Photo Credit Meg Green
Experience wildlife: Australia
Great Barrier Reef and beyond
THE POWER OF PARTNERS:
Join Stephanie Arne and award-winning wildlife photographer Jennifer Leigh Warner of Experience Wildlife on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Australia. Spend time living aboard a dive boat in the Great Barrier Reef. Take the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and journey through the World Heritage-listed rainforest from Cairns to the village of Kuranda, Queensland. We will end our tour at the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia, the world's oldest tropical rainforest.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Hands-on photo instruction for wildlife conservation photography with Nikon Professional Jennifer Leigh Warner
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Hands-on instruction from Stephanie Arne, an accomplished international wildlife conservationist, expedition guide, TV personality, and spirited and engaging storyteller.
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Spend three days and two nights on a liveaboard boat on the Great Barrier Reef with the VIP upgrade and top deck service.
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Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway to a World Heritage site.
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Visit the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, Daintree National Rainforest.
Let's gO!
Location
Cost
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Dates
November 16th- 24th, 2026
Inclusions
$4,995 PP Based on Double Occupancy.
Single supplement available in Brisbane and Cairns. Total- $1,000
(No single supplement will be available on the boat.)
$500 deposit due at time of booking. Full refund 6 months before departure, Full amount due 4 months ahead of time.
Group Size
Exclusions
International flights, personal travel insurance, personal purchases, instructor gratuities, travel visa into Australia, and some meals. Tips for boat naturalists, and purchases during open day activities.
Open to anyone. There will be tons of photography opportunities, but you do not need to be a photographer to join this trip.
In-country flight from Brisbane to Cairns. Ground Transportation. Lodging, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, Pre-Tour Zoom Meeting, In-field with 2 Pro Guides, Activities, and some meals.
itinerary
Day 1 - Nov 16 - Arrive in Brisbane, Australia in the afternoon. After checking into our hotel in Brisbane, we will meet for a welcome dinner at a restaurant in town. Day 2 - Nov 17 - We will travel as a group to the airport for our flight to Cairns. After checking into the hotel you will have the afternoon to rest and explore the city on your own. Day 3 - Nov 18 - 7:30 am Breakfast onboard Reef Experience, Cairns Marina Marlin Jetty “A” Finger, Cairns Meet your top deck club attendant. 8:00 am Depart Marlin Marina Biologist Presentation Scuba Dive and Snorkel briefing 9:30 am Arrive at the Outer Great Barrier Reef ~ Transfer to Reef Encounter 10:30 am Water session—Sunbake and relax Noon Buffet Lunch 1:30 pm Scuba Dive and Snorkel Session—Relaxation time 3:00 pm Cruise to our next Outer Great Barrier Reef Location 3:30 pm Scuba Dive and Snorkel Session—Relaxation Time 5:30 pm Sunset Cocktails 6:30 pm Next Dinner under the stars (weather permitting) 7:30 pm Night scuba dive, Relaxation time, Stargazing, board games or movie Day 4 - Nov 19 -.6:30 am Early Morning Scuba Dive and Snorkel Session 7:30 am Breakfast served in your Stateroom 8:00 am Cruise to next Outer Great Barrier Reef Site 8:30 am Water session 10:30 am Water session Noon Buffet Lunch 1:30 pm Water Session, Sunbake and Relax 3:00 pm Cruise to our next Outer Great Barrier Reef Location 3:30 pm Scuba Dive and Snorkel Session—Relaxation Time 5:30 pm Sunset Cocktails 6:30 pm Next Dinner under the stars (weather permitting) 7:30 pm Night scuba dive, Relaxation time, Stargazing, board games or movie Day 5 - Nov 20 - 6:30 am Early Morning Scuba Dive and Snorkel Session 7:30 am Breakfast served in your Stateroom 8:00 am Cruise to next Outer Great Barrier Reef Site 8:30 am Water session 10:30 am Water session Noon Buffet Lunch 1:30 pm Water Session, Sunbake and Relax 2:30 pm Check out and get ready to transfer back to Cairns. 3:00 pm Transfer from Reef Encounter to Reef Experience Wine, Cheese and Tropical Fruit Platters on Return Journey 4:30 pm Arrive at Marlin Marina Cairns. Check back into our hotel in Cairns. Day 6 - Nov 21 - 08:30 am (approx) Pickup from your Cairns City Accommodation 09:30 am Glide over the rainforest from Kuranda on Skyrail 10:25 am Arrive at Kuranda Village 11:15 pm Please be at the bus stop outside the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary to transfer to Rainforestation Nature Park 12:00 pm Army Duck Rainforest Tour with Tropical Fruit Orchard. 12:45 pm or 1:30 pm Transfer to Kuranda Village 3:00 pm Kuranda Scenic Railway 5:15 pm head back to your Cairns accommodation Day 7 - Nov 22 - 7.00 – 7.30 am Pickup from your Cairns Accommodation Scenic drive along the Great Barrier Reef Drive to Port Douglas Then, stop at Rex Lookout for stunning views of the Coral Sea Cruise to Port Douglas, picking up additional guests Next, visit Flagstaff Hill for views overlooking 4 Mile Beach Refreshment break at Mossman Gorge with local tea, coffee, or cold drinks Explore Mossman Gorge and its rainforest paradise Guided walk and optional swim in the cool, clear waters of Mossman River (weather and time permitting) Enjoy a quality restaurant lunch with meal options 1-hour cruise on the Daintree River, keeping an eye out for crocodiles and wildlife Cross the Daintree River Cable Crossing into the ancient Daintree Rainforest Panoramic views from Alexandra lookout over the Daintree River, and Coral Sea Then, enjoy a guided botanical walk beneath the ancient rainforest trees Visit Kulki Lookout at Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef Stop at a local Daintree Ice-Cream Company to purchase tropical ice-cream (own expense) Finally, return to Port Douglas by around 5.30 pm or Cairns and the northern beaches slightly later around 6.30 pm Day 8 - Nov 23 - Open Day We can book these activities for you at an additional cost https://cairnsaustralia.com/tours/half-day-tours/hot-air-balloon-cairns/ https://cairnsaustralia.com/tours/activities/cairns-bungy-jump/ https://cairnsaustralia.com/tours/adrenaline/cape-tribulation-zipline/ Day 9 - Nov 24 - Fly home
Photo Equipment recommendations
Two camera bodies to limit lens changes Telephoto lens – 400 mm or larger (for wildlife) Mid range variable – 24-100mm (for environmental and people images) Underwater housing or compact underwater camera. Tripod for extra support or help with creative images Camera sling/harness/strap of some sort to secure it to your person while not in a pack Plenty of batteries and memory cards Laptop or other system for backing up images You need both a plug adapter and a voltage converter if your home country uses a different electrical system than Australia, which runs on 230V at 50Hz. A plug adapter changes the pin configuration to fit the Type I Australian socket, while a voltage converter steps the voltage down to prevent damage to your devices. However, if your device is dual-voltage (e.g., labeled 100-240V), it will only need a plug adapter.
Personal recommendations
- Layers, including a long sleeve quick dry top to keep you safe from the sun. - Brimmed hat - Waterproof hiking boots. - Thick socks - Sunglasses - Sunscreen - Personal water bottle - Australian currency - Any medication you may need
Weather
In November, Australia's weather transitions from spring to a warm start to summer, with pleasant and sunny conditions in the south, while the tropical north becomes hot, humid, and experiences the beginning of the wet season. Southern cities like Sydney and Melbourne will see warm days, while the Outback can get very hot, and parts of the tropical north will be humid with rain, and it's stinger season in the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef area.
Lodging & meals
Reef Encounter Liveaboard Reef Encounter is a 35-metre catamaran hotel designed for stability and comfort at sea. Fully air-conditioned and purpose-built, it combines the luxury of a boutique hotel with the excitement of a liveaboard adventure. During your stay, you’ll explore some of the most breathtaking areas of the Great Barrier Reef. Reef Encounter offers stylish accommodation, fresh dining, and excellent facilities to suit most travelers. If you have special requirements—such as dietary needs, allergies, or mobility concerns. Double Tree Cairns Enjoy Coral Sea views at our Cairns oceanfront hotel, surrounded by landscaped tropical gardens. Cairns Aquarium, Cairns Art Gallery, the Esplanade Lagoon, and the city center are all just steps away, and we’re five kilometers from Cairns Airport. Our restaurants, bars, and 24-hour fitness center complete your escape.
Stephanie arne
Stephanie Arne is an accomplished wildlife conservationist, explorer, and public speaker. She is the former host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, where she filmed stories on everything from polar bears to penguins. Steph has appeared on the Harry Connick Jr. Show, Animal Planet, and The Drew Barrymore Show. Her community conservation work has taken her to 20+ countries to witness and find creative solutions for human/animal conflict, and now she is thrilled to bring fellow wildlife enthusiasts on conservation trips around the world to share ways to make tangible impacts.
Photo Credit- Mutual of Omaha
Jennifer
Leigh Warner
Jennifer Leigh Warner is a fine art conservation wildlife photographer, writer, public speaker, and workshop leader living in Central Texas, specializing in creating meaningful images that convey a message of hope for the natural world. Jennifer is a Nikon Professional, a certified Texas Master Naturalist, serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Nature Photography Association, and has been serving as the Chair of the Ethics Committee since 2018.
