Local Living Tours & Trips in East Australia

Wander through Sydney's Rocks district with its cobblestone streets, historic pubs, and artisan shops, then see Melbourne's landmarks like Flinders Street Station, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Shrine of Remembrance. Cruise Sydney Harbour at sunset and pass under the Bridge while the Opera House lights up.

Your Travel Director walks you through Melbourne's laneways and Federation Square, then you'll meet Anangu artists at Walkatjara Art Uluru who explain Western Desert Art totems. Learn traditional Aboriginal hunting skills in the Daintree Rainforest, stay at the indigenous-owned Desert Gardens Hotel, and snorkel the Reef.

Over three days in Brisbane, you'll try bush tucker with Aboriginal guides at Nyanda Waterhole Reserve and meet koalas at Lone Pine, the world's oldest sanctuary. In Cairns, check out the aquarium and eat at local spots, then head to Melbourne's Koorie Heritage Trust to learn about indigenous heritage.

Spend the afternoon at the Creed family's Langmorn Station, a historic cattle property established in 1873, learning about life on the land in Rockhampton and having tea with the family. Tour the Sarina Sugar Shed to see regional sugarcane production and taste locally made treats. Stay in an eco-resort surrounded by ancient rainforest on K'gari (Fraser Island) and have a special farewell dinner in tropical Cairns sharing memories with fellow travelers.

Get a taste of authentic Australian farm life at Gold Creek Station with a Be My Guest BBQ lunch hosted by sheep farmer Craig Starr, who shares stories about life on the land in the Southern Highlands. Wander through atmospheric English Cotswolds-inspired villages set among rolling vineyard hills near the Great Dividing Range. Visit Beechworth's well-preserved gold rush heritage with stops at honey shops, galleries, and afternoon tea at the town's oldest hotel while chatting with the local publican.

Hotels along the river in Melbourne serve as your base before heading north. Near Cairns, plant trees in Notophyll Vine Forest with Rainforest Rescue, helping protect rainforest that predates the Amazon. In Queenstown, visit a local female farmer at Real Country for horse communication sessions and sheep dog demonstrations. Funds from this visit support The Fairlight Foundation. At Whakarewarewa village in Rotorua, locals use geothermal resources for daily cooking and heating. The cultural program includes the Te Pō evening experience at Te Puia, where you'll learn about Māori traditions.