Our Daily Activities
Sample Itinerary at Kinrara
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Day 1 - Arriving at KinraraItem Link List Item 1
After picking you up in 4WD convoy from the Cairns CBD at 9:00am or the Cairns airport from 10:00 your adventure begins. Once at Kinrara our number one goal is to get you settled in and relaxed as quickly as possible. Arriving around 4pm on Monday afternoon to MacEacherns Camp you will be welcomed and introduced to the expedition team, given a thorough safety briefing and tour of the campsite. Whilst you enjoy a refreshing Kinrara Welcome drink in our main bush pavilion overlooking the stunning wetlands, your bags will be delivered to your respective tents, welcome beverages offered, and you’ll be shown to your campsite. Sunset drinks and food, welcoming hospitality, and shared story will conclude your first day of adventure
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Day 2 - Relax and ExploreItem Link List Item 2
Tuesdays generally commences with a lazy long breakfast, guided by the weather and energy levels we work out the best order of activities. We mostly do a short to medium distance bush walk in the morning, followed by kayak in the mid afternoon. Nature is bustling out the front of camp, often many moments are taken up watching birds of prey stalk just meters from our central pavilion or your tent. Relaxation is always an option for guests and encouraged, just let us know if you want to sit an activity out or do it another time.
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Day 3 - Explore the ExpanseItem Link List Item 3
On Wednesday we tend to explore the vast expanse of Kinrara Station, loading up our 4WD convoy we drive to the outer limits of the station's boundary discovering and experiencing outback life. Taking the bulk of the day, we depart mid morning from camp, winding through dirt tracks stopping for wildlife such as kangaroos, goannas, emu, plain turkey, wild boar, wedge tail and sea eagles, plus countless cattle and horses. We explore the cattle yards, windmills, watering points and lava and share an outdoor picnic beside a dam covered in water lilies. Returning to camp mid afternoon, guests are welcome to use the Kayaks, go for a swim or a walk, or find a comfy spot to rest before sunset drinks and dinner.
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Day 4 - Meet the LocalsItem Link List Item 4
Thursday morning after an energy packed breakfast we offer a 7.5 km hike (with return walk if desired) to a secluded spring Oasis. After your hike you can cool off under the natural spa waterfall, a picnic luncheon will be served followed by a rest in the shade while listening to the spring flowing directly from the earth down a cascade of rainforest ensconced waterfalls. For the Gugu Badhun this spring is a culturally significant location, we encourage our guests to use this time to reflect and be respectful of their surroundings, we’ve been particularly encouraged not to use loud voices or yell.
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Day 5 - Back to the Big SmokeItem Link
Time for that last hike, kayak, or sleep in, and a hearty breakfast. We like to be on the road back to Cairns by 9am, this gives us ample time for a couple of final stop overs. We ask you to have your bags ready by 8:30, and we’ll come collect them ready for your return to reality. We offer a light morning tea at Ravenshoe on our return journey. We continue on to our Waterfall tour with your private guide, stopping in the hills of the beautiful Tablelands for a light lunch. We aim to have guests back to Cairns by 4:30pm. Please ensure any flights you may have booked are departing after 6:00pm on this day.
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Optional scenic helicopter rideItem Link
Subject to the weather and availability we can organise a private flight over the wetlands and the crater. You'll also see the surrounding cattle stations. It's a spectacular and not to be missed.
Sample Itinerary at Kinrara
-
Day 1 - Arriving at KinraraItem Link List Item 1
After picking you up in 4WD convoy from the Cairns CBD at 9:00am or the Cairns airport from 10:00 your adventure begins. Once at Kinrara our number one goal is to get you settled in and relaxed as quickly as possible. Arriving around 4pm on Monday afternoon to MacEacherns Camp you will be welcomed and introduced to the expedition team, given a thorough safety briefing and tour of the campsite. Whilst you enjoy a refreshing Kinrara Welcome drink in our main bush pavilion overlooking the stunning wetlands, your bags will be delivered to your respective tents, welcome beverages offered, and you’ll be shown to your campsite. Sunset drinks and food, welcoming hospitality, and shared story will conclude your first day of adventure
-
Day 2 - Relax and ExploreItem Link List Item 2
Tuesdays generally commences with a lazy long breakfast, guided by the weather and energy levels we work out the best order of activities. We mostly do a short to medium distance bush walk in the morning, followed by kayak in the mid afternoon. Nature is bustling out the front of camp, often many moments are taken up watching birds of prey stalk just meters from our central pavilion or your tent. Relaxation is always an option for guests and encouraged, just let us know if you want to sit an activity out or do it another time.
-
Day 3 - Explore the ExpanseItem Link List Item 3
On Wednesday we tend to explore the vast expanse of Kinrara Station, loading up our 4WD convoy we drive to the outer limits of the station's boundary discovering and experiencing outback life. Taking the bulk of the day, we depart mid morning from camp, winding through dirt tracks stopping for wildlife such as kangaroos, goannas, emu, plain turkey, wild boar, wedge tail and sea eagles, plus countless cattle and horses. We explore the cattle yards, windmills, watering points and lava and share an outdoor picnic beside a dam covered in water lilies. Returning to camp mid afternoon, guests are welcome to use the Kayaks, go for a swim or a walk, or find a comfy spot to rest before sunset drinks and dinner.
-
Day 4 - Meet the LocalsItem Link List Item 4
Thursday morning after an energy packed breakfast we offer a 7.5 km hike (with return walk if desired) to a secluded spring Oasis. After your hike you can cool off under the natural spa waterfall, a picnic luncheon will be served followed by a rest in the shade while listening to the spring flowing directly from the earth down a cascade of rainforest ensconced waterfalls. For the Gugu Badhun this spring is a culturally significant location, we encourage our guests to use this time to reflect and be respectful of their surroundings, we’ve been particularly encouraged not to use loud voices or yell.
-
Day 5 - Back to the Big SmokeItem Link
Time for that last hike, kayak, or sleep in, and a hearty breakfast. We like to be on the road back to Cairns by 9am, this gives us ample time for a couple of final stop overs. We ask you to have your bags ready by 8:30, and we’ll come collect them ready for your return to reality. We offer a light morning tea at Ravenshoe on our return journey. We continue on to our Waterfall tour with your private guide, stopping in the hills of the beautiful Tablelands for a light lunch. We aim to have guests back to Cairns by 4:30pm. Please ensure any flights you may have booked are departing after 6:00pm on this day.
-
Optional scenic helicopter rideItem Link
Subject to the weather and availability we can organise a private flight over the wetlands and the crater. You'll also see the surrounding cattle stations. It's a spectacular and not to be missed.
Custom Experiences
Kinrara Expeditions offers all manner of custom and bespoke experiences for you and your group. Some of the events and experiences we do at Kinrara include:
- Corporate / Executive Retreats - Get off grid and truly connect
- Art Retreats - for established and budding artists
- Weddings, birthdays and milestone celebrations
- Music Writing Camps
- Dedicated Birdwatching and Nature Camps - with globally recognised conservationists and experts
- Science Week @ Kinrara
- Partnering with the Gugu Badhun to offer cultural interpretation and indigenous community education and engagement
- School and University Camps- outback emersion
- PHD Writing Sprints
- Host cultural and heritage events
- Meditation and Coaching Retreats
- Fitness and Sports Conditioning Camps
- Location for photography and film sets
- Variety Bash host - Australia's longest running and most famous charity motoring event
- Horse and mustering camps and schools
Contact us today if you're interested in planning a unique adventure for your group.
Memories that last a lifetime
Reviews from our guests
Fabian - Expedition 1905
'Thank you for transporting us to a magical place. Timeless, honest, sometimes harsh but always beautiful. Waking up to the raw Australiana wilderness and working station life is a once in a lifetime experience.' Your welcoming smiles, and personal yarns made us feel as if you have welcomed us into your home.
'Thank you for transporting us to a magical place. Timeless, honest, sometimes harsh but always beautiful. Waking up to the raw Australian wilderness and working station life is a once in a lifetime experience.' Your welcoming smiles, and personal yarns made us feel as if you have welcomed us into your home.'
Fabian
Expedition 1905
The Henry Family - Expedition 2004
Thank you so much for hosting our ‘city slicker’ family in this magical place we feel more ‘Australian’ for the experience. We’re grateful for the jovial company and good chat, the kayaking, the opportunity to meet the horses, the chance to learn about a working cattle station, the birdlife, delicious food and sunsets.
Thank you so much for hosting our ‘city slicker’ family in this magical place we feel more ‘Australian’ for the experience. We’re grateful for the jovial company and good chat, the kayaking, the opportunity to meet the horses, the chance to learn about a working cattle station, the birdlife, delicious food and sunsets.
The Henry Family
Expedition 2004
Fabian - Expedition 1905
'Thank you for transporting us to a magical place. Timeless, honest, sometimes harsh but always beautiful. Waking up to the raw Australiana wilderness and working station life is a once in a lifetime experience.' Your welcoming smiles, and personal yarns made us feel as if you have welcomed us into your home.
"It’s a surreal landscape of ink-black basalt frozen into swirls and wrinkled whirls and submerged lava tubes covered in canary-yellow algae that look like coral bommies. Water bubbles up from a spring beside Kinrara Homestead a few kilometres away at a rate of more than 10 megalitres an hour, and the wetlands form the headwaters of the Burdekin River. As clear as a glass of gin, the lake is crocodile-free and perfect for swimming and snorkelling."
The Henry Family - Expedition 2004
Thank you so much for hosting our ‘city slicker’ family in this magical place we feel more ‘Australian’ for the experience. We’re grateful for the jovial company and good chat, the kayaking, the opportunity to meet the horses, the chance to learn about a working cattle station, the birdlife, delicious food and sunsets.
"Hectares of grass dotted with livestock and gum trees in a palette of parchment, cinnamon and sage-green, while in front is a miniature rainforest with an emerald canopy of umbrella palms and fig trees. At its centre, a clear spring gushes from an unseen source into a shallow, three-tiered waterfall between banks stacked with lush ferns. Cattle. Outback. Rainforest. Waterfalls. The combination seems incongruous and remarkable."
