Australia in a week? No worries! Start your adventure in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, also known as Australia’s most stylish city, with a passion for food and wine, a vibrant arts scene and home to the nation’s major events and festivals. On Melbourne’s doorstep you’ll discover a microcosm of Australia, from wildlife to vineyards, and beaches to national parks. Must do’s whilst in Melbourne? Dine at one of the city’s internationally acclaimed restaurants, explore the labyrinth of laneways which are the heart of Melbourne’s café culture and meet unique Australian wildlife on Phillip Island. After your city fix, the Great Barrier Reef beckons, In Cairns explore the only place on earth where two World-Heritage areas meet, adventures are as diverse as gliding above the ancient rainforest one day, to snorkeling on the world’s largest coral reef the next.

• Roundtrip International Economy class flights - see pricing panel below for your departure city
• 3 nights Melbourne at the 5* Crown Metropol
• 3 nights Cairns at the 5* Riley
• All airport taxes & fuel surcharges
• Optional special offer sightseeing & transfers package for $549 per person additional includes: Half Day Melbourne Walking Tour, Full Day Phillip Island Penguin Parade Tour, Full Day Quicksilver Great Barrier Reef tour, Full Day Kuranda Scenic Rail& Skyrail tour and shuttle airport transfers in Melbourne & Cairns

Day 1 - Depart Los Angeles non-stop to Melbourne
Ask about our options with Premium Economy and Business class airfare.

Day 2 - Cross International Dateline

Day 3 - Arrive Melbourne
On arrival into Melbourne you will be transferred to the Crown Metropol by shuttle service. Enjoy 4 nights in exciting Melbourne – named the world’s most livable city for the sixth consecutive year.

ACCOMMODATION - Crown Metropol offers fresh, vibrant, modern and stylish accommodation. From the moment you take in the hotel's elegant form and enter the uniquely designed reception area, you will feel a sense of peace and calm that makes every visit to Crown Metropol a welcome escape from day-to-day life. Crown Metropol is conveniently located adjacent to the Crown Entertainment Complex, home to a 24 hour casino, more than 50 restaurants, cinemas, luxury and general fashion shopping and entertainment.

Wander through Melbourne’s labyrinth of connecting laneways and arcades, intimate spaces and mystery, as well as home to many of Melbourne’s bar, dining and shopping secrets. Melbourne also has a strong cultural and intellectual heritage. With a range of galleries and museums, the city provides a canvas for artistic expression – the laneways are home to constantly changing street art. Melburnians love a party, with the year-round calendar of events offering something for everyone, see live music, go to a football match or join in at a festival! Melbourne’s multicultural population contributes to the city’s unique atmosphere – and more importantly, the city’s incredible dining scene. With a vibrant energy and unique offerings, Melbourne’s lifestyle is sure to find something for all visitors to enjoy.

Day 4 - Melbourne - Recommended Optional Sightseeing tour: Lanes & Arcades walking tour
This morning Indulge with a casual small group guided walking tour 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 cafes and more. A little history and attention to amazing architecture will inspire locals and visitors alike. Get orientated and return to those places you like best in the afternoon, at your leisure.

Day 5 - Melbourne - Recommended Optional Sightseeing tour: Phillip Island Penguins Eco tour
Late morning depart Melbourne on your small group tour for Phillip Island. Get up close and personal with the friendly residents of Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, have your photo taken with a koala (small fee applies) and learn about the conservation of these amazing animals. This Eco-certified sanctuary showcases the famous and endangered faces of Australias wildlife, including the southern bettong, eastern quolls and rare fluffy gliders. From here we travel to historic Churchill Island, where you will see sheep shearing and working dogs in action. On Phillip Island we visit the stunning Cape Woolamai surf beach, see the Nobbies and Seal Rocks before arriving at the Penguin Parade where you will view the penguins from the "Penguins Plus" viewing platform; Home to Victorias largest colony of little penguins, Summerland Beach provides the backdrop to the world famous Penguin Parade. Watch as hundreds of little penguins make their way across the beach and return to their sand dune burrows.

Day 6 - Fly Melbourne to Cairns
Depart Melbourne on your flight to Cairns. Enjoy 3 nights in Tropical North Queensland. Get set for all that Cairns can throw your way. This tropical city is bustling with nightlife, restaurants, shopping and great places to stay. The majority of day tours depart from Cairns making it an ideal base to explore the best that Tropical North Queensland has to offer.

ACCOMMODATION - Opening in November 2018, Riley, a Crystalbrook Collection Resort, promises a fresh approach to hospitality. Guests can expect understated elegance, contemporary design and a splash of fun. Residing in a prime location at the northern end of the iconic Cairns waterfront boardwalk, Riley features 311 stylish rooms and suites, most with spacious balconies. Add to this a lagoon swimming pool spanning over 1,000 square metres with a private manmade beach, a day spa and a 24-hour fitness centre and you're on your way to a truly great stay.

Day 7 - Cairns - Recommended Optional Sightseeing tour: Full day Great Barrier Reef tour
Transfer to Port Douglas via one of Australia's most scenic highways. Travel aboard Quicksilver's 45.5-meter-high speed wave piercing catamaran in air-conditioned comfort to a spacious reef activity platform moored in protective lagoons at the renowned Agincourt Reef, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Quicksilver has facilities to enable both swimmers and non-swimmers to experience this stunning reef world. Explore the reef from the comfort of a semi-submersible, the underwater observatory or by snorkeling. A range of optional activities are available including up to two dives for certified divers, and novices can experience the magic of scuba with a qualified dive instructor or an Oceanwalker helmet dive. Also available are guided snorkeling tours with a marine biologist and scenic helicopter flights over the reef (all optional activities at own expense).

Day 8 - Cairns - Recommended Optional Sightseeing tour: Full day Kuranda Scenic Rail & Skyrail tour
Heard the saying its as much about the journey as the destination? Nowhere proves this better than the Kuranda Scenic Rail and Skyrail Tour. Board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for this breathtaking journey on one of the world's most scenic train routes, taking you through hand-hewn tunnels and across bridges with amazing views, including a stop at Barron Gorge. After arriving in Kuranda, your Kuranda Boarding Pass offers discounted entry into selected attractions as well as a detailed map of Kuranda. Depart Kuranda aboard the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, for the world's most beautiful rainforest experience. Glide over and through the rainforest canopy and take advantage of the two stops enroute

Day 9 - Depart Cairns
This morning depart Cairns and board your flight back to Los Angeles or next destination within Australia.

request a quote or virtual appointment

Note: Daily departures, this package is an independent itinerary with flexible departures (not a group tour)

Single Supplement: From $599

ETA to enter Australia $25 per person. Before committing to your trip please ensure you hold a valid passport with at least six months’ validity from the date you plan to return to the USA.

Read More about Australian ETA

Add on airfares (coach) available from most major airports - Add $200 from San Francisco, Add $250 from Dallas, Seattle, add $300 from New York, Denver, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, add $400 from Boston, Miami, Add $450 from Washington DC, Atlanta - ask an Aspire consultant for a quote from your local airport.

• Upgrade to premium economy from $700 per person each way*
• Upgrade to business class from $2,000 per person each way*
Can take the upgrade one way or round trip and combine premium/business classes on same ticket

* Starting from pricing based on Monday through Thursday departures - ask an Aspire consultant for the upgrade fee for travel Friday through Sunday

• Internal Australia flight to/from Sydney
• 4 nights accommodation at the 5* Amora Jamison Hotel Sydney
• Half day small group city sights of Sydney
• Sydney Harbour morning tea cruise
• Sydney Opera House tour
• Full day small group tour to the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains

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• Flights from Sydney or Melbourne round trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock)
• Complimentary resort transfers
• 2 nights accommodation Ayers Rock at the 4* Desert Gardens Hotel
• Field of Light Star Pass - discuss additional Field of Light touring options with an Aspire expert
• Uluru Morning highlights Sunrise small group tour

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• Internal Australia flights to Adelaide
• 3 nights Adelaide at the 4* Peppers Waymouth Hotel
• Full Day Kangaroo Island 4WD small group tour including lunch
• Full Day Barossa Valley small group wine tour including lunch

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Terms & Conditions:

Package from pricing is based on double occupancy (2 people sharing a room) for travel Monday - Thursday. For economy air: $60 supplement applies each way for travel on Friday - Sunday; For Premium air: $125 supplement applies each way for travel Friday-Sunday. $50 per person supplement applies for a Saturday night stay at the Crown Metropol Hotel Melbourne. Add-on fares are available from other cities. Certain blackout dates apply on the accommodation and tour value add offers - check with your Aspire consultant. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels are subject to availability. All prices reflect a discount for purchases made by check/wire transfer, please see terms and conditions for credit card payments. There are no discounts for payment made by credit cards. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply. An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required to enter Australia; Aspire Down Under can process the ETA on your behalf for a processing fee of $25 per person. A valid passport with at least six months validity is required.