Best Of Australia: Sydney, Great… (trip)

Best Of Australia: Sydney, Great Barrier Reef & Melbourne

  • Sydney Airport, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Culture & Nature
Australia, Australia and Pacific

from $2,749* per person15 DaysMarch
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Aspire Down Under 24 people max
If you like to be where the action is, you can’t beat Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is a modern, vibrant city with something for everyone: climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for spectacular views, swim at a famous beach or take yourself on an exciting shopping expedition. Melbourne's beautiful parks and gardens, mixed with fine Victorian architecture, elegant tree lined boulevards, modern skyscrapers and diverse shopping and cuisine make for an unforgettable stay. Fly to Cairns and journey an hour north to Port Douglas. Relax in this wonderful North Queensland town which is also the gateway to an amazing selection of touring options encompassing the Reef, the Outback and the Rainforest.

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Australia, Australia and Pacific

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Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart US

Day 2 - Cross International Date Line

Day 3 - Arrive Sydney
Blessed with a temperate climate, Sydney is Australia’s favorite city with the world’s most beautiful harbor. The harbor provides a playground for jet boating, sailing, swimming, harbor scenic flights, dining, fishing, climbing the harbor bridge and sightseeing at the Opera House. Take a stroll through The Rocks, the site of the first European settlement. Don’t miss The Rocks markets held every Saturday & Sunday. Be entertained with great street theatre and music while you browse for Australian arts & crafts. Circular Quay is the gateway to the harbor and the starting point for most of Sydney’s harbor cruises and passenger ferries. Familiarize yourself with the harbor by taking one of the many cruises on offer or jump on a passenger ferry to Taronga Zoo or Manly beach. Sydney’s shopping is second to none with its endless selection of boutiques, markets and malls. Unique Australian specialty shops reside at The Rocks and Darling harbor’s Shopping Centre and a visit to the Queen Victoria Building in the city center is a must. Dining out at one of the many fabulous harbor side restaurants is a must. Fresh produce, great views, inspiring chefs and a multicultural flavor turn a meal into a gastronomic delight.

Days 4 - 6 - Sydney
Explore Sydney at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

Sydney Opera House - Tour & Tasting Plate
Go on a spectacular tour inside the Opera house where you will see inside the great halls and venues and discover the stories, magic and history of this magnificent World Heritage site. After exploring inside, relax and unwind at Sydney’s newest dining spot, Opera Kitchen,* home to Sydney’s best chefs, food artisans and producers. Be treated to a three-tier gourmet Tasting Plate for two or Japanese Bento Tower for two and soak in the Sydney Harbour view.

Sydney - Essentials Tour
Observatory Hill, Manly, North Head for unrivalled views, lunch at the magnificent Botanical gardens, Mrs Macquarie’s chair,  Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Bondi Beach and Paddington. Starts 1030am, finish 330pm, perfect for day of arrival from US or as the perfect half day tour.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
BridgeClimb is a 3.5 hour adventure and an experience that will never be forgotten on one of the world's most modern wonders - The Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Blue Mountains Eco Adventure
Breakfast with the Koalas at Featherdale Wildlife Park, Complete circle loop of the Blue Mountains, Short walks to explore the remote regions with stunning views Lunch, Visit to Scenic World Attractions, Champagne with Wild Kangaroos.

This morning enjoy a small vehicle city sights tour experiencing all the highlights of Sydney. At Lunchtime board Calypso, a luxurious 52 foot Motor Yacht. This afternoon sit on the expansive sunbeds and be mesmerized by the multi million dollar homes, the spectacular city sights including the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge before dropping anchor in your own private cove for your barbecue lunch.

Boutique Wildlife Tours
Venture into the Australian Bush in search of Australia’s iconic native animals - Koalas, Kangaroos, Platypus, Emus & Wombats. Small group luxury 4WD to pristine bushland in the Southern Highlands, just 90 minutes south of Sydney.

Day 7 - Fly Sydney - Cairns
Cairns is the colorful capital of Tropical North Queensland and the major gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The city is a gateway to an amazing selection of touring options encompassing the Reef, the Outback and the Rainforest. Take the Skyrail gondola to the market town of Kuranda and return to Cairns via the Kuranda scenic railway through lush rainforest. A visit to the Tjupukai Aboriginal Park is a must to learn of the local Aboriginal tribes and culture. The exclusive resort of Palm Cove lies 20 minutes north of Cairns, with hotels set on an esplanade behind a pristine palm fringed beach. An hour north of Cairns brings you to Port Douglas, the closest town to the Great Barrier Reef with Rainforest clad mountains sweeping down to sparkling sandy beaches

Days 8 - 10 - Port Douglas
Explore Tropical North Queensland at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

Kuranda, Rail, Skyrail & Tjapukai
Kuranda Scenic Rail to Kuranda, Barron River & Stoney Creek Falls, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park which includes indigenous guide , entrance to all Theatres, the famous Tjapukai Dancers, boomerang/spear throwing & bush medicine.

Silversonic Outer Barrier Reef
Silversonic is a 29 metre luxury catamaran custom designed for small groups of adventure minded people to revel in the thrill of diving and snorkelling. With over five hours to explore the delights of this underwater world, visit 3 different outer reef locations at Agincourt Reef on the very outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef

Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tour
Join one of the Kubirri Warra brothers on their beach, mudflat and mangrove walk. Learn how to throw a spear, hunt whilst stalking and observing wildlife, the country and how to track coastal resources. The brothers share some of their extensive knowledge of this special area and how they care for their country.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon
Before lift off see the spectacle of how a hot air balloon inflates and then take off to gently float over gum trees.  Enjoy a 30 minute balloon flight and experience the wonder, romance and silence of the Australian bush.  Look out for kangaroos and enjoy the balloon festival atmosphere.

RnR White Water Rafting
Commence a full day Tully River rafting tour. Travel by coach to the headwaters of the Tully River to experience the thrill and exhilaration of continuous whitewater on a grade 4 river. Spend up to five hours rafting down river through world heritage rainforest over 45 rapids under the guidance of an experienced, fully trained river guide.

Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation
Travel north along the scenic coastal road, crossing the Daintree River for a morning tea stop at the Daintree Discovery Centre. Take a guided boardwalk through the rainforest before continuing to Cape Tribulation Beach where time is allowed for a beach walk or to relax in a tranquil setting. Enjoy a delicious lunch in a rainforest setting. A stop is then made at the Alexandra Lookout for panoramic views out to sea and the mouth of the Daintree river, followed by a cruise to observe the fauna and flora of this region.

Jungle Surf - Daintree Rainforest
Rainforest has more strata than any other terrestrial ecosystem, and can only be truly appreciated by getting up into the canopy. With its low-impact system of platforms and cables, Jungle Surfing offers unparalleled access to the heart of the Daintree from the bustling forest floor to the giants that tower above the canopy.

Day 11 - Fly Cairns - Melbourne
Capital of the state of Victoria, is attractively set on the shores of Port Philip Bay. Famous for its beautiful parks and gardens, mixed with fine Victorian architecture, elegant tree lined boulevards and modern skyscrapers. Explore the city by tram and absorb the atmosphere of Australia’s cultural capital in the many arts galleries and museums or take a cruise on the Yarra River. Visit the Victorian Arts Center and the National Gallery of Victoria. Also the sporting capital of Australia, Melbourne hosts major annual events such as the Australian Open Tennis, Australia Formula One Grand Prix, the AFL Grand Final and the Melbourne Cup. Dining out in Melbourne is a direct reflection of the city’s diverse ethnicity with an abundance of Greek, Italian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and Malaysian restaurants. Don’t miss Lygon Street with its abundance of Italian restaurants.

Days 12 - 14 - Melbourne
Explore Melbourne at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

Great Ocean Road
Known as the worlds most inspiring coastal drive, follow its winding trail through the lush Otway rainforests, to the breathtaking, windswept drama of the Shipwreck Coast. For much of the way the road clings to the coastline, twisting and turning, every bend revealing a sight more spectacular than the last.

Phillip Island - Penguins, Koalas, Wildlife
A fascinating afternoon/eveing tour to Phillip Island stopping enroute at the Koala Conservation Center. Each evening at dusk Little Penguins arrive in groups on the beach after a day of fishing. See them waddle their way into the dunes where their burrow nests are situated.

Half Day Lanes & Arcades tour
Indulge with a casual walk through Melbourne's lanes and arcades in small groups to engage in the life of this city which many miss. Discover local designers and specialty retailers, tiny cafés and more. A little history and attention to amazing architecture will inspire locals and visitors alike. Lunch is included. Get orientated and return to those places you like best in the afternoon, at your leisure.

Yarra Valley Wine Experience
Learn how to swirl, sniff and slurp, then you’ll be ready to taste some of the Yarra's best wines, Yering Station’s award winning classic Australian wine, Rochford Wines with traditional wine making methods in their cellar door and French Champagne company Moet & Chandon's Australian production house -Domaine Chandon

"Undertsanding the Real Melbourne" half day Tour
Hear stories of the early Indigenous history and how this history is reflected in modern day Melbourne.  Take a drive through The Golden Mile, past the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House, Royal Exhibition Building and the beach at St Kilda. Choice between a stroll through some of Melbourne's iconic laneways, an indigenous river walk with a descendant of the local tribe, or try your hand in the kitchen with an indigenous cooking class.  Lunch at a restaurant is included.

Day 15 - Depart Melbourne for US




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