After all the planning and preparation the wait is finally over. Our group will head to the airport for our morning flight on Qantas direct to Cairns. On arrival in Cairns you will be met by our experienced guide and driver for a full trip and safety briefing. We travel to our retreat to check in before we meet a migrant now living in Queensland as she shares her story as well as her love of cooking with you. You will learn how to prepare a delicious meal from her home country, as she discusses the circumstances that caused her people to flee their country of origin. You will also learn of the hardships she has faced since arriving in Australia that will humanize this struggle. You gain some culinary skills, feast on a fantastic meal, and gain an insight into an important topic. Overnight Seville Mercy Conference Centre.

Meals:  D

Today we join the Mandingalbay Yidinji people to explore their country straddling the wet tropics and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage areas and learn about their cultural heritage. We join a boat ride across the inlet, past mangroves, and are welcomed to country with a traditional smoke ceremony. Over the course of the day we listen to our hosts stories about their spiritual and cultural connection to country before joining a range of immersion programs and activities including bush tucker, maintaining land with local aboriginal rangers and how flora and fauna is used in every day life. We will have plenty of time to discuss totems and the protection of animals, native title acts and biodiversity studies as well as spirituality and connection to country. This afternoon we bid our hosts farewell and drive to Dinden National Park and set up camp. We will help set up the tents and prep the food before preparing for our trek the next day. Overnight wilderness camping Dinden

Meals:  B,L,D

The Lamb mountain range overlooks Cairns and provides some of the best hikes in the tropics. Dinden National Park supports a number of endemic flora and fauna species including the rare tapping green eyed frog, the Queensland Maple and the Northern Bettong. This morning we join a challenging hike to Lambs Head summit. The trail leads us through a Wet Tropics World Heritage Areas featuring stunning rainforest, open Eucalypt forest, wetlands and mangrove forest. Our trail passes exotic ferns, giant Oriana palms and Orchids as we reach one of Queensland's highest peaks at 1300mtrs. A great team effort is required today as our group work together to reach the summit as a team! We are rewarded by incredible views over the range into the Coral Sea. We break camp and return to Cairns and join an indigenous service program, learning to make “Moon Sick Pads” to distribute to Indigenous women who live remotely. These pads provide women with a healthier, more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to disposable sanitary products. During this activity you master some basic sewing skills, gain an understanding of the complex cultural barriers that affect women in remote communities in the world, and learn about the environmental and social benefits of reusable sanitary products. Overnight Seville Mercy Conference Centre.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today is a special day! This morning we pack our bags and after breakfast we transfer to the pristine Fitzroy Island. A fringing coral reef surrounds the island, part of the inner Great Barrier Reef, providing a sheltered home for a wide range of marine life. We join a marine naturalist for a safety briefing and background on the island and its inhabitants before we walk straight into the water to explore the reef system. After some exploration we will join a Coral watch and data collection program along with a reef restoration program, addressing climate change and coral bleaching. The data collected goes to the University of Queensland's Coral watch scientists who analyse the results. This afternoon we visit the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. The CTRC is a volunteer operated, non-profit organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of sick and injured turtles. The Great Barrier Reef is home to six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles. A number of these are seriously threatened by a diverse range of natural and, more significantly, human induced factors. We will meet some of the volunteers and see hands on the great work being done here. Tonight we stay at the resort hotel on Fitzroy Island. Overnight Fitzroy Island Resort

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we wake on the island and continue our exploration before we board our boat and head back to the mainland. On arrival we will meet back up with our vehicle and driver for what must be one of the most stunning drives in Australia, to Mossman Gorge in the Daintree National Park. This area is sacred to the Kuku Yalanji people and we join a local member to trace ancient forest pathways alongside a tumbling river as we weave our way through one of the most complex ecosystems on earth. We learn about connection to country and how the local peoples have lived in harmony with the environment for thousands of years. After our walk and exploration we head back to Cairns and re-unite with all groups for a celebration dinner. Overnight Bay Village Cairns

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we rise for breakfast and have time to explore Cairns before we pack our gear and head to the airport at lunch time for our 2pm flight to Melbourne.

Meals:  B