Essence of Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef with Airfare

Depart North America for your flight to Australia.

A day will be lost to travel and time zones as you approach Australia.

On arrival at Sydney Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Be touched by the most ancient human culture on earth in a 90-minute leisurely walkabout with an Aboriginal guide in The Rocks, and journey into DreamTime, the culture of Aboriginal People. The Rocks Dreaming Aboriginal Heritage Tour is 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned and was developed by Aboriginal Elder, Margret Campbell, a Dunghutti - Jerrinjah woman. It is led by Aboriginal guides who have her permission to share her cultural knowledge. The tour gives you the opportunity to discover how the ancient Aboriginal DreamTime is still alive within the modern Sydney landscape and how the billion-year old harbour, marine environment, sandstone strata, waterways, flora and fauna continue to influence how Aboriginal people live today.

Depart your hotel for an unforgettable Panoramic Sydney half day city sights tour. On tour you'll visit the historic Rocks area and hear early convict history. Enjoy magnificent views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. See the shopping heart of the city, QVB, Centre point.

Visit Sydney's trendy new district Oxford Street. Travel through elegant Paddington with its terrace houses before arriving at the Pacific Ocean. See the superb coast cliff walk around Tamarama and Bronte.

Travel on to famous Bondi Beach. Visit the beachfront promenade, enjoy a coffee or cool drink (at own cost). See bronzed Aussie lifesavers and Sydney's best panoramic view at Dover Heights.

Return to Sydney via Double Bay, Kings Cross and Mrs Macquarie's Point for a final magical viewpoint over the harbour before returning to the city centre.

There isn't another harbour in the world to rival Sydney's beauty and vibrancy. This 2 course luncheon cruise is an exceptional 360 degree waterfront restaurant experience. The menu is premium a la carte and served on the uppermost restaurant deck with the best views in Sydney.

One full day to discover on any traveller’s Australia vacation. Surrounding the city is a wonderland of national parks, forests, mountains, river valleys and historic riverside towns. The first settlers arrived in 1788 came here to create a penal colony, finding the world’s largest natural harbour, and 70 beaches along the coast within a reasonable distance of the city. In more recent times, Sydney also hosted the 2000 Olympic Games.

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of seven national parks that make up the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. This wonderland of sandstone outcrops, deep ravines and hazy blue eucalypt forests boasts luxury retreats and stunning views. Today your guide will take you off the beaten track to visit remote lookout locations and discuss the history, flora and fauna of this magnificent region.

7.00- 7.30AM Depart from the hotel with AEA Luxury Tours. Our first stop of the day is at Calmsley Hill a working farm also home to Kangaroos, Emus, Wombats and Koalas. Enjoy morning tea and time to wander at leisure.

From Calmsley Hill we continue to ascend the Blue Mountains via the highway. We will visit one of a range of stunning outlooks of the Jamison Valley seeing beautiful vistas. Where possible this will be away from the crowds of tours that visit the mountains each day with other operators, thus our guests will enjoy a stress and hurry free environment taking in the views and information imparted by their guide.

Continuing on we arrive at Eaglehawk Lookout, a remote lookout points away from the crowds for views of the famous 3 Sisters. Whilst the Blue Mountains features so much more than this natural attraction you can't help but admire the unquestionable beauty of this amazing rock formation. The character of the Three Sisters changes throughout the day and throughout the seasons as the sunlight brings out the magnificent colours. Here your guide will discuss the legends behind this famous rock formation and time available for you to take some great photos.

We then make our way around the mountain towards the village of Blackheath and our lunch venue the Hydro Majestic. Here in this relaxed venue with stunning views. We enjoy a 2-course lunch with tea/coffee. All diets are catered for (excluding Kosher Meals). Beverages can be purchased at your own expense from the Bar.

The afternoon is spent visiting a selection of lookouts. Once you clap your eyes on the view from Govetts Leap you'll know why it's one of the most famous lookouts in Australia. The magnificent waterfall drops a whopping 180m to the base of the cliff. If you're not mesmerised by the dancing waves of water spray, you'll be transfixed by the sweeping views down the valley to the Grose Wilderness. We then stop briefly to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice at the delightful Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens our last stop, where we enjoy the sweeping views across to Sydney before travelling down the Bells Line of Road to arrive back at your hotel approximately 4.30 - 5.00pm.

Today, transfer to Sydney Airport for your flight to Cairns.

On arrival at Cairns Airport, you will be transferred to your resort in Port Douglas.

The balance of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the resort facilities.

Accommodation: Villa San Michel

Join your coach transfer to the wharf this morning and board the vessel to enjoy a full day reef and island cruise to Low Isles. Sail to and explore this protected coral cay, with white sandy beaches and coconut palms, surrounded by coral gardens and the Coral Sea. Sailaway moors in the sheltered blue lagoon for five hours. Just relax on the island, join the guided snorkel tour, take a trip on the glass bottom boat or laze on the deck after a buffet lunch. Later, enjoy sailing back to the mainland.

Your tour begins with being met by your friendly accredited guide at your accommodation. After introductions, drive north along the magnificent scenic coastal route learning about the history of the area and admiring spectacular views of the coastline and the Azure waters of the Coral Sea.

The first stop is at the Majestic Daintree River for morning tea (tea, coffee & biscuits) before enjoying an informative River Cruise. Relax and enjoy the splendour only the Daintree Rainforest can offer as you learn of Estuarine Crocodiles, mangrove forests and endemic wildlife.  Next, we make our way up over the Alexandra Range and pause for a panoramic view of World Heritage, Wet Tropics, and Tropical Rainforest merging with the azure colours of the Coral Sea.

Your guide will take you on a journey through ancient Daintree Rainforest, whilst giving you an interpretation of flora and fauna.  You will have ample time for photographs and questions as we search for the elusive, rare and totally unique Southern Cassowary and other wildlife species. 

Enjoy lunch at a local cafe.

After lunch, continue along the 4WD Bloomfield Track through to pristine Emmagen Creek. Now it is time for a refreshing rainforest stream swim. We then make our way to Cape Tribulation Beach and stroll along the beach and boardwalk to the photographers' platform overlooking the mountains and coast where the 'Rainforest meets the Reef’.  

Head back with a stop at the Daintree Ice-cream Company (ice-cream at own expense).

Two days to discover Port Douglas a chic, yet relaxed seaside village, perfect for couples, families and solo travellers alike, with a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets, a plethora of restaurants and bars, not to mention fantastic boutique shopping. The village is also the ideal base to explore the World Heritage-Listed Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation with an abundance of tours and day trips available.

Today, transfer to Cairns Airport for your onward travels.