Discover the waterfalls of Kakadu National Park and the sails of the Sydney Opera House as your experience culture and wilderness during your 19-day Australia highlights tour. Snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef and watch the colors change across the facade of Uluru. You will bask in the drama of the natural landscape and enjoy the diversity of culture from Melbourne to the Blue Mountains, Darwin to Cairns.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Melbourne – Melbourne Majesty
Arrive in Melbourne with the city and all of Australia at your fingertips, ready to be explored. The cacophonous bustle of the city absorbs you: the laughs that drift from the cafes, the scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the rush of the Yarra River that glides through and separates the city. The Star Observation Wheel rotates, the glass of each compartment glistening in the sunlight. Settle into Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital, and walk along the bohemian streets for a sense of the city’s unique and praised vibrancy. Penguins waddle along the shores of St. Kilda. The streets boast sensational color with favored street art that showcase everything from political satire to immaculate stencils. Stroll through Collins Street in central Melbourne where bands croon passersby from the pavement and wood-paneled subterranean restaurants stretch along George Parade. There is no better way to tailor your holiday than choosing your perfect room located in either the Mercure Hotel Welcome, Swanston Hotel Grand Mercure, or Hotel Sofitel. Each hotel offers superb quality and unique comforts dedicated to ensuring your holiday is unforgettable.
The lights of Melbourne begin to shimmer in the night sky. The trolley cars hum around the city, so why not take a night tour of Melbourne? The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is a dinner and tour of the city, located on a refurbished trolley car that follows the local track around the city center. The car rocks gently through the city; the streetlamps shine over the crowds of people strolling along the walkways. The scent of rosemary and beef drifts through the trolley. The tour continues in the comfortable plush of the tramcar, and your highlight tour of Australia is just beginning.
What's Included:
Day 2
Melbourne – The Stunning Ocean View
Day 3
Adelaide – The South of Victoria
Day 4
Kangaroo Island – The Highlights of Conservation
Day 5
Kangaroo Island – A Kangaroo Hideaway
Day 6
Uluru – The Undeniable Red Center
Day 7
Kings Canyon – Morning Uluru
Day 8
Alice Springs – Fit for King
Day 9
Alice Springs – Welcome to the Palms
Day 10
Darwin – Red Center to Exceptional North
Day 11
Kakadu National Park – The Hidden Beauty
Day 12
Kakadu National Park – Cruising for Alligators
Day 13
Cairns – Seaside Wonders
Day 14
Kuranda – Rainforest Majesty
Day 15
Cairns – The Magic of the Great Barrier Reef
Day 16
Sydney – The Great Barrier Reef-side to Oceanside
Day 17
Sydney – Sydney’s High-Life
Day 18
Sydney – Beauty in the Rocks
Day 19
Sydney – The Highs are Always Delightful
Trip Highlights
- Tour the famous Sydney Opera House
- Explore the Great Barrier Reef
- Venture into Kakadu National Park
- See ancient Aboriginal rock art
- Experience Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunset
- Travel the Great Ocean Road
- Visit the conservation efforts of Kangaroo Island
- Enjoy a train journey through the rainforest to Kuranda
Detailed Description
Australia vacations are one of a kind, and this sensational 19-day tour takes you on an adventure through the untouched landscapes and bustling cities of Australia. This trip is designed for nature enthusiasts, cultural connoisseurs, luxury enjoyers, land lovers, oceanographers, and everyone in between. The majesty of Australia will surround you; the Red Desert will stun you, the Kakadu Mountains will inspire you, and the Great Barrier Reef will fill you with awe as the world beneath the waves comes to vibrant life. Listen to the stories of the Rainbow Serpent and the Aboriginal Dreamtime while sitting beneath the desert stars or dining along the bohemian alleyways of Melbourne. The highlights of Australia are yours to experience as you make your way along the custom tailored path through the famous cities, stunning landscapes, and the breathtaking world down under.
Your adventure through Australia’s highlights begins with your arrival in Melbourne. The city is yours to explore as you settle into the bohemian cultural capital of the country, filled with art, food and vibrant life. The following day takes you across the beautiful expanse of the Great Ocean Road, one of the most stunning roadways in the world. Continue your tour of the highlights with a grand tour of the features of the city of Melbourne before making your way to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. The City of Festivals holds a contained beauty filled with lush parks and a fabulous art museum that houses the largest collection of Aboriginal art in the world. Take the ferry to Kangaroo Island to witness their effective conservation efforts, along with the incredible beauty of the island and its natural inhabitants. Make your way back to Adelaide where you will transfer to the rusty red of the Red Centre to experience the majesty of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta.
The colors shift along the landscapes as the sun drifts across the sky, from the red sand to the orange rocks. Venture through the Red Centre, from Uluru’s sensational sunrise to the magnificent cliffs of Kings Canyon before making your way to Alice Springs and on to Palm Valley to see the West MacDonnell Ranges. The 4WD journey has you touching the expansive mountains and dipping your toes into reflective oasis pools. Continue onto Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory and your kick off point to Kakadu National Park. Waterfalls thunder down the gorge into overflowing pools of untouched water, and a tour along the Yellow Water Billabong brings with it the typical picturesque charm of Australia. Cruise along the East Alligator River for a view of the wildlife of Australia, where the term wild-life could never be more apt.
Return to Darwin and transfer to the beach town of Cairns, nestled between the rainforest and the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the beautiful train journey to Kuranda, located deep within the rainforest, where the artesian wonders pour into the streets before venturing back down the mountain on a fantastic Sky Rail gondola to experience the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. The next day brings you face to face with the Great Barrier Reef and the well-deserved fame that emanates from the colors and life beneath the waves. The final days of your adventure bring you to Sydney where the highlights of the city are yours to wander through. From the stunning Sydney Opera House to the hot sand of Bondi Beach and the Sydney Harbour pleasure cruise, the city of Sydney will bring your adventure to an enjoyable and unforgettable end, a place where you can see nature’s pure beauty give way to human nature’s ingenuity.
Starting Price
$4,745 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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