Christmas & New Year in Australia Tour

Thursday 8^th December: Depart the UK

Our Christmas adventure begins with a flight with Qantas & Emirates from the airport most convenient to you. Your options are from Birmingham, Glasgow, London Heathrow, Manchester or Newcastle – regardless of your choice, there’s no extra cost.

Included meals: In-flight meals and drinks

Friday 9^th December: Singapore, 2 nights

The next two days of our itinerary are based on a stopover in Singapore. On arrival into this wonderful city state we will transfer to the four-star Copthorne Kings Hotel, situated close to the banks of the scenic Singapore River and a perfect location from which to explore everything Singapore has to offer.

Included meals: In-flight meals and drinks

Alternative stopovers: Dubai or Perth

We have based days 2-4 of this itinerary on a stopover in Singapore. If you prefer, you may choose to stopover in Dubai or head straight to Perth for an extra two nights before the tour starts, all at no additional cost. Your stopover includes transfers, accommodation, daily breakfast, and if choosing Dubai, a city sightseeing tour. Flight timings will vary. Please speak with one of our personal travel experts for more details.

Saturday 10^th December: Singapore

Singapore is a truly cosmopolitan city whose Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures have over the years blended with Western influences from its colonial past, making it one of the most fascinating destinations in Asia. 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 – the first and only tropical botanic gardens on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Our tour ends back at the hotel, and we can relax and enjoy the rest of our day at leisure.  For a quintessentially Singaporean experience, why not treat yourselves to Afternoon Tea at the elegant Raffles Hotel?

Included meals: Breakfast

Sunday 11^th December: Perth, 3 nights

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, our first stop in Australia. We can recommend some suggestions for your second day in Singapore, such as a visit to the Gardens by the Bay, or a trip to nearby Sentosa Island, with its host of attractions including wildlife parks, cable cars and light shows. Once we arrive in Perth, our Tour Manager will greet us and our coach will whisk us to the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, in-flight meals and drinks

Monday 12^th December: Perth

Perth, in Western Australia, is one of the world’s most isolated cities. 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 to the fascinating Shipwreck Galleries. The galleries have hundreds of relics from ships wrecked along the treacherous coastline, including the original timbers from the Batavia, wrecked in 1629. The tour will end with a gentle cruise along the Swan River back to the city centre, passing some jaw-dropping millionaire’s mansions along the way.

Included meals: Breakfast

Tuesday 13^th December: Perth Freedom Day

Today is the first of several Freedom Days in Australia, where we can spend the day however we please. Our Distant Journeys Tour Manager will be on hand to offer expert advice and guidance on things to do and recommendations of places to eat. They can also help book additional excursions we may wish to do, including two optional tours to some of the spectacular natural landscapes close to the city.

The first is to Nambung National Park, home to hundreds of striking limestone pillars known as the Pinnacles. It’s believed the Pinnacles were created millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water and wind. Alternatively, you can take a 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. This friendly, wallaby-like marsupial is the world’s most photogenic animal and has no fear of humans, so have your camera at the ready!

Included meals: Breakfast

Wednesday 14^th December: Kangaroo Island, 2 nights

After breakfast, we leave Perth behind as we fly to Adelaide, capital of South Australia. Upon arrival, we continue by coach to the Fleurieu Peninsula, from where we board a ferry to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. Our busy day of travel ends at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge Hotel, located in a prime position in bushland overlooking American River Bay, and our home for the next two nights.

Included meals: Breakfast

Thursday 15^th December: Kangaroo Island

Tour Highlight

Our full day tour on Kangaroo Island starts with a visit to Seal Bay Conservation Park where we will be taken on a beach walk with an experienced guide and enjoy being among a colony of rare Australian sea lions, watching them play and relax on the beach. After lunch, our afternoon will be spent at the Flinders Chase National Park, home to some of Australia’s best-known native wildlife. During our tour of this park, we’ll be able to spot wallabies, echidnas, koalas and the kangaroos which give the island its name. We’ll also take in some incredible scenery at the Remarkable Rocks, offering spectacular sea views and photo opportunities, and the Admirals Arch boardwalk, where we will head down to the unique rock archway to spot the happy Long-Nosed Fur Seals which call this part of the island home. After a truly unforgettable day on Kangaroo Island, packed with incredible wildlife and scenery, it’s time to head back to our hotel for a second night.

Included meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch

Friday 16^th December: Adelaide, 2 nights

After getting up close to an amazing variety of Australia’s wildlife it’s time to make our way back to the mainland by ferry. Our journey into Adelaide, includes a visit to the quaint village of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement with its tree-lined streets and original Fachwerk, timber-framed buildings. Adelaide has a lovely location, surrounded by parkland, rolling hills and the Mount Lofty Range, and during this afternoon’s sightseeing tour we will get our first view of Adelaide’s pretty streets, grand Victorian buildings and the leafy parks and gardens that encircle the city. Lastly today, we arrive at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, situated just around the corner from Rundle Street, home to Adelaide’s best shopping opportunities.

Included meals: Breakfast

Saturday 17^th December: Adelaide Freedom Day

Today is a Freedom Day to spend as we please. Lovers of good wine can take an optional tour to the vineyards of the Barossa Valley, with plenty of tastings included. Alternatively, idle away a few hours with a leisurely cruise along the Murray River or just enjoy a stroll around Adelaide.

Included meals: Breakfast

Sunday 18th December: Melbourne, 2 nights

This morning we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria. It’s an elegant and impressive city, as seen in the stunning and extremely well-preserved Victorian architecture of its public buildings and grand houses. On arrival, we’ll enjoy all these sights and much more with a tour of the city. Among the places we will visit are the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Treasury Gardens, the Victoria Markets, the Rod Laver Arena (home to tennis’ Australian Open every January) and Federation Square. We will also head out of the city centre to see two of Melbourne’s waterside suburbs: Port Melbourne and St Kilda. Our hotel for the next two nights is the four-star Pullman on the Park. This contemporary hotel was built on the site of the 1887 Cliveden Mansion, alongside Fitzroy Gardens.

Included meals: Breakfast

Monday 19th December: Melbourne Freedom Day

Today has also been left free to spend as we please. For those looking to explore the region surrounding Melbourne, there’s the opportunity of an optional tour along what consistently features in the Top 10 of the world’s greatest scenic coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road.  Departing from Torquay, home to the world-famous Bells Beach, our tour will take us through laid-back beach resorts along Victoria’s dramatic coastline to our end destination, the iconic stone monoliths known as the Twelve Apostles. If you’re remaining in the city, today is a great opportunity to explore Melbourne’s quirky laneways, whose street art provides fabulous photo opportunities.

Or why not take a trip to Phillip Island, home to the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins, to view the Penguin Parade. The Little Penguins spend most of their day swimming and foraging at sea, then at dusk they waddle back to their nests on land.  It’s a sight not to be missed. Alternatively, take a morning excursion to ride on the Puffing Billy steam train through the Blue Dandenong Ranges, with an Aussie-style elevenses of Bush Billy Tea with lamingtons, Vegemite and crackers served beforehand.

Included meals: Breakfast

Tuesday 20^th December: Alice Springs, 2 nights

Following breakfast this morning, we board our flight to Alice Springs, in Australia’s Red Centre, whose red earth and blue skies so typify Outback Australia. On arrival, we enjoy a sightseeing tour, visiting the Old Telegraph Station, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which has been saving lives in rural and isolated parts of Australia for more than 90 years, and the School of the Air, which provides an education remotely to children living in the most far-flung areas of the Outback. Later, we check in to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, home for the next two nights.

This evening, there’s the opportunity to enjoy an authentic Outback bush BBQ. Huddle around a cosy campfire under the desert skies at the traditional cattle camp, whilst tucking into a superb barbecued steak. Enjoy a cold beer or chilled wine from the bar while a bush balladeer sings timeless Australian songs.  Finally, the camp lights are switched off and a knowledgeable star guide will decode the night skies as we bathe in the velvety darkness of an Outback night.

Included meals: Breakfast

Wednesday 21^st December: Alice Springs Freedom Day

Our day is free to relax or explore as we wish. Choose to join a popular excursion to the Western MacDonnell Ranges; a great opportunity to get a true taste of life in the outback. The full-day tour takes us through the stunning scenery of Simpson’s Gap, home to various plants and wildlife, including the black-footed rock-wallaby. The excursion also visits Standley Chasm, one of the ‘must see’ spectacular geological and cultural icons of Central Australia.

Included meals: Breakfast

Thursday 22^nd December: Uluru, overnight

After breakfast we board our coach for the drive along the Stuart and Lasseter Highways to Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock. Upon arrival we visit Kata Tjuṯa, also known as the Olgas, a group of large, domed sandstone rock formations. The domes of Kata Tjuta are sacred to the local Anangu Aboriginal people, and are believed to be over 500 million years old.  We then make our way to the Desert Gardens Hotel, our overnight accommodation.

Tour Highlight

After freshening up at the hotel we will be taken to a viewing area to witness the sun setting behind Uluru. Sparkling wine and nibbles will be served whilst you and your travelling companions watch the remarkable changing colours of Uluru as the sun sinks below the horizon.

Included meals: Breakfast

Friday 23^rd December: Cairns, 6 nights

Early risers have the option of viewing Uluru at sunrise, for a different perspective on this ancient and sacred monolith. After breakfast, we depart for a tour of the base of Uluru, getting as close as is allowed to the Rock. Learn more about its historical and cultural importance to the indigenous people of this area of Northern Territory. We will then leave the Red Centre behind as we take an afternoon flight to Cairns, in Tropical Far North Queensland. We’ll head straight to our hotel, the Hilton Cairns, on arrival. Situated in a prime spot right on Cairns’ Esplanade, this superior hotel is our home for the next six nights, and the scene of the Christmas festivities to come.

Included meals: Breakfast

Saturday 24^th December: Cairns Freedom Day

Our first day in tropical Far North Queensland has been left free for you to do as much, or as little as you like. For the chance to explore one of the world’s most ancient tropical rainforests, dating as far back as 180 million years, come with us on our optional tour to the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. During the excursion, we’ll see dramatic jungle-clad gorges, wild rivers, and tumbling waterfalls while taking a walk with an Aboriginal guide as well as a cruise to spot saltwater crocodiles. At Cape Tribulation, an isolated headland, stroll on the beach where the rainforest meets the reef.

If you prefer to stay in Cairns today, there’s so much to see and do, including numerous shops and art galleries, as well as Cairns’ famous Night Markets. Featuring over seventy different shops and stalls selling authentic local crafts and souvenirs, as well as a food court offering street food from around the world, the Night Markets are the perfect place to enjoy dinner and hunt for some souvenirs.

Included meals: Breakfast

Sunday 25^th December, Christmas Day, Cairns

Tour Highlight

Merry Christmas! Begin the day with a hearty breakfast to set you up for the celebrations ahead. Our day is free to spend as we please, perhaps with a stroll along the Esplanade followed by a picnic on the grass in the sunshine or even a swim in Cairns’ lagoon pool. This evening we gather in the hotel to enjoy a celebratory Christmas buffet dinner and drinks with our new-found friends.

Included meals: Breakfast and dinner, including selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Monday 26^th December: Cairns Freedom Day

After our day of festivities, today is another of our Freedom Days to spend however we wish in Cairns. A very popular optional excursion is our tour to Kuranda, the village in the rainforest. Our tour begins as we travel to Kuranda village via the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, soaring above the treetops with astounding views over the rainforest. There is plenty of time to browse the craft markets, visit the butterfly sanctuary, or enjoy one of Kuranda’s many laid-back coffee shops. We begin our afternoon with a visit to meet the Pamagirri Aboriginal people at Rainforest Station. Enjoying nothing more than sharing their culture and traditions, we join a Yarning Circle, where we can listen to stories and ask questions. After a traditional dance performance and trying our luck at boomerang throwing, we return to Cairns on the unique Kuranda Scenic Railway. Passing over 40 bridges and through 15 tunnels, the railway is a feat of engineering and a railway journey to remember.

Included meals: Breakfast

Tuesday 27^th December: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef

Tour Highlight

No holiday to Australia can be complete without a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most enduring natural wonders, the Reef’s stunningly beautiful coral and colourful marine life is a place like no other. Our exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef begins with a journey aboard a high speed catamaran as we zip across the Coral Sea to the Outer Reef.

We spend several hours at the Outer Reef for you to enjoy as you wish. The more active among us can snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon or, for an additional cost, join the marine biologist on a guided snorkel safari. There is also the opportunity to have a go at scuba diving (introductory or certified), join a Seawalker Helmet dive, or see the reef from above on a scenic helicopter flight. Those who would rather not get wet can still experience the underwater world of the reef with a ride in a glass-bottomed boat, or semi-submersible reef viewer. A buffet lunch is served on board the platform.

We return by catamaran to Cairns later in the afternoon, bringing our thrilling Great Barrier Reef day to a close

Included meals: Breakfast and lunch

Wednesday 28^th December: Cairns Freedom Day

Our final day in Cairns has been left free for you to choose how to spend your day.  A last opportunity for some shopping, or maybe just a day relaxing by the hotel pool. For those interested in further activities, we highly recommend a half-day visit to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, one of the best places to see crocodiles and local wildlife.  There are miles of timber boardwalks and paths winding through woodlands and rainforest where you can see an array of wildlife, including beautiful tropical birds, reptiles, insects and other native fauna. We also enjoy a boat cruise on Hartley’s Lagoon to see crocodiles and other wildlife on their unique wetland, whilst learning about wildlife conservation in the region.

This evening, an excellent way to finish your time in Far North Queensland is a sunset dinner on board a sailing catamaran.

Included meals: Breakfast

Thursday 29^th December: Sydney, 4 nights

This morning we leave Cairns and fly to Sydney our final port of call on this wonderful tour of Australia, with the promise of an extraordinary New Year’s Eve celebration ahead. We will be taken speedily to the Radisson Blu Hotel, an excellent hotel set in an historic building just a short walk from Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour, home to the world-famous Sydney Opera House. The city centre itself is packed with world class restaurants, a lively arts culture and some remarkable museums and galleries. Beyond the harbour and the iconic bridge, however, Sydney has pristine sandy beaches and native bushland, sprawling parks and leafy gardens. Our 4-night stay in Sydney allows us plenty of time to enjoy all that this wonderful city has to offer.

Included meals: Breakfast

Friday 30^th December: Sydney

Tour Highlight

This morning we will view the most essential sights of Sydney with a comprehensive sightseeing tour and lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour. We begin by travelling through some of the city’s coolest inner-city suburbs to the iconic Bondi Beach, with time to enjoy a stroll on its famous golden sands, before passing the beautiful Double Bay and Rushcutters Bay on our way back to the city centre. Our tour will then bring us to Hyde Park, Australia’s oldest park, whose 40 acres contain the ANZAC Memorial; Parliament House and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. This unique ‘chair’ is a Sydney landmark made of exposed sandstone rock, cut into a bench shape by convicts in 1810 as a gift to Governor Macquarie’s wife. This location is also the perfect spot for a group photo, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge behind. The sightseeing tour will then lead us to Circular Quay, where we board the MV Sydney 2000 for our fabulous lunch cruise around stunning Sydney Harbour. The delicious two-course lunch is the perfect accompaniment to the unrivalled views as we cruise past the Opera House; the perfect way to end our first morning in Sydney.  After disembarking, our afternoon is free to spend soaking up the atmosphere around the harbour. Maybe enjoy a tour of the Sydney Opera House, or even take in a show in one of the world’s most famous performance venues?

Included meals: Breakfast and lunch

Saturday 31^st December: New Year’s Eve, Sydney

Tour Highlight

The eyes of the world fall on Sydney on New Year’s Eve, and today you are among the privileged few who are at the epicentre of the celebrations. Our day is left free, and your Tour Manager will be happy to help and offer their recommendations or make any arrangements for you. This evening, the excitement builds as we make our way to King Street Wharf to board Clear View, our luxury cruise vessel. The glass boat offers amazing 360-degree views around Sydney Harbour and will be positioned in an exclusion zone giving a prime position for viewing the fireworks.  We will be welcomed aboard with a glass of finest Australian sparkling wine, before settling into our reserved seat to be served a fabulous 5-course dinner of restaurant-quality, locally sourced favourites. The conversation and the drinks will flow, and after dinner we’ll be entertained by a live band, plus a DJ whose selection of music will be bound to have you up on your feet and dancing the evening away. As midnight strikes, Sydney’s annual firework spectacular bursts into life, and we’ll truly feel at the heart of the festivities as we view the stunning display from the comfort of our boat. Happy New Year!

Included meals: Breakfast and celebration dinner including selected alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

Sunday 1^st January: Sydney Freedom Day

Tour Highlight

Welcome to 2022, and a final Freedom Day in Sydney. Shake off the cobwebs with an optional visit to the Ku-rin-gai Chase National Park; just 90 minutes from downtown Sydney, the park encompasses coastline, rainforest, bushland and a portion of the Hawkesbury River.  Or those with a head for heights may want to do the ultimate in New Year’s Day walks with a climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge! However you choose to spend your final full day in Sydney, relax and enjoy it as this wonderful Very Best of Australia tour draws to a close.

Included meals: Breakfast

Monday 2^nd January: Depart Sydney

Our last day in Sydney is yours to spend as you please until we leave for the airport with suitcases full of memories: the end of an unforgettable adventure in Australia. Flights to our chosen UK airport all stop in Dubai or Singapore for a change of aircraft before the second leg back home.

Included meals: Breakfast, in-flight meals and drinks

Tuesday 3^rd January: Arrive UK

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

Included meals: In-flight meals and drinks