Spirit Of Australia
INDEPENDENT TOURING
MELBOURNE | ALICE SPRINGS | ULURU (AYERS ROCK) | CAIRNS | SYDNEY
Experience the true Spirit of Australia as you explore the vibrant cities of Melbourne and Sydney. Learn about Aboriginal culture and Ayers Rock, explore Alice Springs and dine under a thousand stars before you head to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- See the sunrise and sunset at Uluru
- Sounds of Silence Dinner
- Explore Melbourne and Sydney
- Cruise on the Great Barrier Reef
- Experience tropical Kuranda and the rainforest
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Your Itinerary
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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Day 11
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Day 12
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Day 13-14
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Day 15
Day 1 : Arrive Melbourne
Arriving into Melbourne, you will have a private transfer to your hotel. After checking in the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Day 2 : Melbourne
A morning sightseeing tour will introduce you to all the charms of Melbourne. Cross the West Gate Bridge for city views. See Queen Victoria Market, Fitzroy Gardens, the historic shrine of remembrance and stroll along Southbank’s Waterfront Precinct. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Perhaps you’ll discover Melbourne’s secret laneways and rooftops, the cultural hub of Federation Square, buzzing bars, boutiques and eateries, and the iconic MCG. Or maybe you’ll venture to St Kilda, the Royal Botanic Garden or bohemian Brunswick Street.
Day 3 : Melbourne free day
Today is free for you to explore Melbourne on your own. Perhaps you’ll head for the Southbank district with its cafés and restaurants and Federation Square, or maybe go shopping in the quaint arcades and alleyways that Melbourne is famous for. If you fancy a day with a difference perhaps visit the Yarra Valley or take a trip to Phillip Island for the penguin parade may be more to your liking. Or consider a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula for relaxed vibes and excellent wines. The choice is yours.
Day 4 : Melbourne - Alice Springs
You will be transferred by shuttle from your hotel to Melbourne airport to check in for your flight to Alice Springs (not included). Arrive in Alice Springs by midday and be transferred to your hotel.
Day 5 : Alice Springs
Explore Alice Springs today. The morning is free for you to wander around this outback town before joining an afternoon sightseeing tour. You’ll see the Telegraph Station, established in 1872 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Visit the School of the Air, which educates children in remote areas by radio, see the Alice Springs Reptile Centre and then view the panorama of the town from the top of Anzac Hill.
Day 6 : Alice Springs - Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Depart Alice Springs and visit a Camel Farm. Continue via the famous Stuart Highway to Ayers Rock Resort. In the afternoon take a guided tour around the base of Uluru. Rising from the plains of the Northern Territory like a giant beacon, the sacred rock of Uluru is perhaps the ultimate icon of the Southern Land and adds a surreal silhouette to Australia’s outback. There’s simply no other geological feature like it anywhere in the world. Visit the Mutitjulu, an unusually shaped waterhole at the base of Uluru. As well as providing a thirst-quenching hotspot for animals and humans for many years, it is also a tight Indigenous Australian community that is home to almost 300 Aboriginal peoples. Late in the afternoon relax with a glass of wine while watching the spectacular sunset over Uluru.
Day 7 : Uluru & Sounds of Silence Dinner
Rise early and enjoy a tea or coffee as the sun casts its first rays on Uluru. Later tour the remarkable 36 dome rock formation of Kata Tjuta and walk through Walpa Gorge. This evening, dine under the desert stars and savour Australian delicacies at the unique Sounds of Silence Dinner. Relax and let an astronomer guide you on a tour of the night sky
Day 8 : Ayers Rock - Cairns
A transfer is included to Ayers Rock airport for your flight (not included) to Cairns. On arrival in Cairns a shuttle transfer is included to your hotel. After checking in, the remainder of your day is at your leisure. The gateway to Queensland’s tropical north, Cairns is a stylish city which is also renowned for its relaxed, tropical climate and laid back ambience.Explore the foreshore promenade and shop at local markets, eat tropical fruits and seafood. Retreat back to your hotel and perhaps make use of the facilities before an exciting day tomorrow
Day 9 : Great Barrier Reef
You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the Port Douglas Marina to board your 30 metre luxury sailing catamaran, Wavedancer. Relax in the luxurious air-conditioned lounge with its fully licensed bar, or soak up the sun under the sails on the expansive deck. Your cruise is to Low Isles, an idyllic, unspoilt coral island that is a secluded tropical paradise! Explore the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, which stretches for more than 2,000 kilometres along the Queensland coastline. The white sandy beach and clear, calm lagoon waters of Low Isles are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. You will be transferred back to your hotel at the end of your cruise this afternoon.
Day 10 : Kuranda & Tjapukai Aboriginal Park
Experience the contrast of the region’s oldest railway and the world’s most beautiful Cableway and learn of Aboriginal culture. Tjapukai is your first stop; meet your indigenous guide for the morning to explore all the attractions of Tjapukai including the Aboriginal village and the famous Tjapukai Dance Troupe. After your included lunch board the Skyrail and glide across the rainforest canopy to the village of Kuranda. Explore the village with its colourful market, art and craft stores, butterfly and wildlife experiences, before returning to the station by the river in Kuranda. Board the famous Kuranda Scenic Railway for your journey back through 15 hand-cut tunnels, pristine rainforest and spectacular waterfalls to Cairns.
Day 11 : Cairns - Sydney
Enjoy a final glimpse of the sparkling blue seas and verdant jungle landscapes on a shuttle transfer from your hotel to Cairns Airport this morning. Fly from Cairns to Sydney (not included) and on arrival in Sydney, you will be transferred by shuttle service from the airport to your hotel, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps take a stroll around Darling Harbour or Circular Quay this evening.
Day 12 : Sydney Sightseeing
There’s nowhere in the world quite like Sydney and on today’s included sightseeing, you’ll understand why the Sydney-siders claim it’s the best place to live in the world. Sydney Harbour, reputedly one of the most beautiful in world, will not disappoint and the city that sits around it is one of fine weather, sunshine, glorious ocean beaches with a vibrant big city vibe. This tour is the quintessential introduction to Sydney, making its way around the city (with a stop at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for that iconic photograph of the Sydney Harbour Bridge behind the Opera House) before heading out to Bondi Beach via the affluent eastern suburbs. Expect lots of “wows” on this tour; all those places you have heard so much about with a few surprises as well. Don’t leave your camera in the hotel room. Later enjoy a cruise that shows you what public and private Sydney are really all about. Cruise over the Main Harbour attractions such as the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Fort Denison before cruising the magnificent upper reaches of Middle Harbour where palatial waterfront homes, parks, beaches and marinas show Sydney life at its best. The cruise includes afternoon tea to enjoy while you are on the water. Make your way back to your hotel then enjoy the Sydney night scene.
Day 13-14 : Sydney
Yesterday showcased the best of Sydney and over the next two days you can explore this scintillating city on your own; the problem is you’ll be spoiled for choice as to where to revisit. Will it be the Rocks and Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, the Aquarium or the quaint shopping arcades and designer boutiques? Perhaps you’ll take to the ferries and explore Manley or visit Taronga Zoo, or maybe you’ll head out to the Hunter Valley or Blue Mountains. Whatever you do, don’t miss the opportunity to sample some of the southern hemisphere’s best cuisine in Sydney’s varied eating places. Surry Hills hosts an eclectic mix of excellent restaurants that aren’t hard on the pocket either
Day 15 : Depart Sydney
After checking out of your hotel you will be transferred by shuttle service to Sydney airport.
