About your tour
From laid-back Perth and the massive rock monolith of Ayers Rock, to the stunning Great Barrier Reef and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Sydney - experience the Best of Australia.
Holiday highlights
Perth City sightseeing
Ayers Rock The Olgas & rock base tour
Alice Springs Old Telegraph Station, School of the Air & RFDS
Cairns Great Barrier Reef cruise
Sydney City sightseeing and harbour cruise
Canberra Sightseeing & BBQ
Albury
Melbourne City sightseeing
Your Price Includes
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Flights: UK - Perth - Ayers Rock; Alice Springs - Cairns - Sydney; Melbourne - UK
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Accommodation on tour in twin room with private facilities
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Local Guides (driver/guide in Alice Springs and Ayers Rock) will accompany the tour at each centre
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Porterage at hotels during tour
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Transfers between overseas airports and hotels
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All local and airport taxes/service charges excluding personal departure tax (see price panel)
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Meals on tour 2 lunches (L)
Add New Zealand
You can combine the Best of Australia tour with one of our exciting Naturally New Zealand tour. Fly from Melbourne to Christchurch on day 20 of your Best of Australia tour, joining the New Zealand tour on day 3 (see pages 252-253 for detalils).
Extend Your Holiday
Hong Kong & Bangkok
You can combine your tour to Australia with 'stopovers' in Hong Kong and Bangkok - the perfect break to a long flight and a complement to your holiday. Enjoy two nights in Hong Kong en route to Perth (Thursday departure), and three nights in Bangkok on your return journey.
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Your itinerary
Day 1: Depart UK.
Overnight flight to Perth, via Singapore.
Day 2: Arrive Perth.
On arrival in Perth you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for a three night stay. The rest of the day is yours to relax.
Day 3: Perth.
Beautifully located on the Swan River, Perth is a laid-back, sunny city with a glittering, high-rise centre. This morning you'll experience the unique atmosphere and impressive landmarks of this vibrant, modern city on our included sightseeing tour. Soak up views of Perth's soaring skyline and Swan River from Kings Park, see the city's exclusive suburbs, the University of Western Australia and the Old Mill, and stop to feed the Black Swans at Lake Monger. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore further.
Day 4: Perth.
A day to see more of this beautiful city at your own pace.
Day 5: Perth - Ayers Rock.
A morning flight will take you to Ayers Rock, Australia's legend-swathed monolith. After transferring to your hotel, you'll enjoy an afternoon tour of the Olgas, 28 spectacular rock domes rising from the Outback. Another sacred Aboriginal site, these incredible formations are known as 'Kata Tjuta', or 'Heads of Giants' and are divided by a series of high gorges. Walk into Olga Gorge before heading for the Sunset Strip vantage point, where you will enjoy champagne and canapés while experiencing, and of course photographing, one of the world's great spectacles - Ayers Rock at sunset.
Day 6: Ayers Rock - Alice Springs.
Enjoy a morning tour around the base of this extraordinary monolith, whose circumference is studded with caves decorated with ancient Aboriginal paintings and carvings. After returning to your hotel, we drive to the outback town of Alice Springs.
Day 7: Alice Springs.
The Red Centre of Australia is a totally unique area. In the geographic centre of the country, Alice Springs is close to some of the most awe-inspiring and colourful natural wonders of the world, including MacDonnell Ranges, Simpson's Gap and Standley Chasm. You'll enjoy a morning tour with a visit to the Old Telegraph Station, the School of the Air, which broadcasts lessons to children living in remote communities, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (subject to opening times). The afternoon is yours to relax or explore further.
Day 8: Alice Springs - Cairns.
Fly to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Australia's tropical rainforests, for a four night stay.
Day 9: Cairns - Great Barrier Reef.
The world's largest coral reef, made up of over 3,000 individual reefs very close to each other and over 1,250 miles long, is one of our planet's most amazing natural wonders. Our included catamaran cruise to Green Island, a 6,000 year old coral cay will offer opportunities for strolling through cool rainforest, lazing on white coral sands, swimming or snorkelling on the surrounding coral reef. You may wish to take a ride on a glass bottom boat to see some of the world's most colourful coral and other marine life in the crystal clear waters. (L)
Days 10 - 11: Cairns.
Set amongst lush rainforests, soaring peaks and the ocean, Cairns is one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations and has many attractions, including the Esplanade, a scenic railway which runs to the picturesque market town of Kuranda and a cable car that glides over Australia's World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforest canopy and deep into the forest. You have two full days to relax or explore.
Day 12: Cairns - Sydney.
Fly to Sydney for a three night stay.
Day 13: Sydney. Included sightseeing.
The capital of the state of New South Wales, Sydney is Australia's oldest and largest city, and boasts one of the largest and most beautiful harbours in the world, home to the instantly recognisable Sydney Harbour Bridge and world famous architectural wonder - the Sydney Opera House. In the morning our included sightseeing tour will take you through the commercial and shopping heart of Sydney. You'll see Chinatown and Darling Harbour before heading to historical Mrs Macquarie's Chair, where you will have a breathtaking view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. You'll also enjoy an included cruise around the main harbour, offering magnificent views of the city skyline, harbour side beaches and magnificent waterfront homes.
Day 14: Sydney.
A full day to see more of this wonderful city at leisure.
Day 15: Sydney - Canberra. Included sightseeing.
We travel through undulating sheep and cattle country to the outskirts of Canberra, where we will stop for a BBQ lunch at an authentic Australian sheep station. This afternoon tour Australia's gracious capital. Highlights include Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin, National Library, High Court and Australian War Memorial Museum. (L)
Day 16: Canberra - Albury.
We drive to Albury, which along with its twin settlement Wodonga, lies on the New South Wales and Victoria border, for an overnight stay.
Day 17: Albury - Melbourne.
This morning we travel to Melbourne for a three-night stay, stopping at the historic gold mining town of Beechworth on the way.
Day 18: Melbourne. Included sightseeing.
The capital of the State of Victoria and the second largest city in Australia. Melbourne's charm lies in the magnificently preserved Victorian architecture of its many public buildings and gracious homes. This morning our city tour will take in the main highlights, starting in the city centre, then on to the exclusive suburbs of South Yarra and Toorak and finally to the Westgate Bridge for panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay. Melbourne is perhaps best known for its fine parks and gardens, so why not spend your afternoon exploring the 'Garden City'?
Day 19: Melbourne.
A full day to relax and explore this fine and culture-full city at your own pace.
Day 20: Melbourne - UK.
Transfer to Melbourne airport for your overnight flight to the UK, via Singapore.
Day 21: Home landing in the UK.
Hotels On Tour
Perth: Mercure Perth; Ayers Rock: Outback Pioneer; Alice Springs: All Seasons Oasis; Cairns: The Lakes; Sydney: Wynyard Travelodge; Canberra: Novotel Canberra; Albury: Country Comfort Albury; Melbourne: Mercure Spring Street
Note: Tour hotels will be as specified or alternatives of a similar standard.
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