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Australian Highlights

From £8,799
Duration 23 Days
Departures from: Nov 2024 - Nov 2025
Book now
From £8,799
Duration 23 Days
Departures from: Nov 2024 - Nov 2025
Tour Overview
Tick off many of Australia's most famous sights on an incredible journey Down Under from Sydney to Melbourne. Sydney's highlights are thrilling, with Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Prepare to be dazzled by the paradise beaches of Port Stephens and stop to admire Byron Bay's iconic lighthouse as you travel along the stunning Gold Coast to Brisbane. Your next destination is Cairns, where you'll board a catamaran for a thrilling cruise on the Great Barrier Reef. More iconic sights await in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with sunrise and sunset visits to the giant monolith Uluru within your reach, as well as the chance to view Aboriginal rock art. You'll then travel to Adelaide, here a tour is followed by a tasting of wines in the famed Barossa Valley. Take a scenic journey along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to Melbourne and opt to visit Phillip Island to watch the charming penguin parade.
  • classic touring holiday Classic Touring
  • meals included tour All Breakfasts
  • flight choices Flight Choices

Your Holiday Includes

  • Just You Holiday Director as your host & Specialist Local Guide
  • Return flights from London
  • Use of an airport lounge in the UK
  • 19 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels plus 3 nights in flight
  • A guaranteed twin or double room of your own
  • 23 meals: 19 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners including welcome drink
  • Overseas transfers, internal flights, other transportation & porterage

Included Holiday Highlights

  • Sydney's iconic sights
  • Visit to Port Stephens
  • Byron Bay's iconic lighthouse
  • Discover Brisbane
  • Great Barrier Reef catamaran cruise
  • Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunrise & sunset
  • See the Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
  • Tour of Alice Springs
  • Authentic Aussie bush barbecue
  • Discover Adelaide
  • Visit Barossa Valley including lunch & wine-tasting
  • Journey along the Great Ocean Road
  • Discover Melbourne

Itinerary

Days 1 & 2 UK - Sydney

Today, you will fly to Sydney, arriving in the early hours of day 3.

Day 3 Sydney

On arrival in Sydney early this morning, we'll transfer you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, settling in and exploring this vibrant city at your own pace.

Day 4 Sydney

Our included sightseeing tour will show you Sydney's highlights, including the world-famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House, which dominate the vast and picturesque harbour. Other memorable sights include Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. This huge sandstone rock was hand-carved by convicts in the shape of a bench for Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth, in 1810. It's a great vantage point, so take a few minutes to enjoy the view.
This evening, get to know your travelling companions better over a welcome drink and dinner.

Meals included: B,D

Day 5 Sydney - at Leisure

If you choose to join today's optional excursion, you've a full day of thrills ahead. You head through the Blue Mountains, past the Three Sisters rock formation and along Jamieson Valley - Australia's answer to the Grand Canyon. Finally, you'll visit Scenic World, where you can opt to take a journey on the world's steepest incline railway into ancient rainforest, or enjoy a cable-car ride over the valley.

Meals included: B

Day 6 Sydney - at Leisure

You can choose from a couple of exciting optional excursions today. If you've a head for heights, you could take in exceptional views of Sydney Harbour and the surrounding area on a guided Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. Don't worry, you'll get a safety briefing beforehand and will wear a harness at all times. At the end you'll receive a group photo, a cap, certificate and a pass to the Pylon Lookout for further sweeping views.
Another option is to step beneath the sails and enjoy a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. You'll learn about the history of the building, uncover stories about artists and the shows performed here and have an opportunity to visit areas usually off limits to the general public.

Meals included: B

Day 7 Sydney - Port Stephens - Port Macquarie

We've a lovely journey along the coast this morning as we leave Sydney behind and head to Port Stephens. This idyllic coastal resort, known as the 'blue water paradise', is home to white-sand beaches, picturesque bays lapped by turquoise seas, and immense sand dunes. Enjoy some time at leisure here, lazing on the beach or maybe you'll choose to head off on an optional dolphin-watching cruise. Later, we'll continue to Port Macquarie.

Meals included: B

Day 8 Port Macquarie - Brisbane

This morning, we'll take to the road once again, making our way along the coast to Byron Bay, famous for its beautiful beaches and laid-back surf culture. We'll stop here to admire its iconic lighthouse, which sits on a rocky headland.
We'll then continue along the stunning Gold Coast, renowned for its fabulous beaches, and on to Brisbane.

Meals included: B

Day 9 Brisbane - at Leisure

You can spend today at leisure in Brisbane, or you could choose to join an optional excursion to North Stradbroke Island. Fondly known as Straddie by the locals, it is the world's second largest sand island at about 38km long and 11km wide. You can relax on the beach, or maybe head off on a bush walk, keeping an eye out for resident wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas and kookaburras - the largest member of the kingfisher family.

Meals included: B

Day 10 Brisbane - Cairns

Enjoy a morning tour of Brisbane, Queensland's cosmopolitan capital, which boasts spectacular architecture and is set on the Brisbane River.
This afternoon we'll fly to Cairns, where we'll stay, it's your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef!

Meals included: B

Day 11 Great Barrier Reef

Today you have the chance to explore a whole new world on an included trip by catamaran to the outer Great Barrier Reef. Marine life comes incredibly close to the vessel, and you can experience the reef without getting wet from the comfort of a semi-submersible or an underwater observatory. Of course, you can also go snorkelling in this amazing underwater world – all the equipment and guidance you need is provided, as well as lunch.

Meals included: B,L

Day 12 Cairns - at Leisure

On this free day you can simply relax and soak up the sun. However, if you want to see more, a ride on the Kuranda Railway is an option to see the Atherton Tablelands.
Your first stop will be the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, where you'll glide over and through heritage rainforest. After free time in the village of Kuranda, you'll take a journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, with the Barron Falls just one of the incredible highlights.

Meals included: B

Day 13 Cairns

Today is a good chance to take a well deserved rest or to explore more that Cairns has to offer.

Meals included: B

Day 14 Cairns - Uluru

This morning we'll fly to Ayers Rock, or Uluru, situated in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This huge sandstone monolith, which is two miles long, 1,000ft high and measures six miles around the base, is a majestic sight and one of the world's most treasured natural wonders. It is a wondrous sight at any time of day, but even more so at sunrise and sunset, when its colours change dramatically. You will have the chance to admire Uluru at both of these magical times.
This evening you can enjoy an optional visit to the impressive Field of Light installation.

Meals included: B

Day 15 Uluru - Alice Springs

We will visit Uluru as the sun rises this morning. We will also have the very special opportunity to step into some of the caves at the base of the rock and admire the fascinating Aboriginal art that graces the walls. Off in the distance you will spot the mysterious Kata Tjuta or the Olgas, a range of 36 spectacular rock domes. Later we'll journey to the outback town of Alice Springs. Where we will attend an Aussie bush barbecue sampling local traditional cuisine.

Meals included: B,D

Day 16 Alice Springs - Adelaide

Your tour now continues as we fly to Adelaide, South Australia's cosmopolitan capital.

Meals included: B

Day 17 Adelaide

We'll start the day with a tour of Adelaide's main highlights, including the cricket and football stadium, the Adelaide Oval, broad expanses of lush parkland and the imposing St Peter's Cathedral.
Next, we continue to the Barossa Valley, which is famous for its wines. At the Jacobs Creek visitor centre we'll stop for a tasting and lunch. We'll also taste wines at the award-winning Wolf Blass winery.

Meals included: B,L

Day 18 Adelaide - Warrnambool

We'll depart Adelaide today and travel further along the coast to Warrnambool.

Meals included: B

Day 19 Warrnambool - Melbourne

Your journey to Melbourne today takes you along one of the most spectacular coastal routes in the world, the Great Ocean Road. As you go you'll see the Twelve Apostles, although only eight of these towering limestone stacks remain, the Arch and many other fantastic rock formations.

Meals included: B

Day 20 Melbourne

Enjoy a tour of Melbourne this morning. Highlights include Federation Square, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Flinders Street Station and the Grand Prix Circuit that circles Albert Park Lake. Another stop is Fitzroy Gardens, which features pathways lined with towering elms, colourful floral displays and the Fairies' Tree sculpture - a centuries-old tree stump featuring delightful carvings.

Meals included: B

Day 21 Melbourne - at Leisure

You can spend a further day at leisure, making your own discoveries. Alternatively, you might be tempted to join an optional excursion to Phillip Island to see the remarkable penguin parade. At sunset, after a hard day's fishing, hundreds of these delightful creatures - the world's smallest penguin - appear from out of the ocean and waddle their way across the beach to their sand dune burrows. You can take in this marvellous spectacle from special viewing stands and boardwalks, which give you the chance to get up close to nature.

Meals included: B

Days 22 & 23 Melbourne - UK

Enjoy time at leisure before your return flight to the UK, arriving the next day.

Meals included: B

Accommodation (as specified or similar)

Holiday Inn Darling Harbour

The newly refurbished Holiday Inn Darling Harbour is situated right between the bustling China Town and newly developed Darling Square precinct. Take a leisurely stroll through Darling Harbour with its many attractions such as Cockle Bay, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life Sydney Zoo and Madame Tussaud's Sydney. The hotel is also a heritage building constructed in 1890. Facilities include a renovated fitness centre, spa and laundry services.

Mercure Centro Port Macquarie

Conveniently located in the town centre, Mercure Centro Port Macquarie provides an easy access to beaches, nature walks and shops. Hotel rooms feature en-suite facilities, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and tea/coffee-making facilities. Other hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant with a terrace and a contemporary bar.

Royal on the Park Brisbane

Located opposite the City Botanic Gardens and a 5 minute walk from the Queen Street Mall the Royal on the Park is a well reviewed hotel. With facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, bar and restaurant. Rooms feature floor to ceiling windows for views of the city or gardens, en-suite and coffee machine.

Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

Transformed in 2019 with a new lobby, restaurant & bar, guest rooms and public spaces, discover Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort. This excellent resort has a sandy lagoon style pool boasting a swim up bar and lush tropical gardens

Desert Gardens Hotel

Situated within an oasis of native gardens, Desert Gardens Hotel offers elegant guestrooms. Each room is air-conditioned and has a TV with movies-on-demand and tea/coffee-making facilities. Other hotel facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a bar. Arnguli Grill, restaurant located on-site, offers an à la carte menu of traditional Australian cuisine.

Double Tree by Hilton Alice Springs

Experience eco-friendly settings and enjoy stunning views of the majestic MacDonnell Mountain Ranges when you stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs. Conveniently located just off the Stuart Highway, hotel is within walking distance of downtown and provides easy access to many local attractions such as Anzac Hill. All hotel rooms feature air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and tea/coffee-making facilities. Other hotel amenities include fitness centre, outdoor heated swimming pool and restaurant, serving modern Australian cuisine.

Vibe Hotel

The Vibe Hotel Adelaide is located just a km from Rundle Mall in the vibrant streets of Adelaide's East End, close to some of the city's best restaurants and bars. Facilities include a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and terrace. 

Mid City Motel Warrnambool

Mid City Motel Warrnambool is located at the western end of the world-renowned Great Ocean Road, only 50 metres from the centre of the town and a short stroll to beautiful beaches nearby. Facilities include Elements Bar & Restaurant, in-room dining, outdoor swimming pool, spa and guest laundry for your convenience. Warrnambool is a friendly and relaxing town with a selection of bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. All rooms feature en suite facilities, air conditioning, TV, phone and internet access.

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

The Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne is a heritage listed hotel. Within walking distance you can find shopping, dining & entertainment, perfect for exploring. There is also a bar, restaurant and fitness centre, if you wish to stay at the hotel. Rooms are furnished with air-conditioning, safe, TV and tea & coffee-making facilities.

Optional Excursions

Experience even more of your destination by adding one or more optional excursions to your holiday before you set off. Take a look below at the extra trips you can enjoy on this tour.

Australia - Melbourne - Phillip Island Penguin Parade Plus

Australia - Melbourne - Phillip Island Penguin Parade Plus

Join us on an afternoon into evening excursion to Phillip Island, home to the largest colony of Little Penguins. This area allows you to experience a more personalised wildlife viewing experience. Limited to 150 people, the viewing platform provides a closer viewing of the penguin arrival than the main viewing stands at the Penguin Parade. Rangers are on hand to provide insight into the fascinating life of the world’s smallest penguins. Ideal for those people seeking a closer viewing of the penguins and more in-depth knowledge of their lives and environment.

Extended Afternoon Excursion – Nature Interest – Unforgettable
Join us on an afternoon into evening excursion to Phillip Island, home to the largest colony of Little Penguins. This area allows you to experience a more personalised wildlife vie...

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Australia - Cairns - Kuranda Railway and Skyrail

Australia - Cairns - Kuranda Railway and Skyrail

A fantastic opportunity to see the Atherton Tablelands. Your first stop this morning will be Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, where you will glide over and through world heritage rainforest, including time at the two rainforest mid-stations. After some free time in the village of Kuranda you will continue on the second part of your tour, the Kuranda Scenic Railway. As part of this unforgettable journey through a tropical paradise, you will spend time viewing the Barron Falls, a wonderful photo opportunity, before arriving at Freshwater Station.

Please note due to recent extreme weather damage, the scenic railway is not currently operating, and the itinerary of this excursion will be amended accordingly. Reopening is expected on the 1 May 2024.

Full Day – Scenic
A fantastic opportunity to see the Atherton Tablelands. Your first stop this morning will be Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, where you will glide over and through world heritage rainf...

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Uluru - Field of Light

Uluru - Field of Light

Your Field of Light experience begins with a hotel pick up and transfer to a remote desert location. Guests then have time to immersive themselves in the monumental light installation as they walk through Field of Light. As darkness falls and Uluru is thrown into silhouette, Field of Light, art installation by international artist Bruce Munro, illuminates. As far as the eye can see gentle rhythms of colour light up the desert creating several options for you to immerse in Munro's grand-scale experiential artwork taking one of the pathways.

Evening Excursion – Moderate Walking – Once in a Lifetime
Your Field of Light experience begins with a hotel pick up and transfer to a remote desert location. Guests then have time to immersive themselves in the monumental light installat...

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Brisbane - North Stradbroke Island

Brisbane - North Stradbroke Island

Leave busy Brisbane for a full-day tour that showcases the natural beauty of North Stradbroke Island. You’ll start with a cruise across Moreton Bay to Dunwich. Spend your morning at Brown Lake and drive through the Blue Lake National Park to Main Beach. This is perfect stop for swimming, shell collecting and photographs. Later head to Point Lookout’s North Gorge where an abundance of marine life can be easily spotted. Aussie lunch barbecue will keep you going as we’ll continue to Amity in search of the island’s population of wild kangaroos and koalas.

Full Day – Moderate Walking - Memorable
Leave busy Brisbane for a full-day tour that showcases the natural beauty of North Stradbroke Island. You’ll start with a cruise across Moreton Bay to Dunwich. Spend your morning a...

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Port Stephens - Dolphin Watch Cruise

Port Stephens - Dolphin Watch Cruise

Cruise the magnificent waters of Port Stephens Harbour to see the friendly resident Bottlenose Dolphins play. Take in the sights of Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands, Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay and the Northern Harbour. Relax on deck with informative commentary from the captain and complimentary tea included.

1.5 hours – Minimal Walking – Great Experience
Cruise the magnificent waters of Port Stephens Harbour to see the friendly resident Bottlenose Dolphins play. Take in the sights of Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands, Shoal Bay, Nelson...

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Sydney - Sydney Zoo and the Magical Blue Mountains

Sydney - Sydney Zoo and the Magical Blue Mountains

You will start today driving through the Blue Mountains to the Three Sisters and along the Jamison Valley (Australia's Grand Canyon), before departing for Scenic World where you will have the chance to ride the world's steepest incline railway, as well as take a ride in the scenic cable car with views of the World Heritage listed Jamison Valley. Later you will continue to Sydney Zoo for the chance to see hundreds of species of Australian wildlife from koalas and kangaroos to primates and reptiles.

Full Day – Highly Recommended
You will start today driving through the Blue Mountains to the Three Sisters and along the Jamison Valley (Australia's Grand Canyon), before departing for Scenic World where you wi...

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Australia - Sydney - Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Australia - Sydney - Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Join the Summit climb, the original climb experience and discover 360 degree views of Sydney.

The Journey - Latching on in the Climb Base below the Bradfield Highway, you will walk on catwalks below the road-deck until you reach the South-East Pylon. Here you will ascend four ladders to the start of the upper arch, all the while surrounded by the hum and buzz of Sydney's traffic. With the summit in your sight, your journey continues along the Bridge's outer arch on the Opera House side until you hit the top. After a summit celebration with your group, you cross the spine of the Bridge to the Darling Harbour side to make your descent to our Climb Base.

Half Day - Day Climb - Unforgettable

Please be advised that Sydney Bridge Climb has updated its pre-climb health & safety requirements for climbers over the age of 75. Climbers over the age of 75 can climb with a Certificate of Fitness, signed by your GP. You can get the form (which you need to take with you) and more details on their website on https://www.bridgeclimb.com/things-you-need-to-know-to-climb

Please note: You will need to bring photographic identification.
Join the Summit climb, the original climb experience and discover 360 degree views of Sydney.

The Journey - Latching on in the Climb Base below the Bradfield Highway, you ...

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Australia - Sydney - Sydney Opera House Tour

Australia - Sydney - Sydney Opera House Tour

Step beneath the sails to find out what makes the Sydney Opera House so inspiring. Discover insider secrets and stories of the Opera House artists and performances, and step inside the iconic theatres and foyers that bring 1800 performances to life each year. Explore the building with our knowledgeable guides, learn about how Jorn Utzon’s vision came into existence against impossible odds, and capture photographs from rare vantage points, off limits to the general public.

One Hour Tour - Cultural Must See
Step beneath the sails to find out what makes the Sydney Opera House so inspiring. Discover insider secrets and stories of the Opera House artists and performances, and step inside...

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Personalise your trip

Choose to extend your stay with an organised add-on. 

Australian Highlights with New-Zealand add-on

Australian Highlights with New-Zealand add-on

Extend to 37 days from £5,699 Departures from: Nov 2024 - Nov 2025

Explore the beauty and grandeur of New Zealand after your holiday in Australia. Visiting both countries in one trip will certainly make a holiday of a lifetime.

Explore the beauty and grandeur of New Zealand after your holiday in Australia. Visiting both countries in one trip will certainly make a holiday of a lifetime.

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