Sea, Sand & City - Gold Coast & Sydney

Depart North America this evening on your flight to Australia.

Today is lost as you cross the International Date Line.

On arrival at Brisbane International Airport, clear Australian Immigration and Customs formalities and proceed to the arrivals hall to meet your driver.

Transfer to your accommodation in Surfers Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast.

The balance of the day is at leisure to relax and begin exploring at your own pace.

Accommodation: voco Gold Coast

Australia's Gold Coast has three major beach areas are Surfers’ Paradise Beach, an excellent place for shopping with its 14 shopping centres. Along the beachfront, you will find around 120 market stalls offering everything under the sun. Main Beach is a stylish resort with outstanding dining, cafes and shopping. Broadbeach is known as a dining Mecca and also has attractive pristine beaches. Watch here for musicians and entertainers who roam the streets. All of the above of course offers excellent swimming and surfing as well as golf, spas, theme parks and museums.

This tour provides you with all the best highlights packed beautifully into one fantastic day. A fully guided tour visiting the world's largest sub-tropical rainforest, the famous O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat and Canungra Valley Vineyard. Experience stunning panoramic views, a canopy treetop walk, wild bird feeding and more on this relaxed journey to 1,000 metres above sea level.

As we leave the Gold Coast, we drive west to the Scenic Rim, through the hills and on to the town of Canungra. Along the journey your expert local guide shares the history, culture and stories of the townships and regions we pass through. Once we reach the top of the mountain we are greeted by O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat. Here we enjoy a guided rainforest tour along the rainforest floor and high into the trees on the treetop walk. We spot unique wildlife and amazing bird life while on the walk and have the opportunity to feed wild crimson rosellas. Before we head back down the mountain we stop to see the panoramic 360 degree view across the Scenic Rim and Gold Coast. Enjoy a glass of the local Picnic Bubbles at Canungra Valley Vineyard, see the peacocks and meet the Alpacas. (optional feeding and walking experience)

Enjoy an amazing day at Tangalooma Island Resort, just a 75-minute cruise from Brisbane. Go further than land can take you and enjoy a cruise along the Moreton Bay Regions protected marine park. As you motor along the bay in a Glass Bottom Boat you are able to see the marine life beneath the surface. Knowledgeable guides will tell you all about the island and its surrounds. Later, join the local Eco Rangers at dusk to hand feed a member of the wild dolphin family. This experience is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Tangalooma. You'll also enjoy lunch and full access to the resort facilities including land-based activities, pool tables, swimming pools, restaurants, bars, and more.

A short drive from the Gold Coast through Numinbah valley with its high cliffs and green country pastures leads us to the World Heritage listed Springbrook National Park. Explore ancient Gondwana rainforest with Antarctic beech trees dating back over 3000 years. Visit the stunning Natural Arch waterfall on a fully guided walk led by your expert local guide. Learn about the unique flora and fauna of the rainforest as you make your way through the forest to the waterfall. From inside the cave witness the unique and magical sight of water cascading through the roof of the basalt cave which has been formed over millions of years.

Continuing the tour, Best of All Lookout offers a sweeping view across the valley from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay and Mount Warning. The walk to this magnificent lookout takes you through one of the few remaining pockets of ancient Antarctic beech forest, a link to the ancient forests of Gondwana.

Enjoy light snacks with cold drinks before heading to the nearby viewing platform to see the majestic Purling Brook Falls. During the journey, informative tour commentary on the area and wildlife is provided along with great scenery of the Numinbah Valley. Take in the views of Twin Falls and Rainbow Falls from Canyon Lookout on the way home.

Australia's Gold Coast has three major beach areas are Surfers’ Paradise Beach, an excellent place for shopping with its 14 shopping centres. Along the beachfront, you will find around 120 market stalls offering everything under the sun. Main Beach is a stylish resort with outstanding dining, cafes and shopping. Broadbeach is known as a dining Mecca and also has attractive pristine beaches. Watch here for musicians and entertainers who roam the streets. All of the above of course offers excellent swimming and surfing as well as golf, spas, theme parks and museums.

Today, you are transferred to the airpoort for the short fligt to Sydney.

On arrival at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport, meet your drive and transfer to your hotel.

The balance of the day is at leisure to explore this vibrant city at your own pace.

Accommodation: Parkroyal Darling Harbour

Depart your hotel for an unforgettable Panoramic Sydney half day city sights tour. On tour you will visit the historic Rocks area and hear of early convict history. We continue through the financially focused Central Business District (CBD), and Macquarie Street. Marvel at 18th century sandstone architecture such as NSW Parliament House, Rum Hospital, Hyde Park Barracks and St Mary’s Cathedral. We will continue to Mrs Macquaries Point, to enjoy magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

We then continue through Sydneys Eastern Suburbs, home to the rich and famous. Travelling along the coves and shores of one of the worlds most impressive harbours, we will take a few stops for photo opportunities, including a panoramic photo of Sydney skyline. You will pass through areas such as Kings Cross, Double Bay, Rose Bay before arriving at Watsons Bay, passengers will have the option a short coastal walk with views of the South Pacific Ocean and the entrance to Sydney harbour.
Travel on to famous Bondi Beach where we enjoy a short stop of approximately 30 minutes. Visit the beachfront promenade, put your toes in the sand, enjoy a coffee or cool drink (at own cost). See bronzed Aussie lifesavers and surfers riding the waves of Bondi

Re-board your bus and continue on to Tamarama and Bronte beaches before returning to the city via Centennial Park and Paddington, a trendy district with its elegant terrace houses and boutique shops along Oxford Street.

Final stop of the tour is at Circular Quay, in time to board your cruise.

Indulge in the ultimate Sydney Harbour experience with the Cruise Like a Local Luncheon Cruise. Spend four unforgettable hours aboard a 52-foot motor yacht with a small group. Your knowledgeable captain will narrate Sydney Harbour's history as you marvel at iconic landmarks like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Delight in a sumptuous 3-course BBQ lunch paired with regional wines and local beers. Dive into various activities or simply unwind on the sunbed, soaking in the scenery.

Sydney, renowned for its iconic landmarks and stunning beaches, promises an unforgettable experience. While must-see attractions like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House define its charm, the city continually evolves. From trendy rooftop bars to vibrant theater productions and chic boutiques, urban delights abound. Yet, amidst the hustle, serene beach days offer a perfect balance. With diverse destinations nearby, Sydney beckons with endless exploration.

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 percent 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 their 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 harbor, marine environment, sandstone strata, waterways, flora and fauna continue to influence how Aboriginal people live today.

Today you are transfered to the airport for your return flight to North America with fond memories of Australia.