Destination and Shore Experience

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Destinations & Shoreside Expeditions

6 NIGHT Great Barrier Reef (Reverse)

Cairns, Queensland, Hardy Reef, Hamilton Island, Percy Island, Lady Elliot Island, At sea, Brisbane, Queensland

5 NIGHT Tropical Reefs & Culture

Thursday Island, Torres Strait, Little Boydong Island, Orion Reef, Stanley Island, Lizard Island, Cairns, Queensland

6 NIGHT Great Barrier Reef

Brisbane, Queensland, Lady Elliot Island, Percy Island, Hamilton Island, Hardy Reef, At sea, Cairns, Queensland

Brisbane, Queensland – Embark/Disembark

Latitude: 27°28′S
Longitude: 153°02′E

Situated midway up the east coast of Australia is Brisbane, capital city of Queensland. With the Gold Coast beaches to the south and the Sunshine Coast to the north, Brisbane is well situated to commence your Orion journey and it is well worth arriving a few days prior to enjoy the city and surrounds.

Cairns, Queensland – Embark/Disembark

Latitude: 16°55'S
Longitude: 154°46'E

The Cairns region is internationally recognised for worldclass attractions, superb natural features and friendly north Queensland hospitality. It is the focal point for the magnificent World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is surrounded by tropical rainforests. Visitors enjoy browsing at indigeneous art galleries, shopping at the night markets and dining out on multicultural cuisine in the many restaurants along the esplanade.

Hardy Reef – Dry landing

Latitude: 20°3'S
Longitude: 148°52'E

This morning Orion will anchor close by Hardy Reef’s “Reef World” floating pontoon, moored at one of the most vibrant spots on the Great Barrier Reef. The reef stretches for over 2,500km (1,550 miles), is the world’s largest ecological structure ever built by living creatures and is home to over fifteen hundred species of fish.

You’ll enjoy complimentary and exclusive access to the Reef World pontoon at the best time of day. There is an underwater viewing chamber built into the platform and snorkelling on the reef is as simple as putting on your masks and fins and slipping off the side of the platform where you will be surrounded by fish in their natural reef environment. The Reef World semi-submersible will also conduct complimentary tours throughout the morning so those who would like to see more of the reef whilst keeping their feet dry are able to do so.

An exceptional helicopter ride over the reef for a great view of all its spectacular formations is available at an additional cost, as is certified SCUBA diving for those with the appropriate experience and qualifications.

Included Expeditions
Transfer by Orion’s Zodiacs to the Hardy Reef pontoon. Orion guests will have exclusive use of the pontoon and the underwater viewing chamber. Tours on the semi-submersible are also included in today’s activities.

Optional Shoreside Expeditions
HARDY REEF SCUBA DIVE
For the experienced divers, the resident Divemaster will escort the group to one of the best dive spots at Hardy Reef to explore this magnificent pristine environment.

All scuba equipment is included. Current dive certificates are required.
Duration: One Dive
Cost: $120 per person

REEF APPRECIATION SCENIC FLIGHT
This is a great way to gain an appreciation of the diversity and extent of the surrounding reef formations.

A bird’s eye view from a low level helicopter flight will highlight the array of colours on the reef. The flight also hovers above world-famous Heart Reef. Duration: Approximately 10 minutes
Cost: $280 per person

Lady Elliot Island

In addition to swimming and snorkeling on the idyllic beach, Orion guests are offered an included glass bottom boat and snorkel tour around the island. There are also optional scuba tours for certified divers and beginners who wish to experience scuba diving. The diving and snorkelling environment on Lady Elliott Island is second to none.

Little Boydong Island – Wet landing

Latitude: 11°28'S
Longitude: 143°01'E

On secluded Boydong Island, magic snorkelling is followed by a beach barbecue, sea kayaking and guided walks.

Lizard Island – Wet landing

Latitude: 14°39'S
Longitude: 145°26'E

Orion will drop anchor in the beautiful blue lagoon for a day of island-based relaxation. Spectacular opportunities for underwater exploration abound around this Marine National Park. Snorkellers are rewarded for little effort with coral gardens, brightly coloured tropical fish and giant clams just moments from the island's beaches. Discover pristine beaches with perfect white sand sloping gently away from shore.

Orion Reef – Wet landing

Latitude: 12°57'S
Longitude: 143°48E

Orion will take position at Orion Reef affording guests a unique and spectacular opportunity for a swim, one that stay with you for the rest of your life. You will be landed ashore by Zodiacs onto a white sand spit. From here you can swim and snorkel over a pristine and seldom visited section of the reef alive with corals and teeming with myriads of tropical fish.

Percy Island – Wet landing

Latitude: 21°39'S
Longitude: 150°15E

The explorer Matthew Flinders visited the Percy Isles in September 1802 and described one of the coves as "one of the prettiest little places imaginable". Middle Percy, the largest of the three islands in the group, is a favourite stop for cruising yachtsmen en route between the tropical north and southern seas. An A-frame hut on the beach is decorated with memorabilia and souvenirs from these yachts. Middle Percy was first settled in 1870 and the homestead dating from that time is today occupied by the island caretakers.

What more perfect way to spend your day than to while it away in the shade or in the shallows with a glass of wine in your hand? A sumptuous beach BBQ is provided today, our fleet of sea kayaks will be available for you to explore the coast and estuaries of Middle Percy (tide and weather permitting) and the island has a series of walking trails where you may come across resident population of Emu and other native and introduced wildlife.

Included Expeditions
Access to the beach, the famous A-Frame Hut and island walking tracks are included today. A beach BBQ will be provided.

Our sea kayaks will be available, tide and weather permitting, and swimming from the beach is available throughout the day.

Stanley Island – Wet landing

Latitude: 14°9'S
Longitude: 144°14'E

Stanley Island is renowned as the site of a significant Aboriginal rock art gallery, which can be viewed from the boardwalk and viewing platforms provided. The artwork is by the Yithuwarra people, members of whom will be guiding you today. A boardwalk has been built to preserve the island’s ecology and each lookout includes interpretive displays to afford visitors an insight into the importance of the area and artwork of the Yithuwarra people.

Thursday Island, Torres Strait – Embark

Latitude: 10°34'S
Longitude: 142°'13E

Thursday Island (traditionally known as Waiben) is recognised as one of the last frontiers in Australia, as it holds some great Australian history. At the Torres Strait Museum, learn about the feared Russian invasion of 1898. Take in brilliant panoramic vistas of the surrounding islands and tropical seas from Lions Lookout. Visit the Gab Titui cultural centre which boasts several unique
displays that explain the history and culture of the Torres Strait Islanders.