Christmas & New Year in Australia

On arrival into Singapore we transfer to the four-star M Hotel City Centre, situated close to the banks of the scenic Singapore River.

This morning, we head out on a sightseeing tour taking in the main highlights of the city, such as the waterfront Merlion Park, home to the famous Merlion statue which is a national symbol of Singapore; the various ethnic quarters such as Little India and Chinatown, and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. With an afternoon at leisure perhaps treat yourselves to Afternoon Tea at the elegant Raffles Hotel.

A day free to spend as we please in Singapore until it’s time to head to the airport for our evening flight to Perth. Recommended excursions include a visit to the Gardens by the Bay, or a trip to nearby Sentosa Island. On arrival in Perth, we transfer to either the Duxton Hotel or InterContinental Perth City Centre, where we will stay for the next four nights.

Named the ‘friendly city’ by tourists from all over the world, Perth is also the world’s most isolated city. Following a leisurely breakfast, we meet our Tour Manager and fellow travellers to find out more about our adventure ahead. Later, we enjoy the perfect introduction to Australia’s native wildlife, during a visit to Caversham Wildlife Park. The park showcases many of Australia’s unique and iconic animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, Tasmanian devils and wombats.

Our day begins with a sightseeing tour of the city and its surrounding areas. We start at King’s Park, which is larger than New York’s Central Park and has some 400 hectares of bushland and pretty wildflowers, offering stunning views over the city’s skyline. Next, we travel to the nearby port town of Fremantle to visit the fascinating Shipwreck Galleries. The tour ends with a gentle cruise along the Swan River back to the city centre. This afternoon there is an option visit Nambung National Park, home to hundreds of striking limestone pillars known as the Pinnacles.

Today is our first Freedom Day in Australia, and we can spend the day however we please. Take an optional trip to Rottnest Island, just a short ferry ride from Perth. A protected nature reserve with a coastline of hidden coves and white sandy beaches, Rottnest is the only place in the world to spot quokka in their natural habitat. Alternatively, travel north of Perth to visit the Swan Valley, Western Australia’s oldest wine area.

In the morning, we make our way to Perth Airport in time for our flight to Adelaide. Surrounded by grassy parkland, picturesque hills and the Mount Lofty Range, Adelaide could scarcely present a more captivating aspect. On arrival, we are introduced to Adelaide’s streets, fine Victorian buildings and the attractive parks and gardens that surround the city. Later, we transfer to the centrally located Crowne Plaza or InterContinental Hotel, where we stay for the next three nights.

We leave the city this morning, heading first for Mount Lofty Botanic Garden before continuing to Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement, the quaint village of Hahndorf, with its tree-lined streets and original ‘Fachwerk’ buildings. After a stop at a working blacksmith museum, we head to the Barossa Valley, a renowned wine growing region, to enjoy wine tasting and lunch.

A Freedom Day to spend as we please. Discover Adelaide on foot or perhaps enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting in the McLaren Vale. Alternatively, you may wish to visit Kangaroo Island situated off the Fleurieu Peninsula, offering a unique touring experience combining friendly, native wildlife with natural, unspoilt wilderness.

This morning, we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria. On arrival, we enjoy a city sightseeing tour. Among the places we visit are the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Treasury Gardens, the Victoria Markets, the Rod Laver Arena (home to tennis’ Australian Open) and Federation Square. We also visit two of Melbourne’s waterside suburbs: Port Melbourne and St Kilda. Our hotel for the next three nights is the four-star Pullman on the Park.

Today, we can choose to relax or explore as we please. Perhaps take the Puffing Billy steam train through the Blue Dandenong Ranges?

A further day to spend as we please. Today provides an opportunity to take an optional tour along what consistently features in the Top 10 of the world’s greatest scenic coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road. This full day tour meanders along the dramatic southwest coastline of Victoria to the impressive Twelve Apostles. Alternatively, take a trip to Phillip Island, home to the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins, to view the Penguin Parade.

This morning, before breakfast we have the option of returning to Uluru to watch the sunrise, an awe-inspiring sight. We return to our hotel for breakfast, before discovering more of Uluru’s cultural significance to the Aboriginal communities of the Northern Territory with a base tour of the rock. This evening there is an optional Sounds of Silence Dinner, where you can experience canapes and chilled sparkling wines, served overlooking the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Wake up to a Christmas Eve like no other. Following breakfast, we leave the Red Centre behind as we take our morning flight to Cairns. On arrival, we head straight to our hotel, the Hilton Cairns or Shangri-La Marina Cairns, which will be our home for the next five nights. Both hotels are located in a prime position on Cairn's Esplanade.

Although today has been left free, you may wish to take an optional trip to Kuranda. We ascend to Kuranda on one of the most unique rail journeys in Australia, the Kuranda Scenic Railway, encountering no fewer than 40 bridges and 15 tunnels. ‘The village in the rainforest’, Kuranda, awaits. It’s a lovely place to while away a few hours visiting the markets, butterfly sanctuary or the Koala Gardens. Later, we visit Rainforestation Nature Park, where we spend time with the Pamagirri Aboriginal people and learn about one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world. Travel back to Cairns by the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a beautiful experience gliding over the rainforest canopy with stunning views out over the Cairns coastline.

Another Freedom Day to enjoy. Perhaps take a hot air balloon ride at dawn, or if you prefer to venture further afield, we suggest a day trip to the nearby Daintree Rainforest, home to the oldest rainforest in the world. Alternatively, why not take a trip to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures? Just a short drive from Cairns, there are miles of timber boardwalks and paths winding through woodlands and rainforest where we can see an array of wildlife. In the evening, you may wish to complete your day with a sunset cruise.

We fly to Sydney, our final port of call on this wonderful tour of Australia. We transfer to our hotel, the Sofitel Wentworth or Sydney Kimpton Margo Hotel, where we stay for the next four nights.

Our tour of Sydney includes all the famous highlights: Harbour Bridge, The Rocks and iconic Bondi Beach. Also included are two special treats: a stroll through Sydney’s famous Botanic Garden with an Aboriginal guide; and a glimpse into the convict origins of Sydney at the interactive Hyde Park Barracks Museum – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After a leisurely breakfast and relaxed morning, we enjoy a guided tour of Sydney’s iconic Opera House. Discover the fascinating stories and secrets behind the commissioning, construction and controversy surrounding Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s masterpiece. The rest of our day is spent at leisure, to enjoy New Year's Day in beautiful Sydney.

Our remaining time in Sydney is yours to spend as you please until we leave for the airport. Flights to our chosen UK airport travel via Dubai or Singapore.

This morning, we arrive back into the UK at our chosen airport: either London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, or Glasgow, bringing our unforgettable journey to an end.