10-Nights Essence of Australia: Sydney, Rock and Reef

This 11-day Australian vacation takes you to Sydney, Uluru/Ayers Rock, and the Great Barrier Reef. It features first-class accommodations and small-group tours.

Your journey across Australia begins in Sydney, the nation’s largest city and home to one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. Get to know the people who've lived here for thousands of years on a Rocks Dreaming Aboriginal Heritage Tour. A panoramic city sights tour will then introduce you to some of the most famous landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and Mrs. Macquarie’s Point. Afterwards, board your vessel for a cruise of the beautiful harbour. Feast on lunch onboard with views of the harbour's icons. Enjoy a day in Sydney at leisure, and enjoy a full day tour into the Blue Mountains, traversing sandstone mountains, deep ravines, and thick eucalypt forests, or Hunter Valley, the heart of New South Wales wine production.

Fly to Australia’s Red Centre, where you’ll discover the mystical sandstone configurations of Uluru/Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta/The Olgas. With Uluru as the backdrop, enjoy canapés and chilled sparkling wine to the sounds of a didgeridoo as the sun slowly sets and 50,000 glass spheres come to life in the desert, while you enjoy a bush tucker inspired buffet menu. Spend the rest of your time in the Red Centre learning about Aboriginal culture and stories of the Dreamtime. You’ll experience the desert before dawn and watch the light of dawn transform Kata Tjuta and Uluru into brilliant shades of red and orange.  End your stay with a tour of Walpa Gorge and explore the 36 sandstone domes of Kata Tjuta.

Connect to Cairns in North Queensland and head onwards to Port Douglas, where you’ll explore the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living structure. Cruise through the Outer Barrier Reef and snorkel through protected coral gardens. You’ll also have the chance to ride in a glass bottom boat for intimate views of the undersea life and plenty of time to swim. Back on the mainland, explore the Daintree Rainforest from Mossman to Cape Tribulation. Spot Estuarine Crocodiles during a Daintree River cruise, admire views of the Coral Sea from Alexandra Range, search for cassowaries along the jungle boardwalk, and go for a rainforest swim before reaching famous Cape Tribulation beach. A day at leisure gives you time to relax or squeeze in another day trip.

At the end of your stay, you’ll connect back to the airport in Cairns for onward travels.

• Discover Sydney, from the historic Rocks and Bondi Beach to a scenic harbour lunch cruise.
• Step inside the iconic Sydney Opera House and enjoy harbourside dining with spectacular views.
• Explore the Blue Mountains, admiring the Three Sisters, breathtaking valleys and native Australian wildlife.
• Experience Uluru's desert sunrise, Kata Tjuta's towering domes and mesmerising Field of Light installations.
• Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef and explore the ancient Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation from Port Douglas.

• Private arrival & departure airport transfers in Sydney and Cairns
• Shared arrival and departure transfers in Ayers Rock
• 4 nights premium accommodation in Sydney
• 2 nights premium accommodation in Ayers Rock
• 4 nights premium accommodation in Port Douglas
• Small group Panoramic Sydney Sights & Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise
• Shared Sydney Opera House Tour and Dine Experience
• Small group Blue Mountains Deluxe Experience
• Small group Kata Tjuta Domes tour
• Shared Night and Field of Light Dinner
• Small group Desert Awakenings Morning tour
• Shared Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner
• Shared Outer Barrier Reef Cruise with lunch
• Shared 4WD Cape Tribulation Tour from Port Douglas
• 1 breakfast, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
   

• Travel insurance
• International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
• Meals and beverages not mentioned
• Gratuities
• Items of a personal nature
• Passport & Visa fees if applicable