Northern Escape Collection offers truly unique and tailored yacht charters in Far North Queensland, Flying Fish is our most luxurious and completely customisable offering and the epitome of first class holidaying in Australia. Get in touch with our friendly reservations team to create the ultimate personalised itinerary, whether your interests are fishing, scuba diving or simply relaxing and enjoying total privacy aboard your own luxury motor yacht whilst experiencing the best of Queensland.

3 night/4 day sample itinerary Far North Queensland

Day One Guests set sail from Port Douglas, Queensland. Port Douglas can be reached either via a 1 hour drive north of Cairns along one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal roads or via a mesmerising 15 minute helicopter journey flying over the only place in the world where two natural World Heritage-listed sites meet; the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef. Once aboard, guests are greeted with a welcome drink and then the vessel sets sail for the stunning Opal Reef which is approx. 30 nM or 3 – 4 hours cruising time from Port Douglas. Anchoring at Opal Reef, guests can explore the vibrant underwater world and get their first slice of the Great Barrier Reef.  Home to some stunning walls and reef passes, drift snorkelling or diving is a popular experience at this location. Otherwise the reef is a fisherman’s playground and teaming with reef species for those to catch. At dusk, watch the sky turn into a kaleidoscope of colours as the sun sets over the iconic reef and rainforest-clad mountains before enjoying a chef-prepared meal. Settle into your Staterooms and drift to sleep to the gentle rocking of the ocean currents.

Day Two This morning, catch a postcard-worthy sunrise over the reef followed by a quintessential á la carte breakfast as we set sail to another coral reef site on the northern end of Opal Reef where you can enjoy another drift snorkel or dive. From Opal Reef, we cruise 12 nM or 1.5 hours to Agincourt Ribbon Reef #1. Agincourt Reef is a thin ribbon reef running parallel to the Continental Shelf and home to some of the most popular dive sites in the world. These ribbons offer interesting swim-throughs, coral gardens and caves and the crystal-clear waters provide incredible underwater visibility showcasing rich coral systems that are home to spectacular marine life.

Located at the southern end of Agincourt Reef #1, Castle Rock is a tower of coral rising from 25 metres. This dive site is known for its abundance of marine life and excellent visibility. Some of the resident fish species that you’ll see at this site include trevally, snappers, sweetlips, goatfish, fusiliers, surgeonfish and a very friendly Malabar groper. A must-see is the wonderfully healthy hard coral gardens found in the shallows, which are some of the best on the Great Barrier Reef and home to whitetip reef sharks, turtles, lionfish, giant clams and a number of reef fish!

Triggerfish Point is another great dive site that boasts caves and large rocks that play home to thousands of titan triggerfish, red bass, clown fish, and oriental and striped sweetlips. The very elusive pipefish has been spotted at this dive spot, so keep your eyes peeled!

With a pastel sunset and Aussie BBQ in the evening, guests can unwind in the jacuzzi overlooking the Great Barrier Reef before enjoying a peaceful anchorage on Agincourt Reef # 1.

Day Three This morning we steam to Agincourt Ribbon Reef #2 best known for The Gardens and Nursery Bommie.

The Gardens are renowned for their exceptional abundance of brightly coloured reef fish that dart through the stunning corals. This shallow dive site welcomes parrotfish, butterflyfish, goatfish, milkfish, and giant maori wrasse.

Nursery Bommie is a spectacular pinnacle rising 25 metres from the ocean floor decorated with sea whips, soft corals and gorgonians where pelagic fish gather to feed. One of the region’s most impressive dive sites, at the base of the bommie is always a school of colourful blue-striped snapper, but also common are picklehandle barracuda, trevally, surgeonfish, moray eels and fusiliers. Cut by numerous ledges, make sure you check these out as you are likely to see rock cod, lionfish, coral cod, nudibranchs and maybe a lovely leaf scorpionfish. The top of Nursery Bommie is home to hundreds of fairy basslets and also a massive school of snubnose drummer, making for a very memorable dive.

A little afternoon fishing will no doubt provide entertainment as well as the ingredients for a delicious dinner – this area is fantastic for spanish mackerel, or reef species such as nannygai and red emperor.

For your final evening, the crew will put together fun themed evening to celebrate under a star-packed sky.

Day Four On your final day, steam 32 nM or 5 – 6 hours south to Port Douglas and bid farewell to your crew and yacht.

The range of unforgettable experiences is limited only by your imagination.

To book or enquire about any of our packages or to design a tailored itinerary contact our friendly team.