Highlights of Australia

Your Australia highlights adventure begins in Sydney, renowned for its striking natural beauty and notable landmarks like the Sydney Opera House as well as its world-class restaurants and beautiful beaches. Upon your arrival you’ll be welcomed with a private transfer to your hotel in the city. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to relax after the long flight. If you have the energy, you can easily reach Bondi Beach from downtown with busses running regularly that make the five-mile journey. Often named among the top 10 beaches in Australia, it offers pristine sands edged by pristine clear blue waters.

Make your way to the Sydney Harbour Bridge this morning – it defines Sydney’s skyline and frames one of the world’s prettiest harbours. Here you’ll embark on a unique experience accompanied by a guide. The Bridge Climb climbs the steps and catwalks via to a height of 440 above sea level for breathtaking panoramic views of the city and its surrounds. Afterward, enjoy lunch and then head to the Sydney Opera House with its famous white-tiled sails for an afternoon tour, stepping beneath the sails to find out what happens behind the scenes. This evening you might want to dine at one of the harborside restaurants.

This morning you’ll take a day trip to Blue Mountains National Park, a verdant region with steep gorges that are frequently enveloped in a blue haze due to the mist of evaporating oil emanating from the many eucalyptus trees. Meet your private driver for the approximately 50-minute drive and then embark on a guided hike that takes about two hours complete. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of sheer cliffs and the unusual Three Sisters rock formation – it towers above the Jamison Valley overlooking eucalyptus forests and has cultural significance to the Aboriginal people. Stop to enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

Enjoy a relaxed morning taking in the city as you wish, perhaps a visit to one of Australia’s most popular museums, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, set in lush parklands overlooking Sydney Harbour. It displays five levels of art, including a vast collection of Australian art. This afternoon you’ll board a catamaran, cruising through the entrance of Sydney Harbour to search for Southern right whales that inhabit the waters around Sydney all year long. Humpbacks can be seen in June and July while migrating north to breed and on their return, when they arrive with their calves between September and November.

Saying farewell to Sydney this morning, your private driver will bring you to the airport where you catch a flight to Uluru in what’s known as the Red Center of the Northern Territory. Upon your arrival you’ll take private transfer to your accommodation. In the afternoon, meet up with your guide to discover this enchanting region, driving through Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to visit the three dozen red rock domes called The Olgas, and the highlight, world-famous Uluru rock. Relax with a glass of champagne while marvelling at the monolith as the sun splashes colour across the landscape, creating an unforgettable scene.

This morning you’ll rise early to watch a sunrise at Uluru, a spectacle you won’t soon forget. Your driver will bring you to the sunrise viewing area for this awe-inspiring experience that’s a must-do on every visitor’s list. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while watching the sun beam its rays over Uluru and the surrounding landscape, with the changing colours like Mother Nature’s own work of art. You’ll return to your accommodation afterward, with the rest of the day enjoyed at your leisure. This evening enjoy a memorable experience at Ayers Rock Resort, the Field of Light art installation.

You’ll have the morning to savour your last moments in the Australian Outback before taking transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a driver for transfer to your hotel in the city, with the rest of the day to enjoy at your leisure. This picturesque seaside city is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and offers many attractions of its own. You might want to relax at Esplanade Lagoon, which offers swimming and sunbathing while enjoying views of the mountains and Trinity Inlet. You’ll find plenty of restaurants here and nearby to enjoy too.

Today you’ll enjoy a day trip that begins with a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest cableway. This 90-minute trip will bring you over the oldest continually surviving rainforest canopy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Soak up the incredible views over Barron Gorge National Park on your own to Kuranda. Once there you can enjoy wildlife attractions like Kuranda Koala Gardens, Birdworld and the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, explore the local markets or relax in a café. Make your return via the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway which brings another spectacular perspective of Barron Gorge as you roll past cascading falls and steep mountain walls.

An exciting day lies ahead as you’ll hop on a high-speed catamaran for a full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise. You’ll stop to snorkel so that you can discover this incredible underwater world, including the striking beauty of the largest coral reef on the planet and an abundance of marine life like colourful fish and sea turtles. Back onboard you can relax while soaking up the sun and gazing out at hundreds of enchanting tropical islands. A buffet lunch will be served to help keep your energy up for all the fun too. After running to Cairns, you’ll transfer to Port Douglas for the night.

The world’s oldest tropical rainforest, Daintree, is an easy day trip from Port Douglas and a biodiversity hotspot. This morning after an early breakfast, your driver/guide will bring you here and to the Kulki Lookout in Cape Tribulation. You’ll enjoy gorgeous views of mountain peaks and unspoiled white sandy beaches that stretch to the Great Barrier Reef in the only place where reef meets rainforest on Earth. Afterward you’ll embark on a river cruise gliding through estuaries and mangroves to watch for saltwater crocodiles and an abundance of other wildlife, while learning all about what you’re seeing from a local expert.

You’ll have the day to yourself for exploring Port Douglas, enjoy relaxing on the beach, shop the boutique stores on Macrossan Street, or join another snorkelling excursion. Optional tours are available too, including one that will bring you to see Queensland’s wildlife, including crocodiles at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. This eco-adventure wildlife sanctuary offers incredibly close encounters with crocs and other creatures, including a big croc feed where you can get your photo taken while holding a baby crocodile. Or, visit Atherton Tablelands to taste the local produce at a classic farmers market and dairy, including ice cream, gelato, and cheese.

After 11 nights your unforgettable journey through some of the best that Australia has to offer comes to an end. Your camera will likely be filled with hundreds of photos and you’ll have plenty of memories to bring home too. Depending on your scheduled flight time you may be able to enjoy shopping for souvenirs or a stroll on the beach before taking transfer to Cairns Airport to begin your trip back home.