Australia Down Under

Touch down in stylish, elegant Melbourne and transfer to our hotel (on own) and settle into your room. Located in the heart of the city, our hotel is situated along the Yarra River. This evening, join your Tour Director and fellow travelers for dinner at local restaurant and to kick-off your Australian adventure. (D)

Spend a half-day uncovering the vibrant contrasts of Melbourne on an immersive city tour. Wind through the eclectic Central Business District, where historic architecture sits alongside bold modern design, and pass by the iconic Victorian Arts Centre. Stroll through the tranquil Royal Botanic Gardens, where the striking pyramid-shaped Shrine of Remembrance stands sentinel over St. Kilda Road.

From there, explore the boutique charm of Toorak Village before continuing to the elegant Fitzroy Gardens, their grand English Elms arching over peaceful pathways. The day reaches new heights — literally — at the Melbourne Skydeck, where breathtaking 360° views stretch across the city skyline, Port Phillip Bay, and the distant Dandenong Ranges. (B)

Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Wander Melbourne’s stylish streets, browsing antique shops and the quirky boutiques of Brunswick Street, or linger over a coffee or long lunch at one of the city’s celebrated cafes and world-class eateries. Foodies won’t want to miss the historic Queen Victoria Market, where tempting stalls make it near-impossible not to stop for a nibble or two. Prefer to explore on foot? A History and Donuts Walking Tour offers a charming and delicious way to discover the city’s stories.

For those feeling the pull of the open road, an optional journey along the Great Ocean Road promises one of Australia’s most spectacular drives. Dramatic coastal scenery unfolds around every bend, leading to the iconic Twelve Apostles — towering limestone stacks rising defiantly from the sea against rugged clifftops — with a stop in the charming seaside town of Apollo Bay along the way. Or, venture out on a half-day afternoon tour to Phillip Island, taking in dramatic coastal scenery along The Nobbies boardwalks before the main event — the world-famous Penguin Parade. As the sun sets, watch hundreds of Little Penguins emerge from the sea and waddle home to their dune burrows in one of Australia’s most beloved wildlife spectacles.

City or coastline, Melbourne and its surrounds offer no shortage of ways to fill a free day beautifully. (B)

Today delivers a true bucket-list moment as you leave Melbourne behind and fly to your hotel for the next two days in Australia’s ancient cultural heartland. The journey itself sets the scene — peer down over vast dry salt lakes and sweeping red desert before your first breathtaking encounter with Uluru in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

As the desert sun dips toward the horizon, settle in for a classic Uluru sundowner: sparkling wine and light refreshments enjoyed among red earth and swaying spinifex grasses as the Outback sky erupts in vivid shades of red, yellow, and purple. Gazing up at Uluru — which at 348 metres stands taller than the Eiffel Tower — you’ll feel an almost magnetic connection to this ancient, sacred land.

Later, make your way to the Gardens Hotel set among desert trees with distant views of Uluru. Indigenous-owned and deeply attuned to its surroundings, the hotel feels like a natural extension of the landscape itself. Spend a quiet evening in, or venture out after sunset on an optional Uluru BBQ Dinner, where the shifting desert colors provide a stunning backdrop and an expert guide illuminates the southern night sky in one of the finest stargazing locations on earth. (B)

Rise early for Uluru at its most magical — hot cocoa in hand, watch the desert dawn unfold as the first light of day slowly illuminates the rock in a wash of glowing color. A walk around the base of Uluru follows, where your Tour Director shares the ancient rock art and stories of the Anangu people, the traditional caretakers of this remarkable landscape. Later, an Anangu artist offers a window into the spiritual significance of Uluru through an introduction to Western Desert art, exploring the totems and symbols woven into the region’s paintings and installations.

The sweeping red desert then guides you onward to the otherworldly domes of Kata Tjuta, where a walk through Walpa Gorge — named for the winds that funnel through it — leads to a stunning natural lookout. (B,D)

Today you fly north from Alice Springs to Cairns, nestled on the shores of Trinity Bay, Cairns — or Gimuy, as it is known to its traditional custodians — serves as your gateway to some of Australia’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. Just offshore, the Great Barrier Reef beckons with its world-renowned diving and extraordinary marine life, while to the north lies the ancient Daintree Rainforest, a lush, living landscape some 180 million years in the making. When you’re not venturing into the wild, Cairns itself charms with a relaxed energy and a thriving dining scene spanning cuisines from around the world. (B,D)

Today is pure adventure from start to finish. Begin by soaring above the treetops on the Kuranda Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, gliding 7.5 kilometres over the lush canopy in a comfortable gondola — close enough to see, hear, and even smell one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests come alive around you.

In Kuranda, Rainforestation Nature Park awaits within the World Heritage-listed rainforest. Climb aboard an authentic WWII Army Duck for an amphibious journey through land and water, then immerse yourself in Indigenous culture at the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience, with traditional dance, boomerang and spear throwing, and didgeridoo playing. Enjoy a classic Aussie BBQ lunch and meet some of Australia’s most iconic native wildlife, including koalas and the endangered Tasmanian Devil.

The journey home is just as memorable — settle into Heritage Class aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a stunning two-hour ride back to Cairns, winding through ancient rainforest, dramatic gorges, and cascading waterfalls. (B)

A full day on the Great Barrier Reef awaits. After a hotel pick-up and transfer to Cairns’ Reef Fleet Terminal, you’ll cruise out to the Reef Magic platform — a state-of-the-art, all-weather base perfectly positioned in a sheltered coral lagoon on the Outer Reef.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned reef explorer, the experience caters to all levels. Snorkel through crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral gardens, or join a marine biologist for an optional guided snorkel safari (additional cost) for a deeper look at this extraordinary underwater world.

Prefer to stay dry? The semi-submersible, glass bottom boat, and reef-view observatory all offer stunning glimpses into the world beneath the surface. Morning and afternoon tea, a delicious lunch, snorkeling gear, and a lycra suit or wetsuit are all included, along with return hotel transfers — everything taken care of so you can simply soak in one of the great natural wonders of the world. (B,L)

Today you fly to Sydney, arriving with the rest of the day free to explore at your own pace. Known to its traditional custodians as Warrane, Sydney is a city that rewards wandering — cruise beneath the iconic Harbour Bridge, admire the Opera House in all its glory, or hop on a ferry to Manly for sweeping harbour views and a laid-back beachside atmosphere.

Catch a surf lesson at world-famous Bondi Beach, take a refreshing dip at Coogee, or lose yourself in the historic laneways of The Rocks. For something a little more leisurely, the stylish boutiques and buzzing cafés of Paddington are well worth an afternoon. (B)

Today’s full-day adventure begins with a scenic drive through Sydney’s western suburbs to Featherdale Wildlife Park, home to over 1,700 native animals. Get up close with kangaroos, koalas, emus, wombats, dingoes, and more — including Australia’s largest collection of koalas — before heading deeper into the breathtaking Blue Mountains.

Named for the soft blue haze that eucalyptus oils cast over the landscape, the Blue Mountains deliver drama at every turn. Take in sweeping views of rugged cliffs, forested valleys, and iconic rock formations — among them the legendary Three Sisters — from a series of scenic lookouts including Govetts Leap and Mount Solitary.

A two-course lunch at the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel offers a welcome pause, its glamorous art deco interiors and sweeping views over the Megalong Valley providing the perfect backdrop. There’s also time to explore the charming nearby villages of Katoomba and Blackheath.

The afternoon brings one final thrill at Scenic World, where three exhilarating rides — the Scenic Skyway, Scenic Cableway, and Scenic Railway — offer unforgettable perspectives over this ancient, world-heritage landscape. (B,L)

Your final morning begins with a guided half-day city tour, opening in The Rocks — Sydney’s historic birthplace — before winding past the Botanical Gardens, Conservatorium of Music, and Art Gallery of New South Wales. A pause at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair rewards with one of the finest views in the city, framing the Sydney Opera House and Harbour in all their glory.

The tour continues through the vibrant pulse of Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and Kings Cross, then out to The Gap for dramatic clifftop views over the Pacific Ocean. A brief stop at world-famous Bondi Beach follows, before a scenic drive through Paddington and its iconic 19th-century terrace houses brings the morning to a close.

The rest of the day is yours — linger at the beach, explore a neighborhood that caught your eye, or join fellow travelers for an optional guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. Our day ends with a truly memorable finale, a sunset dinner cruise that offers a breathtaking last look at the Sydney skyline as your Australian adventure draws to a close. (B,D)

Your Australia adventure comes to a close this morning. Transfer to the airport (on own).