Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney
You'll meet your leader and group at the hotel at 6 pm, then head to Darling Harbour for an included welcome dinner. After eating, take a walk around the waterfront to get a feel for the area before returning to settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner along Darling Harbour)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner along Darling Harbour
- Post-dinner waterfront stroll
- Day 2
Sydney to Katoomba
Start with an orientation walk through The Rocks and Circular Quay to see the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Botanical Gardens. Board the Mari Nawi for the Tribal Warrior Cruise to learn about First Nations culture, stories and fishing techniques with a traditional performance. Later, drive to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains for a two-night stay.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk of The Rocks and Circular Quay
- Tribal Warrior Harbour Cruise with Aboriginal Guide
- Traditional dance and music performance
Landmarks/POIs Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Opera House Royal Botanic Garden Sydney The Rocks Circular Quay Hickson's Reserve Campbells Cove - Day 3
Katoomba
Begin with a walk to Wentworth Falls and Fletchers Lookout for valley views. Afternoon options include Scenic World for the steep railway, rainforest boardwalks and cableway, or the 7 km Prince Henry Cliff Walk past hanging swamps and waterfalls. Visit Echo Point Lookout and do the Three Sisters Walk. Grab lunch at Lookout Restaurant, then head back to relax in Katoomba.
Included Activities
- Wentworth Falls Lookout
- Fletchers Lookout
- Echo Point Lookout
- Three Sisters Walk
Optional Activities
- Scenic World Visit - AUD54
- Prince Henry Cliff Walk - Free
Landmarks/POIs Wentworth Falls Fletchers Lookout Three Sisters Echo Point Lookout Scenic World Jamison Valley Orphan Rock Katoomba Falls - Day 4
Katoomba to Sydney
Explore Jenolan Caves, one of the oldest open cave systems over 340 million years old, seeing stalactites, stalagmites and learning about the Gundungurra people's connection to this sacred site. After that, visit a truffle farm in Oberon for a tasting experience with expert growers. Drive back to Sydney and gather for a celebration dinner (some travellers may depart tonight).
Included Activities
- Jenolan Caves visit
- Gundungurra cultural information at Jenolan Caves
- Private truffle tasting experience at Oberon
Landmarks/POIs Jenolan Caves Oberon - Day 5
Sydney to Alice Springs
Your hotel transfer takes you to Sydney Airport this morning. Fly to Alice Springs (flight not included), gateway to the Red Centre. Meet your new leader at 6 pm, then drive to Earth Sanctuary for a welcome gathering with outback barbeque dinner as the sun sets over the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges. Later, join a guided stargazing experience with an astronomer and look through Deep Sky Telescopes.
- Meals
- Dinner (Outback barbeque at Earth Sanctuary)
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting at hotel
- Visit to Earth Sanctuary
- Outback barbeque dinner
- Guided stargazing experience with astronomer
- Deep Sky Telescope viewing
Landmarks/POIs Earth Sanctuary Eastern MacDonnell Ranges - Day 6
Alice Springs to Watarrka
Head to Simpsons Gap in West MacDonnell Ranges National Park with a First Nations guide to spot rock wallabies and learn about local flora, fauna and the Tjunba totem story. Walk along the riverbed between Eastern and Northern Arrernte tribal boundaries. Drive through semi-desert to Watarrka National Park and Kings Canyon for the Kings Creek Walk. Have an included dinner, then optionally visit Light Towers for visual and aural displays.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Simpsons Gap guided Aboriginal cultural walk
- Kings Canyon Creek Walk
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Light Towers visit - AUD30
Landmarks/POIs Simpsons Gap West MacDonnell Ranges National Park Kings Canyon Watarrka National Park - Day 7
Watarrka to Uluru
Spend the morning on the Kings Canyon rim walk, going from the 'Lost City' sandstone domes to the 'Garden of Eden' oasis with palm forest views below. Drive across the landscape to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Visit Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a collection of 36 rock domes, and walk to a lookout. Head to Uluru to watch the sandstone monolith shift through colours at sunset.
Included Activities
- Kings Canyon Rim Walk
- Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge Walk
- Uluru sunset viewing
Landmarks/POIs Kings Canyon Kata Tjuta Uluru Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Day 8
Uluru
Watch sunrise over Uluru, then walk across the rust-coloured landscape to a waterhole to see traditional art sites. Your leader explains the history and the Anangu people's deep connection to the land. Visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn more about First Nations culture. Return to Yulara to say goodbye to your leader and group members before heading unaccompanied to Cairns.
Included Activities
- Uluru sunrise viewing
- Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre visit
Landmarks/POIs Uluru Mutitjulu Waterhole Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre - Day 9
Yulara to Cairns
The free airport shuttle takes you from the hotel to Yulara Airport this morning for your flight to Cairns (flight not included), gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Meet your new leader at 6 pm. Before then, explore the Cairns Botanical Gardens or wander the waterfront promenade and local bars, then join your group for an included dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting at hotel
- Included dinner
Optional Activities
- Cairns Botanical Gardens visit
- Waterfront promenade exploration
Landmarks/POIs Cairns Botanical Gardens - Day 10
Cairns to Port Douglas
After breakfast, glide 7.5 km on the Skyrail cableway over the world's oldest tropical rainforest to Kuranda. Check out the famous Kuranda Markets and village shops, or relax at local restaurants and cafes. Drive to Port Douglas with ocean and cliff views. Take an orientation walk around Port Douglas, stopping at Trinity Bay Lookout Point, then head to a restaurant for drinks and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- Kuranda Markets visit
- Kuranda Village visit
- Port Douglas leader-led orientation walk
- Trinity Bay Lookout Point visit
Landmarks/POIs Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Kuranda Trinity Bay Port Douglas - Day 11
Daintree National Park
Visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest for a one-hour wildlife spotting boat tour on the Solar Whisper electric boat along the Daintree River. Your guide helps you spot crocs, birdlife, snakes, frogs, crabs and fish. Head north to Cape Tribulation, stopping at Jindalba Boardwalk and a local ice cream factory along the way.
Included Activities
- Solar Whisper Daintree River Wildlife Cruise
- Jindalba Boardwalk visit
- Cape Tribulation visit
Landmarks/POIs Daintree National Park Daintree River Cape Tribulation Jindalba Boardwalk - Day 12
Great Barrier Reef
Join a full-day boat tour from Port Douglas exploring the Coral Cays on the Great Barrier Reef on a sailing boat with marine biologists. Learn about the fragile reef environment and head to an exclusive site for wildlife-focused snorkelling with equipment provided. Explore coral gardens at your own pace spotting corals, giant clams, turtles and fish. Enjoy a buffet lunch with prawns and afternoon tea on board while spotting wildlife from the glass-bottomed boat.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch including prawns on board), Snack (Afternoon tea with local Daintree produce)
Included Activities
- Full-day Great Barrier Reef tour
- Snorkelling at exclusive reef site
- Glass-bottomed boat viewing
- Buffet lunch with prawns
- Afternoon tea with local Daintree produce
Landmarks/POIs Great Barrier Reef Coral Cays - Day 13
Mossman Gorge to Palm Cove or Cairns
Head to Mossman Gorge for an Ngadiku Dreamtime walking tour led by a local Aboriginal guide. Learn stories and legends (Ngadiku means stories from long ago in Kuku Yalanji language) at culturally significant sites, traditional bark shelters and rainforest streams. Watch a traditional smoking ceremony, then walk through rainforest learning about traditional plant use and bush food sources. Have traditional bush tea and damper. Drive south to Palm Cove with stops to explore the scenic beachside town and grab lunch, then either end your trip here or continue to Cairns where your trip concludes at approximately 4 pm.
Included Activities
- Ngadiku Dreamtime walk with Aboriginal guide
- Traditional smoking ceremony
- Traditional bush tea and damper experience
Landmarks/POIs Mossman Gorge Palm Cove
