Travel

#Australia Adventure Tour: Melbourne, Sydney, Great Barrier Reef - the Outback

Trip Highlights

• See Melbourne’s hidden charms and secrets on a walking tour with a local
• Drive the Great Ocean Road and take a thrilling helicopter ride over the Twelve Apostles
• Explore the Esplanade, waterside restaurants and art stores of tropical Cairns
• Visit the Queensland outback and try your hand at fossicking (looking for gold and gems)
• Explore the prehistoric Lava Tubes and see significant cultural and historical sites
• Take a catamaran on the Great Barrier Reef and snorkel or dive the underwater gardens
• Cruise the dazzling Sydney Harbour and come face-to-face with Aussie wildlife at Sydney’s Wildlife World
• Explore the valleys, canyons and waterfalls of the sapphire-hued Blue Mountains

Trip at a Glance

Day 1: Arrive in Melbourne and explore the city

Day 2: Discover Melbourne’s main sights and secrets on a walking tour with a local, then take a city bicycle tour

Day 3: Drive the Great Ocean Road, stop at coastal towns and take a thrilling helicopter ride over the Twelve Apostles

Day 4: Fly to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and explore its beaches, restaurants and Esplanade

Day 5: Travel to the Aussie outback and try your luck at fossicking (looking for gold and semi-precious stones)

Day 6: Explore prehistoric Lava Tubes at the Undara Volcanic National Park

Day 7: Snorkel or dive the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef

Day 8: Fly to Sydney and explore the vibrant harbor, museums, galleries, restaurants and bars of the east coast metropolis.

Day 9: Cruise Sydney Harbour, admiring iconic landmarks, then meet native animals at Sydney’s Wildlife World

Day 10: Venture to the stunning Blue Mountains, see kangaroos in the wild, picnic by a waterfall and see UNESCO World Heritage-listed rainforest.

Day 11: Depart for the US

Detailed Description

Australia is not a generic place; you are not a generic person, so why would you want a generic, cookie-cutter holiday? It’ll only lead to generic photos (only this time you’ll be the one taking a bite out of the Big Banana). Break away from the crowd by taking an 11-day trip around Australia that replaces tired tourist traps with meaningful, authentic, and unique experiences.

Begin your holiday in the chic city of Melbourne, which is known for its dining and cafe scene, forward architectural design and boutique shopping. Learn more about its people as a local Melbournian takes you on an insider’s tour of the city, then explore Melbourne’s many districts on an informative bicycle tour. The following day, follow the Great Ocean Road from surfing town, Torquay, to the cliffs overlooking Shipwreck Coast, where you’ll get to take a thrilling helicopter ride around the 12 Apostles rock formation.

Next, set your sights on warmer climes as you travel north to the tropical city of Cairns and stroll around its streets and boardwalk, and then head out into the Australian outback. Try your luck at fossicking for gems or gold, admire local wildlife as it hops and climbs trees around you and explore the prehistoric Undara Lava Tubes. Return to Cairns and head off on a special harbor cruise to snorkel or dive unique spots on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Finally finish your adventure in Sydney where you’ll get to cruise the harbor, hold a snake, see kangaroos in the wild and hike through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains.