Australian Highlights - Solo Tour

Australian Highlights

Tick off many of Australia's most famous sights on an incredible journey Down Under from Sydney to Melbourne. Sydney's highlights are equally thrilling, with Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, all part of your tour here. Prepare to be dazzled by the paradise beaches of Port Stephens and stop to admire Byron Bay's iconic lighthouse as you travel along the stunning Gold Coast to Brisbane. Your next destination is Cairns, where you'll board a catamaran for a thrilling cruise on the Great Barrier Reef. More iconic sights await in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with sunrise and sunset visits to the giant monolith Uluru within your reach, as well as the chance to view Aboriginal rock art. We'll continue to explore Australia's Red Centre and stop in Alice Springs, where the Flying Doctor Base and the School of the Air are two sightseeing highlights. You'll then travel to Adelaide, where a tour is followed by a tasting of wines in the famed Barossa Valley. Take a scenic journey along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to Melbourne and opt to visit Phillip Island to watch the charming penguin parade.

What's Included:

• Use of an airport lounge in the UK
• 23 meals: 19 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners including welcome drink
• Just You Tour Manager as your host & Specialist Local Guide
• 20 nights in 3 & 4-star hotels plus 2 nights in flight
• Overseas transfers, internal flights, other transportation & porterage
• Return flights from London

• A guaranteed twin or double room of your own

  Included Holiday Highlights:

• Sydney's iconic sights
• Discover Brisbane
• See the Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
• Discover Adelaide
• Discover Melbourne
• Visit to Port Stephens
• Great Barrier Reef catamaran cruise
• Tour of Alice Springs
• Visit Barossa Valley including lunch & wine-tasting
• Byron Bay's iconic lighthouse
• Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunrise & sunset
• Authentic Aussie bush barbecue
• Journey along the Great Ocean Road

Days 1 & 2:

Today, make your own way to the airport for your flight to Sydney, arriving in the early hours of day 3.

Day 3: Sydney

On arrival in Sydney early this morning, we'll transfer you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, settling in and exploring this vibrant city at your own pace.​

Day 4: Sydney

Our included sightseeing tour will show you Sydney's highlights, including the world-famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House, which dominate the vast and picturesque harbour. Other memorable sights include Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. This huge sandstone rock was hand-carved by convicts in the shape of a bench for Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth, in 1810. It's a great vantage point, so take a few minutes to enjoy the view. This evening, get to know your travelling companions better over a welcome drink and dinner.​

Day 5: Sydney - at leisure

If you choose to join today's optional excursion, you've a full day of thrills ahead. You head through the Blue Mountains, past the Three Sisters rock formation and along Jamieson Valley - Australia's answer to the Grand Canyon. Finally, you'll visit Scenic World, where you can opt to take a journey on the world's steepest incline railway into ancient rainforest, or enjoy a cable-car ride over the valley.​

Day 6: Sydney - at leisure

You can choose from a couple of exciting optional excursions today. If you've a head for heights, you could take in exceptional views of Sydney Harbour and the surrounding area on a guided Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. Don't worry, you'll get a safety briefing beforehand and will wear a harness at all times. At the end you'll receive a group photo, a cap, certificate and a pass to the Pylon Lookout for further sweeping views. Another option is to step beneath the sails and enjoy a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. You'll learn about the history of the building, uncover stories about artists and the shows performed here and have an opportunity to visit areas usually off limits to the general public.​

Day 7: Sydney - Port Stephens - Port Macquarie

We've a lovely journey along the coast this morning as we leave Sydney behind and head to Port Stephens. This idyllic coastal resort, known as the 'blue water paradise', is home to white-sand beaches, picturesque bays lapped by turquoise seas, and immense sand dunes. Enjoy some time at leisure here, lazing on the beach or maybe you'll choose to head off on an optional dolphin-watching cruise. Later, we'll continue to Port Macquarie.​

Day 8: Port Macquarie - Brisbane

This morning, we'll take to the road once again, making our way along the coast to Byron Bay, famous for its beautiful beaches and laid-back surf culture. We'll stop here to admire its iconic lighthouse, which sits on a rocky headland. We'll then continue along the stunning Gold Coast, renowned for its fabulous beaches, and on to Brisbane.​

Day 9: Brisbane - at leisure

You can spend today at leisure in Brisbane, or you could choose to join an optional excursion to North Stradbroke Island. Fondly known as Straddie by the locals, it is the world's second largest sand island at about 38km long and 11km wide. You can relax on the beach, or maybe head off on a bush walk, keeping an eye out for resident wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas and kookaburras - the largest member of the kingfisher family.​

Day 10: Brisbane - Cairns

Enjoy a morning tour of Brisbane, Queensland's cosmopolitan capital, which boasts spectacular architecture and is set on the Brisbane River. This afternoon we'll fly to Cairns, where we'll stay, it's your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef!

Day 11: Great Barrier Reef

Today you have the chance to explore a whole new world on an included trip by catamaran to the outer Great Barrier Reef. Marine life comes incredibly close to the vessel, and you can experience the reef without getting wet from the comfort of a semi-submersible or an underwater observatory. Of course, you can also go snorkelling in this amazing underwater world – all the equipment and guidance you need is provided, as well as lunch.​

Day 12: Cairns - at leisure

On this free day you can simply relax and soak up the sun. However, if you want to see more, a ride on the Kuranda Railway is an option to see the Atherton Tablelands. Your first stop will be the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, where you'll glide over and through heritage rainforest. After free time in the village of Kuranda, you'll take a journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, with the Barron Falls just one of the incredible highlights.

Day 13: Cairns - Uluru

This morning we'll fly to Ayers Rock, or Uluru, situated in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This huge sandstone monolith, which is two miles long, 1,000ft high and measures six miles around the base, is a majestic sight and one of the world's most treasured natural wonders. It is a wondrous sight at any time of day, but even more so at sunrise and sunset, when its colours change dramatically. You will have the chance to admire Uluru at both of these magical times. This evening you can enjoy an optional visit to the impressive Field of Light installation.

Day 14: ​Uluru - Alice Springs

We will visit Uluru as the sun rises this morning. We will also have the very special opportunity to step into some of the caves in the base of the rock and admire the fascinating Aboriginal art that graces the walls. Off in the distance you will spot the mysterious Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas, a range of 36 spectacular rock domes. Later we'll take to the road and journey to the outback town of Alice Springs.

Day 15: Alice Springs

A fascinating tour today will introduce you to the Flying Doctor Base and the old Telegraph Station, the original site of the first European settlement in central Australia, which is now a museum. Depending on timings we'll also visit the famous School of the Air. This evening attend an Aussie bush barbecue - a fantastic included highlight where you can sample traditional cuisine. This is an authentic experience that really sums up the spirit of the Australian Outback. The fun starts at sunset as we take to the road to try to spot kangaroos. Before you eat you can try your hand at boomerang throwing, and afterwards you can indulge in a spot of stargazing.​

Day 16: Alice Springs - Adelaide

Your tour now continues as we fly to Adelaide, South Australia's cosmopolitan capital.

Day 17: Adelaide

We'll start the day with a tour of Adelaide's main highlights, including the cricket and football stadium, the Adelaide Oval, broad expanses of lush parkland and the imposing St Peter's Cathedral. Next, we continue to the Barossa Valley, which is famous for its wines. At the Jacobs Creek visitor centre we'll stop for a tasting and lunch. We'll also taste wines at the award-winning Wolf Blass winery.​

Day 18: Adelaide - Warrnambool

We'll depart Adelaide today and travel further along the coast to Warrnambool.​

Day 19: Warrnambool - Melbourne

Your journey to Melbourne today takes you along one of the most spectacular coastal routes in the world, the Great Ocean Road. As you go you'll see the Twelve Apostles, although only eight of these towering limestone stacks remain, the Arch and many other fantastic rock formations.

Day 20: Melbourne

Enjoy a tour of Melbourne this morning. Highlights include Federation Square, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Flinders Street Station and the Grand Prix Circuit that circles Albert Park Lake. Another stop is Fitzroy Gardens, which features pathways lined with towering elms, colourful floral displays and the Fairies' Tree sculpture - a centuries-old tree stump featuring delightful carvings​.

Day 21: Melbourne - at leisure

You can spend a further day at leisure, making your own discoveries. Alternatively, you might be tempted to join an optional excursion to Phillip Island to see the remarkable penguin parade. At sunset, after a hard day's fishing, hundreds of these delightful creatures - the world's smallest penguin - appear from out of the ocean and waddle their way across the beach to their sand dune burrows. You can take in this marvellous spectacle from special viewing stands and boardwalks, which give you the chance to get up close to nature.

Day 22 & 23: Melbourne - UK

Enjoy time at leisure before your return flight to the UK, arriving the next day.