Essential Australia Tour

Fly with Qantas & Emirates from the most convenient UK airport for you, for no extra cost. Our tours currently depart from these UK airports: Birmingham, Glasgow, London Heathrow, Manchester and Newcastle.

Unless travelling on the non-stop Qantas flights from London Heathrow to Perth, all flights with Qantas & Emirates to Perth travel via Dubai. After clearing customs and collecting our luggage we board our waiting coach and transfer to the centrally-located Novotel Perth Langley Hotel.

Named the ‘friendly city’ by tourists from all over the world, Perth is 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.

Today we take a tour of this coastal city and explore the variety of sights it has to offer. During our tour we will visit King’s Park, where there are wonderful views over the city as well as the park’s own flowers and bushland. We also head to Fremantle, a nearby port town, where we’ll discover more about the many ships that have wrecked off the coast of Western Australia at the Shipwreck Galleries. As we return from Fremantle, we’ll see the Millionaire Mansions before embarking on a cruise along the Swan River, ready for an evening of relaxation at the hotel.

This is the first Freedom Day of our tour, where you’re free to do as you please and discover Perth at your own pace. We also offer two optional tours so you can take advantage of the your time in Perth. The first tour takes you to the nearby Nambung National Park, highly regarded for its beautiful beaches, towering sand dunes and the truly unique Pinnacles Desert, where thousands of limestone pillars known as Pinnacles rise out of the ground. Alternatively, you can take a short trip to the protected nature reserve of Rottnest Island. Here you will find secluded coves, unspoilt white sandy beaches and fascinating wildlife, such as the quokka, a small marsupial.

In the morning, we make our way to Perth Airport in time for our flight to Melbourne. On arrival, we transfer to the centrally-located Clarion Gateway Suites, where we will stay for the next three nights.

We take a first look at Melbourne on a sightseeing tour. Sights include Treasury Gardens, Victoria Markets, Federation Square, the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena. Later, we head out of the city to see the waterside suburbs of St. Kilda and Port Melbourne. This afternoon, why not consider a trip to Phillip Island, home to the world’s largest colony of Fairy Penguins, to view the ‘Penguin Parade’?

A Freedom Day in Melbourne, so we may relax or explore as we please. We have the opportunity to enjoy an optional tour along one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives, the internationally renowned Great Ocean Road. The full day optional tour’s first stop is Torquay (home to the surfing paradise of Bells Beach) and meanders along the dramatic southwest coastline of Victoria to the impressive Twelve Apostles. Alternatively, take the Puffing Billy steam train through the Blue Dandenong Ranges or perhaps take a tour ‘Around the Bay in a Day’.

Sadly, we must say goodbye to Melbourne, but our sadness is short-lived as we know the beauty of tropical Queensland awaits. We return to Melbourne Airport in time for our flight to Cairns. Upon arrival we shall transfer to the DoubleTree by Hilton, which will be our home for the next four nights.

Tour Highlight

A holiday to Australia would not be complete without a visit to the Great Barrier Reef. Its vibrantly coloured marine life and breathtakingly beautiful coral make this World Heritage site a must see for all visitors. During our full-day Great Barrier Reef excursion, we board our high speed catamaran and journey to the Outer Reef. Snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon, or if you prefer to stay dry, view the reef from the semi-submersible reef viewer or glass-bottomed boat. With four hours at the reef, there is plenty of time to do it all. A number of activities are available at an additional cost, including Scuba diving (introductory or certified), a Seawalker Helmet dive, joining the marine biologist on a guided snorkel safari, or soaring above the reef on a spectacular scenic helicopter flight.

Although today has been left free you may wish to take an optional trip to Kuranda. Our tour begins as we ascend to Kuranda by the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a beautiful experience gliding over the rainforest canopy. ‘The village in the rainforest’ Kuranda awaits. It’s a lovely place to while away a few hours visiting the markets and butterfly sanctuary. We continue our adventure with a visit to Rainforest Station, 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 along one of the most unique rail journeys in Australia, the Kuranda Scenic Railway. See how the track clings to the rockface along a narrow coastal strip. During our journey we encounter no fewer than 40 bridges and 15 tunnels as we make our way back to Cairns.

Another Freedom Day to enjoy tropical northern Queensland. Surrounded by rainforest and mountains, Cairns boasts over 200 walking tracks; there are also numerous interesting museums and art galleries to explore. Or, if you prefer to venture further afield, we suggest a day trip to the nearby Daintree Rainforest, where the oldest rainforest in the world meets the reef at the World Heritage-listed Cape Tribulation. The tour gives a wonderful insight into rainforest’s unique flora and fauna, including a informative walk, a visit to the beautiful Mossman Gorge and a cruise spotting saltwater crocodiles.

Following breakfast, we make our way to Cairns Airport in time for our flight to Australia’s Red Centre and the next leg of our exciting journey. Dating back some 300 million years, we may have the opportunity to catch our first glimpse of Uluru from our aircraft as we make our approach. Upon arrival, we travel to Uluru where we embark on a tour around its base and learn of its historical and cultural importance. We continue our day with a visit to the impressive series of rounded sandstone domes known as the Olgas, and in the evening, relax with a glass of sparkling wine whilst witnessing the changing colours as the sun begins to set. It’s truly a photographer’s delight. Our accommodation tonight is the friendly Outback Hotel & Lodge.

Uluru is the icon of Australia’s outback, and the world’s largest monolith. For early risers, a dawn visit to the rock has been arranged. Seeing Uluru at sunrise, from a different position and a different light, offers a totally new perspective on the ever-changing colours and character of the rock. After breakfast, we explore Uluru’s visitor centre and continue to the airport, where we board our flight to Sydney. Upon arrival we shall transfer to the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, home for the next three nights.

Tour Highlight

This morning’s sightseeing tour begins with a drive through some of Sydney’s most fashionable inner-city suburbs en route to Bondi Beach. Travel by Double Bay and Rushcutters Bay as we return to the city centre. As we head into the heart of the city, we’ll see Hyde Park, Parliament House and the unique Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. A sandstone rock carved into a bench by convicts in 1810 as a gift to Governor Macquarie’s wife, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is not only an incredible sight, but also offers the perfect photo opportunity for Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. We complete our tour of Sydney in style with a luncheon cruise around the city’s beautiful harbour. The cruise offers some truly magnificent views over to the iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, as well as to the many gorgeous waterside houses. The afternoon has been left free to spend as we please.

A Freedom Day in Sydney. Enjoy as you wish, or join us on our optional excursion to the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This rugged National Park west of Sydney is a perfect example of native Australian bushland, characterised by its towering peaks, dramatic cliffs, eucalyptus forests and stunning waterfalls. During our tour you’ll be able to soak up the scenery from a variety of vantage points, including Echo Point, the best place from which you can see the Three Sisters, an unusual rock formation. We also visit the pretty village of Leura, a hub for local art and culture, famous for its annual garden festivals. The excursion also visits the pretty village of Leura, and includes afternoon tea at the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel.

A further Freedom Day to experience Sydney in a way that suits you. Take an optional behind the scenes tour of Sydney Opera House, catch up on some shopping or possibly climb the impressive Harbour Bridge. Whatever you wish to do, our Tour Manager will be very happy to assist.

The day is your own until it’s time to depart for the airport. Our flights to our chosen UK airport operate via Dubai or Singapore where there will be a change of aircraft.

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If you would like to stopover on your way home we have a sensational stopover offer available from £49 per person for a stay in Singapore, Bangkok or Dubai. Alternatively, we have a relaxing Bali stopover available from £129 per person, or if you prefer stay on Sentosa Island, from £149 per person. All you need to do to take advantage of this huge saving is book any departure after September 2024 by 29th February 2024.

We bring an end to our unforgettable Australian adventure, arriving into the airport of your choice out of Birmingham, Glasgow, London Heathrow, Manchester or Newcastle.