Comprehensive package of excursions
The name of the tour says it all really.
On this tour, you’ll experience the absolute highlights of Australia. From one of the world’s most scenically situated cities, Sydney, you travel to the desolate desert with Uluru quite literally as its centrepiece. You’ll watch the sun set and rise over Uluru and go walking at Kata Tjuta.
You end the tour in tropical Queensland – the gateway to one of the world’s oldest rainforests and, of course, the unique Great Barrier Reef.
We’ve chosen to leave some of the days free for you to enjoy your own experiences. There are so many excursions to choose from that we think you should have a say in what you see and do – and when.
You can choose to extend the tour to include a beach holiday in either Port Douglas or, depending on the season, perhaps round off the UNESCO tour with a visit to Darwin and Kakadu National Park.
Today is the day you set off from your chosen airport. You’re heading to Australia with connecting flights on the way.
Welcome Down Under!
From Sydney airport, transport has been arranged to take you to your hotel. If your room isn’t ready upon arrival, you can store your luggage and head out to explore the city.
You might like to begin with a stroll down to Bennelong Point, where the city’s iconic Opera House sits beautifully with the Harbour Bridge forming a stunning backdrop.
To the west of the Opera House lies the historic district of The Rocks, home to charming old buildings, inviting cafés, and elegant shops and galleries.
Take a seat at a café, order a ‘flat white’ (Australia’s version of a cappuccino), and settle into the sound of the laid-back Aussie accent as you watch the lively scene of the world’s largest natural harbour filled with ferries, sailing boats, and perhaps even a grand cruise ship gliding past.
When hunger strikes, Sydney is a true paradise for food lovers. At Circular Quay, King Street Wharf, and Darling Harbour, you’ll find a wealth of restaurants, cafés, and bars offering wonderful views of the harbour.
To give you a great introduction to Sydney, we’ve included a half-day guided city tour, taking you around some of the city’s most iconic sights, lush parks, and beautiful coastal areas. Along the way, you’ll also get a feel for some of Sydney’s many vibrant neighbourhoods and suburbs, each with its own distinct character.
During the tour, you’ll see famous landmarks such as the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Garden, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, Chinatown, and Bondi Beach. At Bondi Beach, you’ll have some free time to feel the sand between your toes, watch the energetic surfers, or enjoy a coffee while taking in views of the iconic beach.
The city tour will begin from your hotel or a nearby pick-up point (see details on your voucher) and concludes at Circular Quay. From here, it’s easy to continue exploring – perhaps with a visit to the Opera House next door or a leisurely lunch cruise around Sydney’s magnificent harbour.
Circular Quay is also the city’s bustling ferry terminal and the main departure point for ferries to the surrounding suburbs. Take, for example, a trip to the beautiful Manly Beach and enjoy the rest of the day by the sea, or visit Taronga Zoo – one of Australia’s most famous zoological gardens. Here, you can see animals from all over the world, including Australia’s own unique wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, and the fascinating platypus.
If you’d like to see the city from above, you can challenge yourself with an adrenaline-filled walk across the Harbour Bridge or visit Sydney Tower. Standing 309 metres tall, it is the city’s highest building and offers one of Sydney’s best views. From the Sydney Tower Eye observation deck, you can take in a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the city. On a clear day, the view stretches all the way to the Blue Mountains on the horizon.
You’ll have the next couple of days to explore Sydney at your own pace. Australia’s largest city offers something for everyone – from iconic attractions and fascinating museums to beautiful beaches and magnificent natural landscapes.
Discover more about Australia’s nature and wildlife at the Australian Museum, delve into Sydney’s past at the Museum of Sydney, explore contemporary art at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, or immerse yourself in the country’s maritime heritage at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
If you enjoy fresh air and stunning views, the coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi is a perfect choice. The roughly 7 km trail winds its way along dramatic cliffs, charming coves, and some of Sydney’s most beloved beaches.
You might also like to stop by the new Sydney Fish Market at Blackwattle Bay, where you can sample freshly caught seafood and soak up the lively atmosphere by the waterfront.
You can also choose from a range of optional excursions both in and outside Sydney. Take a guided walking or cycling tour of the city, or venture out on a day trip to the spectacular Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest and best-known wine region.
And sometimes the best experiences are the simplest ones. Buy yourself a sandwich, find a bench in the Royal Botanic Garden, and enjoy the view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour as the sun sets and the city hums around you.
See the excursion options below. We recommend booking them together with your tour, as they often sell out quickly.
There is a transfer from the hotel in Sydney to the airport, from which you fly into the red heart of Australia. A free shuttlebus (no booking necessary) drives you into the small town of Yulara, a tourist centre here in the Australian outback.
The small town has a campsite, a few hotels, a supermarket, a gallery and the option of a number of free activities. Several times a day there are, for example, free didgeridoo “concerts”, and you can also learn more about the Australian bush and how the Aboriginal people have been finding both food and medicine here in the dry, red desert for thousands of years.
At the end of the day, another of the absolute highlights of the tour awaits: the sunset over Uluru. It is quite simply magical to witness how one of the world’s largest monoliths changes colour as the sun goes further and further down. The appearance of the stone changes from rusty red to an almost luminous orange, and finally a massive, grey rock – in the middle of nowhere.
And be sure to lean your head back and look at the sky. The stars are brighter here than many other places on Earth due to minimal light pollution.
It’s an early start for you today! Yesterday you saw the sun set over Uluru – this morning you’ll watch it rise again.
As you stand there in the early morning and stare out into the darkness, and the slowly rising rays of the sun suddenly reveal the outline of Uluru, you’ll understand why the place is so sacred to the indigenous Anangu people.
From Uluru, you continue to the Kata Tjuta rock formations, some 50 km to the west. Kata Tjuta means “many heads”, and from a distance, the 36 round rocks do look like bald heads sticking up out of the ground.
The area around Kata Tjuta is also sacred to the Aboriginal people, and there are places you will never get to visit as a tourist. Fortunately, there are also a lot of places that are accessible, and one of the most popular walks through the scenic rock formations is the walk through Walpa Gorge. Along the way, the guide will tell you more about both the geology and the connection of the Aboriginal people to this wonderful place.
The rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Purchase an optional excursion, perhaps?
You depart for tropical Queensland. The transfer bus back to the airport is also free, and departures are timed to fit in with departure times at the airport. Check with the reception at the hotel what time it leaves.
The contrasts today could hardly be greater. From the red desert and a more than 300-million-year-old rock, to the world’s oldest rainforest and the world’s largest coral reef. Australia certainly has the record on that!
The rest of the day is yours to settle into the tropical climate. Cairns is a cosy city with lots of shops, restaurants and activities. You might like to go for a walk to the man-made lagoon, which is located in the heart of the city. There are neither crocodiles nor jellyfish here, just a fabulous, man-made sandy beach.
Please note: The flight will often include a stop-over between Uluru/Ayers Rock and Cairns. For an additional charge, you can fly directly to Cairns on certain days. For pricing, please ask your travel consultant.
The days are yours to explore tropical North Queensland. Below, you can see our selection of excursions. We recommend that you book the excursions you’d like to go on when you book the tour to avoid disappointment if the excursions are fully booked when you get to Cairns.
North of the city is Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rainforest is believed to be more than 135 million years old. To put that in perspective, the Amazon is reckoned to be around 10 million years old…
Another highlight when you’re based in Cairns is, of course, the Great Barrier Reef, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A good adrenaline kick with a rafting trip might also be the order of the day – or perhaps you’d rather visit the beautiful countryside west of Cairns, which offers both waterfalls and coffee plantations. The possibilities are endless!
The tour to the Highlights of Australia is drawing to an end. It’s time to buy those last souvenirs before heading back to the airport from which you’ll fly home to your chosen airport with connecting flight(s) on the way.
You will land at your chosen airport after a lovely, adventure-packed holiday.
From £429 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £319
Single room supplement from £329
Extend your tour to include a couple of relaxing days in the cosy town of Port Douglas, north of Cairns, where you’ll find good restaurants, lots of shops and a chilled atmosphere.
From £569 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £429
Single room supplement from £199
Extend your tour to include an exciting city break to Singapore and be blown away by the state-of-the-art metropolis of the East.
Covering an area of just 721.5 km2, the island state is South-east Asia’s smallest country, and what the small, well-developed country lacks in size, it more than makes up for in experiences.
Look forward to experiencing the architectural Marina Bay Sands, stroll around the green oasis Gardens by the Bay, shop to your heart’s content on Orchard Road, drink Singapore Slings at Raffles Hotel and ride in the 165-metre-high ferris wheel, the Singapore Flyer, which offers a phenomenal view of all the futuristic skyscrapers and the harbour.
What also makes Singapore so cool is that it is a melting pot of cultures, and people live with respect for and an understanding of one another, with Buddhist temples, mosques, churches and Hindu temples side by side. Singapore’s diversity can be experienced in the charming districts of Little India, China Town and the Arabic and Malay quarter, Kampong Glam. Soak in the atmosphere while being seduced by the wonderful, colourful buildings and the aroma of spices and jasmine.
The multicultural community is also reflected in the many culinary delights on offer around the city. If you’re into authentic street food, you can visit one of the famous hawker centres, or, if upscale Michelin restaurants are more your thing, make your way to the special food street, Keong Saik Road, and discover some of Singapore’s best restaurants.
Other popular and hip neighbourhoods are the colourful Haji Lane in Kampong Glam and the Art Deco area, Tiong Bahru. Both neighbourhoods are known for their cosy cafés, exciting restaurants and shops as well as wonderful street art.
In stark contrast to the vibrant city life is Sentosa Island, a small island which offers lovely sandy beaches and countless sights and activities for the whole family such as Universal Studios and various adventure parks.
Does Singapore sound tempting?
The extension includes a 3-night hotel stay with breakfast, flight to Singapore and transfers.
From £649 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £489
Single room supplement from £149
Discover the fantastic UNESCO-listed Kakadu National park on this four-day extension to the Northern Territory.
You’ll spend four nights in Darwin, which you perhaps know from the film, “Australia”?
The first full-day excursion takes you to Kakadu National Park, where you’ll both sail on crocodile-infested rivers and learn more about the Aboriginal people’s unique connection to the place.
You’ll also visit the less well-known but equally beautiful Litchfield National Park, where it’s possible to swim in some of the amazing waterfalls.
This extension is particularly great during the period from May–September, as this is the dry season in the northern part of Australia. If you wish to book this extension during the rainy season from October–April, it’s important that you contact your travel specialist before booking, as the excursions to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks depart less frequently during this period. Please note that we do not offer this extension from December to March.
Children under 12 years from £2569
Single room supplement from £849
Joshua is our Oceania specialist. Driven by a passion for adventure, he moved to Australia in 2004, where he lived for five years. He knows the region inside out from travelling extensively across both Australia and New Zealand, and today he uses that knowledge to help others find their perfect trip.
You have the option to add extra nights in the various cities you visit if, for example, you’d like to spend more days exploring on your own. Please get in touch with our travel specialists with your specific requests for your tour.