Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tour from Cairns

Your day starts with morning pickup at your Cairns or Northern Beaches hotel. Travel up to the inland hills in a comfortable air-conditioned minicoach driven by your guide.

Stop at Lake Barrine, located at 2,395 feet (730 meters) above sea level within Crater Lakes National Park. The biggest of the natural volcanic lakes in the region, Lake Barrine is known for its towering twin Kauri pines that are estimated to be 1,000 years old. Follow your guide on a short walk in the fresh mountain air to see this national treasure.

Then have a seat on the balcony of the 80-year-old tea house and take in views of Lake Barrine while snacking on a delicious Devonshire tea consisting of locally grown tea or coffee and fresh-baked scones.

Continue your route through the Atherton Tablelands, traveling through the historic towns of Yungaburra, Atherton, Tolga and Mareeba. Stop at local farms for a behind-the-scenes look at their operations, with exclusive access to a macadamia nut farm and a tour of a coffee plantation. You also taste chocolates and cheese at a dairy farm where they handcraft a range of delicious sweets and dairy products. At each stop, you'll learn about their foods and production methods, and packaged goods are available to purchase.

Around midday, pop into a historic pub for a hearty seafood lunch. Then visit a winery for a tasting of their tropical fruit wines, made from fruits such as lychee, mango, mulberry, bush cherry and passion fruit.

Get great photo ops of the famous Curtain Fig Tree, a strangler fig that grows on top of a host tree. This specimen, one of the tallest in north Queensland, has impressive aerial roots that measure 49 feet (15 meters) long.

After a full day of great food and fascinating commentary, your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.