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Australia's Cities, Rock and Reef

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Immerse yourself on a journey seeing many unique attractions

You are viewing the 2021 itinerary. Select your departure year
20212022
19 days Sold out
Flexible Booking

Book your 2021 holiday before 18th December and you can transfer your holiday for free - no questions asked. T&C's apply

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2021 Tour code: OZJ21

About the tour

Australia is home to many unique attractions and we embark on an immersive journey with visits to Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef, and the wine lands surrounding Adelaide, as well as getting stuck into local life with fish and chips on Bondi Beach and a cup of proper coffee in Melbourne.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Days 1-2 - London and Sydney

Our Australian adventure begins as we meet our Tour Manager at London Heathrow for our flight to Sydney, via Singapore. We land on Day 2 and transfer to our hotel.

Sydney, Australia
Days 3-5 - Exploring Sydney

We explore Sydney on a guided sightseeing tour, heading through the swanky neighbourhoods of Double Bay and Rose Bay with their upmarket boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. We continue to Watsons Bay, a harbourside suburb at the tip of a narrow peninsula, where the backdrop of cliffs, blue ocean, and city skyline paint a perfect postcard. From here, we transfer to Bondi Beach, arguably the most famous beach in Australia, where we indulge in a delicious fish and chip lunch at Bondi Icebergs Club. On our return to the city, we see the bustling Chinatown, and Darling Harbour. Our tour also takes in Mrs Macquarie's chair, a sandstone rock in Sydney harbour cut in the shape of a bench and offering views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

On Day 4, we transfer to the quayside to board a boat for a lunchtime cruise that delivers stunning views of the surrounding ocean and harbour while we eat. Day 5 is at leisure in Sydney.

Sydney, Australia
Days 6-8 - Melbourne

After breakfast, we take the train to Melbourne. On Day 7, we discover the city on a guided sightseeing tour. Melbourne is a motley blend of urban attractions and diverse suburbs, famous for its vibrant laneways and alleys. We pause during our tour to sip on a steaming cup of coffee in one of the laneway cafés, before exploring the sporty side of the city with a visit to Melbourne Park and the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, situated beside Albert Park Lake. Later, we visit the Queen Victoria Market, the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. Our tour also takes in the beautiful Yarra River, the Golden Mile, Parliament House, and the Fitzroy Gardens. This afternoon, we transfer to Belgrave station where we take a journey back in time on board the Puffing Billy service, a narrow-gauge heritage steam train which takes us across the Dandenong Ranges, past rainforests, through magical fern gullies. We alight at Lakeside where you have free time before our return journey.

Day 8 is at leisure in Melbourne.

Melbourne
Day 9 - The Great Ocean Road

This morning, we travel by coach along the Great Ocean Road, considered to be one of the most scenic journeys in Australia. Our journey gives us a glimpse into the beaches of Geelong, Torquay, and Bells Beach, and as we journey through Campbell National Park, stunning views of forests, cliffs, and some of the most dramatic rock formations known to mankind. We pass the 12 Apostles - some of the world's largest, naturally created limestone towers - as well as Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, the Blowhole, and the Grotto. We arrive in Warrnambool, where we spend the night.

The Great Ocean Road
Days 10-11 - Mount Gambier and Adelaide

Today takes us to Towerhill Wildlife Reserve, which sits inside an extinct volcano. Here, we encounter some of Australia's iconic wildlife, including koalas, emus, and kangaroos. We continue to Mount Gambier, known for its volcanic landscapes, where we discover the Blue Lake - an extinct volcano whose crater now houses a lake formed by cerulean blue waters. Our journey continues to Adelaide, pausing at the bewitching gardens of Umperston sinkhole en route.

On Day 11, we spend the day exploring McLaren Vale, a picturesque region known for producing world-class wines. We spend a full day here visiting the local boutique wineries, including d'Arenberg winery and Wirra Wirra Vineyards. We also get a chance to sample some of the wines at a tasting session.

Mount Gambier
Days 12-13 - Uluru

Today, we take a flight to Uluru, a beautiful red sandstone monolith. We see the rock in all its glory this afternoon as we travel to Sunset Strip where, accompanied by some sparkling wine, we watch the dramatic colour changes of the rock at dusk. On Day 13 we visit Uluru at dawn for a different perspective of this geological wonder, followed by breakfast at the Ininti café. Here, you have some free time to visit the Cultural Centre to learn all about the fascinating Anangu culture and art form. After an afternoon at leisure, tonight we indulge in a special 'sound of silence' dinner under the starlit sky.

Uluru
Days 14-17 - Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

We fly to Cairns today, and on Day 15, join the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a journey to Kuranda, a charming mountain retreat. On arrival, we check out the vibrant market, which sells a wide range of aboriginal artefacts. We continue to the Koala Gardens, where there's opportunity to cuddle these adorable creatures (payable locally). Day 16 takes us to one of the iconic sights of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef. Our luxury catamaran sails to Low Isles, a coral island on the Reef, and there is the opportunity to take part in a slew of activities including a glass bottom boat tour, which allows you to see the crystal clear waters without getting wet. Later, a marine biologist gives us a guided tour of the isles. Day 17 is at leisure at our hotel in Cairns.

Kuranda Scenic Railway
Days 18-19 - Cairns and London

You are at leisure on Day 18 until late afternoon ahead of our transfer to Cairns airport. We fly firstly to Singapore, where we join our onwards flight to London Heathrow, arriving on Day 19.

Cairns, Australia

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Adelaide

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Adelaide

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Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort

Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort

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Rydges Esplanade Resort, Cairns

Rydges Esplanade Resort, Cairns

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Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne

Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne

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Rydges Sydney Central, Sydney

Rydges Sydney Central, Sydney

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Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs, Warrnambool

Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs, Warrnambool

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Trains

Kuranda Scenic Railway
Puffing Billy steam train

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London Hotels
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Worldwide Holidays by Rail 2020/21

Worldwide Holidays by Rail 2020/21

Long haul rail holidays to North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

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Australia's Cities, Rock and Reef

Immerse yourself on a journey seeing many unique attractions

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Helen Laverack
Helen
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Lynne
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