Enchanting Australia – A Small Group Adventure

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After a transit in Singapore, we arrive into Australia and the wonderful city of Perth; capital of Western Australia and the world’s most isolated city. After clearing customs, we’ll be warmly greeted by our local guide and whisked to our home for our first three nights in Australia, The Melbourne Hotel. This evening, we shall gather for a welcome drink, providing an opportunity to meet our fellow travellers and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Our first day in Perth begins with a sightseeing tour of the city and the surrounding area. First of all, we visit King’s Park, a landscape of bushland, exotic trees like the baobab and rare wildflowers, affording glorious views over the city’s skyline and Swan River. Our next stop is the white sands of Cottesloe Beach before heading to Elizabeth Quay and the Bell Tower, which, with its famous Swan Bells, is an iconic Perth landmark. Constructed to mark the new millennium, the tower houses 18 bells, 12 of which once rung in St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in London. We continue to Elizabeth Quay to board the ferry to Fremantle, Perth’s historic port city. Freo, as it’s known locally, has plenty of colonial charm and a laid-back, quirky vibe. Here, we have time to explore the town before settling into a casual harbourside eatery for dinner. The perfect way to end our first full day in Australia.

This morning, we embark on a full day excursion to Rottnest Island, a marine paradise just 19kms off the coast of Perth. After a short ferry crossing, we have the day free to explore at our own pace. Rottnest Island is blessed with secluded sandy bays, crystal clear waters and many unique wildlife species, the best-known of which is the quokka. These friendly marsupials can be found resting under shady bushes by day – have your cameras ready for the obligatory quokka selfie! As a protected nature reserve, there are no cars permitted on Rottnest Island and cycling is the best way to discover the island. Bicycle hire for the day is included, or for those who prefer it, there’s a hop on/hop off bus service that regularly runs around the island, stopping at many lovely vantage points and secluded beaches. Our local guide will provide tips on the best spots to seek out. After a day of exploration, we return to the mainland for our final evening in Perth.

Following breakfast this morning, we board our flight to Melbourne, capital of Victoria. Our waiting guide will greet and transfer us to our home for the next four nights, The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins, located in the city centre. Melbourne is a stylish, cosmopolitan, sports-mad and cultural city. It’s also a big foodie destination, well known for its fantastic dining and its secret bars and restaurants, that only the locals know about. After freshening up, our guide will take us to one such venue, where drinks will be
provided, along with dinner.

This morning, we head out to explore Melbourne. It’s a compact city, full of well preserved architecture and leafy parks, and easily explored on foot and by the city’s famous tram network. Later, we travel out of the city to Phillip Island. En route, we take a guided tour of Rippon Lea Estate’s Victorian mansion and its 14 acres of beautiful gardens. On Phillip Island, we take an early dinner before joining the highlight of today’s excursion – the Penguin Parade. Every evening, hundreds of tiny Fairy Penguins emerge from the sea, and waddle along the beach to their burrows on Phillip Island. Enjoy ‘Penguin Plus’ premium viewing for the best seat in the house to watch this charming spectacle. Once darkness has settled, we return to the city and our hotel.

We spend our morning in and around the wonderful Yarra Valley. Less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the area is known for its lush green landscapes and fabulous wines, and we shall immerse ourselves in both of these throughout our day. We begin with a visit to Healesville Sanctuary, specialising in native Australian animals, where we can view and learn about these animals from the knowledgeable sanctuary team. Our next stop is a local winery, to discover the winemaking process during a guided tour, followed by a tasting session and lunch. Our afternoon is free to relax.

Our final day in Melbourne is left entirely free to explore at our own pace or take an optional excursion. Perhaps join a full day tour along one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world, the Great Ocean Road. The first stop is Torquay, home to the world-famous Bells Beach, and from here our tour will take us along Victoria’s dramatic coastline to our end destination, the iconic Twelve Apostles. Alternatively, take the Puffing Billy steam train through the Blue Dandenong Ranges or explore Victoria’s superb food and wine scene with the Around the Bay tour. You may just prefer to spend the day strolling through the laneways and green spaces of Melbourne at leisure.

Today, we board our flight to Alice Springs, at the heart of Australia’s Red Centre. Surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges, Alice Springs is a town made famous by its rich pioneering history and indigenous culture. On arrival, we’ll tour the ‘Town Called Alice’ and visit three of its most notable institutions: the School of the Air, which provides an education for children living in some of the remotest parts of the outback via radio; and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, an essential lifeline for the health and wellbeing of isolated communities. Finally, we visit the Old Telegraph Station, now a museum and the site of the old springs from which Alice gets its name. Our home for the next two nights is the Crowne Plaza Lasseters Hotel. After settling in, there is the option to ride into the sunset on board a camel on an enjoyable trek, guided by a cameleer.

This morning, we leave town, heading west on Larapinta Drive into the Western MacDonnell National Park. Highlights of today’s tour include Desert Park, a conservation park displaying the plants, birds and animals of Australia’s central desert environment. We also discover Standley Chasm, a spectacular geological and significant cultural icon of the Red Centre, with a striking deep red cleft that glows with reflected sunlight. Following a barbecue lunch, we explore more of the area’s gorges and outback landscapes, and visit Hermannsburg Mission Reserve, before returning to our hotel.

Leaving Alice Springs, we head west through outback landscapes, dotted with desert oaks, as we travel along the Stuart and Lasseter Highways as we make our way to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. On arrival, we visit the soaring domes of Kata Tjuta, otherwise known as the Olgas, and take the Walpa Gorge Walk. Walpa Gorge is a desert refuge for plants and animals, shielded from the hot desert sun. As we walk along the rocky track, cooled by the breezes passing through the gorge, look out for rare plants and spearwood trees

Tour Highlight
After checking in and freshening up at the Desert Gardens Hotel, enjoy a truly special experience. As the sun sinks behind Uluru, its colours change by the minute, and we will witness this awe-inspiring sight at a dedicated viewing area, with a glass of sparkling wine and canapes to hand. Once darkness has settled, we’re taken back to the hotel to spend the remainder of the evening as we wish.

This morning, there is an opportunity to enjoy a sunrise viewing at Uluru, and witness yet more changing colours of this beautiful monolith. Whilst this is an optional activity, it more than justifies the early alarm call! Fortified by a hearty breakfast back at the hotel, our guide will take us for a closer look at the environment surrounding the rock. If you prefer, there is an option (at an additional cost) to head out for an adventure on two wheels, cycling around the base of Uluru. Bike hire lasts for three hours, plenty of time to complete the circuit of Uluru and discover its ancient rock art and hidden waterholes at our own pace. The afternoon is left free to relax or explore as we wish, and for a truly special evening activity you have the option of dining under the stars at the legendary Sounds of Silence dinner. Alternatively, visit the Field of Light, a stunning art installation of more than 50,000 slender solar powered stems crowned with frosted-glass spheres that bloom as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland.

Today we exchange the outback landscapes for the sparkling waters and vibrant streets of Sydney. Our flight arrives late afternoon, and our Sydney guide will greet us and accompany us to Mantra 2 Bond Street, located at the heart of Sydney’s bustling centre, which will be home for the next four nights. Tonight is left free to settle in – there’s a vast array of restaurants, bars and cafes just a short walk away.

Despite its size, Sydney is very much a walkable city and we head out on foot this morning to the nearby Royal Botanic Garden. A verdant oasis in the heart of the city, the Garden is home to thousands of different plants. We take a tour in the company of an Aboriginal guide, to learn more about the Gadigal – the indigenous custodians of the Sydney region – and the Royal Botanic Garden’s rich Aboriginal heritage. Next, we continue to the museum of Hyde Park Barracks, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and an extraordinary living record of early colonial Australia. After a fascinating and thought-provoking morning, we shall take a bus through many beautiful waterside suburbs to Watson’s Bay, one of Sydney’s most stunning harbourside locations, boasting sandy beaches and splendid views of Sydney Harbour. From here, we drive along the coast to Bondi, Australia’s most famous beach, blessed with golden sands and rolling surf. We have time to soak up the Bondi vibe – stroll along the water’s edge, breathe in the salty air and why not join your fellow travellers for an early dinner in a relaxed club, perched on top of a cliff top (at your own expense), as the sun sets on another glorious day in Australia?

Tour Highlight

Today, we leave the city and head to the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This National Park is home to an expansive area of Australia’s iconic bushland, carpeted with gnarly gum trees, deep gorges and craggy peaks. During our excursion, we visit a series of lookouts where we can take in some of the best views of the Blue Mountains, including some lesser-known, but arguably more beautiful, vantage points. The Blue Mountains feature some of Australia’s most spectacular bushwalks, and we will select one for a short walk. The Hydro Majestic is an iconic, historic hotel in the Blue Mountains, and a welcome resting place after a day’s activity. Here we are served afternoon tea whilst enjoying spectacular views of the Megalong Valley.

Arguably the best way to experience Sydney’s harbour is from the water, and our day comes to a conclusion as we reach the outskirts of Sydney, with a journey on an iconic ferry from the Parramatta River to Circular Quay in the heart of Sydney. En route, we can break the journey at any of the 15 stops. Perhaps visit Cockatoo Island, a former convict penal establishment and naval shipyard, or enjoy some retail therapy at Birkenhead Point, a high-end shopping area in Drummoyne. Once back at Circular Quay, our hotel is just a short walk away.

Our last full day in Sydney begins with a free morning to spend as we please. This is the perfect opportunity for those with a head for heights to enjoy the world famous Bridge Climb – a truly unforgettable experience and well worth the effort! Alternatively, visit the majestic Sydney Opera House or Taronga Zoo, in the suburb of Mosman. Sydney Harbour has many beautiful bays, known to the locals but largely undiscovered by tourists. As our final night in Sydney approaches, we take to the water and discover some of Sydney’s hidden bays by ferry, water taxi and on foot, before dinner together in a bay-side restaurant few tourists would ever find. It’s the perfect way to bid farewell to Sydney.

A morning transfer takes us to Sydney Airport in time for our flight to Cairns in Northern Queensland. On arrival, we’ll be met and driven north to Port Douglas via the coastal road, which is flanked by forest on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Port Douglas is a tropical resort which combines a laid-back atmosphere with a lively restaurant scene. Our accommodation for the next four nights is Peppers Beach Club, an elegant resort hotel boasting lush gardens and a wonderful lagoon swimming pool, with the golden curve of Four Mile Beach just beyond its back door. Port Douglas is noted for its stunning sunsets, and this evening we’ll enjoy our first, accompanied by a chilled ‘sun-downer’.

Port Douglas is the only place on earth where two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites meet, namely the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. We explore both of these fascinating places during our time here, and today’s full day excursion takes us to the Daintree National Park. Commencing at Mosman Gorge, the gateway to the Daintree Rainforest, our guide takes us on a walk whilst sharing their knowledge of this enchanting rainforest environment. Learn about the fascinating secrets of the Daintree, the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. We also enjoy a cruise on the Daintree River – look out for saltwater crocodiles! Next, we cross the Daintree River and travel to Cape Tribulation, a remote headland, with glorious unspoilt beaches and lush forests. Our return journey to Port Douglas winds through the rainforest of the Alexandra Range, with spectacular views over the Daintree River estuary, Snapper Island and beyond to the Coral Sea.

Tour Highlight

Today, we enjoy a full day at the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most celebrated natural wonders. We make our way to Port Douglas marina to board our custom-designed reef boat for our journey through Opal Reef, St Crispin Reef and Tongue Reef, to the edge of the continental shelf, where the deep ocean begins and the reef’s richest biodiversity can be found. Our vessel has been designed and built in Australia utilising the latest technology to enable access to the outer reef with the most comfort and least impact. During our snorkelling at three fabulous reef sites, the highly-experienced, fully-qualified guides will ensure that everyone can make the most of this wonderful experience. In between activities, relax on the spacious sundecks or the air-conditioned lounges, and enjoy a buffet lunch. We return to Port Douglas late afternoon, where our evening is left at leisure to reflect on a fabulous day of exploration.

Our final full day in Australia has been left free for us to spend as we please. There is the option of a full day tour to Kuranda, the ‘village in the rainforest’; we travel there via the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, sailing above the canopy of treetops, whilst enjoying far-reaching views over the rainforest. Kuranda has a laid-back atmosphere and it’s easy to spend a couple of hours browsing the craft stalls, visiting the butterfly sanctuary or exploring the Koala Gardens. The journey back is aboard the heritage Kuranda Scenic Railway, a feat of railway engineering that crosses over 40 bridges and through 15 tunnels. For those longing to explore the marine world a little more, a day trip to the Low Isles is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some easy snorkelling amid 55 acres of coral reef that surround the cays. This evening, we gather together for our farewell dinner. Our venue is a relaxed restaurant beloved by locals, and it’s the perfect spot to swap stories and share some laughs over dinner and drinks, as the sun sets on Port Douglas and, indeed, on our fabulous Enchanting Australia holiday.

This afternoon we’ll be taken by coach to Cairns for our flight, via Singapore, to our chosen UK airport.

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We arrive into our preferred airport (London Heathrow or Manchester), bringing to an end our incredible three-week adventure around Australia.