Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney
You'll arrive in Sydney and head to your hotel on your own. Your Holiday Director will connect with you tomorrow for an orientation meeting, so take the evening to settle in and rest up after your journey.
- Day 2
Sydney
This is your day to explore Sydney at your own pace. Wander around the neighbourhoods, grab lunch somewhere local, or just relax and get your bearings. There's no scheduled activities, so you've got total freedom to do what appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Sydney independently
- Day 3
Sydney
Join the group sightseeing tour hitting Sydney's main spots: the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour, and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. This evening you'll have a welcome drink and dinner with the other travellers, a good chance to meet everyone.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome dinner with travelling companions)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Sydney highlights
- Visit Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Visit Sydney Opera House
- Visit Bondi Beach
- Visit Hyde Park
- Visit Darling Harbour
- Visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair
- Welcome drink and dinner
Landmarks Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Opera House Bondi Beach Hyde Park Darling Harbour Mrs Macquarie's Chair - Day 4
Sydney - Blue Mountains
If you sign up for this optional excursion, you'll spend the day in the Blue Mountains seeing the Three Sisters rock formation and Jamieson Valley. At Scenic World, you can choose between riding the world's steepest incline railway down into ancient rainforest or taking a cable car across the valley. It's a full day if you go.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Full day Blue Mountains excursion
- Visit Three Sisters rock formation
- Journey through Jamieson Valley
- Visit Scenic World
- Scenic World steepest incline railway ride into rainforest
- Scenic World cable-car ride over the valley
Landmarks Three Sisters Jamieson Valley Scenic World - Day 5
Sydney
You have two excellent optional choices today. Either climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge with safety gear and a guide (includes a group photo, cap, and certificate), or take a guided tour inside the Sydney Opera House to learn its history and see areas not normally open to visitors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided Sydney Harbour Bridge climb with safety briefing and harness
- Guided Sydney Opera House tour
Landmarks Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Opera House - Day 6
Sydney - Port Stephens - Port Macquarie
Head north along the coast toward Port Stephens, known for its white-sand beaches, quiet bays, and sand dunes. You'll have leisure time to relax here before continuing on to Port Macquarie later in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coastal journey to Port Stephens
- Leisure time in Port Stephens
Optional Activities
- Dolphin-watching cruise in Port Stephens
Landmarks Port Stephens - Day 7
Port Macquarie - Byron Bay - Gold Coast - Brisbane
Continue up the coast to Byron Bay, where you'll stop to see the iconic lighthouse perched on a rocky point and walk around this laid-back beach town. Later you'll pass through the Gold Coast with its string of famous beaches before arriving in Brisbane by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coastal journey to Byron Bay
- Visit Byron Bay lighthouse
- Journey along Gold Coast
Landmarks Byron Bay Lighthouse - Day 8
Brisbane
Brisbane is yours to explore, or you can join an optional trip to North Stradbroke Island, the world's second largest sand island. If you go, spend time on the beach or take a walk through the bush looking for kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to North Stradbroke Island
- Beach relaxation on North Stradbroke Island
- Bush walk on North Stradbroke Island
Landmarks North Stradbroke Island - Day 9
Brisbane - Cairns
Start with a tour of Brisbane this morning, seeing the city's architecture and riverside setting. In the afternoon, you'll fly to Cairns, which serves as your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. You'll arrive with time to settle into your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning tour of Brisbane
Landmarks Brisbane River - Day 10
Cairns - Great Barrier Reef
Board a catamaran heading out to the outer reef. You can watch marine life from a semi-submersible or through an underwater observatory without getting wet, or snorkel with provided gear and a guide if you prefer. Lunch is included on the boat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Catamaran trip to outer Great Barrier Reef
- Semi-submersible viewing of Great Barrier Reef
- Underwater observatory viewing of Great Barrier Reef
- Snorkelling at Great Barrier Reef with equipment and guidance
- Lunch
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 11
Cairns - Atherton Tablelands
You can relax in Cairns today or take the optional Kuranda Railway excursion. If you go, you'll ride the Skyrail Cableway gliding above and through rainforest, then have free time in Kuranda village before returning on the scenic railway past Barron Falls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Kuranda Railway excursion
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway ride
- Free time in Kuranda village
- Kuranda Scenic Railway journey with Barron Falls viewing
Landmarks Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Kuranda Kuranda Scenic Railway Barron Falls - Day 12
Cairns
This is a rest day to recharge. Spend it relaxing by the pool or beach, or if you want to stay active, explore more of what Cairns and the surrounding area have to offer on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Cairns independently
- Day 13
Cairns - Uluru
Fly inland to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the national park. This massive sandstone rock is one of the world's most recognisable natural landmarks, and you'll see it at sunset when the colours shift across its face. An optional evening visit to the Field of Light installation is available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Uluru
- Sunrise viewing of Uluru
- Sunset viewing of Uluru
Optional Activities
- Field of Light installation visit
Landmarks Uluru Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Day 14
Uluru - Alice Springs
Wake early to watch the sunrise paint Uluru in warm tones, then explore caves at the base to see Aboriginal art on the rock walls. Later you'll spot Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a range of 36 rock domes, before heading to Alice Springs for an outback bush barbecue with traditional local food.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Aussie bush barbecue sampling local traditional cuisine)
Included Activities
- Uluru sunrise visit
- Cave exploration at Uluru base with Aboriginal art viewing
- Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) viewing
- Journey to Alice Springs
- Aussie bush barbecue dinner
Landmarks Uluru Kata Tjuta - Day 15
Alice Springs - Adelaide
Fly to Adelaide, South Australia's main city. You'll arrive and settle in, with time to explore the city on your own or rest before tomorrow's activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Adelaide
- Day 16
Adelaide - Barossa Valley
Start with a tour of Adelaide's highlights including Adelaide Oval, parkland, and St Peter's Cathedral. Then head to the Barossa Valley wine region, stopping at Jacobs Creek for tastings and lunch, followed by the award-winning Wolf Blass winery for more tastings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tour of Adelaide highlights
- Visit Adelaide Oval
- Visit St Peter's Cathedral
- Journey to Barossa Valley
- Jacobs Creek visitor centre wine tasting
- Lunch
- Wolf Blass winery visit with wine tasting
Landmarks Adelaide Oval St Peter's Cathedral Barossa Valley Jacobs Creek Wolf Blass - Day 17
Adelaide - Warrnambool
Leave Adelaide this morning and travel south along the coast toward Warrnambool. You'll spend the drive taking in the coastal landscape and arrive by evening to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coastal journey to Warrnambool
- Day 18
Warrnambool - Melbourne
Drive to Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road, one of the world's most scenic coastal routes. You'll see the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks (with eight still standing), the Arch, and numerous other rock formations along the way. The drive takes most of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Journey along Great Ocean Road
- Visit Twelve Apostles
- View the Arch
- View rock formations
Landmarks Great Ocean Road Twelve Apostles - Day 19
Melbourne
Take a tour of Melbourne this morning. You'll see Federation Square, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Flinders Street Station, the Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park Lake, and Fitzroy Gardens with its tree-lined paths and the historic Fairies' Tree sculpture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour of Melbourne
- Visit Federation Square
- Visit Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Visit Flinders Street Station
- View Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park Lake
- Visit Fitzroy Gardens
- View Fairies' Tree sculpture
Landmarks Federation Square Melbourne Cricket Ground Flinders Street Station Albert Park Lake Fitzroy Gardens - Day 20
Melbourne - Phillip Island
You have a free day to discover Melbourne on your own, or join an optional trip to Phillip Island to watch the penguin parade. At sunset, hundreds of the world's smallest penguins come ashore and waddle to their burrows. You'll watch from viewing stands and boardwalks for a close-up experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Phillip Island
- Penguin parade viewing at Phillip Island
Landmarks Phillip Island - Day 21
Melbourne
Your trip ends today as you say goodbye to your travelling companions and head home with memories from your journey through Australia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
