Australian Escapade
Day 1 – Welcome to Australia!
After clearing immigration, collect your luggage and proceed to Customs. After exiting Customs, turn right, and you will be greeted by your private limousine driver, who will be holding a sign with your name on it. Check into your award-winning, prestigious, luxurious, sophisticated, yet contemporary boutique accommodation in one of Melbourne’s most historic areas.
Meet your private guide in the lobby. With advance notice, you can customize your tour based on your special interests. Then, begin a 4-hour tour of the city.
The cost of parking and tram tickets is included.
Experience the Royal Botanical Gardens, Federation Square, Sports Precinct, The National Gallery of Victoria, Ian Potter Gallery, The Shrine of Remembrance, Old Treasury Building, Parliament House, St Patrick’s Cathedral, St Paul Cathedral, famous laneways and arcades, street art, Brunswick St in Fitzroy, Lygon St (LittleItaly) in Carlton, The Melbourne Museum, The Royal Exhibition Buildings (World UNESCO site), and Queen Victoria Market (closed Mon & Wed).
Your guide will show you as much or as little as you choose.
Day 2 – On Your Own- Relax and Enjoy the city
Day 3 – Great Ocean Road Full Day with Lunch
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel for a full-day Great Ocean Road Tour.
The scenic drive southwest of Melbourne will take you to spectacular views of the Southern Ocean, known as the Surf Coast. The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most stunning coastal routes, boasting wild and rugged coastlines, soft sandy beaches, and quaint towns.
Arrive at Split Point Lighthouse for a photo opportunity and coffee break (at your own expense). Depending on the season, the area’s wildlife may include whales, dolphins, kangaroos, echidnas, and a variety of birds.
Arrive at Apollo Bay for lunch (at your own expense), then see koalas and kangaroos up close on the Eucalyptus Forest Walk at the renowned Great Ocean Road.
Road Ecolodge. Then, visit the spectacular Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, the site of the most famous 19th-century Australian shipwreck.
The tour concludes at approximately 7.00 pm when hotel drop-off will commence.
Day 4 – On Your Own
Day 5 – Private transfer to the airport– Unless otherwise noted, meet your driver outside your hotel lobby. Please be ready 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
Arrive at your accommodation on the waterfront in the heart of Cairns, the ultimate area to stay for business or pleasure. It offers uninterrupted panoramic views of spectacular Trinity Bay, the world-class Marlin Marina, and breathtaking mountain ranges, allowing you to experience the tropical north at its finest.
On the southern end of the vibrant Cairns Esplanade, it is in a tranquil location, with the Pier Shopping Centre at its doorstep and within walking distance of the center of the city and the shopping district, just a 10-minute walk from the Cairns Convention Centre and a 10-minute drive from the Cairns International Airport.
Day 6 – Your day starts with a coach transfer from your Cairns hotel to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, where your Indigenous guide will show you around the park and demonstrate bush life.
Enjoy a buffet lunch before the short transfer to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Be amazed as you glide silently over the rainforest.
There are 2 stations en route where you can alight and enjoy a walk through the rainforest to spectacular lookouts or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Centre.
On arrival in Kuranda, there’s free time to explore on your own – visit the butterfly center or the local craft market, then take the afternoon departure on the Kuranda Scenic Railway.
Your Gold Class ticket includes dedicated host service, lounge-style seating, and quality refreshments as your journey winds through hand-hewn tunnels, across bridges, and around curves, all the time appreciating what a remarkable engineering feat it is. Upon arrival at Freshwater Station, return to accommodation by coach.
Duration:7.15 Hours. Inclusions: Return hotel transfers, Kuranda Scenic Railway gift pack, refreshments on Kuranda Scenic Rail, and admissions.
Gold Class Upgrade Inclusions: Dedicated host service, individual seating, moveable tub-style chairs, ambient, historical decor including timber-looking flooring, historical photos and fans, quality refreshments including sparkling Australian wine, beer, orange juice, soft drinks, ice water, appetizers and chilled towel during the journey, Kuranda Scenic Rail gift pack including pewter KSQ pin, pen, postcard and postage and souvenir Z-card(commentary companion)
Day 7 – On Your Own
Day 8 – Private transfer to Cairns Domestic Airport– Depart for Sydney Arrive at
Sydney International Airport – Private Transfer to your accommodations.
On Your Own – Relax and enjoy the city
Day 9 – Sensational Sydney City (Sea & Land)
Begin your day with a sensational morning tea cruise—a unique, two-hour cruise experience. Enjoy the company of a small group aboard a 52-foot motor yacht.
Your captain & host will share the rich history of Sydney Harbor and its foreshore as you take in the sights of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and the bays and coves of Sydney Harbor.
Enjoy light morning tea with coffee, juice, water, and 5-star service. The cruise will conclude at noon, allowing you 1 1/4 hours to enjoy luncheon while exploring the historic Rocks area. The tour will resume at 1:30 pm from the front of the Sydney Marriott. Visit Sydney’s trendy districts, superb coastal cliff walks, and famous Bondi Beach. Your personal guide will entertain you along the way.
Day 10 – Sydney Opera House Tour & Tasting Plate
Discover insider secrets and stories of the Opera House, artists, and performances, and step inside the iconic theatres and foyers that bring to life over 1800 performances each year. Departure Location: Welcome Centre, Lower Concourse level of Sydney Opera House. See inside the world’s most recognizable sails and experience this miracle of architecture and engineering.
A work of art that came into existence against impossible odds to become one of the busiest performing arts centers in the world. Working with new, rich audiovisual components, where images are projected onto the fabric of the building, your guide will take you on an emotional journey, immersing you in a story that rivals any opera plot with its dramatic twists and turns.
Approximately 1,500 performances, ranging from opera to circus, rock, and cabaret, are staged each year for audiences of around 1.5 million. After your tour, proceed to the Opera Kitchen on the lower concourse between Kenji Restaurant and the Opera Bar. Enjoy a three-tier gourmet tasting plate, which can be enjoyed before or after the guided tour.
Sit back and be spoiled for choice as you savor some of Sydney’s finest cuisine and take in the stunning Sydney Harbor views, the perfect way to experience one of the world’s most iconic landmarks. Total duration is approximately 2 hours (allow 1 hour for the Sydney Opera House Tour and 1 hour to enjoy the tasting plate). Note: There are approximately 200 steps in the tour, and participants are required to wear comfortable closed-toed shoes
Day 11- On Your Own- Explore the city
Day 12- Private Transfer to Sydney International Airport. Depart for the U.S.