Sydney, the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef
from $3099 - 15 days/12 nights
Sydney is recognized as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and is best known for its outdoor lifestyle. Hop on a ferry for a harbor tour that will give you a great view of the city. Fly to Alice Springs in the heart of the Red Centre - Australia's last frontier. It's a perfect base for an outback experience, combining heritage and modern facilities. You'll then journey by motor coach to Uluru/Ayers Rock, a place steeped in the rich, mystical culture of its Aboriginal people. Cairns is in the center of the tropical north and is the perfect location for exploring the region. The Great Barrier Reef is the longest reef in the world and ideal for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving.
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 - Essentials Tour
Experience this miracle of architecture and engineering. Working with new, rich audio-visual components, where images are projected onto the fabric of the building, your guide will take you on an emotional journey, engrossing you in a story to rival any opera plot with its dramatic twists and turns.
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.
Australian Eco Adventures Blue Mountains tour
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.
"Wild Ways to See Sydney" combo
Let Australian Wild Escapes take you on a morning tour of Sydney, the city, its harbour, South Head and Bondi
Beach. You will be transferred to Sea Sydney Cruises, lunch on the vessel and
cruise like a local in the afternoon on your four hour Sydney Harbour cruise on Calypso, a 52 foot motor yacht.
Day 7 - Fly Sydney - Alice Springs
Alice Springs - It's Australia's Oasis, the capital of the Outback and the most romantic country town in the world. It's where the Arrernte Aboriginal tribal group have lived for 20,000 years and where pioneer men and women gave "tough" a new meaning.
Red Center - Further Afield - Recommendations
Days 8 - Alice Springs
Alice Springs at your leisure
Day 9 - Coach Alice Springs to Uluru
Travel through the vast desert landscapes of the Australian Outback. Stop to view Atila (Mt Conner) mesa rising above the desert plain. We continue on to the impressive Watarrka National Park, home of the remarkable formation of Kings Canyon and the George Gill Ranges. For the more energetic, take an early guided walk to the rim of Kings Canyon, enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the towering orange walls. Continue on to Uluru.
Days 10 - Uluru
Sunrise tour of Uluru and dinner under the stars.
Days 11 - Fly Uluru - 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 12 - 14 - Cairns
Explore Cairns 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.
Ocean Spirit Cruise
Luxury sailing catamaran to Michaelmas Cay, a picturesque vegetated Sand Cay encircled by a superb fringing reef. The Cay is a National Park and a protected sanctuary for migratory seabirds. Lunch is included. Enjoy four hours on the Reef where you can choose from a range of activities including snorkelling, semi-submersible tours and guided beach walks.
Cape Tribulation by Appointment
Privately guided explorations of Australia's Tropical Rainforests have been a specialty of Down Under by Appointment since they began touring over 20 years ago, with every itinerary tailor-made to suit each guest's interests, time frame and budget.
Day 15 - Depart for US
Package Inclusions
• Roundtrip Economy Class air from Los Angeles
• Add-on airfares available from other cities
• All domestic transportation in Australia
• 12 nights accommodation: 4 in Sydney, 2 in Alice Springs, 2 in Ayers Rock, 4 in Cairns
• Coach transfer from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock
Prices are per person based on double occupancy departures from Los
Angeles. Melbourne Cup, Grand Prix, Australian Open, Mardi Gras, Sydney
New Years Eve and other blackout periods will have surcharges. Tickets must be purchased by 31 December 2010 with travel complete by March 2011. Add $300 for New York departures.
Add-on fares are available from other cities. Seats are limited and may
not be available on every flight. Hotels are subject to availability.
US/foreign taxes/fees of approximately $330, including September 11th
Security Fee, are additional. After ticketing, no change is allowed on
outbound sector; inbound may be changed for $250. Cancellation penalties
and other restrictions apply.
