Starts: Sydney
Finishes: Melbourne
Overview
Includes: overnights in Sydney (4), Cairns (4), the Outback (3) and Melbourne (3).
The perfect combination of style and sophistication mixed with relaxation and adventure. Spend your first 3nights in fantastic Sydney, shopping, dining, sightseeing and checking out this fashionable, exuberant, jewel of a city. Spend a day visiting the beautiful Hunter Valley, home of some of the most popular vineyards in Australia, or take a day trip to meet the “Three Sisters”, a rock formation in the Blue Mountains. Your next stop is Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. While here you can do as little or as much as you desire. You can lie by the pool of one of the many fantastic hotels, or take a snorkeling or diving trip out to the Reef. You could have dinner under the stars at the Night Zoo or spend a full day White Water Rafting through the rainforest on the Tully River. Fancy sky-diving? That too can be arranged while you are staying in beautiful Queensland.After all the sights in and around Cairns, board head over to the Outback for a two night camping safari, spending evenings around a campfire under the stars while your guides tell you about the mystery of the land.Then head south to Melbourne, the capital of Victoria and a vibrant hub of style, sport, culture and dining. Drive the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles and Victoria’s world-class surf beaches. Challenge yourself on the mountainous Great Alpine Walk or drive the Great Alpine Road through the Australian Alps and Gippsland.
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Sydney
Enjoy the rest of your day taking a relaxed walk from your central hotel in Darling Harbour.
Day 2 Sydney Opera House Tour
Join the Sydney Opera House Tour at the Sydney Opera House. Check in at the Cloak Room Desk located on the Lower Concourse level 10 minutes prior to departure, to exchange your voucher for your ticket and join the next available tour. See inside the world’s most recognisable sails and experience this miracle of architecture and engineering. A work of art that came into existence against impossible odds, to become one of the busiest performing arts centres in the world. Working with new, rich audio-visual components, where images are projected onto the fabric of the building, your guide will take you on an emotional journey, engrossing you in a story to rival any opera plot with its dramatic twists and turns. Some 1,500 performances, from opera to circus, rock and cabaret, are staged each year to audiences of around 1.5 million. Tour concludes approximately one hour after commencement.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is one of New South Wales’ top major attractions with breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour. Enjoy amazing free animal shows, drop in on a keeper talk or go on a tour led by experienced guides.
Day 3 Blue Mountains and Australian Wildlife Tour
An Australian Pacific Touring coach will pick you up from your hotel for your transfer to the Coach Interchange at Pirrama Road, The Star, the departure point of your tour. At 8.15am join your coach to commence a full day tour to the Blue Mountains. Travel past Homebush Bay, site of the 2000 Olympics before arriving at Echo Point to see the famous Three Sisters rock formation and have an opportunity to visit the Koomurri Centre (own expense). Arrive at Scenic World and join the Blue Mountains rides – Scenic Railway, Cableway and Skyway (own expense). These rides are a great way to see the steep valleys, canyons and Three Sisters rock formation. Travel to Narrowneck and Cahill Lookouts for a short stop for impressive mountain scenery. Arrive at Leura village for lunch (own expense). Enjoy some free time to wander the streets of Leura, with its delightful blend of groomed gardens and quaint shops. Next enjoy an afternoon encounter at Featherdale Wildlife Park and have your photo taken with a cuddly koala, see kangaroos, wombats, dingoes and little fairy penguins. Last stop will be at Homebush Bay where you have the opportunity to catch the rivercat ferry back to Sydney and enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Parramatta River (own expense). If you do not wish to catch the ferry, the coach will continue back to Sydney where the tour will conclude at approximately 5.45pm, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.
Day 4 Free day in Sydney
Check out all the great day tours available from Sydney [click 1]
Day 5 Fly from Sydney to Cairns
Spend the remainder of your day enjoying a walk on the beach or relaxing in the sun!
Day 6 Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef – Full Day Cruise Incl Lunch
A Quicksilver coach will pick you up from your hotel for your transfer to Marina Mirage Port Douglas, the departure point of your cruise. At 9.30am board Quicksilver’s 45.5 metre high speed wavepiercingcatamaran to commence a full day cruise. Travel in air-conditioned comfort to a spacious reef activity platform moored in protective lagoons at the renowned Agincourt Reef, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Quicksilver has facilities to enable both swimmers and non-swimmers to experience this stunning reef world. Explore the reef from the comfort of a semi-submersible, the underwater observatory or by snorkelling. A range of optional activities are available including up to two dives for certified divers, and novices can experience the magic of scuba with a qualified dive instructor or an Oceanwalker helmet dive. Also available are guided snorkelling tours with a marine biologist and scenic helicopter flights over the reef (all optional activities at own expense). Enjoy lunch on board. Cruise concludes at approximately 4.30pm, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.
Day 7 Kuranda Rail &Skyrail – Full Day Tour
A Down Under Tours coach will pick you up from your hotel to commence a full day Kuranda Rail and Skyrail tour. Transfer to Freshwater Railway Station to board the 9.45am Kuranda Scenic Railway for a journey to the village of Kuranda. Enjoy spectacular views as the train travels through 15 hand cut tunnels and past spectacular waterfalls. Stop at Barron Gorge to view the falls before arriving at Kuranda Station. Free time is available to explore the “Village in the Rainforest”, and its many attractions, including the Heritage Markets which operates daily. Enjoy lunch (own expense). Other Kuranda Village attractions you may wish to visit are Birdworld, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary or Kuranda Koala Gardens (own expense). Board Skyrail at the scheduled time advised by the driver, and glide above the rainforest canopy to Caravonica Lakes. Tour concludes at approximately 3.00pm, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.
Day 8 Cairns Tropical Zoo
Cairns Tropical Zoo is an award winning attraction where you will find a diversity of wildlife all just 20 minutes north of Cairns. As you meander through the Zoo’s tropical gardens, discover fascinating and rare animals both from Australia and other regions of the world. You may also have the opportunity to hold and have your photo taken with a koala (own expense). Located on 6 hectares of tropical landscaped gardens, Cairns Tropical Zoo has the largest, most comprehensive wildlife collection in Tropical North Queensland.
Day 9 Fly Cairns to Ayers Rock
Wayoutback Desert Safaris – 3 Day Goanna Dreaming 4WD Safari Ayers Rock to Alice
Incl 2 Nights Bush Camp Accommodation
A Wayoutback Desert Safaris vehicle will pick you up to commence a three day Goanna Dreaming Red Centre 4WD Safari. Head to the Cultural Centre where you have the opportunity to learn about the local Aboriginal law and religion (Tjukurpa) before a short guided walk at the base of Uluru. At the base commence the 2 to 2.5 hour climb of the rock. On conclusion of the climb experience the famous changing colours of Uluru at sunset, complete with sparkling wine and nibbles. Dinner is at the camp site this evening. Lunch and dinner are included today.
Overnight campsite accommodation at Ayers Rock.
Day 10 Sunrise at Ayers Rock, Valley of the Winds/Kings Creek Cattle Station
From a lookout close to the campsite, view sunrise over Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) before rolling up the swags and heading off to Kata Tjuta for a leisurely 7km walk through the ‘Valley of the Winds’. Lunch is included before travelling to Kings Creek Cattle Station for a second night of bush camping, situated in an idyllic and private campsite co mplete with unique bush toilet and shower. With nobody else for miles, this camp has stunning views out over the George Gill Ranges and gives you a real feel for the outback. Dinner around the campfire makes for a very social time with another night out under the stars. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
Overnight campsite accommodation at Kings Creek Station.
Day 11 Visit Kings Canyon and the Lost City
A leisurely start to the day before heading off to Watarrka (Kings Canyon) for a mind blowing 7km walk through the towering walls, crevices and plateaus of Watarrka. Visit the Amphitheatre and the Lost City plus a swim in the tranquil ‘Garden of Eden’ if you wish. Lunch is included. Later in the day, journey to Alice Springs travelling on a typical outback dirt road. Breakfast and lunch are included today. Tour concludes in Alice Springs at approximately 6.00pm, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.
Day 12 Fly Alice Springs to Melbourne
Enjoy a walk round the city upon arrival in Melbourne.
Day 13 Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife – Full Day Tour
Journey to the Gippsland region and visit Warrook, a working cattle farm, for the opportunity to pat and feed kangaroos, wallabies and a host of farm animals. Encounter koalas in their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Centre and stroll along elevated boardwalks to spot koalas in the trees. View spectacular coastal scenery at the Nobbies, two rocky outcrops abundant in marine life. From the walkways you may be able to catch a glimpse of Australia’s largest population of fur seals living along the coastline. Browse through the Phillip Island Visitors Information Centre and learn about the little penguins and life on this island. Watch as the Little Penguins battle the surf and make their way to their dune burrows, learn of the environmental and conservation methods that are initiated to ensure the wildlife and vulnerable geology of Phillip Island remains protected. See the Little Penguins up close as they return to their nests to greet their young families, before returning to Melbourne.
Day 14 Great Ocean Road Adventure – Full Day Tour
Journey to the popular coastal townships of Torquay and Lorne – a surfer’s haven and retreat, pass world famous Bells Beach, home to World Surfing Championships and see many gullies and river inlets. Travel the length of the Great Ocean Road passing towering limestone cliffs, sweeping white beaches and stunning forest scenery. Witness a fabulous spectacle of massive natural erosion. View the amazing Twelve Apostles – limestone stacks rising dramatically from the Southern Ocean and visit the Information Centre. Walk among the boardwalk enjoying the scenery from various viewing platforms. See Loch Ard Gorge and be swept away by the romantic and tragic story of love and lives lost aboard the Loch Ard. Explore Port Campbell National Park and discover the tragic history of over 50 ships wrecked along the rugged coastline. Continue beyond Port Campbell to the remnants of London Bridge, Razorback and Island Arch before returning to Melbourne.
Day 15 Fly Melbourne to Los Angeles
Inclusions
- Airfare and airline taxes – international flights between Los Angles and Australia and domestic flights as stated above – international flights via Fiji – ask about a stop-over
- Accommodation – 14 nights
- Goods & Services Tax
- All airport/hotel transfers
- Sydney Opera House Tour
- Taronga Zoo Admission
- Blue Mountains and Australian Wildlife Tour
- Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Tour
- Kuranda Rail &Skyrail Tour
- Cairns Tropical Zoo Admission
- Wayoutback Desert Safaris – 3 Day Goanna Dreaming 4WD Safari Ayers Rock to Alice
- Phillip Island Penguins & Wildlife Tour
- Great Ocean Road Adventure Tour
No meals are included but please request pricing for breakfasts at all hotels. Children are welcome when sharing accommodation at no additional cost.
Based on two people traveling:
Please ask for rates on your preferred dates
Upgrades in accommodation available – please request pricing
***Have a stop-over in Fiji – please ask for details***