Essential Australia

Welcome to Australia! Upon arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight we enjoy a delicious “Welcome to Australia” dinner at local
restaurant.

This morning we set out for a full day touring of Sydney. We start the day with a guided walking tour of the historic Rocks area where the first settlers landed. We will hear the fascinating stories from our knowledgeable guide as we walk through its many alleyways and narrow streets. Time to wander along Circular Quay, Sydney’s famous harbour front area before we board our coach for our afternoon city tour including views of the Opera House, Botanical Gardens, the terraced houses of Paddington and the famous surfing beach at Bondi. 

We head back down to Circular Quay this morning and join our Captain Cook vessel for our morning coffee cruise around Sydney’s stunning harbour. We will journey under the harbour bridge, past the Opera House and the affluent beachside suburbs of Rose Bay and Double Bay.
After our cruise the rest of your day is free to explore on your own. There is so much to do: visit a museum or art gallery, shop in all the boutiques and stores in the downtown core, ride the monorail to Darling Harbour or the ferry to the Taronga Zoo… the list is endless!

This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to tropical North Queensland and the city of Cairns, our gateway to the rainforest and to the Great Barrier Reef. On arrival in Cairns, we are met and transferred to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to relax and explore Cairns on your own. The town is compact and perfect for walking along the main streets in the downtown area and along the beautiful waterfront esplanade.

We have a short transfer this morning to the Cairns Terminal to board our wave-piercing catamaran for the cruise out to Green Island, a true coral cay. We take time to explore this tiny coral gem before continuing on to the Outer Reef to snorkel, take a ride in a glass-bottom boat and to just revel in the sheer majesty of it all.  A delicious smorgasbord lunch is included.

Another great day as we transfer to Freshwater Station and board the historic Kuranda Rail for the journey through the rainforest to the village of Kuranda. Here we have time to explore Kuranda before a short drive by coach takes us to Rainforestation for a full afternoon of activities including a BBQ lunch, an exciting ride on a WW2 vintage Army Duck on a billabong, a performance by an authentic Aboriginal Cultural troupe and a boomerang throwing demonstration. We return to Cairns via Skyrail, a 7.5km cableway across the rainforest. Our coach will meet us at the terminus to transfer us back to our hotel for the evening.

We transfer to the airport this morning for our flight to Melbourne, Australia’s fashion and financial capital. Situated on the Yarra River, Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and enjoys its own unique character and charm. It is a city of tramcars, many ethnic restaurants, tree-lined streets, and a wide range of parks and gardens that surround the city. On arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel. Later this afternoon, we board our coach and head down to Phillip Island to see the amazing Fairy Penguin Parade which takes place every night of the year as the sun sets.  From our vantage point in the viewing stands we will watch the 100’s of penguins come out of the ocean and waddle up the beach to their burrows.

On our guided tour this morning we will view Melbourne’s well-known sights including historic cathedrals and landmarks, Flinders Station and the many parks and gardens that circle the city. Our afternoon is free to explore on our own. Tonight we enjoy a ‘Farewell’ dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to the airport to connect with our flights home.