Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney
You'll arrive in Sydney and get settled at your hotel. Later in the evening around 6 pm, the group meets up for a welcome drink to get to know everyone before the tour officially starts.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Landmarks Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge 
- Day 2
Sydney
Start with a morning city tour through Sydney's main areas. You'll head to the Botanical Gardens where you can see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, then check out Oxford Street and Bondi Beach. After that, you'll take a harbor tour that includes lunch, so you'll have food covered while seeing the water from a different perspective.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch included during harbor tour)
Included Activities
- Morning city tour of Sydney
- Botanical Gardens visit with view of Opera House and Harbour Bridge from Mrs Macquarie's Chair
- Oxford Street visit
- Bondi Beach visit
- Harbor tour with lunch included
Landmarks Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Mrs Macquarie's Chair Oxford Street Bondi Beach Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge 
- Day 3
Sydney to Port Macquarie
Drive north along the Pacific Highway through the Central Coast and Port Stephens Bay to reach Port Macquarie, covering about 400 km. Along the way, you'll stop at the Koala Hospital and spend time on the banks of the Hastings River where pelicans often show up. It's a long day on the road, but the scenery changes as you head north.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive along Pacific Highway through Central Coast and Port Stephens Bay
- Koala Hospital visit
Landmarks Koala Hospital Hastings River 
- Day 4
Port Macquarie to Gold Coast
Head along the coast toward Byron Bay and take a short hike around a historic lighthouse to stretch your legs. In the afternoon you'll continue to the Gold Coast. The drive covers roughly 470 km, so you'll want to get an early start and settle in by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Coastal drive to Byron Bay
- Short hike at historic lighthouse in Byron Bay
Landmarks Byron Bay Lighthouse 
- Day 5
Gold Coast to K'gari
Continue north through Gympie, a former gold mining area, and pass through Maryborough. In the afternoon, you'll catch a ferry from Hervey Bay across to K'gari Island. The drive portion is about 450 km before you board the ferry, so it's another substantial travel day but the island awaits at the end.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive through former gold mining area of Gympie
- Ferry crossing from Hervey Bay to K'gari
- Day 6
K'gari
Spend your day on K'gari Island in a relaxed setting. You can walk on the soft sand, find a quiet spot to unwind, or explore the natural areas around the island. Depending on what time of year you visit, bring binoculars to watch for whales off the coast from the resort. It's a day to recharge after traveling.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Island exploration and relaxation
Optional Activities
- Guided four-wheel drive tour of the island's natural landscape
- Day 7
K'gari to Rockhampton
Take the ferry back to the mainland and then drive through typical Queensland landscape with pastureland and beach-fringed coastlines. You'll arrive in Rockhampton in the afternoon after covering approximately 460 km. The scenery changes as you move inland from the coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Ferry return to mainland from K'gari
- Drive through Queensland pastureland and coastal areas
- Day 8
Rockhampton to Daydream Island
Drive about 490 km and reach Airlie Beach around midday. From there, you'll catch a ferry to Daydream Island. The journey covers a fair distance but you'll be settled on the island with time to relax before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Ferry to Daydream Island
Landmarks Daydream Island - Day 9
Daydream Island
Spend the day on Daydream Island doing whatever appeals to you most. Take a sailing trip, go out on a motorboat, or simply relax by the pool in the tropical setting with white beaches and blue water. If you're lucky, you might spot wild kangaroos around the resort that aren't bothered by visitors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Island exploration and beach access
Optional Activities
- Sailing trip
- Motorboat excursion
- Pool relaxation
Landmarks Daydream Island - Day 10
Daydream Island to Townsville
Drive past mango and sugar cane plantations heading south, about 280 km in total. You'll stop at the Billabong Sanctuary to see Australia's wildlife up close. Then you'll continue to Townsville in the afternoon where you can settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive past mango and sugar cane plantations
- Billabong Sanctuary visit with wildlife observation
Landmarks Billabong Sanctuary - Day 11
Townsville to Cairns
Head north to the Atherton Tablelands covered in tropical rainforest, passing by peanut farms, banana and coffee plantations as you go. You'll see several waterfalls including Millaa Millaa Falls with its clear water. By evening you'll arrive in Cairns, a lively tropical city. The drive is about 360 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Atherton Tablelands visit
- Millaa Millaa Falls visit
Landmarks Atherton Tablelands Millaa Millaa Falls - Day 12
Great Barrier Reef
Take a day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, heading about 20 km from town. You'll have the chance to snorkel, dive, or swim and see the colorful underwater world. It's only a short journey from the city but you'll spend the day on the water experiencing one of Australia's most famous natural areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef day trip with snorkeling
- Diving
- Swimming
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 13
Kuranda
Ride a nostalgic train to the town of Kuranda for the day, traveling about 60 km. You'll explore the area on your own, then return to Cairns by cable car over the rainforest canopy. It's a unique way to experience the landscape and see Kuranda's character without a long drive.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Nostalgic train ride to Kuranda
- Day in Kuranda
- Cable car return over rainforest
Landmarks Kuranda - Day 14
Cairns to Darwin
Drive to the airport about 20 km from your current location by coach, then fly to Darwin. After landing, you'll transfer to your hotel. It's a travel day but the flight gets you to a completely different part of Australia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 15
Darwin to Kakadu National Park
Take a short city tour of Darwin in the morning to get oriented. Then drive about 500 km to Kakadu National Park and stop at Window on the Wetlands for views of the wetland areas. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat trip on Yellow Waters Lagoon where you'll see colorful parrots, whistling kites, and possibly saltwater crocodiles. It's a long drive but the wildlife viewing makes it worthwhile.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Darwin city tour
- Window on the Wetlands visit
- Yellow Waters Lagoon boat trip
Landmarks Kakadu National Park Window on the Wetlands Yellow Waters Lagoon - Day 16
Kakadu National Park to Katherine
Spend the day exploring Kakadu National Park, which is Australia's largest nature reserve and holds significant Aboriginal cultural heritage dating back 20,000 years. Visit Nourlangie Rock to see Aboriginal rock paintings. Then drive south through the park to Katherine and take a boat trip through the spectacular Nitmiluk Gorge. The drive covers about 270 km and you'll see both cultural and natural highlights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Kakadu National Park exploration
- Nourlangie Rock visit with Aboriginal rock paintings
- Nitmiluk Gorge boat trip
Landmarks Kakadu National Park Nourlangie Rock Nitmiluk Gorge - Day 17
Katherine to Tennant Creek
Continue south on the Stuart Highway through Australia's outback landscape. You'll find Mataranka Hot Springs, a tropical oasis in the dry desert, and you can take a relaxing dip in the natural pool. Stop for lunch at a quaint outback pub in Daly Waters. By evening, you'll reach Tennant Creek, a town where a gold rush happened in the early 1900s. The drive is about 680 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive on Stuart Highway through outback
- Mataranka Hot Springs visit and swimming
- Lunch stop at outback pub in Daly Waters
Landmarks Mataranka Hot Springs Daly Waters - Day 18
Tennant Creek to Alice Springs
See the Devils Marbles, giant granite spheres scattered in the desert that make for striking photos. You'll cross the Tropic of Capricorn, leaving the tropics behind as you head to Alice Springs. This desert town in the Red Center has kept its pioneering character. Visit Anzac Hill for the best views and check out the old telegraph station to learn about the area's history. The drive is roughly 40 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Devils Marbles visit and viewing
- Anzac Hill visit
- Old telegraph station visit
Landmarks Devils Marbles Anzac Hill Alice Springs Telegraph Station - Day 19
Alice Springs
Spend the morning exploring Alice Springs starting with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to understand how the flying doctors serve the remote outback. Head into West MacDonnell National Park to see gorges like Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap where water creates lush green vegetation against rocky backdrops. Visit the Desert Park to watch native animal and bird species in open-air enclosures, plus darkened areas with nocturnal reptiles and marsupials. The day covers about 100 km of driving.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Royal Flying Doctor Service visit
- West MacDonnell National Park exploration
- Standley Chasm visit
- Simpsons Gap visit
- Desert Park visit with wildlife observation
Landmarks Royal Flying Doctor Service West MacDonnell National Park Standley Chasm Simpsons Gap Alice Springs Desert Park - Day 20
Uluru
Make the long drive into the Red Center to reach Uluru, about 450 km away. You'll circle the massive monolith in an air-conditioned coach and take short walks to scenic spots around its base. Stop at the Aboriginal Cultural Center to learn about Uluru's spiritual significance for indigenous people. You'll also explore the Olgas, a dome-shaped rock formation about 60 km away, on a short walk. End the day at a viewpoint with sparkling wine as the sun sets and the rock changes colors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Uluru monolith viewing and circling by coach
- Short hikes at Uluru base
- Aboriginal Cultural Center visit
- Olgas rock formation walk
- Sunset viewing with sparkling wine at viewpoint
Landmarks Uluru Aboriginal Cultural Center Olgas - Day 21
Uluru to Coober Pedy
Experience the sunrise at Uluru, seeing the rock at its best as light first touches it. After that, you'll drive to Coober Pedy, the opal center of Australia. The drive is about 740 km, so it's a substantial day on the road but you'll arrive in one of Australia's most unusual towns.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Uluru sunrise viewing
Landmarks Uluru Coober Pedy - Day 22
Coober Pedy to Adelaide
Continue south through Glendambo and Port Augusta to reach Adelaide, South Australia's capital city. The drive covers about 860 km. Adelaide has a sun-drenched, relaxed atmosphere with charming buildings and parks, and it's a good place to rest after the long drives through the outback.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive through Glendambo and Port Augusta
- Adelaide city arrival
- Day 23
Adelaide
The day is yours to use as you like in Adelaide. You could visit the beautiful Botanic Gardens, take a trip out to the Barossa Valley wine region, or drive to Kangaroo Island. It's a break from organized activities so you can focus on whatever interests you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit to Botanic Gardens
- Trip to Barossa Valley
- Drive to Kangaroo Island
Landmarks Adelaide Botanic Gardens Barossa Valley Kangaroo Island - Day 24
Adelaide to Mount Gambier
Drive via historic Hahndorf and through the famous Coonawarra wine region to Mount Gambier, a town built on the slopes of a volcano. The drive is about 450 km. You'll pass through wine country and see the landscape change as you head south toward Victoria.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Drive via historic Hahndorf
- Drive through Coonawarra wine region
Landmarks Hahndorf Coonawarra Mount Gambier - Day 25
Mount Gambier to Melbourne
Drive along the Great Ocean Road via the picturesque town of Port Fairy, stopping at Loch Ard and the 12 Apostles rock formations. Continue to Melbourne through the towns of Colac and Geelong. The drive covers about 510 km and you'll see some of Victoria's most dramatic coastal scenery along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Great Ocean Road drive
- Port Fairy visit
- Loch Ard stop
- 12 Apostles rock formations visit
- Drive through Colac and Geelong
Landmarks Great Ocean Road Port Fairy Loch Ard Twelve Apostles - Day 26
Melbourne
Take a morning city tour of Melbourne to see the main areas. In the afternoon, you have free time to explore on your own. If you're interested, consider taking a boat trip or joining a tour to the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island to see little penguins come ashore at dusk.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning city tour of Melbourne
Optional Activities
- Boat trip
- Penguin Parade tour on Phillip Island
Landmarks Phillip Island - Day 27
Melbourne
The group tour ends after breakfast. You'll have time to pack up and make your way to the airport or continue exploring Melbourne if you're staying longer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
