Highlights of Australia

Australia Touring Highlights:

• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a UNESCO Heritage World Heritage site to witness an unforgettable sunset and sunrise
• Guided Uluru Base Tour to hear stories of the Anangu
• Join an Anangu artist to try your hand at Aboriginal Dot Painting
• Walk through two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta at Walpa Gorge
• Cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef – a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Guided tour of the Sydney Opera House
• Cruise Sydney Harbour and see the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Take a stroll along the promenade at Sydney’s Bondi Beach
• Learn about Indigenous art on a guided tour and lunch at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

Sample Tour Itinerary (Subject to Change)

Day 1: Arrive in Melbourne, Australia

Welcome to Australia.  Arrive into Melbourne and your day is at leisure before meeting your fellow travellers in the evening.

Day 3: Melbourne

Today you have free time to explore boutiques, galleries, eclectic suburbs, a deep dive into Melbourne’s culinary offerings or perhaps explore on foot with a history and donuts walking tour. You may also venture beyond the city limits on a journey along the Great Ocean Road., the legendary stretch of coastline and one of the most breathtaking touring routes.

Day 4: Melbourne – Uluṟu (Ayers Rock)

Travel into the red centre of Australia today. The rusty red landscapes of Uluru beckon as you leave Melbourne and fly to Ayers Rock. Your backdrop this afternoon is the world’s largest rock monolith. Follow your guide to the perfect perch to capture Uluru as the last of the day disappears, glass of bubbles in hand.

Day 5: Uluṟu & Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)

The only reason to get out of bed before dawn – a magical Uluru sunrise. It’s a spiritual place, with stories of the Anangu, caretakers of this remote arid landscape revealed while you tour the base. Later, an Anangu artist will explain what makes it so spiritual over an introduction to Western Desert art, introducing totems and symbols important to the region and represented in paintings and installations. The red desert follows you to Kata Tjuta (also known as The Olgas), where nature humbles as you walk through the towering domes of this ancient rock formation.

Day 6: Uluṟu – Cairns

Another excellent reason to rise early is to experience artist Bruce Munro’s installation Field of Light at dawn – 50,000 glowing spindles of light blanketing the Australian desert. Climb to the top of a sand dune to marvel at the morning unfolding over this very special part of the world. Later, depart Ayers Rock and fly to tropical Cairns on Australia’s East Coast.

Day 7: Cairns

Today is free time in Cairns, the choice is yours with a variety of optional experiences  available (additional expense). Cruising with crocs, a scenic railway ride into World Heritage listed rainforest? Take a historic rail journey winding across bridges and through tunnels to Kuranda village, nestled in a tropical rainforest to explore its colourful and interesting arts and crafts. Return to the lowlands on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over and through the some of the oldest rainforest in the world. You can also choose to pair your trip to Kuranda with a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile for a wetlands cruise through the ecologically significant Melaleuca wetlands, the home of the saltwater crocodile. Or take a wander along the Cairns Esplanade. Celebrate the end of an incredible day at dinner on Cairns’ waterfront for fresh seafood.

Day 8: The Great Barrier Reef

The world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, never fails to dazzle. Set out on a catamaran to explore a kaleidoscope of colour: over 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents. Strap on a snorkel or visit an underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft to take in the menagerie without getting your hair wet.

Day 9: Cairns – Sydney

Depart Cairns and fly south to Sydney, Australia’s largest city with a harbour you could gaze at all day. Spend time at leisure in the buzzing metropolis of Sydney. Take a stroll along the iconic harbour, visit one of the city’s many restaurants, or simply while away the day at the beach.

Day 10: Sydney

Bring your stamina: today is one of innumerable highlights. Go on a tour of the Sydney Opera House, discovering its architectural and performance secrets. If these sails could talk. Then see the city from the water on a Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise, enjoying a menu focusing on local food and wine. One icon to another: The world’s most famous beach beckons this afternoon, with your chance to pad along the sand at Bondi with Sydney’s beautiful people.

Day 11: Sydney

Today is at leisure to explore and perhaps take one of the great optional excursions (additional expense). The hardest decision you must make today: explore more of Sydney, or head to the Blue Mountains, 11,400 sq. km of World Heritage listed wilderness, a place where sandstone escarpments appear to cleave off the edge of the Earth and waterfall-cooled valleys of rainforest slip dreamily from the pages of a fairytale (own expense).

Day 12: Sydney

This morning you have some free time, so you may choose to sleep in or take an early morning walk around Circular Quay to enjoy last views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Late morning, stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden to the Art Gallery of NSW for a guided tour and lunch. The art gallery houses some spectacular First Nations art as well as contemporary and classic pieces. Your guided tour will be focused on First Nations and Australian art. Afterwards, enjoy lunch infused with native Australian flavours. Talk about ending on a high

Day 13: Depart Sydney, Australia

After your epic Australian journey exploring so many iconic places in less than two weeks, now you just have to sort through the photos! Transfer to Sydney Airport for your onward flight (International airfare additional expense).

Ask our Destination Specialists about adding the best flights to your Australia Tour. If you are looking for something else we have many other Australia and New Zealand guided tours to choose from.