The Grand Tour of Australia

Today is the day you set off from your chosen airport. You’re bound for Brisbane, Australia, with connecting flights on the way.

Welcome Down Under!

You’ll arrive in Brisbane, where transport from the airport to your hotel has been arranged. If your room isn’t ready when you arrive, you can store your luggage at the hotel and head out to get your first impressions of the city.

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and one of Australia’s most laid-back cities. Life moves at a more relaxed pace here than in Sydney or Melbourne, yet the city is still full of energy, culture, and exciting things to experience. It strikes a perfect balance between urban life and nature, with a friendly, easy-going atmosphere that quickly makes you feel at home.

Founded as a penal colony in the 1820s, Brisbane has grown into a modern metropolis stretching along the Brisbane River, which winds its way through the city centre and adds to its unique character.

In the heart of the city, you’ll find the pedestrian shopping street Queen Street Mall – one of Brisbane’s key spots for shopping and socialising. With its mix of shops, cafés, and lively atmosphere from morning till night, it’s the perfect place to begin exploring the city.

Brisbane also has plenty to offer when it comes to gastronomy. Enjoy a delicious meal along the river in areas such as Eagle Street or South Bank, where restaurants and cafés create a cosy atmosphere with views over the Brisbane River.

Today, you’ll explore Brisbane on foot on a guided city tour that offers a fascinating insight into the city’s history, culture, and modern development. The tour is led by a knowledgeable guide who’ll share stories and give you an authentic glimpse into life in Australia’s third-largest city.

The tour begins in the heart of Brisbane, at Queen Street (you’ll need to make your own way to the meeting point), where you’ll be introduced to the city’s colonial history and the impact of British settlement on the area’s Indigenous peoples, the Turrbal and Jagera. Along the way, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Brisbane’s transformation – from a penal colony to a modern metropolis, now preparing to host the Olympic Games in 2032.

Together with your guide, you’ll explore both the city’s famous landmarks and its hidden gems. Follow the Brisbane River through the city centre with views towards the South Bank Parklands, passing the new Queen’s Wharf development. Along the way, you’ll see Brisbane City Hall, Story Bridge, Brisbane Arcade, and the Regent Theatre, as well as Anzac Square, Post Office Square, Burnett Lane, The Commissariat Store, and the historic Frog’s Hollow district. The tour also takes you through charming laneways decorated with colourful murals, street art, and creative urban design, all contributing to the city’s distinctive atmosphere.

There’s plenty of time to ask questions along the way, and your guide will be happy to share tips on restaurants, cafés, and attractions for you to explore later on your own.

The tour ends with a refreshing drink by the Brisbane River overlooking the iconic Story Bridge, after which the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Enjoy a free day to explore Brisbane at your own rhythm or choose to join an additional excursion.

Perhaps you’d like to experience the city from above – either by climbing Story Bridge or from the free Sky Deck viewing platform at Queen’s Wharf, where you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of Brisbane, the Brisbane River, and the city skyline from 100 metres up.

You can also take a trip along the river on one of the popular CityCat ferries, which connect the city’s different neighbourhoods, or explore the charming riverside promenades on foot or by bike.

If you haven’t yet visited South Bank Parklands, we can highly recommend a visit. Here you can relax in green surroundings or cool off with a dip at the man-made Streets Beach, where white sand and a sparkling lagoon create a tropical atmosphere right in the heart of the city.

In the area, you’ll also find the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The museums often offer free entry to their permanent collections, while temporary exhibitions usually require an admission fee.

South Bank is also full of life, with cafés, restaurants, locals, and visitors bringing a vibrant buzz to the area.

You can also visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the world’s oldest and largest koala reserve, where you can get close to Australia’s unique wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, and wombats.

If you’d like to escape the bustle of the city for a bit, Lamington National Park as well as the islands of Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island are perfect day trip destinations, offering stunning nature, abundant wildlife, and beautiful beaches.

You are transported from the hotel to the airport where you catch a flight to Adelaide. You’ll be met by your driver and driven to the hotel in Adelaide, where you’ll spend the next two nights. The rest of the day is yours to explore the capital of South Australia.

You have the day to yourself to explore Adelaide. The city centre is compact and lively – surrounded by green areas.

An incredible number of festivals are held in Adelaide. There are no fewer than 11 arts or culture festivals a year in South Australia’s capital – ranging from a guitar festival to a children’s festival and a history festival.

You also have every opportunity to immerse yourself in culture at the city’s beautiful museums, and if you need a break from it all, you can visit the city’s beachside suburb, Glenelg.

And be sure not to miss out on a visit to Adelaide Central Market, which is the perfect spot for lunch.

Outside Adelaide, you’ll find some of Australia’s best-known wine-producing areas – a day trip here is highly recommended.

The day starts with a bus ride to Cape Jervis, where you board the ferry to Kangaroo Island. The ferry ride takes approx. 45 minutes. On arrival at Kangaroo Island, you’ll be met by your guide and the bus that will be taking you around the island over the next couple of days.

The first stop of the day is at Seal Bay, where you’ll see a large colony of the endangered Australian sea lion right up close.

After lunch, you’ll visit Flinders Chase National Park, where there’s time for a walk around the fascinating Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. The two rock formations are each located on their own point at the very bottom of the southern part of the island, where the next stop is the South Pole. With wind in your hair and foam spray on your camera, it’s not difficult to imagine how the wind and weather have transformed the landscapes into the strangest of formations over thousands of years.

At the end of the day, you’ll visit Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, where you can see both kangaroos and koalas. You’re in with a very good chance of seeing both kangaroos and koalas living in the wild on Kangaroo Island, and a visit to the park guarantees you some great pictures!

The evening is yours to find a cosy place to eat dinner and digest the day’s experiences.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from the hotel – ready for the day’s experiences.

The day’s first stop is Raptor Domain, where you can get right up close to some of Australia’s large birds of prey. Sick or injured birds and reptiles are taken care of at the rehabilitation centre, and one of the centre’s biggest attractions is the “Birds of Prey” show, featuring birds such as the mighty wedge-tailed eagle, Australia’s largest bird of prey.

Lunch is enjoyed at the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery, where there is also a guided tour that offers you the opportunity to learn about the secrets of eucalyptus oil.

Next stop is Clifford’s Honey Farm. Kangaroo Island is synonymous with honey – and the island is the only place in the world where the Ligurian bee is found. Be sure to try some of their famous honey ice cream!

Today’s tour offers you every opportunity to enjoy the beautiful nature, and you’d also have to be unlucky not to see a kangaroo or two grazing somewhere in the shade of a tree.

The day rounds off in style; wine tasting overlooking some of the island’s vineyards. You have the chance to buy dinner before being driven to the ferry and sailing back to the mainland where the bus will be waiting to bring you back to your hotel in Adelaide.

You are transported from the hotel to the airport, from which you will fly to the next highlight of the tour: Melbourne. On your arrival in Melbourne, you’re transported to the hotel, and, as always, you can have your luggage stored if the room isn’t ready for you on your arrival.

Melbourne is chilled, cultural and has a great culinary scene! At first glance, Melbourne may seem a little gloomy, but don’t let that fool you – it’s a fantastic city!

Spend the rest of the day finding out why. You might also like to go for a stroll along the Yarra River, which flows through the city. The entire area around the South Bank is packed with restaurants, bars and trendy shops, and this is also where you’ll find the large Crown Casino.

In the morning, a guided tour of Melbourne’s hidden streets and laneways awaits you. The tour takes you into the inner, narrow streets of the city centre, where designers and architects reside alongside quirky cafés. The walls are adorned with street art, and the narrow alleys exude history and tales from the days when things were not quite as hipster here.

Take it all in and pick the places you wish to return to. Feel free to ask the guide for recommendations for cafés or restaurants.

Please note that you have to make your way to the starting point of the guided tour on your own. The address is written on your voucher. You can either walk there or take a taxi.

The afternoon is yours – possibly to get lost in the narrow streets or stroll around Queen Victoria Market.

The day is yours to explore Melbourne on your own.

The entire state of Victoria also has many exciting and interesting sights to offer, so if you fancy getting out of the city for a bit, you can choose to purchase an excursion. How about a trip along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines on the Great Ocean Road? Or perhaps a visit to the Yarra Valley wine region?

You can also take the tram to the seaside suburb of St Kilda. If you head out here late afternoon, you might be lucky enough to see the small colony of pygmy penguins come ashore around sunset.

You’re transported to the airport from which you’ll fly to the red heart of Australia: the Outback. The contrast today will be immense! From the buzzing metropolis to the tiny little town of Yulara, located in the middle of the red desert. There is a free transfer bus from the airport into the small town where your hotel is situated.

If you feel like it and have the time, you have the opportunity to participate in some of the town’s free activities in the afternoon. Ask at your hotel to find out what’s on and when.

At the end of the day, one of the absolute highlights of the tour awaits you: sunset over Uluru. It’s magical to see the enormous rock change colour as the sun goes further and further down, and it’s not hard to understand why the area is so sacred to the Aboriginal people. Enjoy a glass of bubbly and soak in the magnificence.

You leave Yulara before sunrise. Yesterday, you experienced a sunset over Uluru. Today, you’re going to see the sun rise over Uluru. As we see it, it’s not the same thing at all – and both are an absolute must when in Australia.

It’s fascinating to stand shivering a little in the middle of the Australian Outback, waiting for the sun to rise. Even though it gets very hot out here in the desert during the day, the nights are often cold, as there’s nothing to absorb the heat once the sun has set.

When the sun is high in the sky, you’ll continue to the Kata Tjuta rock formations, situated some 50 km to the west.

The area around Kata Tjuta is also sacred to the Aboriginal people, and there are places that you will never get to visit as a tourist. Thankfully, there are also a lot of places that are accessible, and one of the most popular walks through the beautiful rock formations is the walk through Walpa Gorge. Along the way, the guide will tell you more about the geology of this wonderful place. Perhaps you’ll find out what “Kata Tjuta” actually means?

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you see fit, and you can either choose to purchase an extra excursion or try some of the free activities available in Yulara.

It’s time to say goodbye to the Outback. Next stop: Sydney, the biggest city in Australia! You take the free transfer from the hotel to the airport. The departures are adapted to fit in with the flight departures – ask at your hotel when the bus departs.

Upon arrival in Sydney, you’ll notice the differences between Melbourne and Sydney right away. Sydney’s wide streets, which lead you down to the Opera House, stand in stark contrast to the narrow, graffiti-adorned laneways of Melbourne. Sydney is – if you ask us – one of the world’s most scenically situated cities. You be the judge.

The city is built up around the world’s largest natural harbour, and with access to more than 100 different beaches, it’s very much an outdoor lifestyle here in the city!

On this first day, most people head down to Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney Opera House has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, along with the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China. Right next to the Opera House is the Botanic Garden. From here, you have a view of the harbour with ferries sailing back and forth between the suburbs, and large yachts bobbing in the many bays.

Opposite the Opera House is the old quarter, The Rocks. This is where the first Europeans settled when they arrived in Sydney.

If you continue round the harbour front, you come to Barangaroo Reserve. The area is a former industrial site that, with the help and guidance of the Aboriginal people, has been transformed into an area of parkland that resembles a little piece of Sydney as it was before the Europeans settled. You might like to join a guided tour and learn more about the unique flora found there, and the cultural heritage of the Aboriginal people.

Round off the day at King Street Wharf, where you’ll find some of the city’s best restaurants.

Your morning starts with an exciting guided tour of Sydney. There are many highlights, and the tour will give you a good introduction to the city, making it easier for you plan what you want to return to and explore further.
The Opera House, the Botanic Garden, the old quarter, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, Chinatown, etc. are all on the agenda today. Along the way, the guide will tell you all about the history and culture of the city.

Please note that you have to make your way to the starting point of the guided tour on your own. The address is written on your voucher.

The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring the city on your own. You can choose to purchase a guided tour of the Opera House or – if you’re feeling brave – a bridge walk on Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Over the next couple of days, you’re free to enjoy the city on your own. You can also choose to purchase one or more of our many excursions.

There is a lot to see and do! Sydney offers a wealth of excellent museums and other exciting activities, but it’s also tempting to just stroll through the city and maybe grab a sandwich for lunch and eat it on a bench in the Botanic Garden overlooking the Opera House.

No visit to Sydney is complete without a visit to one of the city’s many beaches. Like suburbs, they just keep coming, and each has its own distinctive character. The weather is usually good in large parts of Australia, and Australians generally spend a lot of time outdoors. Any self-respecting park has barbecue facilities that anyone can use, and nowhere in the world is the picnic section in the supermarkets as large as it is here. This is also seen on the beaches, where there are generally very good changing and shower facilities. So pop your swimming things in your bag and head to one of the 100+ beaches in and around Sydney.

It’s time for another, not-inconsiderable change of scene! You are driven to the airport, where you catch a flight north, to Cairns.

On arrival in Cairns, you will quickly notice that you’ve reached a tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity. It is truly lush as well! Hibiscus, frangipani, heliconia – they’re all here, these exotic plants.

Cairns is a lively city, offering lots of activities, cafés, restaurants and shops. There is no beach here, but to compensate for that, a large artificial lagoon has been built in the middle of the city, where you can both enjoy the sun and swim.

The days are your to do as you please. There are so many exciting activities with Cairns as a base that we’ll leave it up to you to find out what you want to do.

It goes without saying that we think a trip to the Great Barrier Reef is a must when you’re on these shores. But you definitely shouldn’t miss the world’s oldest rainforest, Daintree Rainforest, either. It’s also the only place in the world that two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located side by side. Up here in the north, the Great Barrier Reef is close to the coast. And as the rainforest extends all the way down to the beach, the two actually almost collide.

The train up to the small town of Kuranda in the rainforest is also very charming – or how about rafting on one of the rivers around Cairns?

You have so many options – take your pick!

Your Grand Tour of Australia is coming to an end. It’s time to buy those last souvenirs before heading to the airport from which you will fly home home with connecting flight(s) on the way.

You will land at your chosen airport after a lovely, adventure-packed tour.