9-Nights Australia Highlights: Sydney, Uluru, Cairns — CALL

Avanti Destinations

OFFER ID 1523497

Australia Highlights
Experience all the diversity that Australia has to offer with this exciting and challenging itinerary. Enjoy the beauty of Australia's east coast, first with a stay in cosmopolitan Sydney, touring their iconic Opera House, plus an excursion into the Blue Mountains National Park. Then fly to Ayers Rock, gazing at one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, the sacred rock of Uluru. You'll visit Kata Tjuta; a Cultural Center to view locally made Aboriginal art and learn more about the mystical Western Desert region. Arrive in Cairns, the gateway to the stunning Great Barrier Reef, and enjoy a personalized day on two of their exclusive reefs. In addition, there will be an interpretative walk through the rainforest in World Heritage Daintree National Park.

Includes:

Private Arrival and Departure Transfer per city
3 Nights Sydney
Small Group Morning Panoramic Sydney Tour - 4 Hours
Small Group Blue Mountains Deluxe Experience with Lunch from Sydney - 10 Hours
Shared The Sydney Opera House Tour 1 Hour Tour Time
2 Nights Uluru
Shared A Night at Field of Light Tour with Dinner from Uluru - 4.5 Hours
4 Nights Cairns
Shared Outer Barrier Reef Cruise from Cairns - 9 Hours

9 nights | Call for pricing

Itinerary

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Itinerary Details

Avanti Destinations: Australia Highlights

Day 1 Sydney
Upon arriving at Sydney Airport, meet your driver for a private transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore on your own.

Centrally Located Hotel In Sydney,

Day 2 Sydney
After breakfast, meet your guide for a Panoramic Sydney half day city sights tour. On tour youll visit the historic Rocks area and hear early convict history. Enjoy magnificent views of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. You'll pass thorough shopping heart of the city, QVB, and Center Point. Then visit Sydneys trendy new district Oxford Street, before heading to Paddington with its terrace. Arriving at the Pacific Ocean, enjoy the superb coast cliff walk around Tamarama and Bronte. You'll stop at the famous Bondi Beach and the beachfront promenade to enjoy a coffee, tea or cool drink (optional). See bronzed Aussie lifesavers and Sydneys best panoramic view at Dover Heights. Return to Sydney via Double Bay, Kings Cross and Mrs Macquaries Point for a final magical viewpoint over the harbor before returning to the city center. Later in the afternoon, take a tour of the Sydney Opera House*; One of the most photographed buildings in the world, known for its unique use of a series of gleaming white sail shaped shells, and is Sydney's best known landmark. Experience this miracle of architecture and engineering that has become one of the busiest performing arts centers in the world. Working with new, rich audio visual components, where images are projected onto the fabric of the building our guides will take you on an emotional journey, engrossing you in a story to rival any opera plot with its dramatic twists and turns, and visit at least one of their venues, where some 1,500 performances, from opera to circus, rock and cabaret, are staged each year.

Centrally Located Hotel In Sydney, B

Day 3 Sydney
An adventurous awaits you with an excursion to the Blue Mountains National Park; one of seven national parks that make up the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Our first stop of the day is at Calmsley Hill, an interactive farm, home to Kangaroos, Emus, Wombats and Koalas. Enjoy morning tea and time to wander at leisure. From Calmsley Hill you'll continue to ascend the Blue Mountains via the highway, and visit one of a range of stunning outlooks of the Jamison Valley seeing beautiful vistas. The tour continues to Eaglehawk Lookout, a remote lookout points away from the crowds for views of the famous Three Sisters. You'll reach the village of Blackheath and our lunch venue: the Hydro Majestic. Here in this relaxed venue with stunning views, enjoy a 2 course lunch with tea/coffee*. The afternoon is spent visiting a selection of lookouts, including Govetts Leap; of the most famous lookouts in Australia. The magnificent waterfall drops a whopping 590 ft to the base of the cliff, and you'll be transfixed by the sweeping views down the valley to the Grose Wilderness. There will be a brief stop to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice at the delightful Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens before returning to your hotel late afternoon. *All diets are catered for (excluding Kosher Meals), and beverages can be purchased from the bar.

Centrally Located Hotel In Sydney, B, L

Day 4 Uluru
After breakfast, meet your driver for a private transfer to the airport and your 3 hour plus flight to Ayers Rock (now called Uluru). Upon arrival, you'll have a private transfer to your hotel. After checking in, the remainder of the day is free for relaxing or exploring on your own. This evening A Night at Field of Light* experience begins with a convenient hotel pick up and transfer to the remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru. With Uluru as the backdrop, guests enjoy canaps and chilled sparkling wine to the sounds of a didgeridoo as the sun slowly sets. As darkness gradually falls and the colored lights of the 50,000 glass spheres come to life, guests enjoy local Indigenous performance, welcoming them to this unique country, before being invited to join their fellow travelers at their dinner table for a special three course bush tucker inspired buffet menu. A knowledgeable guide will provide insights and background to the monumental installation, and guests are invited to immerse themselves and walk through Field of Light. After dinner guests are welcomed back at the dune viewing area to enjoy a sweet treat, hot chocolate or port, while viewing the illuminated installation in the darkness. * For all Field of Light touring products, long pants and enclosed shoes are strongly recommended for all guests. The experience involves walking up and down a sand dune and a walk through Field of Light on an unsealed track. For your safety and any possible encounter with Australian wildlife, it's strongly suggested that appropriate clothing is worn. Tripods are not permitted, nor the sale of any images of the installation.

Centrally Located Hotel In Uluru, B, D

Day 5 Uluru
Your morning is at your leisure. In the afternoon, meet your guide for the Uluru Sacred Site Tour. Your first stop will be the Kata Tjuta Cultural Center, set among red sand dunes and desert oak trees and providing a peaceful desert setting. The site is located far enough away from the resort lights to provide a clear view of the stars in the southern sky. Your guide will provide more information about this mystical region, and if one is interested, locally made Aboriginal art can be purchased. Later, you'll travel around the base of Uluru to learn about the native flora, fauna and intriguing cultural traditions of traditional owners, the Anangu, and discover an array of fascinating sacred sites. Join your guide for a walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. You'll explore a number of caves and view Aboriginal rock paintings as your guide interprets their meaning and significance. Then travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area, Sunset Strip and relax with a glass of wine and snacks as the sun sets over the western horizon.

Centrally Located Hotel In Uluru, B

Day 6 Cairns
After breakfast, you'll have a private transfer to the airport, and your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival, take a private transfer to your hotel, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Centrally Located Hotel In Cairns, B

Day 7 Cairns
An early breakfast before your full day Outer Reef Tour. Enjoy a personalized day on the Great Barrier Reef with a friendly crew dedicated to making your trip memorable. Experience the adventure of snorkeling, diving and sailing on this fun filled adventure. The 3 feet high performance catamaran will have a selection of more than 12 exclusive outer reef locations to choose from. Each day, your guides select the two best sites suited to the weather conditions to give you the best possible experience. Your day includes morning and afternoon teas, a hot and cold buffet luncheon, a Marine Naturalist presentation, and all snorkeling gear. Your guided snorkel tour will offer opportunities to swim with turtles, colorful fish, and see an amazing variety of corals. What to Bring: hat, sunscreen, bathing gear, sunglasses, towel, etc

Centrally Located Hotel In Cairns, B, L

Day 8 Cairns
Today, enjoy a fun, exclusive full day tour. You'll join in a real Aboriginal cultural experience, combined with the pristine natural beauty of the World Heritage site, Daintree National Park. Head north and enjoy the stunning coastal views from the Captain Cook Highway on your way to Cooya Beach; the traditional hunting ground of the Kuku Yalanji. Meet with the Kubirri Warra brothers who follow the traditions of their ancestors. The brothers will teach you how to throw a spear and demonstrate how to hunt for fish, mud crabs and mussels. Learn about bush tucker and medicines. Enjoy home made damper, tea, coffee and taste what you have caught on the balcony of their family home overlooking the ocean. Then travel to Mossman Gorge where you are welcomed with a traditional 'smoking' ceremony, conducted by Aboriginal people before a delicious lunch at the Maya cafe. After lunch wander into the lush rainforest of the Daintree Rainforest Mossman Gorge; home of the Kuku Yulangi people. An easy going walk is along boardwalks, tracks and bridges protecting the delicate eco system that adorns spectacular waterfalls and mountain ranges. Your guide will explain the rich flora and fauna and eco system of this amazing rainforest. Bring your swimsuits so you can make the most of the beautiful private swimming hole that is encased in the rainforest. At the end of your day of discovery, you'll return to your hotel at approximately 6:30pm.

Centrally Located Hotel In Cairns, B

Day 9 Cairns
Today is at your leisure, or you can choose an optional tour. One of the more popular tours is the Cairns Aquarium by Night with Dinner. Follow the journey of a drop of rain as it descends from the mountain ranges down into rivers and streams, through the rainforest, across the mangroves, into the shallows of the reef and finally into the depths of the Coral Sea. Travel through ten amazing North Queensland ecosystems with over 70 different habitats showcasing the stunning diversity of the species from two world heritage listed areas the wet tropics rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Guests will have guaranteed interaction with the spectacular beauty of over 15,000 aquatic animals without the need to get wet or even leave the city!

Centrally Located Hotel In Cairns, B

Day 10 Cairns
After breakfast, make your way to the airport and on to your next Avanti Destination!

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Featured Destinations

Uluru

The world's largest monolith, located 280 mi/450 km southwest of Alice Springs, is a truly stunning sight, especially at sunset when its burnt-orange glow seems to set the desert on fire. Called Uluru by the Aborigines, the sandstone rock is huge (1,140 ft/350 m high, 9 mi/13 km around) and reddish brown most of the time, taking its color from iron oxide, or rust. Its presence is made more powerful by the mostly barren plain that surrounds it and disappears into the horizon. In 1985, ownership of the rock was returned to its traditional owners. It is rarely referred to as Ayers Rock anymore.

Considered sacred by the Aborigines for thousands of years, the rock is now part of the expansive Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. The park includes the Olgas/Kata Tjuta, a cluster of 36 giant domelike rock formations about 20 mi/35 km west. If you want to visit both, plan to spend at least one night. You'll want to see Uluru at both sunset and sunrise. The Olgas are equally magnificent at both times of day. (But be prepared to jockey for position at either place; tour buses disgorge hundreds of visitors laden with binoculars, cameras and video equipment.)

Start your visit to the park with a stop at the cultural center. Run by the Anangu (a local Aboriginal clan), the center is a wonderful introduction to the unusual rock formations and to the people who lived in their harsh shadows for centuries. Aboriginal artwork and artifacts are on display. You can also see re-enactments of life in the bush and watch informative videos. Most visitors explore the rock as part of a tour led by park rangers, Anangu guides or private tour companies. But you can also pick up a printed walking guide at the cultural center and set off on your own.

Only one trail leads to the top of the rock, and it's fairly steep—those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, asthma, fear of heights or the like should remain earthbound. The Anangu prefer you walk around—not on—the rock because of its spiritual importance. If you do decide to climb it, allow two to three hours and take along a snack and plenty of water. The view from the top is spectacular, but hiking around the base is more educational and less strenuous. We suggest taking one or more of the shorter walks that pass water holes and rock paintings, allowing you to observe the rock's many faces at a leisurely pace. (Walking around the entire base of the rock takes about three hours.)

Allow at least an afternoon to visit the Olgas/Kata Tjuta. A frequent debate among visitors is whether the Olgas outshine the rock. It's a close call—the Olgas are taller, reaching 1,790 ft/545 m at the highest point. Made of conglomerate (pebbles and boulders cemented together by mud and sand), they are off-limits to climbers, but you can explore some of the valleys and chasms between the rocks.

Most visitors fly to Uluru or drive from Alice Springs. About the only place to stay in the area is the Ayers Rock Resort, or Yulara, whose five hotels and a campground can accommodate visitors in all price ranges. Longitude 131 is a magnificent safari camp with 15 luxury tents. Dozens of tours leave from Ayers Rock Resort, including sunrise camel rides around the rock, sunset champagne dinners in the desert, Aboriginal culture tours and stargazing. You can also rent a car there and explore on your own.

Because of the excessive heat in summer, the best time to visit is April-November (winter in Australia). Always take along plenty of drinking water. If you are flying to the Outback, we suggest going overland one way from Alice Springs (four to five hours) but flying the other way—the desert drive is scenic, but it can be tedious the second time around. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru.

Cairns

Sydney

Sydney

Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.

Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:

1. Explore the historic Rocks

Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the world-famous harbour

Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry

Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington

Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee

Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

10/31/2023 - 12/31/2025

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* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

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Length

9 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Land Only - All prices are per person based on double occupancy; price subject to availability; and does not include airfare. Price may vary depending on choice of accommodations and can change without notice. Pricing not available during holidays and trade fair dates. Note: Land Only-Price is Per Person based on double occupancy. Airfare not included in price. Availability and price may change at any time and without prior notice and will be unavailable on certain holidays.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1523497

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