Best of Australia Holiday of a Lifetime

Welcome to Australia! On arrival in Melbourne (for flights arriving prior to 8.00 am), enjoy a brief city orientation tour before checking in to your hotel. Alternatively (for flights arriving after 8.00 am) enjoy a transfer directly to your hotel for check-in. Melbourne is a magnet for people because its distinctive characteristics create memorable experiences and a vibrant lifestyle. Encircled by parkland, Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia with everything from grand opera to sidewalk art. The city is rich in its multicultural identity, classic buildings, beautiful parks and gardens, sophisticated dining and enviable shopping.

Early evening, enjoy a visit to Eureka Skydeck. Nothing you have ever experienced will prepare you for the awe-inspiring views from the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere at Melbourne’s iconic Eureka Tower, currently the world’s tallest residential building. Skydeck 88 is Australia’s newest “must see” attraction with two dedicated lifts propel visitors to Level 88 in under 40 seconds. After the visit, enjoy a welcome dinner in one of Melbourne’s Southbank restaurants. 

After breakfast this morning we discover the secrets and hidden treasures of Melbourne’s lanes and arcades on a walking tour. We will immerse ourselves in the heritage and culture of this cosmopolitan city, and visit local artisans and up-and-coming fashion designers. Join the café society and soak up the atmosphere of old-world charm as well as discover a little history, architecture, street art and more! There will be a tea/coffee stop in the middle in addition to bottled water and chocolate tasting. Our walk will end with a tasty lunch and a glass of wine. Enjoy some free time to wander around the shops and take in the Melbourne atmosphere.

Later, we set out to see Koalas in the wild in the beautiful Australian bush. Your expert nature guide will share the knowledge of these wonderful pouched animals with you. You will also see mobs of free-ranging Eastern-grey kangaroos in a natural bush setting and learn about many other Australian animals and birds at Serendip open-range sanctuary on the vast Western Plains near Melbourne. The tour is timed to coincide with the sunset which is the best time to see large flocks of waterbirds return to the Serendip Sanctuary to overnight in safety. There is majesty and movement right across the sanctuary as the sun drops quietly into the savannah.
During dinner, you will meet and talk to representatives of the Aboriginal tribal community. You will hear Aboriginal stories direct from the lips of Aboriginal people and hear the evocative music of the Didgeridoo. This is not a staged show but a shared experience where cultural interchange occurs in a traditional oral fashion. You will also learn about modern Aboriginal life. A delicious bush BBQ dinner is provided at Serendip

Enjoy breakfast this morning at our hotel before transferring to the airport for our flight to Adelaide (airfare not included in the tour cost, to be purchased separately) in the state of South Australia. On arrival, we head out for a private tour of the Adelaide Hills for wine tasting and lunch at Maximilian’s, a superb restaurant where you will delight in the sweeping views over the lake and vineyard. Next, enjoy a special visit to the National Wine Centre. We will enjoy a tour of the wine discovery museum and a single wine-tasting station - receive an insight into wines from South Australia’s premium winemaking regions by tasting their most renowned wine variety. The remainder of the evening is at leisure

Breakfast is at your leisure this morning. The day is free to explore the city. Perhaps consider adding a day excursion to Kangaroo Island, known as Australia’s Zoo without fences. Other options include city walking tours, 4WD safari style tours or even an intimate visit to the Adelaide Central Market (optional sightseeing not included in tour cost, to be purchased separately)

OPTION THE GHAN - MUST BE PREBOOKED

Breakfast is at your leisure this morning before we transfer to the train station in time to board the world famous Ghan for an overnight journey through the remote outback region to Alice Springs. This is one of the world's great and legendary train journeys. This famous train was named after the Afghan Cameleers and their camel trains, the most efficient transport through the desert in the late 1800s, linking Central Australia and other parts of the continent. After settling into Gold Service Cabins, lunch will be served as the train pulls out of Adelaide Station. Relax and enjoy the rhythm of the rails for the afternoon before our dinner sitting in the lovely Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and all beverages while on the train

Start the day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for our flight to Alice Springs (airfare not included in the tour cost, to be purchased separately. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Next, take a short drive to Alice Springs Train Station to collect your fellow guests who are arriving on the Ghan Train. When everyone is together again, we tour Alice Springs, the main service centre for the vast Outback region. Alice Springs is set against the rugged mountain backdrop of the magnificent MacDonnell Ranges 1500kms from the nearest capital city. 'Alice' was originally known as Stuart Town after the first European who, on his fifth attempt to cross Australia from Adelaide to Darwin surveying the route for the Overland Telegraph Line, discovered the spectacular mountain range now known as the MacDonnell Ranges. The largest of the many repeater Telegraph Stations completed in 1872, it was situated at Stuart Town, later renamed Alice Springs after the Postmaster's wife.

Our tour includes visits to the Royal Flying Doctor Service to see how this marvelous facility operates to provide a "Mantle of Safety" to the people of the Outback and the School of the Air - a school with a difference & the first of its kind. The School of the Air covers 1.3 million square kilometres including most of the NT, northern SA and eastern WA. You’ll learn about this unique school at the Visitors Centre, one of the most popular attractions in Alice Springs. This evening, we enjoy an entertaining Outback BBQ Dinner

After breakfast commence a fascinating journey through the semi-arid desert that is known by the locals as the ‘Red Centre’ to the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. On the way, we will make a short comfort stop. We will explore the fascinating base of Ayers Rock and hear some of the Aboriginal legends about this sacred land. The Rock has become one of the symbols of Australia that is recognized everywhere in the world. Nothing can give a sense of its size except standing beneath the towering 348 meters wall of rock.

As we tour the Rock's base with our knowledgeable driver/guide, we will fully appreciate not only its size but also the way it appears to continually change. From one angle it looks almost like a huge box; from another, it sprawls elegantly across the plain. Visit the Cultural Centre where there is the opportunity to purchase lunch.

We have time to freshen up at our hotel before being transferred to the site of the amazing Night at Field of Light *. Your evening begins at a remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru. As the sun sets on the horizon to the music of a didgeridoo, enjoy gourmet canapes and chilled sparkling wine. As darkness falls and the coloured lights of the 50,000 glass spheres gently come to life, join your table of fellow travellers for an exceptional three-course menu infused with bush tucker flavours. As the night ignites with countless stars, settle back and listen to a resident star talker decode the southern night sky. Your host will provide insights into the art installation that awaits you, before you’re invited to immerse yourself in the Field of Light, its pathways glistening softly with rhythms of coloured light, beckoning you to explore.

* Guests traveling in March will be offered a Sunset Tour & BBQ Dinner in lieu of The Night at Field of Lights & Sounds of Silence

After breakfast at our hotel, our Driver and coach will be waiting to transfer us out to the Olgas, also known in the Aboriginal language as "Kata Tjuta" translated as "many heads." The Olgas are a collection of smaller, more rounded rocks, located 32km to the west of Ayers Rock. Each of the 36 domes has a story in mythology and is of significance to the Aboriginal Dreamtime (legends).

Immerse yourself in culture as you learn about the local Anangu tribe through their Dot Painting Art. Have a chance to create your own story with your own dot painting.

Return to the Desert Gardens for some time to relax before heading to the airport to connect with a flight to Cairns (airfare not included in the tour cost, to be purchased separately).

Cairns is a modern, vibrant city and the unofficial capital of tropical North Queensland. Not only is the city the gateway to two amazing natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree National Park, but it is also connected to a strong Aboriginal Culture and historical links to WW II and the battles for the Pacific. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Tonight, enjoy a 3-course dinner at Peppers Crane Terrace in the hotel

Another great day today as we board the Great Adventures catamaran for our Great Barrier Reef experience. Details of your chosen option - Green Island or Outer Reef Excursion -- are outlined below.

Green Island/Outer Reef Option: Depart Cairns on Great Adventures fast catamaran for the short trip to Green Island, a true coral cay. On arrival, you have 2 hours of free time to explore the island. The island is perfect for strolling through cool rainforests, lazing on white coral sands, swimming or snorkeling on the surrounding coral reef or relaxing around the resort's pool. From Green Island, you re-board the catamaran and head to Great Adventure's 3-level pontoon on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The pontoon features undercover seating and tables where you will enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch. The pontoon also has a large sundeck, full bar facilities, an underwater observatory, and a semi-submersible coral viewing tour. You will be able to snorkel or dive (a surcharge applies for diving) among the reef's spectacular coral gardens and beautiful marine life. Return to Cairns at approximately 5:30 pm.

Green Island Only Option: Depart Cairns on Great Adventures fast catamaran for the short trip to Green Island, a true coral cay. On arrival, you have the rest of the day to explore the island. The island is perfect for strolling through the cool rainforests, lazing on white coral sands, swimming or snorkeling on the surrounding coral reef or relaxing around the resort's pool. While on the island, your snorkeling equipment and an excursion on a glass-bottom boat are included. A delicious buffet lunch is also included in the island's resort restaurant. Return to Cairns at 2:30 pm or you can choose to stay until 4.30 pm.

For both options, we strongly recommend you take a hat, swimsuit and plenty of sunscreen lotion. This evening is at leisure.

After breakfast, we board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for one of the most spectacular journeys in Australia. We will enjoy "Royale Service" as the train slowly winds its way up the epic pioneer track with every turn revealing a new panorama - sugar plantations, Barron Falls and Stoney Creek Falls. Our Royale service includes champagne and orange juice which we can sip while we listen to the informative commentary as the majesty of this area unfolds.

On arrival at Kuranda Station - a cool, tropical environment of native shrubs, ferns and flowers - we meet up with our coach driver for the short transfer to Kuranda Village, where we will have some free time to browse around the quaint township before enjoying a restaurant lunch. After this, we head to our next adventure at Rainforestation.

Our visit includes the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers who perform in the Rainforest Amphitheatre, a guided Dreamtime Walk, a boomerang throwing demonstration and an exciting ride on an amphibious army duck for an informative tour through the rainforest. Later we will also have the opportunity to visit the native animal enclosure to meet a koala. From Rainforestation, we take our coach back down to Cairns arriving at approximately 5.00 pm.

Rest and relax before this evening's dinner at a local highly awarded restaurant than a casual stroll through Cairns Night market.

Transfer to the airport this morning after breakfast for our flight to Sydney (airfare not included in the tour cost, to be purchased separately). On arrival in Australia's largest city, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Sydney, Australia's gateway city and the capital of New South Wales, is a vibrant city of unsurpassed style and variety. Established in 1788 as a convict settlement, Sydney has grown from these humble beginnings to become Australia's biggest, oldest and liveliest city and one of the great international cities of the world. Today, over 5 million people live in Sydney and its suburbs. Sydney is built around one of the largest and most beautiful natural harbours in the world. Miles of surfing beaches stretch north and south of the city on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

The most famous of Sydney's landmarks is the Harbour Bridge and the spectacular Opera House with its graceful 'sails' - the centre of Sydney's cultural activities. Combined with a sunny

A full-day tour today takes us to the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney. Visit Scenic World and enjoy rides on the Skyway - a glass-bottomed aerial cable car, the Scenic Cableway - the steepest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere and the Scenic Railway, the steepest passenger railway in the world followed by a short walk through the Cold Mountain Rainforest. We then stop for lunch after which we head to one of the lookout points to experience the full beauty of the Blue Mountains. The views from the park’s lookouts are magnificent; we will look out over hazy blue forests, waterfalls and interesting rock formations.

We return to Sydney in the late afternoon.

After a relaxing breakfast this morning at our hotel, we head out of downtown Sydney via the historic Rocks area and through the suburb of Paddington known for its turn-of-the-century terraced houses before arriving at Sydney’s famous surfing mecca, Bondi Beach. There will be time to explore and enjoy a morning refreshment. Later, we return to the city, arriving at the Sydney Opera House for a ‘Tasting Plate’ light lunch before a guided walking tour. The Opera House is Australia's premier venue for the performing arts and is home to the Australian Opera Company, the Australian Ballet, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Theatre Company.

It was designed by Jorn Utzon, and, on completion in 1973, was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Beneath the huge sail roofs are four major halls which are acoustically balanced to suit their own particular form of entertainment. In addition to the spectacular architecture, the appeal of the Opera House is its location on the harbour foreshores, bounded by the Botanical Gardens, Circular Quay and overlooked by the Harbour Bridge. At the completion of this tour, we will transfer to the King Street Wharf in Darling Harbour where we will enjoy our ‘Farewell to Australia” Captain Cook's Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour. Relax and enjoy the sights of Sydney's foreshore suburbs and the upper and lower reaches of Sydney Harbour while enjoying a unique dining experience. We then cruise past Fort Denison, a fortress island also known as "Pinchgut," where convicts prone to escaping were detained on a diet of bread and water. Looking back at the city skyline we gain a totally different perspective of Sydney's best-known landmarks - the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

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Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning at the hotel. This is the end of your Holiday of a Lifetime. If you are flying out of Sydney today you will be transferred to the airport. Of course, if you have the time, why not stay longer and explore some different parts of Australia?