In 13 Days, experience the diverse yet equally breathtaking cities and natural wonders Australia offers with cosmopolitan Sydney, majestic Ayers Rock, and the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef & Daintree Rainforest. This independent daily departure trip includes flights, 4.5* accommodations, transfers, and small group tours. Experiences abound with wildlife encounters, and indigenous culture delivered by Australia’s best guides. Itinerary customization and Air Upgrade options for Premium & business class are available.

• Roundtrip International Qantas Economy Class Flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York JFK (domestic US flights can be added at an additional cost)
• Internal Australia flights
• Four nights in Sydney at the 4.5* Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
• Half-day small group city sights of Sydney
• Sydney Harbour cruise
• Sydney Opera House tour
• Two nights Ayers Rock at the 4* Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel
• Field of Light Star Pass
• Uluru 4WD small group sunrise tour
• Four nights in Port Douglas at the 4.5* Shantara Resort Port Douglas
• Full-Day Great Barrier Reef tour, including lunch
• Half-Day Mossman Gorge & Aboriginal cultural tour
• Private car service transfers in Melbourne & Sydney
• Shuttle airport transfers in Cairns
• All airport taxes & fuel surcharges

Day 1 - Depart US
Qantas is the number one way to travel to Australia, and your vacation begins the second you step onboard a Qantas flight with Australia, just a movie, meal, sleep away. With over 95 years of experience in long-haul travel, Qantas strives to ensure every passenger in every cabin has the most comfortable and authentic experience. Qantas offers direct service from Los Angeles, San Francisco & Dallas Fort Worth - addon fares with American Airlines available from other cities.

The Qantas onboard experience has a class for every passenger from First suites, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins offering the best comfort, Australian food and wine, amenities, and exceptional service. In addition, all cabins experience the latest in-flight entertainment and technology, including premium content from HBO, new movie releases, TV programs, and an extensive music library with over 1500 entertainment choices.

Day 2 - Cross International Date Line

Day 3 - Arrive Sydney
Welcome to Australia! On arrival in Sydney, you will be met in the arrivals hall by your driver and transferred by car service to the Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney for your four nights stay.

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.

Image: Tourism Australia

ACCOMMODATION - Stay four nights in the Heart of Sydney; The Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney features stylish accommodations, along with a contemporary restaurant & bar, day spa, indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, Wifi, and 24-hour room service. An easy walk to Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Queen Victoria Building, and only a few minutes from Wynyard train station make Amora one of Sydney's most desired locations.

Day 4 - Sydney - Half Day City Sights tour
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel for your small group Panoramic Sydney tour. Visit the historic Rocks area and hear about early convict history. Enjoy magnificent views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. See the city's shopping heart, Queen Victoria Building, and Sydney Tower. Visit Sydney's trendy Oxford Street district and travel through Paddington with its terrace houses before arriving at the Pacific Ocean. See the magnificent coast cliff walk around Tamarama and Bronte. Travel on to famous Bondi Beach and visit the beachfront promenade with time to enjoy a coffee or cool drink (at your own cost). See Aussie lifesavers and Sydney's best panoramic view at Dover Heights. Return to Sydney via Double Bay, Kings Cross, and Mrs. Macquarie's Point for a final magical viewpoint over the harbour before returning to the city center. Tour concludes at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay.

Day 5 - Sydney - Explore Sydney Harbour
Explore Sydney harbor onboard the Hop on Hop Off Sydney Harbour Explorer. Travel aboard a 25-meter motorized Rocket Ferry vessel and enjoy a fun and easy way to explore Sydney, including commentary on selected routes. Then, sit back and relax as your vessel cruises around Sydney Harbour and stops at six harbourside attractions, including Circular Quay, Manly, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, and Darling Harbour. Then, hop off and reboard as many times as you wish as you explore the best of Sydney!

This afternoon enjoy a one hour guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most recognizable landmarks, and this is your chance to truly get up close. Run your hands over the world-famous shell tiles, take a seat in the elegant custom-made white birch timber chairs, and marvel at the vaulted ceilings. Next, visit areas off-limits to the public and capture photographs from rare vantage points. Finally, explore theatres and foyers where more than 1600 concerts, operas, dramas, and ballets occur each year.

Day 6 - Optional tour: Sydney – Visit the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains
Today consider adding an optional small group full day tour to the Blue Mountains, costing $170 per person

This boutique tour provides an intimate touch, traveling in the luxury of minivan. Explore the Blue Mountains and see hidden locations and beautiful views of the region. From Echo Point, the closest and best view of the Three Sisters. You will be able to witness the blue haze and the vast expanse of the Jamison Valley and experience for yourself the raw magic the Blue Mountains create. This will be our first stop in the Blue Mountains, and you will have the option of ordering morning tea (At your own expense) while enjoying the amazing views. Visit Scenic World and dare yourself to ride the steepest Railway in the World. The Scenic Cableway and Skyway offer spectacular views of the Three Sisters and the Valley. Scenic World is included in the price of our tour. The Tour Guide will take you down to the valley floor whilst explaining the area. See breathtaking views of either the Jamison Valley or Megalong Valley away from the crowds in a secluded location. Visit Leura and enjoy the quaint village with multiple lunch venues (at your own expense). The last stop on the tour is Featherdale Wildlife Park,Sydney's ultimate wildlife experience. See the Koalas and feed the baby wallabies before returning to Sydney.

Day 7 - Depart Sydney for Ayers Rock
This morning you will be transferred to Sydney airport by private car service. Board your flight to Red Centre of Australia. On arrival at Ayers Rock, take the courtesy shuttle transfer to the Desert Gardens hotel for your two nights stay.

Uluru (Ayers Rock), in the heart of the Red Centre, has a desert climate - mostly dry, with brilliant blue skies all year. It is a World Heritage Area, managed jointly by the traditional Aboriginal owners and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. You will spend three nights at the centrally Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort. The resort is a short stroll to numerous lookouts, where you can view what is arguably Australia's best sunset, with the spectacular play of colors across the face of Uluru and the surrounding desert.

Image: Tourism Australia

ACCOMMODATION - Magnificent ghost gums and flowering native shrubs are the settings for this hotel. Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel is centrally located to all resort and touring facilities and offers a range of accommodation, from shaded poolside rooms to deluxe rooms overlooking the desert. Relax in the comfort of your private balcony or courtyard, or unwind in the pool, sipping cocktails from the Bunya bar. Once the sun has set, dine at White Gums Restaurant and savor Australian native delicacies

This evening enjoy the sunset over Uluru & "The Field of Light." The Field of Light Star Pass experience begins with a convenient pick-up from the Desert Gardens Hotel and transfer to the remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru. A knowledgeable host will provide you with insights and background to the art installation. You are welcomed at a raised viewing area from which you can watch as the last sun rays hit Uluru as the sun slowly sets behind you. As darkness gradually falls and the colored lights of the glass spheres come to life, you are invited to walk through and interact with the Field of Light. You are then welcomed back at the raised viewing area 30 minutes before departure for sparkling wine and canapés while viewing the illuminated installation in the darkness.

Day 8 - Ayers Rock - Uluru Sunrise Tour 
This morning you will be picked up from the Desert Gardens Hotel for your small group Uluru (Ayers Rock) sunrise tour. Experience the tranquility of the pre-dawn land under a canopy of stars. Watch the amazing transformation of colors and life as the desert awakens with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as your backdrop.

Travel towards Uluru, where its vast shape rises from the dunes in the early dawn light highlighting its presence in this country. Stop at a special location to watch the sunrise over this amazing monolith and enjoy a picnic breakfast. Travel to Mutitjulu Waterhole, where you will learn the Creation stories of Liru (venomous snake) and Kuniya (python). Then drive around the base of Uluru, hearing the cultural stories of the Mala people.

This afternoon consider adding an afternoon camel ride through the desert (additional cost applies)
Catch the camel train and ride the good-natured camels for 45 minutes through beautiful sand dune country with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as your stunning backdrop. The knowledgeable cameleer describes the landscape around you on your ride. Back at the farm explore the camel museum and learn about the importance of camels to the history of the Red Centre

This afternoon consider adding an afternoon camel ride through the desert (additional cost applies):
Catch the camel train and ride the good-natured camels for 45 minutes through beautiful sand dune country with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as your stunning backdrop. The knowledgeable cameleer describes the landscape around you on your ride. Back at the farm, explore the camel museum and learn about the importance of camels to the history of the Red Centre

This evening consider the Sounds of Silence Dinner (additional cost applies)
Entered in the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Sounds of Silence offers the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours. An unforgettable evening, eating beautifully prepared food under the sparkling outback sky. The journey begins on a lone sand dune. A meandering path takes participants to an uninterrupted, 360-degree view of this vast landscape. In front is the fabled Uluru; behind are the domes of Kata Tjuta and the most spectacular sunset you have ever seen. Here enjoy sparkling wine and a selection of delectable canapes. As the sun sets in a blaze of reds and oranges, and well into the starlit night, feast on a gourmet barbecue buffet of authentic Australian delicacies including barramundi, kangaroo, emu, crocodile, bush salads, and classic desserts, complemented by some of Australia's finest wines. Attention then turns to some of the world's best stargazing as the resident astronomer takes diners on an unforgettable tour of the spectacular southern night sky. As dinner winds down, select from a choice of tea, coffee, or port. In winter, guests gather around a campfire to savor a special treat of hot mulled wine.

Day 9 – Fly Ayers Rock to Cairns
Take the shuttle transfer to Ayers Rock Airport & board your flight to Tropical North Queensland and the city of Cairns. On arrival, meet your shuttle transfer to Port Douglas (approximately 1.5 hours - Upgrades to private car service available, ask an Aspire consultant for the additional cost).

Image: Tourism Australia

ACCOMMODATION - Stay four fabulous nights at Shantara Resort & Spa, located 400 meters from Port Douglas' famous Four Mile Beach with its palm-fringed beach; relax or swim in the warm, calm waters. Take a stroll to Macrossan Street which offers an array of trendy gourmet restaurants, cafes, and boutique shopping to suit all tastes. With a choice of spacious studio rooms or sizeable comfortable one-bedroom self-contained apartments, Shantara is an adult haven, ideal for couples looking for a tranquil, romantic, and relaxing getaway.

Day 10 - Great Barrier Reef Day Tour
This morning board your vessel at Crystal Brook Marina Port Douglas to commence a full-day cruise. Travel aboard Silversonic, a 29-meter luxury catamaran custom-designed for small groups of adventure-minded people to revel in the thrill of diving and snorkeling. Silversonic features a state-of-the-art ride control system for a super smooth journey, a submerged platform for easy water access, hot freshwater showers, change rooms, air-conditioned lounges, and a licensed bar. With over five hours to explore the delights of this underwater world, snorkelers can explore three different outer reef locations at Agincourt Reef, on the very outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel briefs at each site and a guided free snorkel tour are included in your day.

Day 11 - Port Douglas – Daintree Rainforest Dreamtime Gorge Walk
Experience the wonders of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and Aboriginal culture on this half-day tour.

NGANA JULAYMBA DUNGAY: “We All Going Daintree” tours are based around the Mossman, Mossman Gorge, coastal habitats & the Daintree River area. Discover the Kuku Yalanji people's environment, learn about different foods and medicines utilized from nature, sample some bush tucker, collect shellfish, and try traditional Aboriginal hunting practices. Have a go at boomerang and spear throwing and if you are lucky, catch a mud crab. Take a guided rainforest walk through the southern Daintree rainforest and visit the Mossman Gorge before being transferred back to Port Douglas.

**Optional Extra – Upgrade from a half-day to a full day tour for an additional $40 per person including lunch*.

Day 12 - Port Douglas
Explore Tropical North Queensland at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites (additional cost applies):

• Wildlife Habitat
  The award-winning Wildlife Habitat is Australia's leading immersion exhibit - an open and interactive environment for guests and animals to mingle in a spacious and natural setting. Visitors wander along elevated boardwalks, observing up close a vast range of flora and fauna as birds fly and roam freely. The original Breakfast with the Birds has been a visitor must-do for two decades; be immersed within the Wetlands environment while enjoying the cacophony of sounds and colors of Wildlife as they wander freely amongst you while enjoying a tropical breakfast.

• Kuranda Scenic Rail & SkyRail
  Enjoy a full day Kuranda, Scenic Rail, and Skyrail Tour. Board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a breathtaking journey on one of the world's most scenic train routes. The trip will take you through hand-hewn tunnels and across bridges with amazing views. Stop at Barron Gorge to view the Falls before arriving at beautiful Kuranda station. Your Kuranda Boarding Pass offers discounted entry into Birdworld, Kuranda Koala Gardens, The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, and Rainforestation, as well as a detailed map of Kuranda - the Village in the rainforest. At the scheduled time, bypass the ticketing lines and go directly to the Skyrail boarding area to board Skyrail for the world's most beautiful rainforest experience. Glide over the rainforest canopy and take advantage of the two stops to enjoy a walk through the rainforest or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Centre.

• Daintree Rainforest & Cape Tribulation
  Travel north along the scenic coastal road, crossing the Daintree River onto 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. Next, visit 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.

Day 13 - Depart Port Douglas
This morning you will be transferred by shuttle service to Cairns Airport. Bid farewell to Australia as you depart Cairns for your flight to the US, arriving the same day.

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

Single Supplement: From $1,200

Before committing to a trip, please ensure you have a valid passport. Australia welcomes US travelers with an approved Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter Australia.

Read More about the Australian entry requirements

Add on airfares are available from most major airports – please ask an Aspire consultant for a quote

• Upgrade to premium economy from $1,050 per person each way*
• Upgrade to business class from $3,500 per person each way*
Can take the upgrade one way or round trip and combine premium/business classes on same ticket

* Upgrade from pricing based on Sunday through Wednesday departures from Los Angeles - ask an Aspire consultant for the upgrade fee from other departure points and travel Thursday through Saturday.

Terms & Conditions:

Package from pricing is based on double occupancy (2 people sharing a room) for low season stays for travel Sundays through Wednesdays. $50 air supplement applies each way for international travel from Thursday to Saturday. $50 per person supplement applies for a Saturday night at the Crown Metropol Hotel Melbourne. Add-on fares are available from other cities. Specific blackout dates apply to the accommodation and tour value add offers. 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; please see terms and conditions for credit card payments. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply.

To guarantee the package price & purchase the airline tickets, full payment is due at the time of booking. The purchase of travel Insurance is highly recommended for travel to Australia. Aspire Down Under partners with CSA Travel Protection. Travelers to Australia must be fully vaccinated and obtain a negative COVID-19 test before departure. Travel insurance covers cancellation penalties under the cancellation benefit should you test positive for COVID-19 immediately before traveling to Australia. In the unlikely event your scheduled travel date is impacted by Australian government entry restrictions, Aspire Down Under will permit a change of travel dates within 12 months from your original booking date without any fees or penalties (the applicable price of the new trip itinerary will apply).