Australian Experience

This morning you say G’Day to the land Downunder, you will be met by a local guide and taken by private coach for a city tour.

Melbourne is Australia’s cosmopolitan and sophisticated lifestyle capital. The drive will take in the central business district with its eclectic architecture, past the 170 million dollar Victorian Arts Centre. View Captain Cook's Cottage in the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens with avenues of huge English elms planted along gently contoured lawns.
Pass by the Botanical Gardens and observe the hustle and bustle of the famous Queen Victorian Markets. Continue along taking in views of the Shrine of Remembrance and St Patrick's Cathedral.

Stop for a brief walk with the guide around Melbourne famous lanes and arcades… The tour will conclude at hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, this morning you will be collected from the hotel for your half-day tour. Walk with wild animals in their natural habitats on this half-day educational tour, led by an experienced Wildlife Guide. This brief, tour is an informative and dramatic introduction to the unique wildlife of Australia. Join wild mobs of Kangaroos on the plains and in open forests. Their natural instinct is to flee humans, but with care, we often get close enough to take photographs and observe their complex social life. Walk through natural bushland to meet wild koalas, and then learn about each one’s history and social life from your Wildlife guide and Koala Researcher. Help Make a Home for Koala Clancy by removing Boneseed (a weed) to make a difference to koala habitat. At the end of the tour, we return to Melbourne. Note: Depending on weather, season and tour timing the wildlife experiences on this tour may be reversed so that we see the koalas first and kangaroos later. This afternoon, board your private coach and travel inland to the Mornington Peninsula, across the San Remo Bridge to Phillip Island. Absorb the peace and quiet of this sleepy island paradise – a popular get-away spot for city dwellers. First, we visit the Koala Conservation Centre. Come ‘face to face’ with koalas in their natural habitat. Explore the treetop boardwalks and stroll through the woodlands, home to many animals including wallabies, echidnas, bats and birds. Continue with sightseeing until dinner at local restaurant. After dinner, experience the magic of little penguins returning home at sunset to one of the largest penguin colonies in Australia from the Penguins Plus viewing platform. Enjoy a more personal viewing experience, limited to 190 people. Every evening at dusk, the Little Penguins come from the sea at Phillip Island. From the waves-across the beach-to the sand dunes-the fairy penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. Sunset at Summerland Beach has drawn millions of visitors to Phillip Island. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthral you as you observe from the beach and the elevated boardwalk. Please arrive 1 hour prior to penguin arrival time. At the end of the evening, re-board your coach for the return journey back to Melbourne.

A full day to do as much or as little as your wish! 

Under an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is famous for its wine, fresh food and breath-taking scenery. The place where Victorian winegrowing started, the Yarra Valley is now home to over 55 wineries, most of which offer cellar door tastings and sales. Many are as serious about food as they are about their harvest, matching the wine they make with local produce in restaurants located in beautiful vineyards.  Today, you will have an opportunity to taste some of the best produce Victoria has to offer. 

Today, meet your guide and transfer by private coach to Sydney Airport for your flight to Cairns (not included). On arrival in Cairns, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

This morning meet your guide and transfer by coach to Freshwater Station to join the Kuranda Scenic Railway train for one of the most spectacular rail journeys in Australia. Travelling slowly, it winds its way up the epic pioneer track with every turn revealing a new panorama - sugar plantations, Barron Falls, Stoney Creek Falls - until it reaches Kuranda Station.

Enjoy some free time exploring the village before meeting with the coach again for the short transfer to Rainforestation Nature Park, boasting 40 hectares of gardens and rainforest set amidst World Heritage areas. Ride the amphibious army duck through the rainforest, witness the dynamic performance of the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers in the natural amphitheater where the rainforest serves as the theatre walls and the sounds of the forest and the didgeridoo create the backing music.

Barbecue lunch will be served during the day.

Depart Rainforestation and return to Kuranda and the Skyrail terminal, where we board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an amazing experience over Australia’s World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforest canopy and deep into the forest.  On arrival in Smithfield, re-board our coach and return to our hotel. The reminder of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, meet your guide and walk to The Reef Fleet Terminal to check-in for your cruise.

Reef Magic Cruises new, luxury fast catamaran travels direct from Cairns to the spacious, stable Marine World activity platform in less than 90 minutes. Guests have privileged access to one of the most pristine, accessible & versatile Outer Great Barrier Reef sites available on a day trip from Cairns. Unmatched in value, Reef Magic Cruises provides the complete reef experience with 5 full hours at a private patch of reef & the smallest pontoon passenger numbers – no rush, no crowds. Guests choose from a full compliment of inclusive activities and an affordable range of optional extras in a uniquely relaxed, friendly and personalized atmosphere.

After the cruise, please make your way back to hotel.

The evening is at leisure.

Today is free to relax and explore a little on your own. This evening we enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant. 

Today, meet your guide and transfer by coach to Cairns airport for your flight to Sydney (not included)

On arrival in Sydney, you will be met by local guide and transferred by coach to your hotel.
Enjoy the rest of the day at own leisure.

Our day starts by going walkabout through the historic Rocks area of Sydney, with our local indigenous guide who will share stories and the history of their heritage as you explore.

No visit to Sydney would be complete without a visit to the famous Opera House, where we will be guided into theatres, given a fascinating account of the history and architecture of the House and introduced to the magic of performance. With its white, sculptural 'shells' risingfrom the harbour foreshore at Bennelong Point, the Opera House is Sydney's most recognisable building and, officially, one of the seven wonders of the 20th century. Joern Utzon, the Danish architect who designed the Opera House, ascribed the inspiration for his masterpiece to the sails of yachts on the harbour. As the Opera House is first and foremost a performing arts centre, some areas may be restricted for viewing due to rehearsals and performances.

Lunch today is on the water, as we cruise the Harbor area, viewing some of Sydney’s most iconic attractions all as you enjoy a long lunch inspired by locally sourced, regionally inspired dishes, paired with wines from the wine regions of New South Wales.

After the cruise, make your way back to hotel and enjoy the rest of the day is at leisure

This morning After an early breakfast, board your private coach and travel through Sydney’s inner Western Suburbs to Featherdale Wildlife Park one of Australia’s largest private collections of Australian animals for a memorable and unique experience in a natural and well established bush setting. We continue the journey following the trail of Australia's early explorers as the coach ascends into the Blue Mountains National Park. Travel through the historic townships of Blaxland, Springwood, Lawson and Wentworth Falls and view the National Trust township of Leura. The Blue Mountains are aptly named because of the blue haze caused by rays of light striking dust particles and small droplets of moisture in the atmosphere. The haze is an interesting scientific phenomenon, noticeable because of the heavy timbering of Eucalypt trees in the area. Drive along Cliff Drive to Echo Point to view the world famous "Three Sisters". Learn fascinating Aboriginal legends, including The Mountain Devils, The Banksiamen, The Bunyip and The Witch Doctor while enjoying panoramic views of the Jamison Valley. Lunch is included at local restaurant (beverages at own expense). This afternoon we visit Scenic World renowned for providing the ultimate Blue Mountains Adventure – from native birds to fresh air, to breathtaking views of the World Heritage-listed region including the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls & Jamison Valley (own expense). Alternatively, you guide can take you on a nature walk before returning to your coach for journey back to Sydney via the 2000 Sydney Olympic Site (time permitting).

The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Today, meet your guide and transfer by coach to Sydney Airport and your journey home ….or onwards…