Aussie Coastal City & Outback Sojourn

On arrival at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, clear Australian Customs & Immigration formalities and meet your driver for the transfer to your hotel.

Have you ever been to a city and wondered what all the fuss was about? Or wasted time trying to find that cool local café you were told of, and ended up missing everything? Melbourne's arcades and laneways hide many of these answers. Join this indulgent afternoon walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets, and get orientated in the life of the city that locals love. Discover artisanal and specialty retailers, that often are only found in the city. Some of the quirkiest cafes, independent designers, street art, architecture, and historical tales are found in these walkways. Soak in the city via all your senses, and engage with passionate creatives. There is something for everyone, locals and visitors alike.

Experience this majestic coastal drive-in style with your small group and enjoy time to relax and fully appreciate the wonders of this world-famous touring route. Stay on the lookout for some very special animals including whales, dolphins, echidnas and bandicoots. Your camera will get a good workout along this exciting journey where we will stop for plenty of photo opportunities.

To begin, your expert guide will collect you from your Melbourne hotel to commence your exciting road trip. Your next stop will be at Apollo Bay, a tranquil seaside town which is most noteworthy for its setting among the soft rolling hills. It offers a great selection of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy some lunch (not included). Following this, we will enjoy a walk in the forest in the Otway Ranges. A truly unique day out, capped off by a visit to the ancient rock formations of the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Finally, your guide will transfer you back to the comfort of your hotel in Melbourne.

We plant a native tree for every passenger on our Great Ocean Road Tour.

A full day to discover Melbourne at your own pace.

Repeatedly voted the world's most liveable city, Melbourne prides itself on its style and multifaceted urban culture. With a well-ordered downtown on the Yarra River, surrounded by parks and gardens, the capital of Victoria offers world-class art and live entertainment, a serious devotion to good coffee, gorgeous architecture, rich Aboriginal history, and top-notch dining. It's bound to be an urban highlight of any Australia vacation.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Uluru, the heart of Australia's Red Centre.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

This afternoon travel to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) where your guide will reveal the many attributes of this diverse environment. Arriving at Walpa Gorge you will walk between the mighty conglomerate domes and hear how these 36 domes that makeup Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Your guide will return you to your hotel in time for the Sounds of Silence Dinner.

Entered into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Sounds of Silence offers the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours - an evening of dining under the sparkling outback sky.

The Sounds of Silence experience begins with canapes and chilled sparkling wine served on a viewing platform overlooking the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the sun sets and darkness falls, listen to the sound of a didgeridoo and join your table of fellow travelers for an unforgettable dining experience.

The attentive staff will keep your glass full with a quality selection of Australian wine and beer while the first course is served. As the night sky twinkles to life, help yourself to a bush tucker-inspired buffet that incorporates native bush ingredients.

Settle back and listen to the resident star talker decode the southern night sky. Locate the Southern Cross, the signs of the zodiac, the Milky Way, as well as planets and galaxies that are visible due to the exceptional clarity of the atmosphere.

As you wind down after a delicious dinner, you are offered a choice of tea, coffee or port. In winter, guests gather around a campfire to savour a special treat of hot mulled wine.

Experience the tranquility of the pre-dawn land under a canopy of stars. Watch the amazing transformation of colours and life as the desert awakens with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as your backdrop. In the company of an expert guide, Desert Awakenings is designed to introduce you to the natural and cultural landscapes of this remarkable region.

Watch the distant domes of Kata Tjuta come into view and enjoy a traditional Aussie breakfast of bacon and egg rolls, tea, coffee and homemade damper with golden syrup in the open air. After breakfast, the guide will explain the natural history of the region, and as the daylight reveals the myriad of animal tracks in the sand an insight into what activity took place during the night.

Once the sun is up, enjoy a guided tour at the base of Uluru. First stop is Kuniya where you will take a short walk to the Mutitjulu waterhole. A visit here will help appreciate its cathedral like proportions and why it is such a powerful and spiritual place for visitors and Anangu (local Aboriginal people) alike. The guide will explain some of the rock paintings and stories from the creation period as told by the Anangu people. Next stop is the Cultural Centre, a vibrant and engaging place of learning where the local lore of the Anangu is explained in detail. Return to your Ayers Rock Resort hotel.

Set upon a desert dune in the spiritual heart of Australia, with spectacular views out to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, you'll enjoy Australian wines and delicious cheese and dessert selections, while you marvel at the beauty of Uluru's silhouette in twilight as darkness falls. Take a seat in the sustainably built theatre and watch a chapter of the ancestral Mala story light up the Australian desert skies with choreographed drones, lasers, and projections.

Feel a powerful connection to Country as you listen to traditional inma and narration in the local Pitjantjatjara language, while you immerse yourself in a living story from the world's oldest continuous living culture.

Travel from Uluru Resort to Kings Canyon, stopping for breakfast at Kings Creek Station (included) along the way. Make the rocky climb to the rim of the canyon for marvelous views of Watarrka National Park. Follow the rim of the canyon stopping to look down into the canyon gorge at look-out points. Time permitting, you may choose to descend into the green oasis of the "Garden of Eden". The circuit walk takes approximately 3 hours to complete and is rocky and steep in parts. It is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. Alternatively, you may wish to take an easier, shorter walk to explore the boulder-strewn canyon floor. After lunch (own expense), return to Ayers Rock Resort.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Brisbane, Queensland's sunny capital.

On arrival, transfer to the hotel with the balance of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Voco Brisbane City Centre

The Koala and River Cruise is a memorable journey on the Brisbane River to the oldest and largest Koala Sanctuary in the world. The cruise travels through the city's most historic landscapes, iconic attractions, historical home sites and interesting wildlife habitats as you listen to an entertaining and informative commentary.

Join us for an Australia Zoo adventure, enjoying numerous live wildlife shows that will leave ya saying ‘you beauty’, including Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors, within the purpose built Crocoseum. Here you’ll meet some new cobbers (friends) and see giant snakes and of course the famous and amazing crocodiles, you’ll be stoked!

Next stop, you’ll have to throw on some thongs (flip flops) and budgie smugglers (speedo's - optional!), as you visit the picturesque Moolooaba Beach – voted one of Queensland’s best beaches. Take a dip in the ocean – stroll along the white sands (Mooloolaba beach towel included) explore the Mooloolaba esplanade. After all this, you will find yourself at the Mooloolaba Surf Club in the afternoon, where you can have a few cold ones and a feed. So what do ya reckon? If you think there’s a better way to spend the day as an Aussie, we say tell him he’s dreaming!

A full day to explore this charming city on your own.

The once sleepy town of Brisbane has emerged in recent decades as one of Australia's fastest-growing capital cities. With a year-round sub-tropical climate, it is also the gateway to Queensland’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, two Australian vacation spots with top-notch beaches and facilities. 

Return to Brisbane Airport for your flight to Cairns and transfer to Port Douglas, in Queensland's Tropical North.

After checking in at your hotel, the balance of the day is at leisure.

The Silversonic is custom-designed for the thrill of snorkeling and diving. Explore 3 different and exclusive sites on the outer Great Barrier Reef at stunning Agincourt Ribbon Reef. With a state-of-the-art ride control system, hot freshwater showers, change rooms, air conditioned lounges and a licensed bar, you'll be travelling in comfort and style.

Travel in air-conditioned comfort today in a luxury purpose-built vehicle on this eco-accredited tour led by experienced and knowledgeable guides. Visit Mossman Gorge Centre and enjoy morning tea. Discover secrets of the world's oldest tropical rainforest on a guided walk through the Gorge boardwalk, your guide sharing their knowledge and the history of this World Heritage listed region. Hop aboard the Daintree River Cruise and reach an understanding of the intricate Daintree eco-system. Keep an eye out for wildlife including the elusive Saltwater Crocodile. Enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch in the rainforest of Noah Valley before arriving at Cape Tribulation, where the Rainforest meet the Reef. Walk on this world-renowned rainforest beach named by Captain James Cook on his voyage of discovery in 1770; admire the coastline and fringing Coral Reef from the Kulki Lookout.

Stop for an afternoon refreshment included at the Daintree Ice Cream Company. Enjoy a delicious exotic fruit ice cream cup featuring four flavours (gluten free and dairy free options available) before heading to Alexandra Lookout. After winding through the rainforest, enjoy this spectacular lookout over the Daintree River Estuary, Snapper Island and beyond to the Coral Sea.

It's time to bid a fond farwell to Australia as your are transfered to the airport for your onward flight.

Time permitting, extend your stay and discover more of the fascinating lands Downunder.