Wonders of Southern Australia & Tasmania

Your discovery of southern Australia's renowned cities and scenic splendors begins as you land in Australia's most populous city, Sydney. After transferring independently to our hotel and checking in for the next three nights, the evening is free to unwind or begin your explorations.

If you're keen to step out and get to know your surroundings, our hotel in Darling Harbour is near several waterfront restaurants and the central business district, where you'll find many more attractions and inviting places to eat. Overnight Sydney.

Waking in Sydney, you have a free morning to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and unwind before we get to know our surroundings on a guided sightseeing tour.

We begin in the prestigious eastern Sydney suburbs overlooking Sydney Harbour, stopping for a photo opportunity at Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, a sandstone bench hand-carved by convicts in 1810 for the wife of Governor Macquarie. Set on a scenic peninsula, it offers one of the best views of Sydney Harbor. We also pass through the historic Rocks Area, where the First Fleet landed in 1788 to establish Australia's first European settlement.

Early this evening, we enjoy a vacation highlight: a cruise around Sydney Harbour. With a buffet dinner on board, this is a superb way to soak up some of the most iconic sights of the city. The most prominent is Sydney's stunning Opera House, the jewel in the city's crown and an architectural masterpiece. We also pass under one of Australia's most renowned landmarks, Sydney Harbor Bridge, the largest steel-arched bridge in the world. Overnight Sydney.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Just 30 miles outside Sydney is today's destination: the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, so named due to dense eucalyptus forests creating a bluish haze when sunlight hits.

First, we visit the unique Three Sisters rocks at Echo Point. These striking rock formations inspired an Aboriginal legend in which three sisters were turned to stone by their father to protect them from a tribal war. We continue to the charming Victorian-era village of Leura, where there's free time to find lunch. Our excursion continues with a trip on the world's steepest incline railway, the Katoomba Scenic Railroad. Boasting a maximum incline of 52 degrees, this dramatic route was originally built for coal miners and plunges a distance of 534 feet in just 1,361 feet. This short trip passes sandstone cliffs and enters a rock tunnel, before emerging into the ancient rainforest. After walking amid the tall rainforest trees, we return to the top of the valley and take the glass-bottom Scenic Skyway ride from the lookout point across the valley.

Returning to Sydney by motorcoach, your evening is at leisure. Overnight Sydney.

• Breakfast

This morning, we take a short coach journey from our hotel to Sydney's Southern Cross rail station, where we join the cross-country train to Melbourne.

Traveling in First Class, lunch and dinner are available for you to buy, and it may be advisable to order your meals early in the day. This day-long rail journey takes us past open plains of Australian bush and farmland, mostly cattle and dairy farms, with stops at remote stations and towns with distinctive names, such as Wagga Wagga. As we approach Melbourne, landscapes change to fields of green and gold, reflecting the colors of Australia's flag.

On arrival into Melbourne this evening, we walk across the road from the Southern Cross station to check in to our central hotel for three nights. This is the hub of Melbourne's buzzing central business district, which offers high-end retail options and a fantastic choice of restaurants including Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, French and Italian, alongside Australian fare - a healthy and inventive fusion of local and international cuisine. Overnight Melbourne.

• Breakfast

Enjoy some free time this morning to explore Melbourne at your own pace, perhaps stopping for an early lunch at one of the city's many cafés or restaurants. Victoria's state capital is renowned for its world-class coffee culture and vibrant street art.

This afternoon, we join a sightseeing tour that takes us past Melbourne's key highlights, including the bustling central business district, Docklands, the Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia's largest stadium. Afterward, we experience the true charm of the Yarra River onboard one of Melbourne's most popular vessels with a one-hour sightseeing cruise, allowing us to view the city's skyline from a fresh perspective.

After the cruise, we take a short walk to the Melbourne Skydeck for panoramic views across the city. The nearby Southbank area along the Yarra River offers a variety of excellent restaurants, perfect for dinner this evening. Overnight Melbourne.

• Breakfast

One of the world's most scenic drives is our focus today as we journey along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road. Traveling by coach, this spectacular route takes us past verdant forest, rushing waterfalls and glittering ocean. We're highly likely to see surfers, and we may even spot native birds or other coastal wildlife.

We make a short stop at a beach resort called Lorne, before arriving at the laid-back beach town of Apollo Bay where we break for lunch. We later move away from the coast and into the Great Otway National Park, then return to the shoreline to uncover the Shipwreck Coast. One of the most iconic sights is the Twelve Apostles, a famous collection of dramatic limestone rock pillars looming out of the surf, carved over time by the crashing waves.

Arriving back at our hotel this evening, you are free to dine independently at one of the many appealing restaurants in our local neighborhood. Overnight Melbourne.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Leaving our hotel after breakfast, we transfer to the airport before flying to the island of Tasmania, one of this journey's highlights.

Tasmania's unique history and pristine wilderness make it a destination like no other. First inhabited by Aboriginal peoples, the island became a penal colony in the 19th century, and thousands of convicts were "transported" to its shores before it became one of Australia's founding states in 1901. Today, more than 20% of Tasmania is set aside as a World Heritage area, with dense rainforests, rugged mountain scenery and sparkling coastline.

We touch down in Hobart, a historic harbor city, and set out on an orientation tour. With a skyline dominated by the immense Mount Wellington, Hobart is known for its Victorian architecture and its lively art and culinary scenes. With a free evening, you may be tempted to head to the waterfront near our hotel, where you can enjoy fresh seafood with a view. Overnight Hobart.

• Breakfast

Today's explorations take us to the Tasman Peninsula and historic Port Arthur. Boarding a ship, we cruise beyond Port Arthur to Cape Raoul, taking in the towering cliffs and spectacular coastal scenery of the peninsula. Feel the fresh sea breeze as we sail and enjoy panoramic views across the water to Cape Pillar and Tasman Island.

Returning to Port Arthur, we enjoy lunch before visiting the UNESCO-listed Port Arthur Historic Site. Once a key part of the colonial system of convict discipline, the prison was the site of an attempt to reform and rehabilitate the colony's convicts. As we explore the site, we learn about the convicts, the soldiers and their families, coming closer to the island's unique history.

We return to our hotel by coach, driving along the scenic peninsula. With a free evening, you might like to stop by North Hobart, a popular area home to a range of restaurants. Overnight Hobart.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at our hotel, we board a coach to Kettering, where a ferry takes us to Bruny Island. Today's excursion showcases two of Tasmania's key attractions: tempting food and incredible scenery.

Arriving on the island, we set off on a gourmet tour, hearing stories from local makers and tasting award-winning cheeses, premium wines and beer, freshly shucked oysters, handcrafted fudge and local honey. Our tour ends with a delicious lunch with sweeping views of Adventure Bay.

From here, we board a coach to Neck Lookout, a narrow, long isthmus where you can get a bird's-eye view of North and South Bruny Island and look out for native wildlife. Today's final stop is the ancient Mavista Rainforest, where you have free time to wander through the trees, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air. In the evening, we return by ferry to Hobart, and the rest of your day is free. Overnight Hobart.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a sightseeing tour of the city. Our tour takes us past Salamanca Place, famous for its sandstone warehouses and the busy Saturday market, the picturesque waterfront and Constitution Dock. We end with a visit to the viewpoints on either Mount Wellington or Mount Nelson, depending on weather conditions. Both offer sweeping panoramic views over Hobart.

In the afternoon, we head to the airport, where we catch our flight to our final base of the vacation: Adelaide. Surrounded by three incredible wine regions, Adelaide is a thriving city with a growing restaurant scene and beautiful beaches.

Arriving in the evening, we transfer to our hotel and check in for a three-night stay. With free time over dinner, you might like to head to the South West of the CBD (central business district) to explore Adelaide's Chinatown. From Chinese to Japanese, Indian and Thai, visitors are spoilt for choice in this vibrant district full of pagoda-style roofs and red lanterns. Overnight Adelaide.

• Breakfast

With an early start, we board a coach to Cape Jervis, where we hop on the ferry to Kangaroo Island, a destination known for remarkable native wildlife and rugged scenery. More than one third of this stunning island is protected, making it a uniquely untouched habitat.

We first head to Seal Bay, where we are joined by an experienced guide for a walk along the white sands. Standing at a safe distance, we observe a colony of Australian sea lions, listening as our guide teaches us about these endangered animals.

In the afternoon, we head to Flinders Chase National Park, a renowned sanctuary for native Australian wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, goannas and more. After lunch in a café, we make our way along the designated walkways to Remarkable Rocks, a collection of naturally sculpted rock formations, and Admirals Arch, a geological wonder. In the evening, we return by ferry to Adelaide. Overnight Adelaide.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today begins slowly, giving you time to rest after yesterday's late return. After a leisurely breakfast, we leave the hotel for a sightseeing tour of Adelaide, soaking up the city's elegant Victorian architecture and passing key attractions including the National Wine Centre of Australia, the famous Adelaide Oval sports ground and St. Peter's Cathedral.

After the tour, we leave the city to explore the vineyards of the Barossa Valley, a region known for producing exceptional red wines. Our first stop is Seppeltsfield Winery, founded in 1851, where we enjoy a tour and indulge in a wine tasting. Next, we visit the picturesque, family-owned Lambert Estate for an elevated lunch with a glass of local wine.

In the afternoon, we drive into the Adelaide Hills to the town of Hahndorf, the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia. You're free to wander this charming town independently, browsing the many art and craft stores, cafes, restaurants and local produce stalls, before we return to Adelaide. Overnight Adelaide.

• Breakfast, Lunch

From Sydney to Adelaide, this incredible tour has shown us the very best of Southern Australia and Tasmania. We enjoyed dinner while sailing under the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge and admired the stunning Blue Mountains from the world's steepest railway. After touring Tasmania's capital city, we sailed around the Tasman Peninsula to Cape Raoul and tasted gourmet food on tour of Bruny Island. Kangaroo Island was a tour highlight, with visits to Seal Bay and Flinders Chase National Park, where we looked out for native wildlife. Finally, we toured the renowned Barossa Valley, tasting fine wine at heritage wineries.

This morning after breakfast, your vacation concludes and you can make your way to Adelaide airport to begin your journey home.

• Breakfast