First Choice
Internal-vacation flights included
Australian Highlights
13 Day Guided Vacation | Melbourne to Sydney
Travel Period
Picture Australia: the Coral Sea’s turquoise, the intense rainforest green, powdery white sand, the Red Centre’s ochre soil. These are your palette on this Melbourne to Sydney tour, spanning glittering cities and the outback, World Heritage Sites – Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Great Barrier Reef – and exclusive experiences. Whether Melbourne’s cafes or a barbeque, food is a focus, because this is Australia; eating well is in our DNA.
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Above lowest price is based on 2024-03-17 departure
$8719
Above lowest price is based on 2024-03-17 departure
Single rooms are limited and subject to availability
Child prices may be available on request
*Internal-vacation flights: Please note that prices include land and internal-vacation airfares, which AAT Kings will book in order to fulfil the holiday itinerary.
Secure your trip with a deposit
Trip Details
What's included
- • Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
• 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House
• Centrally located premium hotels
• Arrival and departure private airport transfers
Dining
- • 2 Dinners with Wine
- • 12 Full Breakfasts
- • 1 Be My Guest Dinner
- • 1 Lunch
- • 1 Highlight Lunch
- • 1 Farewell Dinner
Flight Information
- Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 12 noon into Melbourne Airport
Day 13 – flights to depart anytime from Sydney Airport
Internal-holiday flights: Please note that prices include land and internal-holiday airfares, which AAT Kings will book in order to fulfil the holiday itinerary:
Day 4 – Melbourne to Alice Springs
Day 7 – Ayers Rock to Cairns
Day 10 – Cairns to Sydney
Return airfares from your home port are not included in the price above.
Return airport to hotel transfers are included in the price above.
What to Bring
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
- • Warm layers in cooler months
- • Camera
Fitness Requirements
Low level of fitness required
Itinerary Generating PDF...
Is there such a thing as too much time in Melbourne? Arrive early before meeting your fellow adventure-seekers over a beverage or two.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Included Meals: Dinner with Wine
Melbourne is known for its cool cafés – we recommend grabbing a coffee to fuel you through a walking tour exploring the city’s most eye-popping laneways. This afternoon, you decide. Perhaps a nature-based sojourn to Phillip Island to see penguins waddle from the ocean to the sand? We wouldn’t blame you for lingering and taking a deep dive into Melbourne’s culinary offerings. Ask us for tips on the hottest spots to drink and dine.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Included Meals: Breakfast
If you’re still getting your Melbourne bearings, linger in town to explore boutiques, galleries, and eclectic suburbs. But if it’s time to venture further afield, you might want to sign up to discover the Great Ocean Road, a stretch of coastline that deserves its reputation as one of the most scenic touring routes in the world. Wherever you wander, be sure to take in a show at one of the city’s glorious theatres. We can assist with tickets.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Included Meals: Breakfast
Some parts of Australia are so remote that the only way kids can get an education is remotely via the School of the Air. Your next stop is the birthplace of the Alice Springs township, the historic Telegraph Station. Being this far flung also means there’s no light pollution from cars or skyscrapers. The result? Unrivalled stargazing (and a BBQ feast) with the Falzon family at their eco-oriented Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre.
Hotel: Mercure Alice Springs Resort
Included Meals: Be My Guest Dinner, Breakfast
Spiritual, sacred and spectacular, the world's largest rock monolith will give you goosebumps. In Australia's Red Centre, Uluru has been home to the Anangu people for millennia. Their connection is palpable, as you'll discover when you arrive at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, at sunset watching the shifting colours transform the desert with every last ray (sparkling wine essential).
Hotel: Desert Gardens
Included Meals: Breakfast
If there’s one thing worth getting out of bed early for, it’s sunrise over Uluru. Incredibly, the Rock’s base caves are home to First Nations art that dates back tens of thousands of years. What an honour to glimpse it. The ochres and silvery greens of the NT outback follow you to Kata Tjuta, where Walpa Gorge humbles with its soaring cliffs. Wander through the tallest domes before yet another sparkling sunset (and sparkling wine).
Hotel: Desert Gardens
Included Meals: Breakfast
Ok, so the other reason to get up early is to view artist Bruce Munro’s installation Field of Light at dawn – 50,000 glowing spindles of light blanketing the desert. Clamber to the top of a sand dune to marvel in the morning unfolding over this very special part of the world. An Anangu artist will explain just what makes it so spiritual over an introduction to Western Desert art, introducing totems and symbols important to the region and represented in paintings and installations. Head to your next stop in sunny Cairns.
Hotel: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Included Meals: Breakfast
If you’re in the habit of getting up early now, you may wish to begin your day with an optional horizon-bending hot-air-balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands. Prefer to stay grounded? Sign up for a guided walk through the Daintree Rainforest, or surround yourself with nature riding the Scenic Railway to Kuranda returning on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – perhaps with a side visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures for wetlands cruise? Tonight, celebrate the end of an incredible day at dinner on Cairns’ waterfront at Salt House for regional seafood plucked straight from the ocean, highlighting fresh, local ingredients, and prepared on their custom-built Argentinian wood fired grill.
Hotel: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Included Meals: Dinner with Wine, Breakfast
The world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, never fails to dazzle. Set out on a catamaran to explore a kaleidoscope of colour: over 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents. Strap on a snorkel or visit an underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft to take in the menagerie without getting your hair wet.
Hotel: Hilton Hotel Cairns
Included Meals: Lunch, Breakfast
Touch down in Australia’s largest city, and spend time at leisure in the buzzing metropolis of Sydney. Take a stroll along the iconic harbour, visit one of the city’s many bars, pubs, or restaurants, or simply while away the day at the beach. You decide how best to enjoy this bustling city of delights.
Hotel: InterContinental Hotel Sydney
Included Meals: Breakfast
Bring your stamina: today is one of innumerable highlights. Go behind the scenes at the Sydney Opera House, discovering its architectural and performance secrets. If these sails could talk. Then see the city from the water on a Sydney Harbour Highlight Lunch Cruise enjoying a menu focusing on local food and wine. One icon to another: The world’s most famous beach beckons this afternoon, with your chance to pad along the sand at Bondi with Sydney’s beautiful people.
Hotel: InterContinental Hotel Sydney
Included Meals: Highlight Lunch, Breakfast
You could spend weeks exploring Sydney. Months even. But you have today, so get set for a wild ride. Your agenda is completely up to you, but we have more than a few ideas. Perhaps a ferry ride to Manly for fish-n-chips on the beach? And ideally a stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden, which offers so many lookouts for sparkling harbour views. This evening, celebrate your holiday at a Farewell Dinner at Midden restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. Talk about ending on a high.
Hotel: InterContinental Hotel Sydney
Included Meals: Farewell Dinner, Breakfast
What an epic journey, with so many destinations explored in less than two weeks. Now you just have to sort through the photos…
Included Meals: Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Australian Highlights
First Choice
13 Day Guided Vacation
Melbourne to Sydney
Picture Australia: the Coral Sea’s turquoise, the intense rainforest green, powdery white sand, the Red Centre’s ochre soil. These are your palette on this Melbourne to Sydney tour, spanning glittering cities and the outback, World Heritage Sites – Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Great Barrier Reef – and exclusive experiences. Whether Melbourne’s cafes or a barbeque, food is a focus, because this is Australia; eating well is in our DNA.
Highlights
Local Connection
Whether you’re exploring vibrant city streets (think, Melbourne’s art-filled alleys) or remote reaches of the Northern Territory under a blaze of stars, you’ll be wowed by local knowledge.
Cultural Immersion
The Sydney Opera House is the stuff of postcards. You get to go behind the scenes with an expert who not only reveals architectural highlights, but also performance secrets.
Sustainable Footprints
Some of Australia’s legendary wilderness areas – Uluru, Kakadu and Litchfield – are its most fragile. Your National Parks fees preserve them for posterity.
Wildlife & Nature
The only living organism you can see from outer space, the Great Barrier Reef is among the world’s most important, and biodiverse, ecosystems. Dive under the surface and see for yourself.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
Optional Experiences
Please note, prices for Optional Experiences are subject to change.
To ensure your holiday is filled with memorable experiences, we have included a range of quality Optional Experiences for you to choose from and partake in, if you wish, during your holiday. The experiences can be booked on tour through your Travel Director.
Bridge Climb (Sydney)
Adult Price: AUD 344.00
Child Price: AUD 149.00
The Rocks Pub Walk (Sydney)
Adult Price: From AUD 115.00
Tread in the footsteps of the convicts, larrikin gangs & locals of the past as you share a drink in four of Sydney's oldest pubs. Between watering holes, your guide will take you through the alleys & cobbled streets of The Rocks as they share the gossip, shouts and stories of Australia's first European settlement. Tour includes: A choice of a beer (285ml/10oz), house wine or soft drink at each pub. 2.5 hours in duration. Runs 2:30pm & 6.30pm daily. Commences from Harts Pub, Essex St & Gloucester Street, The Rocks.
Down Under Tours Daintree Dreaming With Ngadiku Walk (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD $306 Child Price: AUD $275
Down Under Tours Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD $199 Child Price: AUD $105
Join your Down Under Tours coach transfer to Smithfield Station. Here you join Skyrail and marvel at the World's Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience, including time at both Red Peak and Barron Falls stations, both with spectacular lookouts. On arrival in Kuranda, the Village is yours to explore. The vibrant and colourful Heritage markets take place daily. Your return to Cairns is aboard the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail. Winding around curves, across bridges and through hand-hewn tunnels, this amazing engineering feat is a tribute to our pioneers. Upon arrival at historic Freshwater Station, you will board your coach back to your accommodation.
Down Under Tours: Kuranda, Scenic Skyrail & Hartley's Crocodile's (KHC) (Cairns)
Adult: $277.00 AUD
Child: 119.00 AUD
Enjoy this historical rail journey to Kuranda, with breathtaking views across the cane fields of Cairns, to the tropical rainforest of Kuranda. Upon arrival you will have around one hour to explore this fascinating village of colourful and interesting arts and crafts. At 11.30am, make your way directly to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to experience this iconic rainforest. After arriving at the Smithfield Skyrail Terminal, the coach will transfer you to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Explore the park, including the unique eco experience of the Wetlands cruise through the ecologically significant Melaleuca wetlands; the domain of the saltwater crocodile. (Operates Daily)
Great Adventures Introductory Dive (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD 184.00
For an underwater adventure to remember, experience an introductory dive! It’s fun and no experience is necessary to take a fully supervised introductory dive. Professional and experienced instructors will guide you through every aspect of your dive, allowing you to have a relaxed, enjoyable experience.
Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD 189.00
Child Price: AUD 129.00
Take a breath and enjoy a relaxed and unhindered view of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge all before lunch, beating the traditional afternoon rush. En route let us take you on a journey inland, reaching Port Campbell National Park to marvel at the iconic limestone stacks in the morning. Spend the afternoon with your experienced Driver Guide, meandering along the winding Great Ocean Road, taking in the spectacular coastal scenery, the Otway Rainforest and seaside townships.
FIND OUT MOREHot Air Cairns - 40 Minute Flight (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD 440.00 + flight levy (Weekday), $495.00 + flight levy (Weekend)
Experience the fun & unique sensation of being in a Hot Air Balloon, flying gently high above the Atherton Tablelands, Australia. The balloon takes off from Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands. Enjoy the picturesque landscape at dawn, floating in your Hot Air Balloon, time to really breathe in the wide-open spaces! We have Australia's largest fleet of Hot Air Balloons and a fun and highly trained crew to maximise the enjoyment of your balloon flight. It's just like a balloon festival, every day!
*Additional $30.00 insurance levy to be paid direct to Hot Air Cairns applies.
** If your tour ends in Cairns, you must have post tour accommodation or a late departing flight. Ask us for details
Nautilus Aviation (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD $199
Take to the sky on a 10-minute scenic flight. You will have the best seat to witness the iconic Great Barrier Reef from above.
Ochre Restaurant - 2 Course Dinner (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD 65.00
Child Price: AUD 65.00
Ochre is an award-winning restaurant with a dedication to local produce, crafting native ingredients into modern exciting cuisine. The menu changes seasonally and is unique in its use of Australian native foods and regional produce.
Phillip Island - Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD $199.00
Child Price: AUD $139.00
If you’re curious about our native wildlife or just love animals, we’ve got you covered today! Start the day off with a visit to the Koala Conservation Reserve where you’ll join an experienced park Ranger and explore the tree top boardwalks to see the koalas up close in their natural habitat. Then there is the main attraction – The little penguins waddling up the sand to their dune burrow homes returning from their daily fishing excursion. Arrive at Phillip Island Parade Visitors Centre and learn about the life cycle of the little penguins and learn of the environmental and conservation initiatives in place to ensure the wildlife and vulnerable geology of Phillip Island remains protected. As the sun goes down, head to the beach and watch as the Little Penguins battle the surf and make their way to their dune burrows. See the Little Penguins up close as they return to their nests to greet their families.
FIND OUT MORESydney Heli Tours - 20min Flight (Sydney)
Adult Price: AUD 240.00
Child Price: AUD 240.00
This is the best way to see Sydney in all its glory. See full panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Manly Cove and Sydney’s spectacular Harbour and city skyline. This tour will leave you breathless! Throughout your 20 minute flight your pilot will be providing you with expert commentary via voice activated headsets. The photo opportunities are once in a lifetime on this journey in the sky.
If your tour ends in Sydney, you must have post tour accommodation or a late departing flight. Ask us for details
Uluru Barbecue Dinner (Ayers Rock)
Adult Price: AUD 195.00
Child Price: AUD 135.00
Enjoy a sparkling wine on arrival at this unique and exclusive dining experience with Uluru as your stunning backdrop. Enjoy wine and beer with a classic barbecue of beef steak, lamb sausages, skewered chicken and garlic prawns, as well as a selection of fresh salads and a tasty dessert. There’s even time for stargazing.
Uluru Scenic Flights (Uluru (Ayers Rock))
Adult: $130.00
Child: 130.00
A 20 minute, fixed wing scenic flight is a great way to take in the amazing landscape of Uluru. This small plane operator offer extended flights that include both Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Blue Mountains & Australian Wildlife (J15) (Sydney)
Adult Price: AUD 135.00
Child Price: AUD 95.00
Discover the vast wonders of the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage-listed site spanning over one million hectares. Immerse yourself in the diverse landscape, from lush rainforests to untouched bushland and awe-inspiring cliffs. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the charming streets of Leura and then witness the magnificent Three Sisters rock formation up close at Echo Point. From there, embark on your personalized exploration of this remarkable region, creating your own unique adventure.
FIND OUT MOREUluru Helicopter Scenic Flight (Uluru (Ayers Rock))
Adult: $180.00 AUD
Child: $180.00 AUD
Experience a unique view with a scenic helicopter flight over the Red Centre and see Uluru from the Air. You might choose the 15 minute flight to appreciate Uluru from the air or the recommended longer flight to witness Uluru as well as the extraordinary Kata Tjuta.
Wintijiri Wiru After Dark Show (Uluru (Ayers Rock))
Adult: $190.00 AUD
Child: $95.00 AUD
Wintjiri Wiru, which in the local Pitjantjatjara language means ‘beautiful view out to the horizon’. This breathtaking sound and light show brings to life the ancient Mala story of the Anangu people, a story passed on for thousands of generations. With the use of ground-breaking technology, choreographed drones, lasers and projections illuminate the night sky. Wintjiri Wiru takes place at Ayers Rock Resort, in the spiritual heart of Australia and is an immersion into Anangu culture. The experience begins with a transfer from Resort hotels to a sustainably-built platform where you will take a seat in the intimate amphitheatre.
Sydney Heli Tours (30 mins) (Sydney)
Adult: $360.00 AUD
Child: $360.00 AUD
This is the best way to see Sydney in all its glory on an extended flight. See full panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Manly Cove, Sydney’s spectacular Harbour and city skyline and as far north as Long Reef. This tour will leave you breathless! Throughout your 30 minute flight your pilot will be providing you with expert commentary via voice activated headsets. The photo opportunities are once in a lifetime on this journey in the sky.
History & Donuts Walking Tour (Melbourne)
Adult: $79.00 AUD
Child: $79.00 AUD
Discover the sweeter side of Melbourne on Fit City Tour’s History and Donuts Walking Tour. This two-hour walking tour is best started on an empty stomach. The adventure begins at Federation Square. From there, you'll immerse yourself in the stunning laneway street art of Hosier Lane before stopping for the first coffee of the tour at a favourite laneway cafe. The tour continues to weave through city laneways sharing the story of Melbourne, its history and culture, while stopping off for donuts at some of Melbourne's most iconic donuts shops. After the second donut, you'll explore former city slums, and learn about the character of Melbourne – and the characters that made their name here. The tour finishes at State Library where you can stay on to explore one of Melbourne's finest buildings.
Melbourne Skydeck (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD $30.00
Child Price: AUD $20.00
Experience the awe-inspiring 360 degree floor-to-ceiling views of Victoria's capital city at the Melbourne Skydeck, Eureka Tower. This viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere!
Waterfall, Wetlands & Skyrail Adventure (Kuranda)
Adult: $299.00 AUD
Child: $225.00 AUD
Embark on a Make Travel Matter® guided Waterfall, Wetlands & Skyrail adventure from Cairns. Explore Cattana Wetlands' palm forest with your experienced driver guide and Barron Falls with a Djabugay cultural guide. Savour lunch at Skybury, then journey to Emerald Creek Ice Creamery. Finish the day on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway travelling over and through the World Heritage Listed rainforest.
Trip Details
What's included
- Specialist team of two highly experienced Travel Director and Driver Guide
- Local Specialists (Guides)
- Centrally located premium hotels
Dining
- • 12 Full Breakfasts
- • 1 Lunch
- • 1 Be My Guest Lunch
- • 2 Dinners with Wine
- • 1 Highlight Dinner
- • 1 Farewell Dinner
Flight Information
- Day 1: Flights to arrive prior to 12:00pm into Melbourne Airport
What to Bring
- • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- • Water bottle
- • Warm layers in cooler months
- • Camera
- • Comfortable walking shoes
Fitness Requirements
- •
Itinerary Generating PDF...
Is there such a thing as too much time in Melbourne? Arrive early before meeting your fellow adventure-seekers over a beverage or two.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne, 3 nights
Included Meals: Dinner with Wine
Melbourne is known for its cool cafés – we recommend grabbing a coffee to fuel you through a walking tour exploring the city’s most eye-popping laneways. This afternoon, you decide. Perhaps a nature-based sojourn to Phillip Island to see penguins waddle from the ocean to the sand? We wouldn’t blame you for lingering and taking a deep dive into Melbourne’s culinary offerings. Ask us for tips on the hottest spots to drink and dine.
Included Meals: Breakfast
If you’re still getting your Melbourne bearings, linger in town to explore boutiques, galleries, and eclectic suburbs. But if it’s time to venture further afield, you might want to sign up to discover the Great Ocean Road, a stretch of coastline that deserves its reputation as one of the most scenic touring routes in the world. Wherever you wander, be sure to take in a show at one of the city’s glorious theatres. We can assist with tickets.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Spiritual, sacred and spectacular, the world’s largest rock monolith will give you goosebumps. In Australia’s Red Centre, Uluru has been home to the Anangu people for millennia. Their connection is palpable, as you’ll discover when you arrive at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, at sunset watching the shifting colours transform the desert with every last ray (sparkling wine essential).
Hotel: Desert Gardens, Ayers Rock Resort, 2 nights
Included Meals: Breakfast
If there’s one thing worth getting out of bed early for, it’s sunrise over Uluru. Incredibly, the Rock’s base caves are home to First Nations art that dates back tens of thousands of years. What an honour to glimpse it. The ochres and silvery greens of the NT outback follow you to Kata Tjuta, where Walpa Gorge humbles with its soaring cliffs. Wander through the tallest domes before yet another sparkling sunset (and sparkling wine).
Included Meals: Breakfast
Ok, so the other reason to get up early is to view artist Bruce Munro’s installation Field of Light at dawn – 50,000 glowing spindles of light blanketing the desert. Clamber to the top of a sand dune to marvel in the morning unfolding over this very special part of the world. An Anangu artist will explain just what makes it so spiritual over an introduction to Western Desert art, introducing totems and symbols important to the region and represented in paintings and installations. Head to your next stop in sunny Cairns.
Hotel: Hilton Hotel Cairns, 3 nights
Included Meals: Breakfast
If you’re in the habit of getting up early now, you may wish to begin your day with an optional horizon-bending hot-air-balloon ride over the Atherton Tablelands. Prefer to stay grounded? Sign up for a guided walk through the Daintree Rainforest, or surround yourself with nature riding the Scenic Railway to Kuranda returning on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – perhaps with a side visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures for a wetlands cruise?
Included Meals: Breakfast
The world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, never fails to dazzle. Set out on a catamaran to explore a kaleidoscope of colour: over 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents. Strap on a snorkel or visit an underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft to take in the menagerie without getting your hair wet. Tonight, celebrate the end of an incredible day at dinner on Cairns’ waterfront at Salt House for regional seafood plucked straight from the ocean, highlighting fresh, local ingredients, and prepared on their custom-built Argentinian wood fired grill.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Wine
Touch down in Australia’s largest city, with a harbour you could gaze at all day long. And all night. Freshen up and do just that when you join your Travel Director and travel mates on a Highlight Dinner cruise around Sydney Harbour against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Hotel: InterContinental Hotel Sydney, 4 nights
Included Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Dinner
Bring your stamina: today is one of innumerable highlights. Go behind the scenes at the Sydney Opera House, discovering its architectural and performance secrets. If these sails could talk. One icon to another: The world’s most famous beach beckons this morning, with your chance to pad along the sand at Bondi with Sydney’s beautiful people. From Worked up an appetite? A local Surf Life Saver will take you into the members-only Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club. Learn about this historic club and gain an understanding of the important work that is done here saving lives on this famous beach. Next, a Be My Guest lunch with views overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Be My Guest Lunch
The hardest decision you have to make today: explore more of Sydney, or head to the Blue Mountains, 11,400 square kilometres of World Heritage listed wilderness, a place where sandstone escarpments appear to cleave off the edge of the Earth and waterfall-cooled valleys of rainforest slip dreamily from the pages of a fairytale.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Now you’ve found your bearings in Sydney, why not linger around the harbour – perhaps it’s time to glimpse it from above on a Sydney BridgeClimb? This bird’s-eye view certainly puts things in perspective. Back at ground level, you’re in the heart of the Rocks, the city’s original colonial settlement and a place of cobbled alleys and private galleries. This evening, celebrate your holiday at a Farewell Dinner at Portside Restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. Talk about ending on a high.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
What an epic journey, with so many destinations explored in less than two weeks. Now you just have to sort through the photos…
Included Meals: Breakfast
Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.
Australian Highlights
First Choice
13 Day Guided Vacation
Melbourne to Sydney
Picture Australia: the Coral Sea’s turquoise, the intense rainforest green, powdery white sand, the Red Centre’s ochre soil. These are your palette on this Melbourne to Sydney tour, spanning glittering cities and the outback, World Heritage Sites – Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Great Barrier Reef – and exclusive experiences. Whether Melbourne’s cafes or a barbeque, food is a focus, because this is Australia; eating well is in our DNA.
Highlights
Insider Knowledge
Melbourne has some of the world’s most vibrant street art – if you know where to look. Follow your local guide to discover eye-popping murals, hidden down back alleys.
Local Connection
Join an Anangu artist at the Maruku Arts Dot Painting class and paint your own piece of Aboriginal art as a memento of this experience.
Cultural Immersion
The Sydney Opera House is the stuff of postcards. You get to go behind the scenes with an expert who not only reveals architectural highlights, but also performance secrets.
Sustainable Footprints
Your visit to Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Kakadu and Litchfield national parks helps protect these incredible wilderness areas for future generations.
Wildlife & Nature
The only living organism you can see from outer space, the Great Barrier Reef is among the world’s most important, and biodiverse, ecosystems. Dive under the surface and see for yourself.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:
Optional Experiences
Please note, prices for Optional Experiences are subject to change.
To ensure your holiday is filled with memorable experiences, we have included a range of quality Optional Experiences for you to choose from and partake in, if you wish, during your holiday. The experiences can be booked on tour through your Travel Director.
Bridge Climb (Sydney)
Adult Price: AUD 344.00
Child Price: AUD 149.00
The Rocks Pub Walk (Sydney)
Adult Price: From AUD 115.00
Tread in the footsteps of the convicts, larrikin gangs & locals of the past as you share a drink in four of Sydney's oldest pubs. Between watering holes, your guide will take you through the alleys & cobbled streets of The Rocks as they share the gossip, shouts and stories of Australia's first European settlement. Tour includes: A choice of a beer (285ml/10oz), house wine or soft drink at each pub. 2.5 hours in duration. Runs 2:30pm & 6.30pm daily. Commences from Harts Pub, Essex St & Gloucester Street, The Rocks.
Down Under Tours Daintree Dreaming With Ngadiku Walk (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD $306 Child Price: AUD $275
Down Under Tours Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD $199 Child Price: AUD $105
Join your Down Under Tours coach transfer to Smithfield Station. Here you join Skyrail and marvel at the World's Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience, including time at both Red Peak and Barron Falls stations, both with spectacular lookouts. On arrival in Kuranda, the Village is yours to explore. The vibrant and colourful Heritage markets take place daily. Your return to Cairns is aboard the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail. Winding around curves, across bridges and through hand-hewn tunnels, this amazing engineering feat is a tribute to our pioneers. Upon arrival at historic Freshwater Station, you will board your coach back to your accommodation.
Down Under Tours: Kuranda, Scenic Skyrail & Hartley's Crocodile's (KHC) (Cairns)
Adult: $277.00 AUD
Child: 119.00 AUD
Enjoy this historical rail journey to Kuranda, with breathtaking views across the cane fields of Cairns, to the tropical rainforest of Kuranda. Upon arrival you will have around one hour to explore this fascinating village of colourful and interesting arts and crafts. At 11.30am, make your way directly to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to experience this iconic rainforest. After arriving at the Smithfield Skyrail Terminal, the coach will transfer you to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Explore the park, including the unique eco experience of the Wetlands cruise through the ecologically significant Melaleuca wetlands; the domain of the saltwater crocodile. (Operates Daily)
Great Adventures Introductory Dive (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD 184.00
For an underwater adventure to remember, experience an introductory dive! It’s fun and no experience is necessary to take a fully supervised introductory dive. Professional and experienced instructors will guide you through every aspect of your dive, allowing you to have a relaxed, enjoyable experience.
Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD 189.00
Child Price: AUD 129.00
Take a breath and enjoy a relaxed and unhindered view of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge all before lunch, beating the traditional afternoon rush. En route let us take you on a journey inland, reaching Port Campbell National Park to marvel at the iconic limestone stacks in the morning. Spend the afternoon with your experienced Driver Guide, meandering along the winding Great Ocean Road, taking in the spectacular coastal scenery, the Otway Rainforest and seaside townships.
FIND OUT MOREHot Air Cairns - 40 Minute Flight (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD 440.00 + flight levy (Weekday), $495.00 + flight levy (Weekend)
Experience the fun & unique sensation of being in a Hot Air Balloon, flying gently high above the Atherton Tablelands, Australia. The balloon takes off from Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands. Enjoy the picturesque landscape at dawn, floating in your Hot Air Balloon, time to really breathe in the wide-open spaces! We have Australia's largest fleet of Hot Air Balloons and a fun and highly trained crew to maximise the enjoyment of your balloon flight. It's just like a balloon festival, every day!
*Additional $30.00 insurance levy to be paid direct to Hot Air Cairns applies.
** If your tour ends in Cairns, you must have post tour accommodation or a late departing flight. Ask us for details
Nautilus Aviation (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD $199
Take to the sky on a 10-minute scenic flight. You will have the best seat to witness the iconic Great Barrier Reef from above.
Ochre Restaurant - 2 Course Dinner (Cairns)
Adult Price: AUD 65.00
Child Price: AUD 65.00
Ochre is an award-winning restaurant with a dedication to local produce, crafting native ingredients into modern exciting cuisine. The menu changes seasonally and is unique in its use of Australian native foods and regional produce.
Phillip Island - Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD $199.00
Child Price: AUD $139.00
If you’re curious about our native wildlife or just love animals, we’ve got you covered today! Start the day off with a visit to the Koala Conservation Reserve where you’ll join an experienced park Ranger and explore the tree top boardwalks to see the koalas up close in their natural habitat. Then there is the main attraction – The little penguins waddling up the sand to their dune burrow homes returning from their daily fishing excursion. Arrive at Phillip Island Parade Visitors Centre and learn about the life cycle of the little penguins and learn of the environmental and conservation initiatives in place to ensure the wildlife and vulnerable geology of Phillip Island remains protected. As the sun goes down, head to the beach and watch as the Little Penguins battle the surf and make their way to their dune burrows. See the Little Penguins up close as they return to their nests to greet their families.
FIND OUT MORESydney Heli Tours - 20min Flight (Sydney)
Adult Price: AUD 240.00
Child Price: AUD 240.00
This is the best way to see Sydney in all its glory. See full panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Manly Cove and Sydney’s spectacular Harbour and city skyline. This tour will leave you breathless! Throughout your 20 minute flight your pilot will be providing you with expert commentary via voice activated headsets. The photo opportunities are once in a lifetime on this journey in the sky.
If your tour ends in Sydney, you must have post tour accommodation or a late departing flight. Ask us for details
Uluru Barbecue Dinner (Ayers Rock)
Adult Price: AUD 195.00
Child Price: AUD 135.00
Enjoy a sparkling wine on arrival at this unique and exclusive dining experience with Uluru as your stunning backdrop. Enjoy wine and beer with a classic barbecue of beef steak, lamb sausages, skewered chicken and garlic prawns, as well as a selection of fresh salads and a tasty dessert. There’s even time for stargazing.
Uluru Scenic Flights (Uluru (Ayers Rock))
Adult: $130.00
Child: 130.00
A 20 minute, fixed wing scenic flight is a great way to take in the amazing landscape of Uluru. This small plane operator offer extended flights that include both Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
Blue Mountains & Australian Wildlife (J15) (Sydney)
Adult Price: AUD 135.00
Child Price: AUD 95.00
Discover the vast wonders of the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage-listed site spanning over one million hectares. Immerse yourself in the diverse landscape, from lush rainforests to untouched bushland and awe-inspiring cliffs. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the charming streets of Leura and then witness the magnificent Three Sisters rock formation up close at Echo Point. From there, embark on your personalized exploration of this remarkable region, creating your own unique adventure.
FIND OUT MOREUluru Helicopter Scenic Flight (Uluru (Ayers Rock))
Adult: $180.00 AUD
Child: $180.00 AUD
Experience a unique view with a scenic helicopter flight over the Red Centre and see Uluru from the Air. You might choose the 15 minute flight to appreciate Uluru from the air or the recommended longer flight to witness Uluru as well as the extraordinary Kata Tjuta.
Wintijiri Wiru After Dark Show (Uluru (Ayers Rock))
Adult: $190.00 AUD
Child: $95.00 AUD
Wintjiri Wiru, which in the local Pitjantjatjara language means ‘beautiful view out to the horizon’. This breathtaking sound and light show brings to life the ancient Mala story of the Anangu people, a story passed on for thousands of generations. With the use of ground-breaking technology, choreographed drones, lasers and projections illuminate the night sky. Wintjiri Wiru takes place at Ayers Rock Resort, in the spiritual heart of Australia and is an immersion into Anangu culture. The experience begins with a transfer from Resort hotels to a sustainably-built platform where you will take a seat in the intimate amphitheatre.
Sydney Heli Tours (30 mins) (Sydney)
Adult: $360.00 AUD
Child: $360.00 AUD
This is the best way to see Sydney in all its glory on an extended flight. See full panoramic views of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Manly Cove, Sydney’s spectacular Harbour and city skyline and as far north as Long Reef. This tour will leave you breathless! Throughout your 30 minute flight your pilot will be providing you with expert commentary via voice activated headsets. The photo opportunities are once in a lifetime on this journey in the sky.
History & Donuts Walking Tour (Melbourne)
Adult: $79.00 AUD
Child: $79.00 AUD
Discover the sweeter side of Melbourne on Fit City Tour’s History and Donuts Walking Tour. This two-hour walking tour is best started on an empty stomach. The adventure begins at Federation Square. From there, you'll immerse yourself in the stunning laneway street art of Hosier Lane before stopping for the first coffee of the tour at a favourite laneway cafe. The tour continues to weave through city laneways sharing the story of Melbourne, its history and culture, while stopping off for donuts at some of Melbourne's most iconic donuts shops. After the second donut, you'll explore former city slums, and learn about the character of Melbourne – and the characters that made their name here. The tour finishes at State Library where you can stay on to explore one of Melbourne's finest buildings.
Melbourne Skydeck (Melbourne)
Adult Price: AUD $30.00
Child Price: AUD $20.00
Experience the awe-inspiring 360 degree floor-to-ceiling views of Victoria's capital city at the Melbourne Skydeck, Eureka Tower. This viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere!
Waterfall, Wetlands & Skyrail Adventure (Kuranda)
Adult: $299.00 AUD
Child: $225.00 AUD
Embark on a Make Travel Matter® guided Waterfall, Wetlands & Skyrail adventure from Cairns. Explore Cattana Wetlands' palm forest with your experienced driver guide and Barron Falls with a Djabugay cultural guide. Savour lunch at Skybury, then journey to Emerald Creek Ice Creamery. Finish the day on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway travelling over and through the World Heritage Listed rainforest.