Itinerary
- Day 1
Melbourne
You'll land in Melbourne and grab a taxi or Uber to your hotel whenever suits you. The afternoon is open for exploring on your own terms. The free City Circle Tram offers a nice way to see central Melbourne and the Docklands, and it includes audio commentary if you want more context about what you're seeing. Just look for the specially marked tram stops around the city.
- Start point
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Arrive at the Hotel, 15:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Victoria Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Ride the free City Circle Tram through central Melbourne and Docklands with audio commentary
Landmarks City Circle Tram Melbourne Docklands 
- Day 2
Melbourne - Phillip Island
Meet your guide at Federation Square at 10:50 am with an orange umbrella for a guided walk through Melbourne's historic city centre. You'll learn about Victoria's capital before heading to the Savoy Hotel. Around 1:35 pm, board the Phillip Island tour where you'll see koalas, kangaroos, and fur seals. The main event is the Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach later in the evening when little penguins come back from the ocean after dark.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Victoria Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided ranger walk through Phillip Island Koala Reserve with presentation
- Walk along The Nobbies boardwalks to spot little penguins in burrows
- View The Blowhole with crashing waves on volcanic rock
- Spot Australian fur seals at Seal Rocks
- Famous Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach
Optional Activities
- 2-hour walking tour of Melbourne's historic city centre with local guide
Landmarks Federation Square Phillip Island Koala Reserve The Nobbies Seal Rocks Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach - Day 3
Great Ocean Road
This full-day coastal drive takes you along one of Australia's best routes. You'll start with a photo stop at the Memorial Arch and watch for wild koalas. After morning tea, there's a scenic drive with lunch in Apollo Bay (pay separately). A guided walk through Melba Gully rainforest gets you to Cascades waterfall. Later you'll see the 12 Apostles rock formations, explore Loch Ard Gorge with its shipwreck history, and take in dramatic formations like The Archway and Razorback. You head back to Melbourne by evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Victoria Hotel)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive along Great Ocean Road with morning tea stop
- Photo opportunity at Memorial Arch
- Guided walk through Melba Gully rainforest in Great Otway National Park to Cascades waterfall
- Visit 12 Apostles rock formations
- Explore Loch Ard Gorge and shipwreck history
- View The Archway, Razorback, and Dumpling Pots rock formations
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Apollo Bay village (own expense)
Landmarks Memorial Arch Apollo Bay Great Otway National Park Melba Gully Cascades waterfall 12 Apostles Loch Ard Gorge The Archway Razorback Dumpling Pots 
- Day 4
Melbourne to Sydney
The XPT train departs Melbourne at 8:30 am and pulls into Sydney at 7:45 pm, a 12-hour journey through Victorian countryside. You'll cross the Murray River into New South Wales around lunchtime and pass through Wagga Wagga and Cootamundra before climbing through the Southern Highlands. Once you arrive in Sydney, arrange a taxi or Uber to your hotel. If you're not too tired by evening, walking around Darling Harbour for dinner and waterfront views is a nice way to see the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (ibis Sydney World Square)
Optional Activities
- Walk around Darling Harbour to explore restaurants, bars, and people-watch
Landmarks Melbourne Southern Cross Station Sydney Central Station Murray River Wagga Wagga Darling Harbour 
- Day 5
Sydney
You have a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass covering 34 stops around Sydney. Hit the major sites like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Bondi Beach, Rose Bay, and Centennial Parklands at your own pace. The open-air views and multilingual commentary help you understand what you're seeing, and the Big Bus app gives you live tracking. At 6:00 pm, join a guided walking tour through The Rocks to explore the historic laneways where Europe's first settlement in Australia began. You'll hear stories about the area's colorful history, old pubs, breweries, and some darker tales of murders and mysteries.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (ibis Sydney World Square)
Included Activities
- Hop-on hop-off bus tour with 34 stops across Sydney and Bondi with multilingual commentary
- The Rocks Walking Tour exploring laneways, historic pubs, breweries, and historic buildings
Optional Activities
- Captain Cook Harbour Cruise past city skyline, hidden beaches, and parklands
Landmarks Circular Quay Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge The Rocks Bondi Beach Rose Bay Royal Botanic Gardens Centennial Parklands Sydney Tower Eye Maritime Museum Observatory Hill Foundation Park Susannah Place Big Dig archaeological site - Day 6
Blue Mountains
Travel 1.5 hours west to the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage area. Sydney Zoo is first (admission included) where you'll get close to kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, emus, and wombats. You can hand-feed wallabies and take a digital photo with a koala, plus you get 30 minutes to explore on your own. After a scenic drive and lunch in Leura, you reach Echo Point to see the Three Sisters rock formation. At Scenic World (admission included), you experience three different transport options: ride the world's steepest railway down into Jamison Valley, take the Scenic Cableway back up, and cross a cable car 270 m above ground on the Scenic Skyway for views that stretch for miles.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (ibis Sydney World Square)
Included Activities
- Short guided tour of Sydney Zoo with encounter with Australian wildlife
- Hand-feed wallabies at Sydney Zoo
- Digital photo with a Koala at Sydney Zoo
- 30 minutes free time at Sydney Zoo
- Scenic drive along Cliff Drive to Echo Point
- View of Three Sisters rock formation
- Ride the Scenic Railway down Jamison Valley at Scenic World
- Glide back up on Scenic Cableway at Scenic World
- Cross on Scenic Skyway cable car spanning the valley at Scenic World
Landmarks Blue Mountains Sydney Zoo Leura Echo Point Three Sisters rock formation Scenic World Katoomba Jamison Valley Katoomba Falls 
- Day 7
Sydney to Cairns
Arrange a taxi from your Sydney hotel to the airport for your included flight to Cairns. After landing at Cairns Airport, catch a taxi or sort your own transport to your hotel. The evening is yours to explore Cairns, the tropical capital of North Queensland and your entry point to the Great Barrier Reef. If time allows, strolling along the marina with a drink at a waterfront bar gives you a chance to watch the reef boats come back in as the sun sets.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Apartments or similar)
Optional Activities
- Stroll along the marina to enjoy a drink at waterfront bars
- Watch reef boats return in the late afternoon
Landmarks Cairns Cairns Marina 
- Day 8
Fitzroy Island
A scenic 50-minute ferry takes you from Cairns to Fitzroy Island on the Great Barrier Reef. This quiet island has lush rainforest and sits surrounded by clear water and coral reefs. You can walk through National Park trails in the rainforest, relax on the beach, or explore the crystal-clear reef waters. Optional activities include snorkelling to see colorful coral and fish, or a glass-bottom boat tour if you'd rather stay dry while observing the underwater world.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Apartments or similar)
Included Activities
- 50-minute scenic ferry cruise from Cairns to Fitzroy Island
Optional Activities
- Snorkelling in the barrier reef's crystal-clear waters
- Glass-bottom boat tour
- Rainforest walks and National Park walking tracks and circuits
- Relax and explore time on tropical island beach
Landmarks Fitzroy Island Great Barrier Reef - Day 9
Green Island
A high-speed catamaran carries you to Green Island, the only coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef with its own rainforest. During the cruise, you'll hear about reef habitat and snorkelling techniques. When you arrive at this 6,000-year-old coral cay, you step onto white sand with turquoise water and green palms around you. See the underwater world through a glass-bottom boat where you'll spot colorful coral and fish, or snorkel yourself to swim with angelfish and clownfish. The afternoon lets you relax on the beach or try optional activities like a semi-submarine tour or buffet lunch before heading back to Cairns.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Apartments or similar)
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran cruise to Green Island
- Informative snorkelling and reef presentation during cruise
- Glass-bottom boat tour to view underwater marine life
- Access to island beaches and rainforest
Optional Activities
- Snorkelling in the barrier reef waters
- Semi-submarine tour
- Buffet lunch
Landmarks Green Island Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 10
Depart Cairns
Check out of your hotel this morning and arrange a taxi or Uber to Cairns Airport if you're heading out today. Thanks for spending time exploring Australia.
- End point
- Cairns, Queensland, Australia (Check out of the Hotel, 10:00)
Landmarks Cairns Airport
