Treasures of Australia Tour

Fly with Qantas & Emirates from the airport most convenient to you. Choose between from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow or Newcastle – whichever you depart from, there is no extra cost.

The next two days of our itinerary are based on a stopover in Singapore. Flights from London Heathrow may travel direct to Singapore, and UK regional flights will travel via Dubai. We arrive into the wonderful city of Singapore where our accommodation is close to the banks of the scenic Singapore River, the M Hotel City Centre.

Alternative stopover

Days 2-4 of this itinerary are based on a stopover in Singapore. If you prefer, you may choose to stopover in Dubai or spend an extra two nights in Perth instead, including transfers, accommodation, daily breakfast, and a city sightseeing tour if choosing Dubai. Flight timings will vary. Please speak with one of our personal travel experts for more details.

Singapore is one of the most exciting destinations in Asia, a real melting pot where Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures have merged with Western influences to create a vibrant city. This morning we embark on a tour of the highlights of the city, such as its ethnic quarters that help make the city what it is today; the famous Merlion Statue, a national symbol of Singapore; and the beautiful botanical gardens. The afternoon is left free to enjoy – maybe treat yourself to afternoon tea at Raffles Hotel?

Spend the day as you please in Singapore until it’s time to leave for our evening flight to our first stop in Australia, Perth. Once we arrive into Perth later tonight, we clear customs and transfer to the Duxton Hotel.

After a relaxed morning meal, we convene with our Tour Manager and fellow explorers to delve deeper into the details of our upcoming journey. Subsequently, we experience a wonderful immersion into Australia’s indigenous wildlife with a visit to Caversham Wildlife Park. This park serves as a splendid showcase for a plethora of Australia’s distinctive and legendary creatures, encompassing koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, Tasmanian devils, and wombats.

Our day in Perth starts with a sightseeing tour of the city and its surrounds, beginning at King’s Park, a sprawling landscape of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland in the heart of Perth. At the nearby town of Fremantle, known as Freo to the locals, we visit the Shipwreck Galleries for a fascinating insight into the area’s maritime history. We return to Perth via a cruise on the Swan River passing some jaw-dropping cliffside mansions on the way.

Our first Australian Freedom Day allows us to spend the day as we please. Our Distant Journeys Tour Manager will be on hand with advice on things to do, where to eat, or  book excursions for you to further explore the area. Perhaps make the short journey to Rottnest Island, a protected nature reserve with white-sand beaches and secluded coves. Discover pristine beaches and the unique flora and fauna of the island, plus learn about the island’s Aboriginal history and of course we will hopefully meet the most famous local resident of Rottnest Island, the friendly and adorable quokka. Alternatively. maybe take an optional trip to Nambung National Park to visit the fascinating limestone formations known as the Pinnacles. However you choose to spend your day – enjoy!

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 will be introduced to Adelaide’s streets, fine Victorian buildings and the attractive parks and gardens that surround the city. Later, transfer to the centrally-located Crowne Plaza Hotel, where we will stay for the next three nights.

During this morning’s sightseeing tour, we leave the city to visit Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement in the quaint village of Hahndorf, with its tree-lined streets and original ‘Fachwerk’ buildings. We continue to the famous wine growing region of the Barossa Valley where, after a visit to a working blacksmith museum, we enjoy wine tasting and lunch in one of the picturesque wineries.

A Freedom Day to spend as you please. Take a look around Adelaide on foot or perhaps take an optional tour to Kangaroo Island, situated off the Fleurieu Peninsula, which offers a unique touring experience, combining native wildlife with natural, unspoilt wilderness.

This morning we take a short flight to Melbourne, capital of the state of Victoria. Melbourne is a blend of well-preserved grand buildings, bustling laneways, world-class restaurants and captivating museums, which we will see on this afternoon’s tour. It’s unarguably the sporting capital of Australia, and we will see the Rod Laver Arena, home to Australian Open tennis, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, known as the MCG. Our tour also takes in Treasury Gardens, Victoria Markets and Federation Square, before finishing in the waterside suburb of St Kilda. Our accommodation for the next three nights is the Pullman on the Park.

A Freedom Day to spend as we please. There are numerous enjoyable activities available, such as a ride on Puffing Billy, a steam train, through the Blue Dandenong Ranges.

With so much to do and see in and around Melbourne, a further Freedom Day is an 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 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, you may prefer to explore Victoria’s superb food and wine scene with the ‘Around the Bay’ tour.

A final Freedom Day provides an opportunity to discover Phillip Island, home to the world’s largest colony of little penguins. Every evening, in what’s known as the Penguin Parade, hundreds of tiny Fairy Penguins waddle from the beach to their burrows after a day out at sea.

Tour Highlight

This morning, we fly to Uluru in Australia’s Red Centre, and on arrival we make our way to the four-star Desert Gardens Hotel. The huge sandstone monolith of Uluru is a site of great cultural and spiritual significance to the Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory. We take a guided tour of the rock base, discovering more about its history and legends before enjoying a glass of sparkling wine together whilst witnessing the changing colours of Uluru as the sun begins to set.

This morning, there’s an opportunity to view sunrise at Uluru – well worth the early start! Following breakfast, we take a tour of Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas, a series of soaring sandstone rock domes which are both a natural wonder and a cultural landmark. Later, we  journey along the Lasseter and Stuart Highways to Alice Springs. Home for the next night is the Crowne Plaza Lasseters Hotel.  This evening, perhaps enjoy a quintessentially Aussie experience at the Outback Bush Barbecue.

After a leisurely morning, we visit two institutions which provide an essential lifeline to people living in the remotest parts of the Outback; the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air. We also visit the Old Telegraph Station, the site of the old springs from which Alice gets its name, and ANZAC Hill which has panoramic views over the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges. Later, we board our flight to Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory. Our hotel for the next two nights is the DoubleTree By Hilton Esplanade, which overlooks Darwin Harbour.

Darwin is a laid-back tropical city in the Northern Territory, known locally as the Top End. As today is free for you to explore at leisure, we recommend an excursion to Litchfield National Park, an ancient landscape of rugged sandstone cliffs, rainforests and spectacular waterfalls tumbling into cool plunge pools. For those wishing to venture further afield, a full day overland or flightseeing excursion to Kakadu National Park can be arranged.

An early start this morning as we board our one-stop flight to Cairns, in Far North Queensland. On arrival we will make the short transfer to our home for the next five nights, the Hilton Cairns which occupies a superb position on Cairns’ Esplanade. The rest of the day is free to settle in and look forward to the adventures ahead.

Today is a Freedom Day in Cairns, to enjoy as you wish. A lovely way to spend your day is with an optional excursion to Kuranda, the ‘village in the rainforest’. The journey to Kuranda is on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, gliding above the treetops with spectacular views over the rainforest. We spend a pleasant few hours exploring Kuranda’s attractions before making our way to Rainforest Station, where we meet our Aboriginal guides to chat in the Yarning Circle, watch a traditional dance performance and try our hand at boomerang throwing. We return to Cairns on the heritage Kuranda Scenic Railway, crossing 40 bridges and through 15 tunnels on its uniquely breathtaking journey.

Tour Highlight

No holiday to Australia is complete without a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most famous natural wonders. It’s a truly once in a lifetime experience, with its stunningly beautiful coral and colourful marine life making this a place like no other. Our full-day excursion to the Great Barrier Reef begins with a journey aboard a high speed catamaran to the Outer Reef. We have four hours here for you to enjoy as you wish, and you don’t even need to get wet to see the wonders of the Reef with a glass-bottomed boat and semi-submersible reef viewer offering the chance to see the array of life and colour beneath the water. For the more active, you can snorkel in the sheltered coral lagoon, or, for an additional cost, join the marine biologist on a snorkel safari or perhaps have a go at scuba diving, or join a Seawalker helmet dive. There is also the option to see the reef from above on a scenic helicopter flight or for something truly special travel in style to or from the reef with a helicopter transfer.

Another Freedom Day to enjoy in Far North Queensland. For an unforgettable experience, take a day trip to nearby Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest rainforest. Learn about the fascinating secrets of the Daintree on a walk with an Aboriginal guide, and enjoy a cruise on the Daintree River – look out for saltwater crocodiles! The excursion continues to Cape Tribulation, a remote headland, with glorious unspoilt beaches and walking tracks through the lush forests. If you prefer to stay in Cairns today, there’s lots to enjoy, whether you browse the many shops and galleries or take a cooling dip in the infinity pool at Cairns Lagoon.

Another day to enjoy the laid back tropical city of Cairns. Maybe take a stroll along the esplanade and enjoy one of the many al fresco cafes, take a swim in the open air saltwater lagoon, or perhaps, go shopping for some souvenirs in one of the cities many open-air markets.

This morning we make the short journey to Cairns Airport for our flight to Sydney. As a fitting climax to our tour of Australia, Sydney is a world-class city that makes the best of its beautiful setting and boasts such iconic landmarks as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. There’s a vibrant cultural scene, a plethora of excellent restaurants and bars and superb shopping opportunities. Sydney is known as a city of villages, and each suburb has its own distinctive personality, pristine sandy beaches and native bushland. Our new home for the next four nights is the excellent Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

Tour Highlight

This morning we will be introduced to Sydney in all its glory with an extensive sightseeing tour, beginning with a drive through some of the city’s most fashionable inner-city areas en route to the golden sands of Bondi Beach. On our way back to the city centre we pass beautiful Rushcutters Bay and upmarket Double Bay before arriving at Hyde Park, home to Parliament House and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. This unique ‘chair’ is actually an exposed sandstone rock, cut into a bench shape in 1810 by convicts as a gift to the wife of Governor Macquarie. It also happens to be a perfect spot for ‘the’ photo of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Our sightseeing tour culminates in the best possible way as we board our vessel for a lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour, accompanied by the most spectacular views – the perfect way to end our first morning in Sydney.

This morning offers three very different treats: a guided tour of Sydney’s Opera House; 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 world heritage site. The afternoon has been left free for you to explore as you please. Catch up on some shopping or perhaps climb the impressive Harbour Bridge. Whatever you wish to do, our Tour Manager will be very happy to assist.

Although today has been left free, for those that so desire, we shall be taking an optional trip to the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are a perfect example of native Australian bushland, with gum trees, majestic peaks and deep gorges stretching as far as the eye can see. Experience the panoramas from a series of lookouts, including Echo Point – the prime position to view the Three Sisters rock formation. The excursion also visits the pretty village of Leura, and includes afternoon tea at the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel.

Our last day in Sydney is free to enjoy as you like until we depart for the airport, bringing an end to the most amazing Australian adventure. Flights to our chosen UK airport operate via Dubai or Singapore, where there is a change of aircraft before the second leg of the journey.

SPECIAL OFFER: SAVE up to £632 per couple!
If you would like to stopover on your way home we have a sensational stopover offer available from £29 per person for a stay in Singapore, Bangkok or Dubai. Alternatively, we have a relaxing Bali stopover available from £99 per person, or if you prefer stay on Sentosa Island, from £129 per person. All you need to do to take advantage of this huge saving is book any departure after September 2024 by 30th November 2023.

This morning our unforgettable journey comes to an end at your chosen airport: London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow.