Australian Highlights
Australian Highlights
Australian Highlights
13 Days Starting in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and ending in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Visiting: Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Alice Springs, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Cairns, Atherton Tablelands, Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Royal Botanic Garden
Tour operator:
Tour code:
IMSE24
Age range:
16-
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
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 and the Great Barrier Reef. Whether Melbourne’s cafes or a barbecue, food is a focus, because this is Australia; eating well is in our DNA.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Welcome To Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Is there such a thing as too much time in Melbourne? Arrive early before meeting your fellow adventure-seekers over a beverage or two.
Day 2 : Melbourne Sightseeing And Free Time
Location: Melbourne, Phillip Island
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
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.
Day 3 : Melbourne Free Time
Location: Melbourne, Great Ocean Road
Accommodation Name: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
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.
Day 4 : Melbourne - Alice Springs
Location: Melbourne, Alice Springs
Accommodation Name: Mercure Alice Springs Resort
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.
Day 5 : Alice Springs - Uluru
Location: Alice Springs, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Uluru
Accommodation Name: Desert Gardens
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).
Day 6 : Uluru And Kata Tjuta
Location: Uluru, Kata Tjuta
Accommodation Name: Desert Gardens
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).
Day 7 : Uluru - Cairns
Location: Uluru, Cairns
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
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.
Day 8 : Cairns Free Time
Location: Cairns, Atherton Tablelands, Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
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.
Day 9 : Great Barrier Reef
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Accommodation Name: Hilton Hotel Cairns
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.
Day 10 : Cairns - Sydney
Location: Cairns, Sydney
Accommodation Name: InterContinental Hotel Sydney
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.
Day 11 : Sydney
Location: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, Bondi Beach
Accommodation Name: InterContinental Hotel Sydney
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.
Day 12 : Sydney Free Time
Location: Sydney, Manly Beach, Royal Botanic Garden
Accommodation Name: InterContinental Hotel Sydney
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.
Day 13 : Farewell From Sydney
Location: Sydney
What an epic journey, with so many destinations explored in less than two weeks. Now you just have to sort through the photos…
What's Included
Mode of Transport
Internal-vacation flights included. Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 12 noon into Melbourne Airport. Day 13 – flights to depart anytime from Sydney Airport. Internal-holiday flights: 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.
Accommodation
Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort. The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne, Mercure Alice Springs Resort, Desert Gardens, Hilton Hotel Cairns, InterContinental Hotel Sydney.
Check out our Q&As
-
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a holiday with us is you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
It is important to adhere to departure times while on tour for the comfort of everyone on-board, and to make sure no one misses out on the planned experiences. The coach will not be able to wait for you, and in some instances, if you miss a departure time you will need to make your own way to the next destination to re-join the tour.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
AAT Kings operated Guided Holidays have competitive single supplement rates available if you prefer to confirm your own room. Or we can match you to share with a guest of the same gender at no extra cost. If we fail to match you, we will accommodate you in a single room at no extra cost.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 100 years
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
We will email your documents to you approximately four weeks before your departure date provided you have completed your pre trip registration using the My Travel Portal. If you’ve booked through a travel agent, your documents will be emailed directly to your agent.
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Friday
Dec 08, 2024 - Dec 20, 2024Sunday - Friday
Jan 12, 2025 - Jan 24, 2025Sunday - Friday
Jan 26, 2025 - Feb 07, 2025Sunday - Friday
Feb 09, 2025 - Feb 21, 2025Sunday - Friday
Mar 02, 2025 - Mar 14, 2025Sunday - Friday
Mar 16, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
AAT Kings requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of aat kings charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.