Day 1 & 2
Fly from Los Angeles across the Pacific Ocean to Melbourne, Australia.Day 3
Arriving early this morning, spend the day exploring Melbourne, Australia’s most elegant city with its many museums, diverse ethnic neighborhoods, boutiques and cafes.
Day 4
Join a guided tour of your choice - either a trip along the spectacular Great Ocean Road or, a visit to Phillip Island, where hundreds of penguins come ashore at nightfall and walk up the sandy beach – a remarkable sight.
Day 5
Leave Melbourne this morning and fly to Hobart, Tasmania. Picking up a rental car you are free to explore this fascinating island. Check out Hobart, with her cobblestone streets steeped in history. Later, drive towards the coast to the Freycinet National Park.
Day 6
This part of Tasmania is a haven for nature lovers with its varying terrain of sea crags, open forests, brushland, virgin beaches and turquoise blue sea. Explore the hiking trails or go kayaking on the coastal headlands and crystal waters of the many bays in the area.
Day 7
Leaving Freycinet follow the ‘Heritage Highway’ past quaint townships with Georgian facades and idyllic river settings, where you can find locally made woolen products and crafts, as well as antiques. Along the way is the Liffey Falls State Park, a World Heritage site that offers several short walks through ancient rainforests and fern groves. Overnight at the Cradle Mountain Lodge.
Day 8
Explore the vast wilderness of Cradle Mountain National Park today, with its craggy peaks, cascading waterfalls and subtropical rain forests. There are a multitude of trails on which you can venture on your own, each offering rewarding vistas of the pristine environment around you.
Day 9
Enjoy this wonderful area at you leisure before heading out this afternoon for Launceston, a two hour drive away. Spend some time strolling through the historic district of Launceston, shopping in the quaint stores and sampling some of Tasmania’s famous gourmet cuisine.
Day 10
Return your rental car and catch an early morning flight to Ayers Rock, in the ‘Red Center’ of the Australia. Later, join a tour to the Olgas, an interesting rock formation in the desert, before proceeding to watch the magic spectacle of a sunset at the Rock. See the flaming red monolith turning pink, purple and dark orange with the changing light of the setting sun.
Day 11
Early risers have a chance to climb Ayers Rock this morning. Later, you may take a tour of interesting Aboriginal sites at the base of the Rock, before travelling by road through the desert to Kings Canyon. You can join a guided walk either of the canyon floor (easy) or around the rim (challenging), before spending the night at Kings Canyon Resort.
Day 12
The red rock, green ferns and clear water pools in Kings Canyon offer a great contrast to the blue desert sky. You have more time to explore the canyon this morning, before travelling to Alice Springs in the afternoon.
Day 13
The landscape changes today from the desert red to tropical green, as you fly to Cairns in the far north eastern corner of Australia, where ancient rainforests meet the Great Barrier Reef.
Day 15
Take a day tour to Kuranda, travelling there on the famous scenic train. The return trip is via Skyrail, an aerial cable car that travels over the treetops of the rainforest, allowing you an unique viewpoint of the flora and fauna of this fascinating area.
Day 16
Take a full-day trip to the outer Barrier Reef, almost 70 miles from the shoreline. Snorkel, dive or board a glass-walled submarine to view the incredible marine life under the water’s surface!
Day 16
A free day to spend as you wish.
Day 17
Travel from one highlight of your trip to another as you fly to Sydney today. Enjoy a guided cruise (included) on Sydney’s spectacular harbor with landmark sights such as the famous Opera House and the Harbor Bridge.
Day 18
Join a half-day tour of Sydney, followed by free time for independent sight-seeing.
Day 19
A free day to enjoy more of Sydney, rated by many to be the world’s most beautiful city!
Day 20
Your flight home leaves Sydney late this morning and you arrive back in the U.S.A. on the same day.
