A magnificent city draped along the water, and then wild rainforest meeting golden beaches and the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru, and then the artistic and cultural twang provided by Melbourne. Welcome to the icons of Australia with ten days spent exploring the very best of the country. From climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge to sunset along the Yarra River, this vacation is spread across four destinations and packed with local experiences, from hopping kangaroos to Aboriginal trails through Kata Tjuta.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Sydney – Lounging Around the Water on Your First Day in Australia
Take a window seat for the flight into Sydney, and you will not regret it. Most flights arrive in the morning with the Sydney Opera House sails shimmering white as an iconic bridge arcs over the Parramatta. Touch down and check into your hotel early. You will undoubtedly be jet-lagged from the journey, but there will be a full day to rest and re-energize before the adventure really starts tomorrow. When stretching your legs in Sydney, Circular Quays is always a good destination as Victorian buildings meet modern skyscrapers and the famous bridge. You could easily make a short trip to Bondi for some time on the beach or to enjoy the coastal walk to Coogee. Another option is to ride a ferry to Manly and its laid-back coastal atmosphere, or just stroll the city, absorbing the atmosphere down under.
What's Included:
Day 2
Sydney – Walking the Old City and Climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge
Day 3
Sydney – Exploring the Blue Mountains and Cruising the Parramatta
Day 4
Cairns – Leisurely Afternoon On the Coastline
Day 5
Cairns – Discovering Aboriginal Heritage on the Coast and in the Forest
Day 6
Cairns – A Day Spent Exploring the Great Barrier Reef
Day 7
Uluru – Sunset at the Magical Monolith
Day 8
Melbourne – Sunrise at Kata Tjuta and an Artistic Evening in Melbourne
Day 9
Melbourne – Wild Kangaroos and Koalas Plus City Walking Tour
Day 10
Melbourne – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Walk across the iconic spine of Sydney Harbour Bridge for magnificent views over the city
- Watch how the world’s biggest monolith changes color with the sunset
- Connect with the wilderness as you track kangaroos and koalas in the wild
- Explore the underwater beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, visiting an outer reef on a day cruise from Cairns
- Discover Aboriginal culture as you meet a local artist and wander through Daintree Rainforest
- Spend a day in the Blue Mountains, where a blue haze contributes to a mysterious atmosphere
- Wake up to Kata Tjuta and connect with this ancient Aboriginal site
- Discover the heart of Sydney and Melbourne on local walking tours
- Enjoy quiet time along the water, including the Parramatta River and the Cairns promenade
Detailed Description
Visit Australia, and it will always be impossible to pinpoint an exact memory or an exact moment where you were fully enveloped by the local experience as there are just so many. Perhaps watching how sunset brings color change to Uluru or maybe wandering through a eucalyptus forest populated by koalas. It could be walking on a beach, appreciating how spacious and endless Australia’s beaches can be. It may be something in the city such as a Victorian arcade, or meeting with Aboriginal to learn about their art and culture. At every destination, there is a new landscape, a new atmosphere, and a new experience. All of them will feel iconically Australian, whether you are in the city, the coast or the red center.
Handcrafted to celebrate the diversity of what the country offers, this ten-day itinerary takes you to Sydney, Cairns, Uluru, and Melbourne. The city proves to be a leisurely place to start, especially if you are struggling with any jet lag. There is something happening at all hours of the day, whether you ride out to Bondi Beach or explore Darling Harbour. Go on a city walking tour on day two before climbing the steel arch of Sydney Harbour Bridge. Escape to the Blue Mountains on day three, where mysterious UNESCO World Heritage nature is complemented by a cruise back to Sydney on the Parramatta River.
Fly to Cairns next, and you will immediately notice the change in in the atmosphere once you are in the rural north and Queensland. Aboriginal culture is the focus of the next day, including a deaf Aboriginal artist teaching you about art, and then a guided tour through the flora of Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge. Cruise to the Great Barrier Reef the following day with snorkeling and scuba diving on two remote outer reefs. Away from most tourist boats and better preserved than some of the inner reefs, the destination provides a true appreciation of the landscapes underwater color and life.
Fly to the red center on day seven and spend the afternoon in the desert, exploring Uluru and then watching sunset cross its frame. The nighttime is wonderful here with the desert stars unfolding as an astronomer shows you planets and constellations. Kata Tjuta provides a surprise the next morning, as you learn that the red desert has more than just one massive rock. You will then end in Melbourne, wandering artistic streets and noting the juxtaposition between very old and very new, which leaves time for a morning with kangaroos and koalas in a conservation area just outside the city where marsupials write the script.
Read some of our travelers’ reviews for Australia to discover new experiences to add to your own tour.
Starting Price
$4,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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