Australia 360: The grand tour

Today you have a free day in Sydney! If you aren’t sure what to do, we recommend that you join one of these optional activities: Blue Mountains & Wildlife Park Day Trip*, Hunter Valley Signature Wine Tour**, or Sydney’s Northern Beaches & Ku-ring-gai National Park Tour***. Overnight stay in Sydney.

*Blue Mountains full-day tour: The day starts with a visit to an outstanding wildlife park where you can get up close, interact, and learn about Australia’s amazing animals, birds, and reptiles. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, emus, wombats, etc. Further west into the mountains, you’ll take a short walk to see the amazing views of the Blue Mountains. Then head to the small town of Katoomba, and after lunch (not included) you’ll be taken on a long bush walk away from the crowds on national park tracks that stimulate the senses. Get up close to waterfalls, breathe in the fresh air, smell the eucalyptus trees, and see parrots and even a lyrebird. The final stop will be at the iconic Three Sisters.

**Hunter Valley signature wine tour: Can you picture yourself exploring the stunning Hunter Valley wine region, tasting some of Australia’s best wine, food, cheese, chocolate, beer, and distilled spirits? This is your opportunity to make it happen and learn more about the wineries and wines grown in Australia.

***Sydney’s Northern Beaches & Ku-ring-gai National Park tour: See the impressive beauty of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, with its ancient Aboriginal sites, extensive waterways, and Aussie wildlife. Visit Palm Beach, where you’ll enjoy the amazing lookout points from The Spit, West Head, Narrabeen, Long Reef, and North Head. Then, travel down the winding roads passing the scenic seascapes of Bilgola to Narrabeen Beach for a chance to view one of the best surfing spots in Sydney. Then, get away from the crowds and stroll the cliffs along the Curl Curl boardwalk. Wrap up this amazing day with a ferry cruise on the iconic Manly Ferry.

Important note: these optional activities are not combinable, you can only choose one for the day.

Today you’ll self-transfer to Sydney Airtport to fly to the wonderful Ayers Rock and, upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have free time for the rest of the day to relax. Overnight stay in Ayers Rock.

Today you’ll experience the two major landmarks in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Start with an amazing sunrise at Talinguru Nyakunytjaku in the Uluru sunrise viewing area. Here you’ll enjoy a warming cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate as the dawn creeps across the desert plain and lights up Uluru.

Afterwards, on the drive to Kata Tjuta, the guide will provide you with a historical overview of the National Park. Arrive at the 36 steep-sided domes, the other icon of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. See also Walpa Gorge, meaning ‘wind’ in the local Aboriginal language. Follow the path between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta, to a lush oasis in the desert. Admire mulla mulla plants and spearwood trees at the end of the gorge. From here, enjoy a panoramic view of the southern side of Kata Tjuta, and see Uluru on the distant horizon. You can complete your day with an optional Uluru Sunset & Barbecue Dinner*. Overnight stay in Ayers Rock.

*Optional Uluru sunset & barbecue dinner: Sit back and relax as you travel into the amazing Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Enjoy appetizers and complimentary Australian sparkling wine as the sun starts to move towards the western horizon and brings out the colors Uluru is famous for! After sunset, you will be transferred to the exclusive barbecue site. The site is within the Uluru National Park set amongst red sand dunes and desert oak trees providing a peaceful desert setting. Once at the site, you will enjoy a variety of Australian meats and salads, accompanied by wine, beer, or orange juice. Afterwards, your guide will conduct a tour of the night sky, describing and pointing out some of the visible constellations with the assistance of a high beam spotlight. The guide will also explain some Aboriginal stories that relate to the stars. 

Note: Special dietary requests must be advised before 2 pm on the day of joining this optional activity.

Start your day in Ayers Rock with an optional segway tour* to catch all the major landmarks. Later, fly from Ayers Rock to Brisbane, then transfer via shuttle bus to the Gold Coast. This coastal region in Queensland is famous for its long stretches of beach, including Surfers Paradise. Explore at your leisure or consider joining the optional Natural Bridge Glow Worm Night Tour.** Overnight stay on the Gold Coast.

*Best of Uluru & segway tour: Learn to drive a segway, then circumnavigate part of Uluru and check out some of the nearby watering holes and other interesting gems of this national landmark.

**Natural Bridge Glow Worm night tour: Discover the glow worms of Springbrook National Park, one of the world’s most accessible sites to see these tiny, glowing creatures.

Today, you have a free day to enjoy at your leisure. We recommend joining one of these optional activities: the Tangalooma Beach Day Cruise* or the O’Reilly’s & Lamington National Park Excursion**. Overnight stay in Gold Coast.

*Tangalooma Beach resort day: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and switch to island time while you enjoy the relaxed, tropical lifestyle of Tangalooma for the day. You’ll have full access to resort facilities, including a variety of complimentary land-based activities. Spend the day as an island explorer, discovering the diverse landscape, flora, and fauna, and get a chance to see the dolphins, turtles, dugongs, and tropical fish of Moreton Bay Marine Park.

**O’Reilly’s & Lamington National Park excursion: Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Gold Coast from Tamborine Mountain, then continue on to O’Reilly’s for a treetop canopy walk. Explore historic logging tracks, hear tales of early settlers, and learn about the heroic rescue stories from the Stinson plane crash. You’ll also have the opportunity to sample some local Queensland wines!

Today is another free day to enjoy at your own pace. You can relax on Surfers Paradise Beach, visit the SkyPoint Observation Deck for panoramic views, or explore the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Overnight stay in Gold Coast.

Transfer via shuttle bus to the airport in Brisbane. Fly from there to Cairns, a regional city that has become a popular destination for international tourists due to its tropical climate. Cairns serves as a gateway for those looking to visit the Great Barrier Reef and explore Far North Queensland. While there’s no beach in central Cairns, stunning tropical beaches are just a short bus ride away. Overnight stay in Cairns.

Set out on a full-day Moore Reef and Fitzroy Island tour! Travel by catamaran to the Moore Reef Pontoon, perfectly located on the Great Barrier Reef. Among Australia’s most significant natural landmarks, the reef is visible from space and the single largest living structure of organisms on Earth. Experience this Wonder of the World up close! Spend two hours snorkeling, exploring the reef through a glass-bottom boat, and visiting an underwater observatory. Continue to Fitzroy Island for lunch and a leisurely afternoon. Overnight in Cairns.

Enjoy a free day in Cairns. You can choose between the Classic Kuranda Tour* or the Cape Tribulation, Daintree & Mossman Gorge Excursion**. Overnight stay in Cairns.

*Classic Kuranda tour: Embark on a full-day adventure to Kuranda, known as the Village in the Rainforest. Travel on an eco-friendly, zero-emissions electric bus as part of your guided experience. Highlights include the Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, free time to explore Kuranda village, and a visit to the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park. At the park, you'll explore the rainforest by land and water in a historic World War II Army Duck, feed kangaroos, and see crocodiles and cassowaries in the Koala & Wildlife Park. You’ll also experience the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, featuring boomerang and spear-throwing, didgeridoo playing, traditional Aboriginal dances, and a delicious Aussie BBQ lunch.

**Cape Tribulation, Daintree & Mossman Gorge excursion: Discover the beauty of Barron Falls, enjoy a morning rainforest canopy walk, and spend an extended visit at the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. In the afternoon, explore the Mossman Gorge section of the Daintree Rainforest with a guided walk and swim in its crystal-clear waters. Lunch will be served at the historic Daintree Village, followed by an exciting croc-spotting tour with the Daintree River Cruise Centre. On your return journey, you’ll stop by the Emerald Creek Ice Creamery near Mareeba for a tasty treat.

Today you’ll transfer to Cairns Airport for your flight to Melbourne. Upon arrival, self-transfer to your hotel. Located on Port Phillip Bay astride the Yarra River, Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. With a trendy and lively atmosphere, it is considered the cultural, gastronomic, sporting, fashion, and shopping capital of the country. Some of Melbourne’s main attractions are the stunning Botanical Gardens, the Royal Exhibition Building, the magnificent Anglican Cathedral of Saint Paul's, and the Shrine of Remembrance. Overnight stay in Melbourne.

Today you’ll enjoy a full-day tour of Melbourne. Start with the grand architecture of Eastern Hill, with buildings like Parliament House and the Treasury. Then wander down to the ‘Paris End’ of Collins Street and travel along the Golden Mile to see how the city was laid out during the ‘boom’ period of the 1850s Gold Rush. Take a peek into the culinary wonders of this cosmopolitan city with a visit to Queen Victoria Market, Australia’s largest open-air market. Continue this food theme as you arrive in Melbourne’s Little Italy, the home of the city’s famed coffee culture.

For sports fans, you’ll visit one of Australia’s biggest stadiums and learn all about the original game of Australian Rules Football. Next stop will be the Royal Botanical Gardens, home to rare and beautiful plants, breathtaking landscapes, and iconic buildings. Afterwards, you’ll escape the city to visit Melbourne’s most popular beach-side suburb, St Kilda. Before coming back to the hotel, travel along Port Phillip Bay to view mansions, historic sea baths, and Luna Park’s eye-catching rides in this beautiful seaside suburb. Overnight stay in Melbourne.

Today you have a free day in Melbourne to enjoy at your own pace. Also, we recommend you to join one of these optional activities: the Great Ocean Road Eco Tour*, Puffing Billy & Healesville Sanctuary & Chocolaterie**, or Phillip Island & Moonlit Sanctuary***.

*Great Ocean Road eco-tour: Departing Melbourne in the early morning, you will enjoy panoramic views of the city and Port Phillip Bay as you cross the Westgate Bridge, Australia’s longest bridge. Then, you’ll set out along the Great Ocean Road itself. At the township of Kennett River, you will make a brief detour into the sweetly-scented eucalyptus forest to locate some of the local koalas in their native habitat. The tour proceeds through the impressive Otway Ranges, where you’ll stop to enjoy a stroll in the cool temperate rainforest. And then it’s onwards to the world-famous Port Campbell National Park and its iconic array of rock formations. You’ll be awestruck by the majestic monoliths of the Twelve Apostles! Descend the steps to Gibsons Beach and listen to the legend of the Loch Ard, bringing the gorge to life in a way you never imagined.

**Puffing Billy, Healesville Sanctuary & Chocolaterie Visit: Enjoy this iconic steam train ride through the glorious Dandenong Ranges and enjoy a leisurely wander around beautiful Emerald Lake. Then, explore the world-renowned Healesville Sanctuary where you can wander at your leisure, viewing native animals such as koalas, kangaroos, platypus, birds of prey, and more. Finish with a visit to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie where you can sample complimentary chocolates.

***Phillip Island & Moonlit Sanctuary tour: Drive southeast from Melbourne to reach Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park where you will meet endangered species, kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas, plus an array of colorful birds and reptiles. The journey then leads onto Phillip Island, home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and the famous Little Penguins and the Penguin Parade. Head to the Visitor Centre and meander along the boardwalk to the viewing platform where you will see the little penguins come ashore, decked out in their tuxedos as they hurry off to find their burrows.

Important note: these optional activities are not combinable, you can only choose one for the day.