Our comprehensive tour explores the highlights of this vast and magnificent country. Stunning landscapes, a fascinating culture, distinctive wildlife, friendly people - plus some exhilarating cities. We travel in comfort staying in 3-star hotels and using fully air-conditioned vehicles.
Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road
We start in Melbourne, a vibrant city whose exotic markets and fine restaurants reflect its multi-cultural population. Moving on to the Blue Dandenong Ranges, we ride on the 'Puffing Billy' steam train, before journeying west along the Great Ocean Road - 300kms of spectacular coastal scenery - via Warrnambool to Adelaide. Elegant and famously easy-going, Adelaide is our base for excursions either to the Barossa Valley wine growing region, or Kangaroo Island, home to a number of endemic species - including of course the 'roo!
To the 'Red Centre' & Ayers Rock
A flight takes us northwards to Alice Springs, at Australia's 'Red Centre'. Here we explore Kings Canyon and see majestic Uluru/Ayers Rock, surreal and eerie, dramatically rising 348m from the surrounding desert plain. At the nearby Kata Tjuta/The Olgas we watch the sunset over the red dome outcrops and enjoy dinner al fresco under a panoply of desert stars.
Great Barrier Reef & Sydney
Having flown east to Cairns, we explore the beautiful sands and corals of Michaelmas Cay, sailing by catamaran and using a semi-submersible. We also push into the rainforests of the coastal hinterland and, skimming over the treetops on the Skyrail, we reach Kuranda. Finally we fly to bold and beautiful Sydney to explore its many highlights and a trip out to the nearby Blue Mountains National Park.
Day 1 Join Melbourne; sightseeing. 2 Full day in Blue Dandenong Ranges; 'Puffing Billy' steam train. 3 Great Ocean Road drive to Warrnambool. 4 To Adelaide; PM sightseeing tour. 5 Optional trips to Kangaroo Island or Barossa Valley. 6 Fly to Alice Springs; tour. 7 To Kings Canyon along Stuart Highway. 8 Kings Canyon tour; to Uluru/Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta/The Olgas. 9 At Uluru/Ayers Rock; fly to Cairns. 10 Full day catamaran trip to Great Barrier Reef. 11 Kuranda Skyrail and visit Tjapukai aboriginal park. 12 Fly Cairns to Sydney. 13 Tour of Sydney: Opera House & harbour cruise. 14 Full day Blue Mountains tour. 15 End Sydney.
Accommodation: 14nts hotels; 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 1 dinner included.
Transport: Air-conditioned Coaches/Steam Train/Catamaran/Sydney Harbour Cruise/ Internal flights
Comment: All the main highlights of Australia are included in this short but comprehensive tour - Melbourne, Sydney, the south and east coasts - plus of course the great Outback. Nearly all activities and tours are included and we stay at comfortable 3 star hotels.
Group: Approx. 15 to 20.
Staff: Tour manager, drivers, expert local guides, crew on Catamaran.
Trip Reference: AH
