Australian Highlights
Australian Highlights
Australian Highlights
13 Days Starting in Melbourne (VIC) and ending in Sydney
Visiting: Melbourne (VIC), Alice Springs, Red Centre, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Cairns, Sydney
Tour operator:
Tour code:
IMSE1M21
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Trafalgar with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
Australia at its best - from the golden beaches of Bondi and shared stories of Aboriginal Dreamtime, to an astounding underwater wonderland and fiery Uluru sunset lighting up the Outback sky.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Melbourne (3 Nights)
Location: Melbourne (VIC)
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Welcome Reception
On arrival in the stylish Victorian capital of Melbourne, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure (flights to arrive prior to 12pm). Later, you'll join your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and Regional Dinner at a restaurant by the waterfront.
Day 2: Melbourne Sightseeing And Free Time
Location: Melbourne (VIC)
Meals Included: Breakfast
'Dive into Culture' and wander through the labyrinthine laneways, arcades and grand boulevards that reveal some of the world's most edgy street art and well-preserved Victorian architecture. Spend the rest of the day exploring on your own. Perhaps take a stroll along the Yarra River.
Day 3: Melbourne Free Time
Meals Included: Breakfast
A full free day awaits to sample the cosmopolitan flavours of Melbourne - its coffee culture and farm-to-table food experiences at the bustling Queen Victoria Market. Or, consider an Optional Experience following one of the world's most scenic coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road with its famous Twelve Apostles.
Day 4: Melbourne - Alice Springs
Location: Alice Springs
Accommodation: Mercure Alice Springs Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest
Journey to the heart of the Outback and the gateway to Australia's Red Centre. On arrival in Alice Springs, join a 'Local Specialist' for a visit to the School of the Air and learn how it delivers education to children living in remote areas. Your next stop is the historic Overland Telegraph Station, connecting Australia's north and south - with a single wire. Later, 'Connect With Locals' at Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre, where you'll meet the celebrated Outback Paramedic Falzon brothers for dinner and hear about the sustainable lifestyle they've established.
Day 5: Alice Springs - Ayers Rock (2 Nights)
Location: Red Centre, Uluru
Accommodation: Desert Gardens
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cross rugged landscapes to Ayers Rock Resort, located just a stone's throw from the sacred, ancient monolith that is known as Uluru by its traditional caretakers - the Anangu people. Journey to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in time for sundowners and a chance to witness first-hand how its rusty red walls change colour as the sun dips below the horizon. We spend the night in one of Trafalgar's 'Stays with Stories', which blends seamlessly into its splendid natural surrounds. Tonight, consider an optional authentic Aussie BBQ Dinner under the glittering southern-night sky.
Day 6: Uluru And Kata Tjuta
Location: Red Centre, Kata Tjuta, Uluru
Meals Included: Breakfast
Watch as the desert awakens - the rising sun lighting up Uluru in a spectacular golden hue. 'Dive Into Culture' next and gain insights into the culture, history, art and traditions of the Aboriginal caretakers of the land on a tour of the base of Uluru. This afternoon travel to Kata Tjuta. Your Travel Director will take you on a walk deep into Walpa Gorge, where you'll hear about the area's distinct geological and cultural history. Toast to a mesmerising Outback sunset over the rusty red domes of Kata Tjuta with sparkling wine.
Day 7: Ayers Rock - Cairns (3 Nights)
Location: Red Centre, Cairns, Uluru
Accommodation: Shangri-La
Meals Included: Breakfast
Rise early to experience the ethereal Field of Light art installation before sunrise. As the sun rises, join your fellow travellers on top of a sand dune to watch the desert awakening over Uluru.'Dive Into Culture' with an Aboriginal artist this morning, gaining insights into the ritual of Dreamtime and the meanings of the Anangu totems in indigenous art. Tell your very own Outback story as a memento of your experience, putting paint to canvas, then fly from Ayers Rock to the tropical city of Cairns.
Day 8: Cairns Free Time
Meals Included: Breakfast
Ease into laidback living in the spirit of the locals or consider an Optional Experience to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park on this full day at leisure to explore this east coast gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. You could discover the secrets of ancient Aboriginal culture through theatre, didgeridoo and fire-making demonstrations or visit Hartley's Crocodile Adventures for an up-close encounter with the resident crocs. Perhaps take a trip to Kuranda, the 'village in the rainforest', on the historic Kuranda Scenic Rail and return to the lowlands through some of the oldest rainforest in the world - the choice is yours.
Day 9: Great Barrier Reef
Location: Cairns
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Regional Dinner
An underwater wonderland awaits as you board a high-speed catamaran and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. Take to the tropical waters and snorkel alongside a dazzling array of colourful marine-life (equipment provided) or explore the sparkling blue coral sea from the comfort of a semi-submersible craft, just one metre underwater. Enjoy a tropical buffet lunch on the water before returning to Cairns, where this evening you'll enjoy a Regional Dinner at a waterfront restaurant.
Day 10: Cairns - Sydney (3 Nights)
Location: Sydney
Accommodation: InterContinental
Meals Included: Breakfast
A leisurely start to your day means there's time for a final exploration of Cairns before flying south to Sydney. Wine and dine in the city's famous Rocks District, visit China Town for some tasty yum cha or take a stroll around Circular Quay.
Day 11: Sydney Sightseeing
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Visit Bondi Beach then head to the Sydney Opera House for a privately guided tour with a 'Local Specialist' and 'behind-the-scenes' look at the building's inner workings. Prime your sea legs next as you board a lunch cruise, sailing past parklands, waterfront homes and the iconic sights for which Sydney Harbour is so famous. Spend the rest of the day on your own or consider an Optional Experience and ascend the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Day 12: Sydney Free Time
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Get your final Sydney fix today as you enjoy a full free day to explore the city on your terms. Consider an Optional Experience to the Blue Mountains whose eucalypt haze you'll see looming in the distance as you depart Sydney en route to the village of Leura, the famous Three Sisters rock formation and Featherdale Wildlife Park, home to Australia's cuddly, and not so cuddly, creatures. Your effortlessly delivered journey nearing its end, you'll join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Farewell Dinner at a waterfront restaurant.
Day 13: Depart Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast
Say farewell to your fellow travellers after breakfast as your memorable Australian holiday concludes. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight (flights anytime).
What's Included
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4 dinners (Including Connect with Locals)
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A Trafalgar bonus - all Intra-Air Flights: Melbourne to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney
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A Trafalgar bonus - all Intra-Air Flights: Melbourne to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney
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12 breakfasts
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2 lunches
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Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
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Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Cherry-picked hotels all tried and trusted
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Handcrafted Highlights
Check out our Q&As
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
Reviews of this Operator
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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