Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney
You'll touch down in Sydney and get driven to your hotel. Later on at 6 pm, there's a welcome drink where you'll meet the other travelers before heading to bed.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Sydney
This morning starts with a city tour hitting Sydney's main spots. You'll walk through the Botanical Gardens to catch views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from Mrs Macquarie Chair, then head down Oxford Street before reaching Bondi Beach. After lunch on a harbor tour, the rest of the day is yours to do what you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on a harbor tour)
Included Activities
- City tour of Sydney
- Stop at Botanical Gardens with views of Opera House and Harbour Bridge from Mrs Macquarie Chair
- Walk through Oxford Street shopping district
- Visit to Bondi Beach
- Harbor tour including lunch
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration of Sydney city on your own
Landmarks Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge Oxford Street Bondi Beach Mrs Macquarie Chair - Day 3
Sydney to Cairns
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to Sydney Airport for a flight to Cairns. Once there, a transfer takes you to your hotel in this tropical city, which will be your base for Great Barrier Reef trips.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Flight to Cairns
- Day 4
Great Barrier Reef
You'll head out to the Great Barrier Reef, located about 20 km from Cairns. There's time for snorkeling and swimming to explore the colorful underwater life. Diving is available if you want to add that on.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef excursion
- Snorkeling at Great Barrier Reef
- Swimming at Great Barrier Reef
Optional Activities
- Diving at Great Barrier Reef
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 5
Kuranda - Cairns
You'll ride a historic train through the rainforest toward the Atherton Tablelands, seeing sweeping views of the Pacific coast and reef along the way. In Kuranda, a jungle village about 60 km away, you'll learn about indigenous history and traditional customs. Later, the return trip to Cairns uses the southern hemisphere's longest cable car, floating over the rainforest canopy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Historic train journey through rainforest to Atherton Tablelands
- Visit to Kuranda village
- Learn about indigenous history, mythology and traditional way of life
- Cable car ride over rainforest canopy (longest in southern hemisphere)
Landmarks Atherton Tablelands Kuranda - Day 6
Cairns to Darwin
After transferring to Cairns Airport, you'll fly to Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory. This modern, multi-ethnic city has one of Australia's largest ports. You'll check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Flight to Darwin
- Day 7
Kakadu National Park
You'll start with a short Darwin city tour, then drive about 310 km to Kakadu National Park. There's a stop at Window on the Wetlands to see water birds and wetland views. In the afternoon, a boat trip on Yellow Waters Lagoon gives you chances to spot colorful parrots, whistling kites, and possibly saltwater crocodiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Darwin
- Stop at Window on the Wetlands
- Boat trip on Yellow Waters Lagoon
Landmarks Kakadu National Park Window on the Wetlands Yellow Waters Lagoon - Day 8
Katherine
You're exploring Kakadu's cultural heritage today, beginning at Nourlangie Rock where Aboriginal rock paintings go back roughly 20,000 years. After that, you'll head south about 270 km toward Katherine and take a boat through the rugged Nitmiluk Gorge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Nourlangie Rock
- Aboriginal rock paintings viewing
- Boat trip through Nitmiluk Gorge
Landmarks Nourlangie Rock Nitmiluk Gorge - Day 9
Tennant Creek
Heading south on the Stuart Highway through the outback, you'll travel roughly 680 km through Australia's adventurous landscape. There's a stop at Mataranka Hot Springs for a relaxing dip in the natural thermal pool. An optional lunch break happens at an outback pub in Daly Waters. You'll finish the day in Tennant Creek, a town known for an early 20th century gold rush.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Travel through outback on Stuart Highway
- Visit to Mataranka Hot Springs
- Swimming in natural thermal pool at Mataranka
Optional Activities
- Lunch stop at outback pub in Daly Waters
Landmarks Mataranka Hot Springs Daly Waters - Day 10
Alice Springs
After breakfast, you'll visit Devils Marbles, a striking formation of giant granite spheres spread across the desert. The coach crosses the Tropic of Capricorn as you leave the tropics and head toward Alice Springs, a quirky town in Australia's Red Center about 520 km away. You'll stop at Anzac Hill for views and the old telegraph station to learn about pioneering history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to Devils Marbles
- Visit to Anzac Hill
- Visit to old telegraph station
Landmarks Devils Marbles Tropic of Capricorn Anzac Hill Old Telegraph Station - Day 11
Alice Springs
The morning explores Alice Springs starting with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, where you'll learn how these remote outback doctors operate. Later, you head into West MacDonnell National Park to see gorges like Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap. Desert Park is next, featuring many endemic animal and bird species in open-air settings, all within about 100 km of the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Royal Flying Doctor Service
- Visit to West MacDonnell National Park
- Visit to Standley Chasm
- Visit to Simpsons Gap
- Visit to Desert Park
Landmarks Royal Flying Doctor Service West MacDonnell National Park Standley Chasm Simpsons Gap Desert Park - Day 12
Uluru
You'll drive roughly 450 km into the Red Center to reach Uluru (Ayers Rock). There's the option to circle the rock by air-conditioned coach or do short hikes to viewpoints around its base. The Aboriginal Cultural Center explains why the rock is sacred to Aboriginal people. Later you can walk to the Olgas dome-shaped rock formation about 60 km away. By evening, you'll watch the sunset colors play across the rock while having sparkling wine at a good vantage point.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Journey to Uluru (Ayers Rock)
- Coach tour circling Uluru
- Short hikes at foot of Uluru
- Visit to Aboriginal Cultural Center
- Visit to the Olgas
- Walking tour of the Olgas
- Sunset viewing at Uluru with sparkling wine
Landmarks Uluru Aboriginal Cultural Center Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) - Day 13
Coober Pedy
You'll catch the sunrise at Uluru early on, then drive via Marla Bore to Coober Pedy, Australia's opal center. Here you'll discover a unique underground settlement where residents live in 'dugouts' to stay cool in the intense desert heat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Uluru
- Journey to Coober Pedy
Landmarks Coober Pedy Marla Bore - Day 14
Adelaide
You're traveling roughly 860 km via Glendambo and Port Augusta to Adelaide, known as the city of churches and parks. The place has a cozy feel with charming buildings and lots of green space. You'll settle into your hotel for a two-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Journey to Adelaide
Landmarks Adelaide - Day 15
Adelaide
This day is flexible and yours to spend as you like. If you're interested, there are optional excursions to the Barossa Valley wine-growing region or Kangaroo Island, Australia's third largest island with seals, kangaroos, sea lions, koalas, emus and seabirds.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Barossa Valley wine-growing region
- Excursion to Kangaroo Island
Landmarks Barossa Valley Kangaroo Island - Day 16
Mt. Gambier
You'll visit the historic village of Hahndorf, then drive through the Coonawarra wine region to Mt. Gambier, about 450 km away. This town sits on the slopes of a volcano. You'll check into your accommodation for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit to historic Hahndorf
- Drive through Coonawarra wine region
Landmarks Hahndorf Coonawarra Mt. Gambier - Day 17
Melbourne
A stop in Port Fairy comes first, then you'll drive one of the world's most beautiful coastal roads, the Great Ocean Road. You'll see various viewpoints including the iconic 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. From there it's roughly 510 km through Colac and Geelong to Melbourne, Victoria's capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Stop at Port Fairy
- Drive along Great Ocean Road
- Visit to 12 Apostles viewpoint
- Visit to Loch Ard Gorge
Landmarks Port Fairy Great Ocean Road 12 Apostles Loch Ard Gorge 
- Day 18
Melbourne
You'll tour Melbourne's main sights including St. Patrick's Cathedral with its neo-Gothic style, Fitzroy Gardens, the General Post Office, and Parliament. The afternoon gives you free time to explore the city on your own or join an optional excursion to Phillip Island for the penguin parade.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Melbourne
- Visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Visit to Fitzroy Gardens
- Visit to General Post Office
- Visit to Parliament
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Phillip Island with penguin parade
Landmarks St. Patrick's Cathedral Fitzroy Gardens General Post Office Parliament of Victoria Phillip Island - Day 19
Melbourne
Your tour ends after breakfast today.
- Meals
- Breakfast
