Australian Highlights
Experience Overview
You'll get your city fix through the eyes of locals and experience Uluru at dawn and dusk. Spend the day snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and see Sydney sparkle in just two incredible weeks.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 12 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience: Uluru First Nations People, and paint an Aboriginal Artwork
- Uluru: Explore the foundations of life and society of the local Aboriginal people in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Learn about the spiritual connection the local Anangu caretakers have with the land at Uluru.
- Uluru: An Indigenous Anangu artist will explain just what makes this part of the world so spiritual, over an introduction to Western Desert Art, introducing totems and symbols important to the region and represented in paintings and installations.
Must-see Highlights
- Explore The Sydney Opera House, and Art Gallery of New South Wales with a Local Specialist
- Discover Melbourne, Cairns and Sydney
- Visit Walkatjara Arts in Uluru, and Bondi Beach in Sydney
- View outback sunsets at Uluru and Kata Tjuta
- Scenic Cruise on Sydney Harbour, and on the Great Barrier Reef
Stays With Stories
- Stays with Stories: Stay in the heart of the Red Centre
Trafalgar Difference
- Uluru: Discover the stunning heart of the Red Centre at Ayers Rock Resort. Revealing natural beauty of this unique landscape, the accommodation offer incredible views of towering gums, flowering native shrubs and flowing red dunes.
Trip Details
Product Code: 22062
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 410.290A
Starts: Melbourne (VIC), Australia
Finishes: Sydney, Australia
Duration: 13 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- Porterage where hotels provide this service
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- All land transport shown. All transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- A Trafalgar bonus - all Intra-Air Flights: Melbourne to Ayers Rock, Ayers Rock to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $10,026 ($771 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to stylish and elegant Melbourne! (Flights to arrive prior to 12pm). You'll be transferred to your hotel located on the banks of the Yarra River before starting your travels on a high note, getting to know your Travel Director and fellow travellers over dinner at The General Assembly restaurant. The General Assembly’s waterfront setting is a picturesque welcome to your Australia highlights tour.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Meals: Dinner
Start your first full day seeing the best of Melbourne on a private walking tour with your Travel Director sharing their in-depth knowledge of the city. You’ll stroll past postcard-worthy Victorian architecture, arcades, and eclectic little laneways filled with colourful street art. As Melbourne’s signature coffee aroma wafts through the air, head to grand Federation Square, filled with shops, galleries, and exhibits and home to many cultural events. Have a look at the nearby neighbouring 19-century neo-gothic cathedral, St Paul's and see the famous Hosier Lane full of more unique street art. After a big morning getting acquainted with the city, you have the rest of the day free to explore more tempting haunts and eateries or join an Optional Experience such as a trip to Phillip Island to see the famous penguin parade. Here you’ll watch the Little Penguins make their daily trip from the sea to their onshore burrows. It’s a once in a lifetime wildlife viewing experience. Don’t miss it!
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Meals: Breakfast
You have a free day in Melbourne to explore as you like. Stroll this stylish city browsing antique shops, checking out Brunswick Street’s quirky boutiques, and taking in the town at one of the many cafés or world class eateries. Foodies will want to be sure to visit the historic Queen Victoria Market stopping for nibbles at one of the many stalls. Or, perhaps exploring the city on foot with a History and Donuts Walking Tour is more your thing. If you’d rather venture outside of the city, join an Optional Experience taking the ultimate road trip on the Great Ocean Road. Driving along this stunning coastline, you’ll be in awe of breathtaking scenery from one moment to the next. Admire the famous Twelve Apostles towering limestone formations jutting out of the sea against jagged cliffs. From sea-hugging structures to seaside towns, you’ll also stop in the quaint town of Apollo Bay. Whether you adventure in the city or along the sea, there’s so much to experience in Melbourne and its surroundings.
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Meals: Breakfast
Get excited for a bucket list experience today as you depart Melbourne for Ayers Rock Resort, near the sacred ancient site of Uluru and your home for the next two days in Aussie’s cultural heartland. You’ll fly over dry salt lakes and red desert before your first of many mesmerizing encounters with Uluru in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the desert sun begins to set, you’re treated to a classic Uluru sundowner: sparkling wine and light refreshments amidst the red dirt and blowing spinifex grasses as the Outback sky ignites in shades of red, yellow, and purple. Gazing at massive Uluru - which at 348 metres high is taller than the Eiffel Tower - you'll experience a kind of magical connection to the land. Relaxed and happy, you’ll make your way to the Desert Gardens Hotel for a Stays with Stories experience. Surrounded by desert trees and distant Uluru, this indigenous-owned hotel showcases the natural beauty of the landscape. Stay in this evening or, after sunset, join an Optional Experience Uluru BBQ Dinner as you watch the changing desert colours and are treated to an informative star talk in one of the best places to view the southern night sky.
Accommodation: Desert Gardens
Meals: Breakfast
Experience Uluru in a different light with magical sunrise. Savour every second as, hot cocoa in hand, the dawn makes its way across the desert and illuminates Uluru. After a grand start to the day, tour the base of Uluru with your Travel Director to learn about its ancient rock art hear stories of the Anangu, caretakers of this remote arid landscape, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later, 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 on another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. The red desert follows you through the desert plains to Kata Tjuta. Explore it on a walk amidst its towering domes through Walpa (“wind”) Gorge to a lookout. You're then treated to another stellar sunset from a different vantage point at Kata Tjuta. Without many of the crowds at Uluru, you may have the beauty of this hidden gem to yourself. A glass of sparkling wine with new travel mates in a beautiful setting is the perfect way to end your day.
Accommodation: Desert Gardens
Meals: Breakfast
It's your last day in Uluru. Consider the Optional Experience kaleidoscopic Field of Light art installation of artist Bruce Munro. Witness the darkness of night change to a rainbow-coloured dawn lit up from a field of changing colours, with Uluru in the distance. You’ll feel like you're walking through flowers in this totally unique Uluru sunrise, then as dawn continues to creep across the land, you’ll end the experience watching the desert awaken over Uluru from the top of a sand dune. Head to your next stop, Cairns for a change of scenery and more beautiful sites.
Accommodation: Hilton
Meals: Breakfast
Today you get to experience Cairns your way with a full day to explore this tropical city or head out on an Optional Experience. Why not take in the view with a balloon flight over the Atherton Tablelands, the hot air ballooning capital of the southern hemisphere? Or, explore the Daintree Rainforest diving into nature on a guided, interpretive walk learning traditional hunting and gathering skills as you search for bush tucker of fish and mussels and feast on your catch. You could also see the rainforest on a historic rail journey winding across bridges and through tunnels to Kuranda village where you’ll explore its colourful and interesting arts and crafts. Enjoy a different view soaring above and through the trees on your return trip on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Looking for a bit of wildlife on your adventure? Pair your trip to Kuranda with a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures for a wetlands cruise through the ecologically significant Melaleuca wetlands, the home of the saltwater crocodile. Sure to be a bucket list day, relive the highlights with your travel mates over dinner on the Cairns’ waterfront at Salt House. Here you’ll indulge in regional seafood highlighting fresh, local ingredients and prepared on their custom-built Argentinian wood fired grill.
Accommodation: Hilton
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Experience the beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef over a day of play on the water. The day begins as you board a high-speed catamaran and then it’s up to you how you’d like to explore this underwater wonderland: Don your mask and fins (equipment provided) for an immersive look at this kaleidoscope of fishes and reef. Or, stay dry and explore the world’s largest living reef system from the comfort of a semi-submersible craft. However you adventure, the whole way you’re surrounded by beauty and insights on the local ecology and environment from your local guide. Be sure to just kick back, too. Your cruise includes an onboard tropical buffet lunch and plenty of time to soak up the glorious Aussie sunshine.
Accommodation: Hilton
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
We say farewell to Cairns flying south to Sydney and spend the afternoon and evening exploring the beauty of this harbour city. From your centrally located hotel, you can take a stroll around the waterfront at Circular Quay or visit one of the city's many pubs, bars, or restaurants. Sydney is walkable and offers something for everybody.
Accommodation: InterContinental
Meals: Breakfast
There's plenty to discover in Sydney today and you'll kick it off on a guided tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House with a Local Specialist, delving into the story of a building 'that changed the image of an entire country' and learning the history of this iconic structure. Then see the city from the water on a Sydney Harbour 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.
Accommodation: InterContinental
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a full free day to explore Sydney. Perhaps begin in the Rocks District, dating to before the arrival of British settlers in the late 1700s, to explore the historic buildings or view Aboriginal artefacts at one of the city’s museums? Consider joining an Optional Experience climbing up and over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Guided by a professional Climber Leader, you’ll ascend 134 metres above Sydney Harbour for priceless views at the top.
Accommodation: InterContinental
Meals: Breakfast
Now you’ve found your bearings in Sydney, you have a final day in the city for more sightseeing. Or consider joining an Optional Experience to discover even more further afield. You could take a day trip to the spectacular Blue Mountains, whose eucalypt haze you’ll see looming in the distance, for fresh mountain air and stunning natural scenery. You’ll see the famous Three Sisters rock formation - each of which stands over 900 metres high - and hear the Aboriginal legend behind these massive structures. Spend the last evening of your tour enjoying dinner at Midden restaurant, where, under the sails of the Opera House, you’ll recap your favourite sights in Australia.
Accommodation: InterContinental
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
It’s been an incredible trip of wildlife, wild places, and stellar city sites but sadly your journey comes to a close today. Enjoy one last breakfast with your travel mates before saying goodbye before your transfer to Sydney Airport (flights anytime).
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Karina Behler - Traveled, December 2024
Bucket list trip that didn't disappoint! Our Tour guide, Tony was phenomenal! He always kept us laughing and continuously had a smile on his face, even when he had some challenging situations. He was so knowledgeable and made sure we had what we needed everyday before we would venture out. My husband's one bucket list adventure was to climb the Sydney Bridge. It wasn't part of our itinerary but Tony made sure that he was able to book the adventure and got him there safely. The itinerary was fantastic. We were able to see all the highlights of Australia. Visiting the school while we were in Alice Springs was a highlight for me. The only negative is maybe we could have used an extra day. Everything seemed to be rushed so that we got it all in. The hotels in Melbourne and Sydney were great. The other locations hotels were adequate but could use some sprucing up.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/28/2024
James Donohue - Traveled, October 2024
Trip was well - planned and travel director and bus drivers/guides were very knowledgeable. Only complaint was very long layover at LAX before return flight to JFK. 10 Hours. There was another flight on the same airline that left after 3 hours. I'm not sure why we weren't booked on the earlier flight.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/21/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2024
Trip of a Lifetime. Just completed the Australian Highlights such a wonderful trip. Our Guild *Personal information removed by Feefo* was the best everything was so organized the trip run so smoothly. The highlight was Uluru such a bucket list thing. Also our Driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* that we had in Uluru was the best. It was the best trip and so well organized.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, April 2024
Tour Director was Excellent. Tour Director was fantastic. *Personal information removed by Feefo* was on top of everything and used her expertise to avoid crowds at all the normally crowded attractions. Tour Director and itinerary were excellent.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/20/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, December 2024
Thank you! Trafalgar was just amazing in terms of services and tickets and timings. All worked out really well. Amazing itinerary, really saw the true highlights of Australia. Thanks to *Personal information removed by Feefo* for being an entertaining and knowledgeable tour guide! He is an excellent ambassador for Australia.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, December 2024
The weather was very hot in the Northern territory and Queensland in mid-December. Something for travelers to seriously consider when travelling during the summer months.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/25/2024
Rob - Traveled, October 2024
Great tour of Australia The guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, provided by Trafalgar was amazing. The knowledge, love and pride that he has for his country is incredible. He was very organized and he was there to make sure we all had a very enjoyable tour. The hotels were very nice and the internal travel arrangements were, seemingly, flawless. Overall, the itinerary was ok. However, we would have appreciated an extra day in each of the cities, a day where there were no optional experiences offered so that we could do whatever we wanted to do without feeling that we were missing out on something.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/23/2024
Alvin Peart - Traveled, October 2024
Exceeded expectation !!*Personal information removed by Feefo*, tour leader was Awesome. All hotel, meals, tours were top shelf. Would book with them again someday.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, October 2024
Greatest Hits of Australia! My only complaint about the booking process is that the phone hold times were extremely long. I would suggest that we be given nametags to wear on the tour. There were 37 people in our group and it was difficult to learn everyone's names. Also we felt that on the days when we were on the bus for a long time, it would have been nice if Trafalgar had arranged for box lunches to be brought with us. We had to stop at rest stops and rush to get fast food a few times. This is really a "greatest hits" tour. We saw a little bit of everything, from the Great Barrier Reef and tropics to the desert outback. We were so glad the trip included the outback (interior) portion since so many people go to Australia and don't go to the interior.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/18/2024
Elizabeth Morton - Traveled, October 2024
It was a trip of a lifetime for myself and my son! The tour guide was wonderful and always pleasant and knowledgeable. The accommodations were great and very comfortable. Every coach driver was friendly and helpful with good sense of humors.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/17/2024
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