Australian Discovery - Free & Easy
12 Nights / 13 Days

Overview

This Australian adventure starts in Sydney, travels overland to Melbourne via Canberra, Batemans Bay and Gippsland Lakes. A couple of days are then spent in Melbourne before travelling onto Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and Cairns.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Sydney

After hotel check in formalities have been completed enjoy a Sydney harbour luncheon cruise before joining a Eastern Suburbs Seat on Coach Tour. Tour highlights include The Rocks, Argyle Cut, Sydney Opera House, Botanic Gardens, Conservatorium of Music, St Marys Cathedral, Parliament House, Sydney Domain, Hyde Park, Mrs Macquaries Chair, Kings Cross, The Gap and Bondi Beach.

Accommodation: Sydney (Hostel or Hotel)
Meals: Lunch

 

Day 2 - Blue Mountains Day Tour with Country Style lunch

Depart Sydney this morning, see the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge, before enjoying a memorable wildlife park visit. See koalas, kangaroos up close plus friendly dingoes - and yes, even pat the koalas!
Explore historic Richmond before travelling deep into the Blue Mountains. Enjoy morning tea in the bush surrounded by wildlife, sample "bush Billy Tea" and hear the stories. Experience the real back country with magnificent cliffs, canyons and world heritage wilderness. Stretch your legs if you like with a short bush walk. Enjoy a country style lunch in a magnificent homestead with Australian hospitality at it's best. See the renowned Three Sisters plus Australia's Grand Canyon with an English speaking driver / guide.

Accommodation: Sydney (Hostel or Hotel)
Meals: Lunch

 

Day 3 - Sydney to Batemans Bay via Canberra (Self drive)

Departing Sydney at approx 7.00am. . . . .Travel through the Southern Highlands, noted for its stud properties and country retreats and on through the Goulburn Sheep Grazing area. Pass mysterious Lake George and enter the Australian Capital Territory. Visit the billion dollar new Parliament House, tour Canberra including the embassy circuit, visit the Australian War Memorial and take in the views from lookouts overlooking Canberra. Leaving Canberra about 4 pm, your schedule arrival into Batemans Bay is approx 6.15 pm.

Accommodation: Batemans Bay (Hostel or Motel)

 

Day 4 - Batemans Bay to Gippsland Lakes (Self drive)

From Batemans Bay travel down the coast exploring small fishing villages and towns. Continue via the coast road past the beautiful beaches of Bermagui, Tathra and Merrimbula before stopping for lunch (own expense) in Eden. A 'must see' stop is the Whale Museum at Eden where we learn of the interaction between the Killer Whales and fishermen. In the afternoon drive travel into Victoria, through timber country and past Mallacoota, Cann River and Orbost on the way to Lakes Entrance and your overnight stop at Metung. Metung is a delightful village set on a thin arm of land that extends out into the Gippsland Lakes. Water laps the shores on two sides.

Accommodation: Metung (Hostel or Motel)

Day 5 - Metung, Phillip Island Penguins, Melbourne (Self drive)

Enjoy a morning cruise on the beautiful Gippsland Lakes (own expense). These lakes form the largest inland waterway in Australia. Travel onward through Gippsland and the towns of Bairnsdale and Sale, and visit the old Port of Sale. At the fishing village of San Remo, cross over to Phillip Island, home for one of the largest colonies of Little Penguins. Witness the world phenomenon of the Penguin Parade. Each evening at Summerland Beach the Little Penguins return from the sea and make their way to their burrows. Watch as they cross the beach and walk under the elevated boardwalk. Inspect the multi - million dollar Visitor Centre and learn of the life of the Little Penguins. (Entry fee payable on arrival). Arrive Melbourne approx 11 pm.

Accommodation: Melbourne (Hostel or Hotel)

 

Day 6 - Melbourne - Yarra River Wineries & Puffing Billy

Full day seat on coach tour with an English speaking driver / guide. The Yarra Valley is one of the finest wine growing regions in Victoria and home to over 40 wineries. This beautiful part of the country offers a unique food and wine experience and the vineyards are as serious about their food as they are about their grapes.

Accommodation: Melbourne (Hostel or Hotel)

Dinner at Melbourne's Draculas Cabaret Restaurant (Optional)
Weird waiters and talented performers offer you a night of comedy, rock and puppetry. The three course dinner features the best fresh Australian produce, served with flair and madness.
Price: A$72 per adult.

 

Day 7 - Melbourne to Alice Springs

Shuttle bus or taxi transfer from hotel to Melbourne Airport (own expense). Flight from Melbourne to Alice Springs (ticket not included in tour fare).

Recommended Flights
QF 796: - 08.40 / 11.05 (Qantas)
TT 512: -3.00 / 15.20 (Tiger Airways)
Arrive Alice Springs transfer to chosen hotel (own expense).

Accommodation: Alice Springs (Hostel or Hotel)

 

Day 8 - 7.30 am transfer from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock

Travel from Alice Springs through the MacDonnell and James Ranges. Visit a camel farm where there is time to take a short optional camel ride (own expense) if you wish. Later stop at Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse where there is the opportunity to purchase morning tea and locally made Aboriginal art (all at own expense). Pause to view majestic Atila (Mt Conner) before arriving at Ayers Rock Resort at approx 1 pm.

Complete Ayers Rock hotel check in formalities then join a “Kata Tjuta Encounter”. This tour enables you to discover the magnificence of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Your guide will walk you through Olga Gorge describing the Geology and Aboriginal Plant use in the area. Leaving the rocky moonscape of Olga Gorge, you will return to the resort approximately half an hour before the Sounds of Silence Dinner scheduled departure. National Park fee NOT included.

SOUNDS OF SILENCE DINNER (Optional Extra)
Tonight you may dine under a million stars at the award winning Sounds of Silence restaurant. Travel out to a secluded dining setting in the middle of the desert. Sip on a glass of champagne with the sound of a lone didgeridoo filling the air as the sun slowly sets over the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) and Ayres Rock (Uluru). Dine on a gourmet BBQ of Australian delicacies such as kangaroo, barramundi and buffalo, then sit back and take in the mystery of the desert at night as an astronomer takes you on a tour of the clear Southern night skies.

Accommodation: Ayers Rock Resort (Bunk Room or Hotel)

 

Day 9 - Ayers Rock Sunrise Tour - Flight to Cairns

A comprehensive morning tour that provides an opportunity to best understand the natural and cultural significance of Uluru. The Uluru Walk tour commences prior to sunrise and places you in the most grand and deeply moving places of Uluru. During this 9.4km (or 6 mile) amble, our guides will introduce you to the geology of Uluru and describe how plants and wildlife have adapted and survived in such a forbidding environment. But most fascinating is the relationship of the Anangu people to Uluru. This place was shelter, provided water and is a tangible link with their creation ancestors.

As you walk around the base you will hear and see the creation time stories of these ancient people unfold. See where the people lived and carried out ceremonies. Here, the beliefs of the people are embodied in one of the great places of this world. From a distance Uluru is spectacular; from close up it is powerful and deeply moving. A picnic breakfast is included which we eat sitting on the rocks at the base of Uluru. Flight Ayers Rock to Cairns (Air Ticket not included in tour fare).

Recommended Flight: QF 1850 departing Ayers Rock @ 14.30.
Arrive Cairns @ 17.30. Arrive Cairns, transfer to chosen hotel (own expense)

Accommodation: Cairns (Hostel or Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast

 

Day 10 - Overnight Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Accommodation facilities onboard the fully air-conditioned vessel are terrific. Staterooms are modern, spacious & bright with plenty of storage space, & all have en-suite bathrooms. The hydraulic scuba dive / snorkel platform makes scuba diving & snorkelling a breeze. Reef Encounter is large enough to provide all the comforts of larger cruise ships, yet small enough to enable access to spectacular reef locations inaccessible to other vessels. Excess luggage to be stored at hotel.

Accommodation: Hostel - Lower Deck; Hotel - Top Deck
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 11 - Great Barrier Reef (on board ship)

Great Barrier Reef (on board ship)
Diving / Snorkling / Sun Baking / Swimming.
Return to Cairns by tender vessel at 5.30 pm.

Accommodation: Cairns (Hostel or Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

Day 12 - Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, Skyrail & Scenic Railway

This day tour encompasses all the sights of Kuranda. Travel by the Scenic Railway to Kuranda, explore the mountain-top village, return to the coast via the Skyrail, visit the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park with return SIC (Seat in Coach) transfers and an English speaking guide.

Accommodation: Cairns (Hostel or Hotel)

Day 13 - Depart Cairns

 

What you need to know

Tour Code	Accommodation Style
AITT-04-1	Hostel Multi Share
AITT-04-2	Hostel Twin Share
AITT-04-3	Hotel Accommodated 3*
AITT-04-4	Hotel Accommodated 3.5 - 4*

Price inclusions: 12 Nights accommodation, Touring and Meals as indicated; 4 days car hire (compact sized vehicle), UBD Road Atlas (Delivered by Courier to Sydney hotel).

Not Included: Airport transfers, air tickets, National Park entry fees, car insurance. Under 25 yrs of age “surcharge” for Sydney – Melbourne car hire.

Departures: Daily
Tour Starts: Sydney
Tour Finishes: Cairns
Min Group size: 2 pax