Itinerary
- Day 1
Departure to Australia
Your trip kicks off with an included flight to Melbourne. You'll head to the airport in first class on the train, then settle into economy for the flight itself with your airline.
- Day 2
In Transit to Melbourne
After a brief stop along the way, you'll continue on toward Melbourne where you'll arrive and get settled.
- Day 3
Arrival
You'll be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel, which gives you time to settle in before the 3 PM check-in. At 6 PM, meet your tour guide at the hotel for a welcome drink where you can get to know the other travelers on the trip.
Included Activities
- Welcome drink and meet tour participants
- Day 4
Melbourne
A guided tour takes you through Melbourne's main cultural sites. You'll see Fitzroy Gardens, the historic main post office, Parliament of Victoria, and St. Patrick's Church. By afternoon, you can choose between an optional boat trip down the Yarra River or head out to catch the penguin parade on Phillip Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour visiting Fitzroy Gardens
- Visit old main post office
- Visit Parliament of Victoria
- Visit St. Patrick's Church
Optional Activities
- Boat trip on the Yarra River
- Penguin parade on Phillip Island
Landmarks Fitzroy Gardens Parliament of Victoria St. Patrick's Church Yarra River Phillip Island - Day 5
Great Ocean Road to Mount Gambier
Drive along the Great Ocean Road, one of the world's most well-known coastal routes. You'll stop at Loch Ard to see the rock formations and the Twelve Apostles, where wind and water have carved the landscape over thousands of years. Pass through Warrnambool and Port Fairy, then continue to Mount Gambier by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive along Great Ocean Road
- Visit Loch Ard rock formations
- Visit the Twelve Apostles
Landmarks Great Ocean Road Loch Ard Twelve Apostles Warrnambool Port Fairy 
- Day 6
Mount Gambier to Kangaroo Island
Start with a visit to Blue Lake, which shifts from blue to grayish depending on the season. From there, drive through the Fleurieu Peninsula to Cape Jervis and take the ferry across to Kangaroo Island, known for its diverse wildlife living in natural surroundings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Blue Lake
- Ferry crossing to Kangaroo Island
Landmarks Blue Lake Fleurieu Peninsula Cape Jervis Kangaroo Island - Day 7
Kangaroo Island
Spend the day on Kangaroo Island exploring Flinders National Park and the Koala Sanctuary at Hanson Bay. The real highlight is Seal Bay, where a ranger takes you out to see the rare sea lions up close. Later, you'll take the ferry back to the mainland and arrive in Adelaide by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Flinders National Park
- Visit Koala Sanctuary in Hanson Bay
- Ranger-led visit to Seal Bay
- Ferry return to mainland
Landmarks Flinders National Park Koala Sanctuary Seal Bay - Day 8
Adelaide
This day is yours to plan. Walk through the Botanical Gardens at your own pace or check out the National Wine Center. If you're interested, there's an optional trip to the nearby Barossa Valley wine region where you can taste local wines.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Botanical Gardens
- Visit National Wine Center
- Optional half-day excursion to Barossa Valley (bookable on site)
Landmarks Botanical Gardens National Wine Center Barossa Valley - Day 9
Alice Springs
Fly to Alice Springs and transfer to your hotel. After settling in, you'll visit the restored telegraph station and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to learn how the flying doctors operate across remote areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit historic telegraph station
- Visit Royal Flying Doctor Service
Landmarks Telegraph Station Historic Reserve - Day 10
Red Center to Kings Canyon
Drive through the Red Center to Watarrka National Park and experience Kings Canyon with its red rocky backdrop and cliffs rising about 100 meters high. Where water flows through this dry landscape, you'll find lush green vegetation. Take a short hike (around 45 minutes) along the canyon bottom to get a feel for the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short hike along Kings Canyon bottom (approximately 45 minutes)
Optional Activities
- Longer circular hike of Kings Canyon (available next morning)
Landmarks Watarrka National Park Kings Canyon - Day 11
Kings Canyon to Uluru
Reach Uluru, Australia's most well-known landmark. Drive around the massive monolith and stop at several spots for short walks. Learn from your guide why the rock is sacred to Aboriginal people, and then watch the colors shift at sunset with a glass of sparkling wine in hand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sunrise and sunset viewing at Uluru
- Short hikes around Uluru
- Sunset sparkling wine viewing
Landmarks Uluru (Ayers Rock) 
- Day 12
Uluru to Alice Springs
Wake up early to see the colors play across Uluru at sunrise. After that, visit Kata Tjuta, which has 36 rock domes, and then head back to Alice Springs for the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Uluru
- Visit Kata Tjuta (Olgas)
Landmarks Uluru (Ayers Rock) Kata Tjuta (Olgas) - Day 13
Alice Springs
Start at the Desert Park to see Australian animals in open-air settings. Check out darkened enclosures with nocturnal lizards, snakes, and marsupials. Later, take a trip to the Western MacDonnell Ranges to see Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap. In the evening, board the 'Ghan', the legendary desert train, for your journey north.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Desert Park
- Visit Standley Chasm
- Visit Simpsons Gap
- Ride on legendary desert train 'Ghan'
Landmarks Desert Park Western MacDonnell Ranges Standley Chasm Simpsons Gap - Day 14
Ghan Train to Darwin
Have breakfast on the train while watching the outback pass by. The 'Ghan' stops in Katherine, where you can take a boat trip through Nitmiluk National Park to see the natural landscape. By early evening, you'll arrive in Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territories.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Breakfast onboard Ghan train
- Boat trip in Nitmiluk National Park
Landmarks Katherine Nitmiluk National Park - Day 15
Darwin to Kakadu National Park
Head out to Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Nourlangie Rock to see Aboriginal rock paintings and dwellings that are 20,000 years old. Stop at the Warradjan Cultural Center where you can learn about Aboriginal traditions, hunting methods, and cultural practices.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kakadu National Park
- View Nourlangie Rock and Aboriginal rock paintings
- Visit Warradjan Cultural Center
Landmarks Kakadu National Park Nourlangie Rock Warradjan Cultural Center - Day 16
Yellow Waters Lagoon to Darwin
Start early with a boat trip on Yellow Waters Lagoon where colorful parrots, whistling kites, and saltwater crocodiles show up regularly. On the way back to Darwin, you'll pass Parliament House and the Governor's residence. An optional sunset boat trip in Darwin's harbor is available if you want to stay out later.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Yellow Waters Lagoon
Optional Activities
- Sunset boat trip in Darwin's natural harbor
Landmarks Yellow Waters Lagoon Parliament House, Darwin Governor's residence, Darwin - Day 17
Darwin to Cairns
Fly from Darwin up to Cairns, which sits in tropical Queensland. The landscape shifts noticeably as you head into the rainforest region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 18
Great Barrier Reef
Today you'll get out to the Great Barrier Reef. Depending on what appeals to you, snorkel, dive, swim, or take a glass-bottom boat to see the corals and fish without getting wet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef experience including snorkeling, diving, swimming, or glass-bottom boat trip
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 19
Atherton Tablelands to Kuranda
A historic train takes you through rainforest up to the Atherton Tablelands, stopping in the village of Kuranda. Visit the cultural center to learn about the history and way of life of Australia's indigenous people. In the afternoon, take the longest cable car in the southern hemisphere back down, traveling through the rainforest canopy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Ride on historic Kuranda Railway
- Visit Kuranda cultural center
- Cable car ride through rainforest
Landmarks Atherton Tablelands Kuranda - Day 20
Sydney
Explore Sydney, Australia's largest city, and take in the vibrant energy of the place. As evening comes, relax at one of the pubs or restaurants around Darling Harbour and soak in the harbor views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore pubs and restaurants at Darling Harbour
Landmarks Darling Harbour - Day 21
Sydney
Check out Sydney's main attractions starting with Watsons Bay for views of The Gap cliffs at the harbor entrance. Walk through the Botanic Gardens to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Head to Bondi Beach, then take a boat tour around the harbor at lunchtime. Finish the day walking through The Rocks, the historic district with old buildings and narrow streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Watsons Bay and The Gap viewpoint
- Visit Botanic Gardens
- Visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair
- Visit Bondi Beach
- Harbor tour boat trip
- Explore The Rocks district
Landmarks Watsons Bay The Gap Botanic Gardens Sydney Opera House Harbour Bridge Mrs Macquarie's Chair Bondi Beach The Rocks - Day 22
Blue Mountains
Visit Blue Mountains National Park, named for the blue haze that eucalyptus trees create in the air. Stop at Echo Point to see the Three Sisters rock formation. Walk through Wentworth Falls and spend time taking in the natural beauty of this well-known landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Blue Mountains National Park
- View Three Sisters rock formation from Echo Point
- Visit Wentworth Falls
Landmarks Blue Mountains National Park Echo Point Three Sisters Wentworth Falls - Day 23
Return to Airport
A transfer takes you to the airport for your departure, wrapping up the main portion of your tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 24
Arrival in Germany
You arrive in Germany and continue with your own arrangements to get back home.
