Itinerary
- Day 1
Sydney
You'll arrive in Sydney and handle your own transport to the hotel. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to wander around at your own pace. The Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and the waterfront are all here if you want to get a first look, or you can just take it easy after your flight.
- Start point
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Check in at ibis Styles Sydney Central, 14:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (ibis Styles Sydney Central)
Optional Activities
- Visit Sydney Opera House
- Explore Darling Harbour
- Visit Circular Quay
- Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Explore Royal Botanic Garden
- Visit Sydney Tower Skywalk for 360-degree city views
Landmarks Sydney Opera House Darling Harbour Circular Quay Sydney Harbour Bridge Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Tower Skywalk 
- Day 2
Sydney
Start with a half-day sightseeing bus tour where a local guide points out Sydney's iconic landmarks. After that wraps up, you'll head into The Rocks on a walking tour to check out the historic colonial sites and hear stories about British Australian settlement in this old neighborhood.
- Accommodation
- (ibis Styles Sydney Central)
Included Activities
- Sydney Sightseeing Bus Tour (half day) - pass by or visit Finger Wharf, Harry's Café de Wheels, Woolloomooloo, El Alamein Memorial Fountain, Potts Point, Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay Park, Double Bay, Vaucluse, Rose Bay, Watsons Bay, The Gap Lookout, Macquarie Lighthouse, Dover Heights, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction, Centennial Park, Paddington, Taylor Square Pride Village, Hyde Park, Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Harbour Bridge
- The Rocks Walking Tour - explore historic sites including Sydney Cove, Cadman's Cottage, Campbell's Cove, Argyle Cut, Church of Holy Trinity, and historic streets
Landmarks Finger Wharf Harry's Café de Wheels El Alamein Memorial Fountain Kings Cross Rushcutters Bay Park Double Bay Watsons Bay The Gap Lookout Macquarie Lighthouse Bondi Beach Centennial Park Paddington Taylor Square Pride Village Hyde Park Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Cove Cadman's Cottage Campbell's Cove Argyle Cut Church of Holy Trinity George Street - Day 3
Blue Mountains
The hotel picks you up for a day trip to the Blue Mountains UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll see impressive lookouts, ride the scenic cableway and railway at Scenic World, walk through rainforest that's been around for ages, and then visit Featherdale Wildlife Park to see koalas, kangaroos, and other native animals.
- Meals
- Lunch (Included lunch with a variety of menu options and gorgeous mountain views)
- Accommodation
- (ibis Styles Sydney Central)
Included Activities
- Blue Mountains tour with guide
- Scenic Cableway ride with panoramic views
- Scenic Walkway through ancient rainforest
- Scenic Railway ride - steepest passenger railway in the world
- Included lunch with mountain views
- Featherdale Wildlife Park visit - hand-feed kangaroos and view koalas, echidnas, and saltwater crocodiles
Landmarks Three Sisters Scenic World Jamison Valley Featherdale Wildlife Park 
- Day 4
Sydney Harbour
Grab a hop-on, hop-off ferry pass for Sydney Harbour and move around at your own pace with commentary playing along the route. You can stop at up to five different spots including Circular Quay, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, and Manly whenever you feel like it.
- Accommodation
- (ibis Styles Sydney Central)
Included Activities
- Sydney Harbour rocket ferry ticket - hop on and off at five harbourside locations with commentary
Optional Activities
- Taronga Zoo visit (park entry fees apply)
- Dine at Doyles on the Beach in Watsons Bay
- Swimming at Watsons Bay beaches
- Visit to Shark Island National Park
- Explore Manly's beaches, restaurants, pubs, and shops
Landmarks Circular Quay Taronga Zoo Watsons Bay Shark Island Manly Beach - Day 5
Sydney
You have two options today. Either book a Long Lunch Cruise with a la carte dining on the upper deck, or take a guided walking tour of the Opera House where you'll learn inside stories about the theatres and their 1800+ annual performances.
- Accommodation
- (ibis Styles Sydney Central)
Included Activities
- Sydney Opera House Official Guided Walking Tour - insider stories, theatre and foyer access with knowledgeable guides
Optional Activities
- Sydney Harbour Cruise Lunch - à la carte menu on upper restaurant deck with sensational harbour vistas, early or late disembarkation options
Landmarks Sydney Opera House - Day 6
Sydney to Cairns
The morning is free, so sleep in if you want or explore another part of Sydney. Later you'll catch a domestic flight to Cairns in the early afternoon. After landing, sort out your own transport to the hotel and spend the evening relaxing in tropical North Queensland.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Atrium Apartments)
Optional Activities
- Additional Sydney sightseeing during free morning
- Day 7
Great Barrier Reef
A hotel shuttle picks you up to head to Port Douglas Marina where you'll board a Quicksilver catamaran. The boat cruises out to Agincourt Reef and you'll have 3.5 hours to snorkel, dive, check out the underwater observatory, or take semi-submersible tours and optional helicopter flights. The shuttle brings you back at the end.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Atrium Apartments)
Included Activities
- Quicksilver catamaran cruise to Agincourt Reef
- Hotel pickup from Cairns
- Access to moored activity platform
- Snorkeling with tropical fish
- Semi-submersible vessel tours
- Underwater observatory access
- Scenic coach transfer from Cairns with commentary
Optional Activities
- Diving (all equipment provided, first-time divers welcome)
- Marine biologist-guided snorkel tour
- Ocean Walker helmet-diving (suitable for all swimming levels)
- Scenic helicopter flight over the reef
Landmarks Agincourt Reef Port Douglas Marina Daintree Rainforest 
- Day 8
Daintree Rainforest
You'll get hotel pickup for a full-day Daintree Rainforest tour. The itinerary includes Mossman Gorge, a river cruise to spot crocodiles, a walk through rainforest at Noah Valley, a BBQ lunch, then Cape Tribulation beach and lookouts before finishing with ice cream and more scenic views.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Morning tea), Lunch (BBQ lunch with fresh fish and tropical fruit, followed by regional Daintree Tea)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Atrium Apartments)
Included Activities
- Daintree Rainforest full-day tour with guide
- Morning tea
- Mossman Gorge Centre visit and shuttle bus
- Guided walk through Daintree Rainforest
- 1-hour Daintree River cruise (crocodile spotting)
- Walk through Noah Valley rainforest
- BBQ lunch with fresh fish and tropical fruit
- Daintree Tea
- Cape Tribulation beach walk
- Kulki Lookout visit with coastal and coral reef views
- Afternoon refreshment - fruit ice cream at Daintree Ice Cream Company
- Alexandra Lookout with views of Snapper Island, Alexandra Range, and Coral Sea
Landmarks Mossman Gorge Daintree River Noah Valley Cape Tribulation Kulki Lookout Alexandra Lookout 
- Day 9
Fitzroy Island
Take the ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island and spend the day snorkeling right off the beach. You'll have a buffet lunch at Zephyrs restaurant in the Fitzroy Island Resort, then pick between a glass bottom boat tour or walking the National Park trails on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch at Zephyrs restaurant in Fitzroy Island Resort)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Atrium Apartments)
Included Activities
- Ferry from Cairns to Fitzroy Island
- Snorkeling directly off the beach
- Buffet lunch at Zephyrs restaurant in Fitzroy Island Resort
Optional Activities
- Glass bottom boat tour
- Self-guided walks along National Park trails
- Kayak tour
- Turtle Rehabilitation Centre visit
- Guided nature walks
Landmarks Fitzroy Island Fitzroy Island Resort 
- Day 10
Kuranda
Board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and glide through the Kuranda rainforest with stops at scenic lookouts and the CSIRO Interpretive Centre. Once you're down, explore the village and browse the Heritage Markets, then return to Cairns on the famous Kuranda Scenic Railway.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Atrium Apartments)
Included Activities
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway ride through rainforest canopy
- Stops at 2 stations with walks to lookouts
- CSIRO Interpretive Centre visit
- Kuranda village exploration
- Heritage Markets visit (operates 7 days a week)
- Kuranda Scenic Railway return journey with historic engineering features
Landmarks Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Kuranda CSIRO Interpretive Centre Heritage Markets Kuranda Scenic Railway - Day 11
Departure
Check out of the hotel and take time to think back on your Australian adventure. If you're flying out today, make sure you arrange transport to the airport with enough time to get there comfortably.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Southern Cross Atrium Apartments)
- Day 12
Departure
You'll check out of your hotel this morning and get ready to head out. If your flight leaves today, make sure you arrange a shuttle or taxi to the airport with enough time to spare. Give yourself a buffer so you're not rushing at the last minute.
- End point
- Cairns, Queensland, Australia (Check out of Southern Cross Atrium Apartments, 10:00)
Optional Activities
- Shuttle bus to airport
- Taxi to airport
