Tropical North Queensland Rainforest & Reef Educational Tour

Great Barrier Reef Science, Wet Tropics Rainforest & Sustainability

Tour Overview

Tropical North Queensland Rainforest & Reef Educational Tour immerses students in two globally significant UNESCO World Heritage areas: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest. This tour provides an exceptional opportunity to explore biodiversity, ecosystems, climate, Aboriginal cultural knowledge and marine science through hands-on, experiential learning.

Students engage in guided reef studies, citizen science programs and rainforest fieldwork, gaining insight into ecosystem interdependence, conservation challenges and sustainability practices. The tour is designed to support Geography, Science, Environmental Science and STEM outcomes, with experiences scaled to suit different year levels and academic pathways.

This program is ideal for schools seeking high-impact environmental education within a structured, well-supported multi-day tour.

Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary

Indicative program – all activities can be tailored to learning outcomes and year levels

Day 1 – Arrival & Tropical Orientation (Cairns)

  • Arrival in Cairns and regional orientation

  • Introduction to tropical climates, ecosystems and safety

  • Evening briefing on reef and rainforest environments
    Learning Focus: Climate, regional geography, environmental awareness

Day 2 – Rainforest Systems & Aboriginal Culture

  • Kuranda Scenic Railway journey through the rainforest

  • Rainforestation Nature Park experience including:

    • Army Duck rainforest tour

    • Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience

    • Koala and Wildlife Park

  • Skyrail Rainforest Cableway with canopy-level interpretation
    Learning Focus: Rainforest ecology, Aboriginal perspectives, biodiversity

Day 3 – Great Barrier Reef Science & Citizen Science

  • Full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise

  • Snorkelling and reef observation

  • Participation in the Eye on the Reef monitoring and assessment program

  • Discussion of coral health, climate impacts and conservation
    Learning Focus: Marine ecosystems, scientific inquiry, sustainability

Day 4 – Daintree Rainforest & Coastal Interfaces

  • Visit to Daintree Discovery Centre for structured learning

  • Daintree River Cruise identifying crocodiles and riverine species

  • Cape Tribulation exploration where rainforest meets reef
    Learning Focus: Ecosystem interconnection, biodiversity, conservation

Day 5 – Heritage, Engineering & Reflection

  • Paronella Park visit examining heritage, engineering and sustainability

  • Reflection session linking field experiences to curriculum outcomes
    Learning Focus: Human innovation, heritage conservation, sustainability

Key Learning Areas

Subjects Supported

  • Science & Environmental Science

  • Geography

  • Marine Biology (secondary/tertiary)

  • Sustainability Studies

  • STEM

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Curriculum Connections

  • Coral reef ecosystems and marine biodiversity

  • Rainforest ecology and climate interactions

  • Human impact and conservation management

  • Aboriginal connections to Country and land stewardship

  • Scientific inquiry, data collection and monitoring

  • Sustainability and environmental responsibility

Suitability by Education Level

Primary School (Years 5–6)

  • Guided reef and rainforest experiences

  • Introduction to ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation

  • Observation-based learning supported by interpretation

Secondary School (Years 7–12)

  • Fieldwork and data collection aligned to Science and Geography

  • Participation in reef monitoring and inquiry-based activities

  • Strong links to assessment tasks and cross-curriculum priorities

Tertiary & Vocational

  • Applied marine and environmental science experiences

  • Exposure to research-based conservation and sustainability programs

  • Suitable for university, TAFE and STEM-focused cohorts

Customisation Options

  • Adjust tour length or daily focus

  • Tailor learning outcomes by subject or year level

  • Incorporate assessment-linked activities

  • Suitable for single-school or multi-school groups

Plan Your Tasmania Educational Tour

Work with Team of Travel’s tour coordinators to tailor this itinerary to your students’ curriculum requirements, learning objectives and preferred travel dates.

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