward Moore Reef and you will have fantastic access to this underwater universe. Upon arrival at the reef, snorkellers will delight in viewing the incredible array of life and colours that exist just below the surface.

Live Aboard Boat: In the afternoon you transfer to your live aboard boat. While on board you enjoy freshly cooked meals with accommodation in quad or twin-share cabins with own bathroom and air conditioning.

Snorkelling: During your two days exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef you see how the 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, Wally the gigantic wrasse, giant clams, fan corals, sea cucumbers, stag horn coral gardens, and just about the whole cast of Finding Nemo.

While at sea, hearty buffet meals keep you well fed, twin/quad-share cabins and freshwater showers keep you comfortable and a lounge and sundeck give you space to relax.

Accommodation: Live aboard boat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Coral Predators and Bleaching: Today is your final day at The Great Barrier Reef, and today you can look for both coral predators and signs of coral bleaching.

OPTIONAL EXTRA- Scuba Dive: 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 (extra cost)

Seasonal Whale Watching: If you join this trip during the months of June, July or August, you may be lucky enough to spot the Dwarf Minke Whales or the Humpback Whales that migrate here in the winter.  Both whales tail-slap the water, jump out of the water (a.k.a. breaching) or “spy hop” where they lift their head out of the water and observe the boats above the surface.

Accommodation: Cairns 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast this morning you have free time for last-minute shopping or souvenir purchases.  If you leave later in the day, you can choose one of the following options:

Mangrove Boardwalk & Creek Cleanup: This raised walkway takes you through this critical mangrove ecosystem which is the breeding ground for many important aquatic species.  Your guide teaches you about the interesting aspects of mangrove systems and their importance to the Great Barrier Reef. You learn how mangroves deal with a lot of salt in their diet, how they act as the baby nurseries of the Great Barrier Reef and why both humans and the reef rely on these complex systems. Then you visit one of the creeks that makes its way to the ocean via the mangrove ecosystems. Unfortunately household rubbish also often makes its way into these creeks and so today you will be grabbing gloves and garbage bags to do your bit to clean up the waterway.  You tally your “rubbish results” at the end and the team with the top results gets a prize. (*extra cost)

– OR –

Service Project for the Reef:  The second project involves working together to protect waterways, ocean and reef.  By stencilling messages on drains, you contribute to raising awareness of urban stormwater pollution and its impact on the local marine environment.   The colourful and creative designs are a pleasant way to remind the community that all rubbish drains to the ocean. (*extra cost)

Eventually all good things must come to an end. You are transferred to the Cairns airport for your flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast