peterpans pin
calendar_month21 days - 20 nights

The Great Escape 21 day Semi-Guided Group Trip Brisbane – Cairns

location_on Brisbane
Cairns location_on
calendar_mealMeals Included
calendar_monthMulti-day Tour
sentiment_calmSemi Guided
sentiment_calmBus transfer
sentiment_calmHostel Accommodation
sentiment_calmCamping
sentiment_calm4x4 Tour
$3389
per person
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Meals Included
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Multi-day Tour

Start in sunny Brisbane and end in tropical Cairns on this epic 3-week adventure with The Great Escape. This semi-guided tour gives you the perfect balance of included highlights and free time, so you can travel with a gup, but still explore your way.

Trip Start: Brisbane
Trip End: Cairns
Length: 21 days
Destinations: Brisbane, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, K'gari, Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Cairns

Why You'll Love This Trip
This is your ultimate East Coast highlight reel without the pressure of a full-time group tour. Chill out in Noosa, explore K’gari’s sand tracks, snorkel in the Whitsundays, and end your trip with reef swims and waterfall chasing in Cairns. It’s the perfect mix of iconic experiences, social travel, and independent freedom.

This trip is perfect for:

  • Travellers who want structure without being tied to a group 24/7
  • Backpackers looking to hit all the East Coast must-dos in under a month
  • Solo travellers who want a crew (and some flexibility)
  • People who’ve already explored Sydney or Byron and want to jump in further up the coast
  • Anyone looking for a stress-free way to travel Australia’s most iconic coast

Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 35
Fitness Requirement: Low
Agent Restriction: 18
Group Size: 1 - 8
Operating Partner: The Great Escape
What To Bring: Camera, Sunscreen, Clothes, Comfortable Shoes, Snacks, Swimwear, Towel, ID, Good Vibes ;)

Day 1:

Brisbane

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Welcome to the Great Escape! Today, you can explore the vibrant city of Brisbane! Check into your hostel accommodation and start your day with a visit to South Bank Parklands, where you can enjoy the beautiful gardens and art installations. Take a dip in the public pool or savour brunch at one of the trendy cafes. End your day with a relaxing dinner at one of the many restaurants in the city!

Day 2:

Brisbane

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On your second free day in Brisbane, you can discover the city's cultural highlights. Visit the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art for a dose of inspiration and creativity. Stroll through the historic city center to admire the stunning architecture, or go shopping in the unique boutiques of Fortitude Valley. If you're looking for an activity to do here in Brisbane, we can help you get on a Koala river cruise. A Koala & River Cruise is the perfect way to get up close and personal with Australia’s cuddliest creatures while enjoying the sights and sounds of Brisbane’s most attractive waterfront suburbs. Optional activity: Koala and river cruise

Day 3:

Bus from Brisbane to Noosa

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Today you will jump on the bus to Noosa. Arrive in the afternoon in the cool surf town. Get out, and explore the Area!

Day 4:

Noosa

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Enjoy your free day in Noosa. Visit the amazing national park and see the amazing fairy pools. If you want to improve on your surf skills, this is also a very good place to do that! See if you're already able to catch some waves on your own! optional activity: Surf lesson

Day 5:

Noosa

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Today you could visit the world famous Noosa Everglades or just hang around the hostel pool. With only two everglades in the world this one is not to be missed. Take your camera and capture this once in a lifetime experience as you canoe down the river of mirrors! Optional activity: Noosa Everglades

Day 6:

Bus from Noosa to Rainbow Beach

Today, you’ll head up to Rainbow Beach. Check into the Freedom hostel and then head out to explore! You'll be staying at this Rainbow Beach hostel for a total of 3 nights so get comfortable! Make sure to check out the amazing sunset at the Carlo Sand Blow.

Day 7:

Rainbow beach

Today, immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of Rainbow Beach! Start your day with a walk along the pristine shoreline, where you can feel the soft sand between your toes and enjoy the breathtaking views of the ocean. If you're looking for a day with some adrenaline, this is your last chance to catch some waves. We could help you get on a cool surf lesson here with our professional instructors on the longest wave in Australia. Optional activity: Surf lesson

Day 8:

3 Day / 2 Night K'gari Fraser Island Tag Along Safari – Dingos

Your Fraser Island adventure begins with a quick morning brief at Freedom Hostel. At 9:30 am, depart for Fraser Island and drive approximately 10 minutes to the barge (ferry) and board for your 10-minute barge crossing. Once you have arrived on the world's largest sand island, drive for 1 hour to the K'Gari Beach Resort along 75 Mile beach - Fraser Island's own sand highway with speed limits! From here, the adventure really begins, as we drive to the famous Lake McKenzie, one of the most popular and picturesque highlights of Fraser. We stop for lunch and time to swim and relax in the amazingly clear waters of the lake before driving up the beach to your campsite. Settle in for an early dinner, some well-deserved drinks and plenty of fun!

Day 9:

3 Day / 2 Night K'gari Fraser Island Tag Along Safari – Dingos

The day begins with a quick breakfast to fuel your busiest day on K'Gari Fraser Island! First stop is Eli Creek, a beautifully clear creek perfect for a relaxing swim. Travelling north, stop at Maheno Shipwreck for a photo opportunity and a short history lesson about this famous K'gari Fraser Island icon before continuing on to Indian Head. K'Gari Fraser Island's highest point, from here you may be lucky enough to see whales and sharks in the ocean before travelling to Champagne Pools for a dip. Lunch is served at either Maheno Shipwreck or Champagne Pools on Day 2 depending on time constraints, safety and beauty. In the afternoon, travel back to camp for dinner and drinks.

Day 10:

3 Day / 2 Night K'gari Fraser Island Tag Along Safari – Dingos

Start with breakfast before cleaning and disassembling your campsite. Once packed up, you'll drive to the beginning of the Lake Wabby walk where you'll stride through the dunes to find a tropical paradise! Lunch follows your trip to Lake Wabby before you begin the drive down the beach and back to the barge. Once arrived on the mainland, head to the 4WD shed where you can unpack and quickly clean the cars. You will return to Freedom Hostel between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm, depending on the tides

Day 11:

Overnight bus from Rainbow Beach to Airlie Beach

Today, you'll enjoy your last day here in Rainbow Beach. As the sun sets, relax with your group by the beach, and prepare to hop on your overnight bus to Airlie Beach.

Day 12:

Airlie Beach

You'll arrive in the tropical paradise of Airlie Beach bright and early. This morning you'll check into your Airlie Beach accommodation. No time to waste! Drop your bags and head out to explore this beachside town before preparing for your Whitsundays tour tomorrow! If you can't wait for some adventure till tomorrow, add an unforgettable skydive experience to this day. Airlie beach is the most beautiful place to do a skydive as you'll be seeing the Whitsundays from above! Optional activity: Skydive with beach landing

Day 13:

Whitsundays Sailing Trip - Airlie Beach to Whitsundays

This 2 night Whitsundays tour offers the opportunity to explore the islands, including time to relax at the magnificent Whitehaven Beach, walk to the famous Hill Inlet Lookout. Experience up to 4 snorkelling locations to check out the magnificent fringing reef around the Islands (all part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park).

Day 14:

Whitsundays Sailing trip

Today you can enjoy all that the Whitsundays have to offer with lookouts and stunning views - don't forget to charge up your phone/ camera! Enjoy Standout delicious meals made by the crew who are fun, and experienced and welcome you into the family. With 2 slides and an onboard jacuzzi you're bound to have a good time.

Day 15:

Whitsundays Sailing trip - Whitsundays to Airlie Beach

Wake up on your final morning to that clear sea air before it's time for more thrilling sailing back to Airlie Beach. After your tour, keep the adventure alive and meet your crew and fellow passengers for a catch-up at the after-party in Airlie Beach – you will have a reserved table, drink discounts and meal deals!

Day 16:

Bus from Airlie Beach to Townsville - Magnetic Island

Today you'll make your way to Townsville where a ferry will take you to the stunning Magnetic Island. Check-in for 2 nights and then kick back and relax on one of the island's many iconic beaches.

Day 17:

Magnetic Island

Today is yours free to soak in the sunshine of Magnetic Island for your final day here. A beautiful place for hiking, kayaking, and full relaxation! Explore Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay for a pristine beach day. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including koalas, rock wallabies, and over 180 species of birds.

Day 18:

Bus from Townsville to Cairns

Today you'll wave goodbye to Magnetic Island and hello to Cairns as you catch the ferry back to Townsville and then head further north. Cairns is the gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Daintree Rainforest and offers heaps of awesome activities for travellers from nature to extreme sports! Check into your Cairns accommodation for 3 nights and then head out to explore the city.

Day 19:

Cairns - Great Barrier Reef

This morning you can tick off one of Australia's must-do activities - a full day Great Barrier Reef tour. You'll board at 7:30 am for a day packed with fun and excitement as you explore the outer reef. With options to try snorkeling or even upgrade to scuba diving, you'll spend up to 6 hours discovering 2 spectacular reef locations. Swim alongside schools of tropical reef fish and admire amazing coral formations. Learn about the underwater ecosystem during a glass-bottom boat cruise and Marine Biology presentation. It's a true bucket-list experience that you won't want to miss!

Day 20:

Cairns - Waterfall Wanderers

Today prepare to be mesmerised by nature and wildlife within the ancient tropical rainforest. You'll explore Babinda Boulders, Josephine Falls (Natural rock slide), Crawfords Lookout (Beautiful lookout) and the stunning Millaa Millaa Falls (the world famous hair flick waterfall). You will also have the opportunity to visit the dormant Volcanic Crater Lake filled with turtles and surrounded by wildlife. You will watch the sunset next to your last swim (don’t worry about getting cold the water in here never changes temperature, it's 23 degrees all day and all night)!

Day 21:

Depart Cairns

This morning you will check out of your hostel and wave goodbye to your East Coast adventure! If you want to add some time to this trip but don’t want to add on destinations, Cairns is a great place to add on a few nights and explore! Say goodbye to all the new friends you made on this unforgettable group tour! We hope you made memories to last a lifetime and hope to help you on your next adventure! Fiji or New Zealand anyone….?

  • 16 nights in hostel accommodation
  • Semi-guided structure with a mix of included experiences and free days
  • Overnight buses between major stops
  • 3-Day / 2-Night K'gari 4WD Tag Along Safari which includes camping on K'gari
  • 2-Night Whitsundays Sailing Trip on the Atlantic Clipper
  • Full-day Great Barrier Reef snorkelling trip
  • Full-day Atherton Tablelands waterfalls tour
  • Bus and ferry transport between all destinations
  • Some meals included
  • WhatsApp contact and support from our travel team throughout your journey

Departures & Pickups

This package has weekly departures on selected dates.
Departs: Brisbane
Ends: Cairns

There is an optional driving insurance levy to pay directly for the K’gari 4WD Safari
The bus + package price includes a specific bus pass, selected to work with this trip length

Contact Us today if you wish to explore alternative trip lengths or transport option

Bookings Terms & Conditions

These booking terms and conditions apply to bookings you make with Peterpans Adventure Travel PTY LTD (ACN 673 404 389) trading as Peterpans Travel (whether over the phone or by email) as well as online bookings you make on our website. We will rely on the authority of the person making the booking to act on behalf of any other traveller on the booking and that person will bind all such travellers to these terms and conditions.

The ticket(s) (“voucher(s)”) for your travel or experience are booked by us on your behalf with various Service Providers. Each Service Provider may have their own terms and conditions applying to your travel. It is important that you read the relevant and corresponding brochure for each of your bookings in order to understand all applicable terms and conditions. If you require additional information to that contained in the brochure then we recommend that you contact the Service Provider for further clarification.

BOOKING CONFIRMATIONS

Your responsibilities: Open tickets: You must book your travel dates in advance with the individual Service Provider as per the details provided on your voucher.

Tickets with booked dates: It is your responsibility to ensure you redeem your vouchers on the dates booked. If you wish to change these dates you must organise it with the Service Provider directly, with adequate notice. You must reconfirm all booked dates 48 hours prior to travel (minimum guide only) or in the manner stated on your voucher. If applicable, dietary requirements should also be confirmed at this time.

CANCELLATIONS and REFUNDS

Credit card fees, and additional fees paid to us for deposits of accommodation, transport and luggage storage are not transferable or refundable.
Please note that deposits on bookings are also non-refundable but may be used as credit towards future bookings.

Cancellations by service providers

If a service provider cancels your booking for any reason you WILL NOT be charged any cancellation fee and will be entitled to a full refund (other than any amount we are charged on your behalf by the service provider). ALL TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION is NON-REFUNDABLE, in some cases it may be transferable.

Cancellations by you outside of 14 days from the date of travel

Where you provide us with at least 14 days’ notice that you wish to cancel your booking for any reason, you will be charged a 10% cancellation fee and will be entitled to a refund (in addition to any amount we are charged on your behalf by the service provider) or can transfer, with no fee, any balance (in addition to any amount we are charged as a cancellation fee on your behalf by the service provider) to a new booking or credit voucher. ALL TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION is NON-REFUNDABLE, in some cases it may be transferable.

Cancellations by you within 14 days of the date of travel

Where you provide us with less than 14 days notice that you wish to cancel your booking for any reason, you will be charged a 30% cancellation fee and will be entitled to a refund ( in addition to any amount we are charged on your behalf by the service provider) or can transfer, with a $30 per product transfer fee, any balance (in addition to any amount we are charged as a cancellation fee on your behalf by the service provider) to a new booking or credit voucher. ALL TRANSPORT AND ACCOMMODATION is NON REFUNDABLE, in some cases they may be transferable.

In addition, if a Service Provider charges us for the cancelled travel you must also pay us the amount that we are charged on your behalf by the Service Provider. It is, therefore, possible your cancellation fees could be up to 100% of the cost of the booking, regardless of whether travel has commenced (for example cancellations made within 24hrs of travel or certain flight bookings). The Cancellation Fee will apply in all cases where a tour is able to run. For example, if you are unable to reach a tour due to an “act of God” (for example a road is cut off due to flooding) the normal Cancellation Fee will apply if the tour still runs in your absence or would have run but for your absence. If a tour or other travel service is cancelled by the Service Provider, we will refund you in full the amount paid for the tour or other travel service. This full refund is subject to a fully refundable amount being given to our agency from the supplier who is cancelling. We highlight here that all suppliers have different cancellation terms.

All refunds will occur in the local currency and will be refunded to the same card that payment was made with. If your credit card uses a different currency, the amount refunded may be different from the original amount paid due to exchange rate fluctuations. We are not liable for these fluctuations, or any fees your bank charges.

Please note that in the case of natural disasters (e.g. flood, fire, cyclone, etc.), many Service Providers do not offer refunds, and we may therefore be unable to provide a refund to you. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover this situation.

The 10% or 30% agency cancellation fee does not apply to: Dive Courses where you fail a Dive Medical test; or Skydives cancelled by the Service Provider within 3 days of booking due to weather, in which case a full refund will apply.

Where a refund or other payment applies, you may choose to transfer the full cost of your booking to another tour. However, a transfer fee of $30 may apply. While we aim to process refunds swiftly, high-demand situations (such as natural disasters) may result in delays.

We strongly recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy at the time of booking to protect yourself against unexpected cancellations and changes. Depending on your policy, your insurance provider may cover up to 100% of cancellation fees and other costs incurred. Cancellation fees for tours and bus bookings can be up to 100%, so having appropriate coverage can help minimise financial risk.

Please act responsibly and with respect on your travels. All Service Providers reserve the right to cancel bookings based on recommendation from another provider due to misconduct/misbehaviour during another stage of their trip. We will treat this as any normal cancellation and charge the above-mentioned Cancellation Fee, plus any Service Provider fees.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We endorse the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that all travellers take out travel insurance. It is your personal responsibility to purchase your own travel insurance to cover any liability which may be incurred to us or a Service Provider and other travel misadventures that you wish to be insured against. We recommend that you source travel insurance with a low excess payment, to make claiming on cancelled tours worthwhile.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

We endeavour to package tours that will meet your expectations. However, we take no responsibility for any matters that arise with regard to or during individual tours or arrangements with individual Service Providers. We appreciate your feedback, whether complaints, compliments or suggestions. However, to the extent permitted by law we will not be responsible to you for any loss, expense or damage that you may suffer during any particular tour, accommodation or travel, no matter the cause. These matters are the responsibility of each individual Service Provider and you agree that you will not hold us liable in any such circumstance.

TOUR DETAILS

The inclusions, departure details and itinerary points of each tour and activity listed on our websites are current as of the last product update. We endeavour to reflect up-to-date information on all website pages but will not be held accountable for changes from suppliers which are yet to be reflected on site. Upon booking we ask that you review details listed in your vouchers as these will be the most reliable.

PRICES

We endeavour to package the best value tours available at the best prices. However, we take no responsibility for price fluctuations arising from changes in the prices charged by Service Providers occurring before final payment. The price of your travel is subject to change until such time as you pay for the travel in full.

EXTRA COSTS

Many tours have extra costs and you should be aware that there may be added expenses. These expenses will differ for each Service Provider but some of the more usual extras may include: EMC Tax, Stinger suit Hire, Luggage storage, Sleeping Bag Hire, Linen Hire, National Park Fee, Food, Insurance, Accommodation, Equipment Hire, Petrol Levy. We will alert you to extra costs to the extent reasonably practicable. However, you must also check with each individual Service Provider when you confirm your voucher.

PASSPORT and VISAS

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid passports, visas and re-entry permits which meet the requirements of immigration and other government authorities. Any fines, penalties, payments or expenditures incurred as a result of such documents not meeting the requirements of those authorities will be your sole responsibility. All travellers must have a valid passport for international travel and many countries require at least 6 months validity from the date of return and some countries require a machine-readable passport. Transfers between tours may incur a $30 administration fee.

By proceeding with a purchase via our Call Centre or Website you declare that you have read, understood, acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions of this booking and if your booking is accepted, you will be bound by these terms and conditions.

call Australian Phone: +61 3 9125 3620 call International Phone: +61 (0)3 9125 3620 call WhatsApp: +61 480 064 975
location_on Peterpans Cairns Esplanade 83A Esplanade Cairns, 4870 Queensland, Australia