Day 1 - Welcome to Melbourne
On arrival at Melbourne Airport you’ll be transferred to your hotel. Early evening join your Travel Director for a welcome reception and dinner.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Meals: Dinner
Australian Highlights
13 day Escorted Tour - from £4966
With flights from £5816
Diverse red desert landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and the clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef; this superb escorted tour ticks all the boxes!
Highlights:
- Explore Melbourne’s hidden laneways
- Experience sunrise at Uluru
- Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
- Create your own piece of Aboriginal art
- Visit Sydney’s famous waterfront
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Your Itinerary
Day 2 - Melbourne
Explore Melbourne on a city sights tour then discover its eclectic little laneways, arcades, café society and fascinating street art on your private walking tour. The rest of your day is free for you to do as you please. You may like to take an optional experience to Phillip Island to see the famous Penguin Parade on Summerland Beach or maybe you’d prefer to relax or even experience some of Melbourne’s well-known food and culture.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Melbourne
Today is free for you to explore the delights of Melbourne. You may like to take a full day optional experience to the Great Ocean Road to discover the stunning coastline and the Twelve Apostles. Or maybe treat yourself to a theatre production or indulge in some world class fare at one of the city’s famous eateries.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 - Alice Springs
Today you fly to Alice Springs. On arrival visit the School of the Air and hear how it delivers education to children living in remote areas. Next stop is the Royal Flying Doctor Service, where you’ll learn how this facility provides a ‘mantle of safety’ to the people of the outback. This evening join Joe, Dan, Tommy and Ben Falzon for a Be My Guest home-cooked gourmet BBQ dinner at Earth Sanctuary World Nature Centre. They’ll share stories of ecology, culture and astronomy, you’ll hear about their sustainable lifestyle, and they may even lead you on a sing-a-long with didgeridoo and guitar. It will be a night to remember.
Hotel: Mercure Alice Springs Resort
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Day 5 - Ayers Rock
Travel through the West MacDonnell and James Ranges and pause to view majestic Atila (Mt. Conner) often mistaken for Uluru, before arriving at Ayers Rock Resort. This afternoon is free for you to enjoy the resort’s facilities. Later, travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area. Witness and photograph the striking colour changes of Uluru at sunset while enjoying nibbles and sparkling wine.
Hotel: Desert Gardens Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Kata Tjuta
This morning experience the magical Uluru (Ayers Rock) sunrise. Afterwards, gain an insight into the traditional owners of the land, the Anangu, as you tour the caves at the base of Uluru discovering ancient rock art and hearing stories of the Aboriginal Dreamtime. Travel through the desert plains to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Take a walk at Walpa Gorge and later experience a Kata Tjuta sunset while enjoying sparkling wine and nibbles.
Hotel: Desert Gardens Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Cairns
Rise early to experience the ethereal Field of Light art installation. Wander through the paths surrounding 50,000 hand-crafted frosted glass spheres of light. As the sun rises, join your fellow travellers on top of a sand dune to watch the desert awakening over Uluru. Meet an Indigenous artist for a fun introduction to Western Desert Art. Your Anangu artist will provide you with cultural insights, explaining the meanings of local totems and assisting you to complete your own painting to take home as a memento of your experience. In the afternoon board your flight to tropical Cairns.
Hotel: Shangri La Cairns
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Cairns
Spend your free day relaxing or exploring. Perhaps take an optional excursion to Kuranda, the ‘village in the rainforest’, on the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and experience the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway as you return to the lowlands above the breathtaking canopy of the Barron Gorge National Park, through some of the oldest rainforest in the world. Or visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures for an opportunity to encounter native Australian animals.
Hotel: Shangri La Cairns
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Great Barrier Reef
Get ready for an experience of a lifetime – board a high speed catamaran and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel and view this natural living wonder up close (equipment provided) or stay dry and explore the stunning reef from the comfort of a semisubmersible craft, just one metre underwater. Enjoy a tropical buffet lunch before you return to Cairns. This evening you’ll dine at Dundee’s Restaurant on the Cairns waterfront.
Hotel: Shangri La Cairns
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10 - Sydney
Today you’ll fly to Sydney. This evening is free for you to do as you wish. Your Travel Director will give you hints and tips on the best places to eat, and after dinner why not take a stroll along the beautiful waterfront.
Hotel: Intercontinental Hotel Sydney
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 - Sydney
Today is all yours to explore Sydney. The energetic might tackle the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, or perhaps you’d prefer to take an excursion to the majestic Blue Mountains to see the soaring Three Sisters rock formation.
Hotel: Intercontinental Hotel Sydney
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Day 12 - Sydney
Kick off your Sydney discovery with a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. Then see the city from the water on a Harbour Lunch Cruise enjoying a menu focusing on local food and wine. Visit Bondi Beach and soak up the surfer life. This evening, celebrate your holiday with your Travel Director at a Farewell Dinner.
Hotel: Intercontinental Hotel Sydney
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 13 - Farewell from Sydney
This morning after breakfast say goodbye to your fellow travellers as your memorable holiday throughout Australia comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast
13 day Escorted Tour - from £4966
With flights from £5816
OPTIONS
- Add extra nights in Melbourne or Sydney before or after your tour
- Choose to fly Economy, Premium, Business, or First Class
- Add a stopover in Dubai, Singapore, or another destination
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE…
- Highlights of Australia & New Zealand 22 day escorted tour
All prices are per person, based on 2 sharing a double or twin room and include internal flights and meals shown. Seasonal supplements may apply. Please call Freedom Destinations to confirm departure dates and availability. Itineraries for tours departing after 1 April 2023 may vary.
Your Touring Experience
We are proud to partner with AAT Kings to provide first class touring across Australia. Our experienced guides will make sure you don’t miss a thing.
- Sightseeing, walks and activities
- Luxury, air conditioned coach travel
- En suite hotel accommodation
- Daily breakfast and meals shown
- Extra night options
- Internal domestic flights
- Return airport transfers
Departure Dates
Check for departure dates that suit you:
2021-10-31
2021-11-07
2021-11-14
2021-11-21
2021-11-28
2021-12-12
2021-12-26
2022-01-02
2022-01-09
2022-01-16
2022-01-23
2022-01-30
2022-02-06
2022-02-06
2022-02-13
2022-02-20
2022-02-27
2022-03-13
2022-03-20
2022-03-27
2022-04-10
2022-05-29
2022-06-26
2022-08-07
2022-08-28
2022-09-11
2022-09-25
2022-10-09
2022-10-30
2022-11-06
2022-11-13
2022-11-20
2022-11-27
2022-12-11
2022-12-25
2023-01-01
2023-01-08
2023-01-15
2023-01-22
2023-01-29
2023-02-05
2023-02-12
2023-02-19
2023-02-26
2023-03-05
2023-03-12
2023-03-19
2023-03-26
To confirm availability call 0333 234 2889
To see our full range of tours to
Australia & New Zealand
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