Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney
You'll arrive in Sydney and make your way to the hotel on your own. The Holiday Director will connect with you tomorrow for a welcome meeting, so this first day is just about settling in after your flight.
- Day 2
Sydney
The day is yours to spend however you like. Wander around Sydney at your own pace, check out neighborhoods, grab meals where you feel like it, and get comfortable with the city. There's no organized activities, just time to adjust.
- Day 3
Sydney
Join a sightseeing tour covering Sydney's main sights. You'll see the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, and Darling Harbour, plus stop at Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a historic bench carved by convicts back in 1810. Later this evening, meet your traveling companions over welcome drinks and dinner together.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Welcome drink and dinner with travelling companions)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour, and Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Landmarks Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Opera House Bondi Beach Hyde Park Darling Harbour Mrs Macquarie's Chair - Day 4
Sydney
This is a leisure day, but there's an optional full-day trip into the Blue Mountains if you're interested. The excursion includes the Three Sisters rock formation, Jamieson Valley, and Scenic World, where you can ride the world's steepest incline railway into rainforest or take a cable car over the valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Full-day optional excursion to Blue Mountains including Three Sisters rock formation, Jamieson Valley, and Scenic World with choice of incline railway or cable-car ride
Landmarks Three Sisters Jamieson Valley Scenic World - Day 5
Sydney
Another leisure day with two optional choices. Try a guided bridge climb with safety gear for views of Sydney Harbour, or take a tour inside the Sydney Opera House learning about its history and seeing areas normally closed to visitors. Pick whichever sounds better to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Guided Sydney Harbour Bridge climb with safety briefing, harness, group photo, cap, certificate and Pylon Lookout access
- Guided tour of Sydney Opera House including history, stories about artists and performances, and access to restricted areas
Landmarks Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Opera House - Day 6
Sydney - Port Stephens - Port Macquarie
Head along the coast to Port Stephens, known for white-sand beaches and turquoise water. You'll have time to relax on the beach, then continue on to Port Macquarie for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional dolphin-watching cruise at Port Stephens
Landmarks Port Stephens - Day 7
Port Macquarie - Brisbane
Continue up the coast to Byron Bay and check out its iconic lighthouse perched on a rocky headland. The area's known for beautiful beaches and laid-back surf culture. From there, drive through the Gold Coast and arrive in Brisbane.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Byron Bay Lighthouse Gold Coast - Day 8
Brisbane
Spend the day exploring Brisbane on your own, or choose an optional excursion to North Stradbroke Island. The island is the second-largest sand island in the world, perfect for beach time or a bush walk where you might spot kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to North Stradbroke Island including beach relaxation and bush walk with wildlife viewing (kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras)
Landmarks North Stradbroke Island - Day 9
Brisbane - Cairns
Take a morning tour of Brisbane focusing on its architecture and setting along the Brisbane River. Later this afternoon, fly to Cairns, which opens up access to the Great Barrier Reef.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning tour of Brisbane including Queensland's cosmopolitan capital, spectacular architecture, and Brisbane River
Landmarks Brisbane River - Day 10
Great Barrier Reef
Board a catamaran heading to the outer reef. You can explore the underwater world through a semi-submersible or underwater observatory without getting wet, or grab snorkeling gear and dive in with provided equipment and guidance. Lunch is included with the tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Catamaran trip to outer Great Barrier Reef with semi-submersible viewing or underwater observatory access
- Snorkelling at Great Barrier Reef with equipment and guidance provided
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 11
Cairns
Take it easy in Cairns today, or choose an optional railway journey through the Atherton Tablelands. If you go, you'll ride the Kuranda Railway, glide over heritage rainforest on the Skyrail Cableway, explore the village of Kuranda, and return by scenic railway past the impressive Barron Falls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional Kuranda Railway experience including Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda village visit, and Kuranda Scenic Railway with Barron Falls views
Landmarks Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Kuranda Kuranda Scenic Railway Barron Falls Atherton Tablelands - Day 12
Cairns
This is a rest day in Cairns. Use the time to recover from the reef trip or explore whatever else the city has to offer on your own time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 13
Cairns - Uluru
Fly to Ayers Rock, known as Uluru, in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This massive two-mile-long sandstone formation changes color dramatically at sunrise and sunset, which you'll get to experience during this visit.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Uluru Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Day 14
Uluru - Alice Springs
Watch the sunrise at Uluru and explore caves at its base to see Aboriginal art. Spot Kata Tjuta, a striking range of 36 rock domes. Later travel to Alice Springs to visit the Flying Doctor Base, Telegraph Station museum, and School of the Air. Finish the evening with an Aussie bush barbecue.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Aussie bush barbecue)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing at Uluru
- Cave exploration at base of Uluru with Aboriginal art viewing
- Tour of Flying Doctor Base
- Tour of Telegraph Station (historic first European settlement in central Australia)
- Visit to School of the Air
- Aussie bush barbecue dinner
Landmarks Uluru Kata Tjuta Flying Doctor Base Telegraph Station School of the Air MacDonnell Mountain Ranges - Day 15
Alice Springs - Adelaide
Fly to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. After arrival, you'll check into your hotel and have time to settle in for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 16
Adelaide - Barossa Valley
Start with a tour of Adelaide's main spots including Adelaide Oval, parkland throughout the city, and St Peter's Cathedral. From there, head to the Barossa Valley for wine tasting at Jacobs Creek with lunch included, then visit the award-winning Wolf Blass winery.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Tour of Adelaide including Adelaide Oval, parkland, and St Peter's Cathedral
- Wine tasting at Jacobs Creek visitor centre
- Visit to Wolf Blass winery
Landmarks Adelaide Oval St Peter's Cathedral Barossa Valley Jacobs Creek Wolf Blass Winery - Day 17
Adelaide - Warrnambool
Drive along the coast from Adelaide to Warrnambool. The route takes you through coastal scenery and it's a good opportunity to see different parts of South Australia and Victoria.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 18
Warrnambool - Melbourne
Travel to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road, considered one of the world's most beautiful coastal drives. Along the way, see the Twelve Apostles (eight limestone stacks still standing), the Arch, and various other dramatic rock formations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Great Ocean Road Twelve Apostles - Day 19
Melbourne
Take a morning tour of Melbourne covering Federation Square, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Flinders Street Station, the Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park Lake, and Fitzroy Gardens with its elm trees and historic Fairies' Tree. Later, you can optionally head to Phillip Island to watch the penguin parade at sunset as hundreds of small penguins come ashore and waddle to their burrows.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Melbourne including Federation Square, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Flinders Street Station, Grand Prix Circuit, and Fitzroy Gardens
Optional Activities
- Optional afternoon excursion to Phillip Island penguin parade viewing from special stands and boardwalks
Landmarks Federation Square Melbourne Cricket Ground Flinders Street Station Albert Park Lake Fitzroy Gardens Fairies' Tree Phillip Island - Day 20
Melbourne
Spend the day on your own exploring Melbourne however you like. Check out shops, visit museums, try restaurants, or just wander neighborhoods at your pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 21
Departure
Your trip ends today. Say goodbye to the other travelers and head to the airport for your departure, or leave at whatever time works with your flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
