Best of Australia
Australia is the unexpected: a place where the world’s oldest cultures share vast ochre plains, stylish laneways and unimaginably blue waters with successive waves of new arrivals from across the globe.
An Ancient Land
Australia is a country, or Australia is the name for a land that encompasses many countries; to understand the latter is to walk in the footsteps of the first peoples. Whether you’re tracing outlines of rock art more than 20,000 years old in Kakadu National Park, floating in the azure waters of Rottnest Island or admiring the iconic sites of Sydney Harbour where the Eora Nation traded for centuries, you are on Indigenous land.
Urban Wonder
Nowhere builds cities quite like Australia: each is a homage to magnificent waterways or beachfronts, while offering different experiences across different geographies. Grab a bicycle from one of Melbourne’s bike-share racks and tour the city’s fashion districts and cafe-lined laneways. Only a city like Darwin can fuse southern-Asian influence with contemporary Aboriginal culture (and leave you with an impressive sunburn to boot). Want a bit of everything? Sydney will take your breath away with its natural beauty and bustling neighbourhoods, while Hobart strikes a chord with its Gothic history and contemporary art.
Adventurous Spirit
You only have to travel a stone’s throw from any of Australia’s capital cities before you’ve landed somewhere truly out of this world. Not scared of the deep blue? Dive into famous reefs from the Ningaloo to the Great Barrier Reef, or witness majestic southern right whales along the Great Australian Bight. Like thrills? Head to the incredible wildlife parks outside of Brisbane (Australia Zoo) and Darwin (Crocodylus Park). And nothing will steady your sea legs more than getting on a 4WD tour and hitting one of the many dirt roads leading to rocky outcrops, from Uluru to the Kimberley.
A Foodie’s Dream
Decades of migration combined with the re-emergence of native ingredients has brought Australian cuisine on to the radar of the world’s best chefs. You can buy a mouth-watering kangaroo steak complemented by indigenous greens at high-end restaurants, or take a bush tucker tour outside Alice Springs and learn first-hand which local plants to taste. No trip to Tasmania would be complete without planning exactly where you’ll slurp freshly shucked oysters, and don’t leave South Australia without a Barossa Valley taste tour. And a word for the brave: Darwinians love their spice!
Tour cost starts at USD 3190
Photos
Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival Melbourne / Visit Philip Island for Penguin Parade
Upon arrival at Melbourne Airport, clear immigration formalities and meet our representative at the arrivals. Transfer to hotel for check in
Stylish, arty Melbourne is a city that�s both dynamic and cosmopolitan, and proud of its place as Australia�s cultural capital. Its stately gold rush�era architecture and a multicultural make-up reflect the city�s recent history, while edgy street art, top museums and sticky-carpeted band venues point to its present-day personality.
Melbourne is best experienced as a local would, with its character largely reliant upon its collection of inner-city neighbourhoods. Despite a long-standing north�south divide (flashy St Kilda versus hipster Fitzroy), there�s a coolness about its bars, cafes, restaurants, festivals and people that transcends the borders. The city centre has meanwhile reinvented itself with chic laneway eateries and rooftop bars opening in former industrial buildings.Sport is also crucial to the fabric of the town, taking on something of a religious nature here. Melburnians are passionate about AFL football ('footy'), cricket and horse racing, and also love their grand-slam tennis and Formula One car racing.
Rest of a while ... Later depart for Philip Island for Penguin Parade
Proceed to Phillip Island for Penguin Parade tour where you meet the islands celebrity ... Penguins - that make their way up the beach each night at sunset in a one-of-a-kind parade. Philip island is a great getaway
At dusk, view the wonderful phenomenon of the little penguins as they emerge from the surf, returning to the safety of their dune rookeries. From your nearby vantage point you will have the opportunity to watch the penguins feed their young
Dinner & overnight at Melbourne - Day 2
Melbourne / City Tour
After Breakfast, depart for Melbourne City Tour
Melbourne Cricket Ground : In 1858 the first game of Aussie Rules football was played where the MCG and its car parks now stand, and in 1877 it was the venue for the first Test cricket match between Australia and England. The MCG was the central stadium for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, two Cricket World Cups and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. It was also used as an army barracks during WWII. Despite this venerable history, the oldest parts of the existing structure are the light towers, dating from the 1980s.
Melbourne Highlights Tour
After MCG tour, proceed for Melbourne city tour including visit to Royal Botanic garden, Town Hall, St Patrick's Cathedral and many more...
Royal Botanic Gardens : From the air, these stunning, 94-acre gardens evoke a giant green lung in the middle of the city. Drawing nearly two million visitors annually, they're considered one of the finest examples of Victorian-era landscaping in the world. Here you'll find global plantings and a range of Australian flora. Mini ecosystems, a herb garden and an Indigenous rainforest are set amid vast, picnic-friendly lawns and black-swan-spotted ponds.
Town Hall : Since opening in 1870, this grand neoclassical civic building has welcomed everyone from Queen Elizabeth II, who took tea here in 1954, to the Beatles, who waved to thousands of screaming fans from the balcony in 1964. Take the free one-hour tour to see the Grand Organ (built in 1929 and the largest in the southern hemisphere) and sit in the Lord Mayor's chair.
St Patrick�s Cathedral : Designed by William Wardell, Melbourne's Catholic cathedral is among the world's finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture and the largest church building in Australia. Building took place between 1858 and1897, but was officially completed when spires were added in 1939. The imposing bluestone exterior and grounds are but a preview of its contents: inside are several tonnes of bells, an organ with 4500 pipes, ornate stained-glass windows and exquisite mosaics in the Blessed Sacrament chapel.
After city tour, proceed to Eureka Sky Tower - Sky deck 88 Entry admission.
Eureka Sky deck : Melbourne's tallest building, the 297m-high Eureka Tower was erected in 2006, and a wild elevator ride takes you to its 88th floor in less than 40 seconds (check out the photo on the elevator floor if there�s time). The Edge � a slightly sadistic glass cube � cantilevers you out of the building; you have no choice but to look down.
Thereon you can spend the rest of the day exploring the vibrant city at your own pace
Dinner & overnight at Melbourne - Day 3
Melbourne / Great Ocean Road
After breakfast, depart for Australia's most scenic drives on the Great Ocean Road
Begin your journey from Melbourne and set out on an exciting drive through lush forests flanked by stunning beaches. One never knows what they may see at the next turn: it may be a cliff-hugging curve, expansive seascapes, rainforest, koalas and even kangaroos. Witness the lush Otways Rainforest on your smooth drive
Great Ocean Road � arguably one of the world�s most scenic coastal drives and pass under towering limestone cliffs Twelve apostles surf breaks rising abruptly from the sea, relax on the drive back to Melbourne, following the rural inland route and have the evening to enjoy at your leisure.
The Great Ocean Road (B100) is one of Australia�s most famous touring routes. It takes travellers past world-class surfing breaks, through pockets of rainforest and calm seaside towns, and under koala-filled tree canopies. It shows off sheer limestone cliffs, dairy farms and heathland, and gets you up close and personal with the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean.
Hunt out the isolated beaches and lighthouses in between the towns and the thick eucalyptus forest of the Otway hinterlands to really escape the crowds. Rather than heading straight to the Great Ocean Road, a fork in the road at Geelong can take you the long, leisurely way there, through the Bellarine Peninsula, with visits to charming Queenscliff and wineries en route.
Enjoy more incredible coastal views, before you return to Melbourne, approximately within 12 Hours
Dinner & overnight at Melbourne - Day 4
Melbourne to Sydney / At leisure to visit Darling Harbour
After breakfast, transfer from Hotel to Melbourne Airport for flight to Sydney
Sydney - the cosmopolitan hub of Australia. A fun and charismatic city for gastronomes, art lovers and outdoorsy people, Sydney is just the perfect place to be for a relaxing holiday
Defined just as much by its rugged Pacific coastline as its exquisite harbour, Sydney relies on its coastal setting to replenish its reserves of charm; venture too far away from the water and the charm suddenly evaporates.
At Sydney, there's always a new restaurant to try, undercover bar to hunt down, hip band to check out, sports team to shout at, show to see or crazy party to attend. The city's pretensions to glamour are well balanced by a casualness that means a cool T-shirt and a tidy pair of jeans will get you in most places. But if you want to dress up and show off, there's plenty of opportunity for that among the sparkling lights of the harbour. Brash is the word that inevitably gets bandied around when it comes to describing the Harbour City, and let's face it, Sydney is one hot mess! Compared to its Australian sister cities, Sydney is loud, uncompromising and in-your-face.
Fireworks displays are more dazzling here, heels are higher, bodies more buffed, contact sports more brutal, starlets shinier, drag queens glitzier and chefs more adventurous. Australia�s best musos, foodies, actors, stockbrokers, models, writers and architects flock to the city to make their mark, and the effect is dazzling: a hyper-energetic, ambitious marketplace of the soul, where anything goes and everything usually does.
Upon arrival at Sydney Airport you will meet our representative at the arrivals, Transfer to Hotel for check in
Rest of the day at leisure to visit on your own - Darling Harbour which gives the pulse of the city and the Sydney tower to catch a bird's-eye view of the bustling city below
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House (1957 - 1973) is a masterpiece of late modern architecture. It is admired internationally and proudly treasured by the people of Australia. It was created by a young architect who understood and recognised the potential provided by the site against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Denmark�s J�rnUtzon gave Australia a challenging, graceful piece of urban sculpture in patterned tiles, glistening in the sunlight and invitingly aglow at night. JornUtzon died in Copenhagen in November 2008 aged 90. In its short lifetime, Sydney Opera House has earned a reputation as a world-class performing arts centre and become a symbol of both Sydney and the Australian nation.
Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Mrs Macquarie's Chair (also known as Lady Macquarie's Chair) is an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810, for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales. The peninsula itself was known to the Gadigal as Yurong Poin and is now widely known as Mrs Macquarie's Point, and is part of The Domain, near the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Captain Cook�s Cruise
We recommend you to finish up the cruise ride on Darling Harbour so that you can spend rest of the evening exploring Darling Harbour attractions � there are attractions like Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, plenty of food outlets at Cockle Bay , King Street Wharf or Harbour-side where they can do some shopping too (All these are within the Darling Harbour Complex).
Dinner & overnight at Sydney - Day 5
Sydney / City Tour
After breakfast, depart for Sydney City Tour
Sydney city tour includes visit to Bondi Beach, Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, King Cross, Chinatown & Opera House (outside view),etc.
Bondi Beach
Definitively Sydney, Bondi is one of the world�s great beaches. It�s the closest ocean beach to the city centre (8km away), has consistently good (though crowded) waves, and is great for a rough-and-tumble swim (the average water temperature is a considerate 21�C). If the sea�s angry, try the child-friendly saltwater sea baths at either end of the beach.
Two surf clubs � Bondi and North Bondi � patrol the beach between sets of red-and-yellow flags, positioned to avoid the worst rips and holes. Thousands of unfortunates have to be rescued from the surf each year (enough to make a TV show about it), so don�t become a statistic � swim between the flags.
Harbour Bridge
Sydney siders love their giant 'coathanger', which opened in 1932. The best way to experience this majestic structure is on foot. Stairs and lifts climb up the bridge from both shores, leading to a footpath on the eastern side (the western side is a bike path). Getting the train to Milsons Point and walking back towards the city is the most spectacular. Climb the southeastern pylon to the Pylon Lookout or ascend the arc on the popular but expensive Bridge Climb.
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is a harbour adjacent to the city centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia that is made up of a large recreational and pedestrian precinct that is situated on western outskirts of the Sydney central business district.
Originally named Long Cove, the locality extends northwards from Chinatown, along both sides of Cockle Bay to King Street Wharf 3 on the east, and to the suburb of Pyrmont on the west. Cockle Bay is just one of the waterways that makes up Darling Harbour, which opens north into the much larger Port Jackson.
The Rocks
The Rocks is an urban locality, tourist precinct and historic area of Sydney's city centre, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, immediately north-west of the Sydney central business district.
King Cross
Kings Cross is an inner-city locality of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney. It is bounded by the suburbs of Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay and Darlinghurst.
Colloquially known as The Cross, the area was once known for its music halls and grand theatres. It was rapidly transformed after World War II by the influx of troops returning and visiting from the nearby Garden Island naval base. It became known as Sydney's night entertainment and red-light district, however many nightclubs, bars and adult entertainment venues closed due to the Sydney lockout laws.
Chinatown
Dixon St is the heart of Chinatown: a narrow, shady pedestrian mall with a string of restaurants and insistent spruikers. The ornate dragon gates (paifang) at either end have fake bamboo tiles, golden Chinese calligraphy and ornamental lions to keep evil spirits at bay. Chinatown in general (though not necessarily between the dragon gates) is a fabulous eating district, which effectively extends for several blocks north and south of here, and segues into Koreatown and Thaitown to the east.
Dinner & overnight at Sydney - Day 6
Sydney / Blue Mountain Tour
After breakfast, depart for Blue Mountain Tour
Explore the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. Crisp, clean, fresh mountain top air with distant blue haze horizons overlooking deep ravines with rainforest carpeting the valley floor.
Blue Mountains
With stunning natural beauty, the World Heritage region of the Blue Mountains is an Australian highlight. The slate-coloured haze that gives the mountains their name comes from a fine mist of oil exuded by the huge eucalypts that form a dense canopy across the landscape of deep, often inaccessible valleys and chiselled sandstone outcrops.
The foothills begin 65km inland from Sydney, rising to an 1100m-high sandstone plateau riddled with valleys eroded into the stone. There are eight connected conservation areas in the region offering truly fantastic scenery, excellent bushwalks (hikes) and Aboriginal heritage: this is the country of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples.
Have Unlimited use of Railway, Skyway and Cableway at Scenic World.
Enjoy an afternoon encounter at Feather dale Wildlife Park. Hand feed kangaroos, wallabies and emus and watch out for the crocodile!
Featherdale Wildlife Park
One of several wildlife parks on Sydney�s fringes, Featherdale offers opportunities to get better acquainted with koalas, kookaburras, kangaroos and other Aussie critters. It's 45km west of the central city, and a popular stop for tour buses en route to the Blue Mountains. Check the website to coincide with feeding sessions. Bus 729 from Blacktown station heads here, or you can walk from Doonside.
Later drive back to Sydney
Dinner & overnight at Sydney - Day 7
Sydney to Cairns / At leisure
After breakfast, transfer from Hotel to Airport for your flight to Cairns
Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest UNESCO World Heritage sites and starting point for serious 4WD treks into Cape York Peninsula's vast wilderness, Cairns (pronounced �Cans�) depends on tourism for survival. For many, it marks the end of a long journey up the east coast; for others, the beginning of an Aussie adventure. Whichever way you're swinging, you're bound to meet like-minded nomads. Old salts claim Cairns � whose bars, clubs and eateries hunger for your tourist dollars � has sold its soul, but with a past life as a rollicking goldfields' port, perhaps it's long been this way. It's easy to spend your riches amid the humid, holiday vibe. Cairns' tidy CBD is more board shorts than briefcases, although there�s no beach in town. The lush, meticulously maintained Boardwalk, Esplanade and Lagoon are well loved, while the Great Barrier Reef, the northern beaches and a bottomless swag of activities are never far away.
Upon arrival at Cairns Airport you will meet our representative at the arrivals, Transfer to Hotel for check in
Rest of the day at leisure
Dinner & overnight at Cairns - Day 8
Cairns / Kuranda Scenic Railway & Army Duck Tour
After breakfast, depart for the Scenic Kuranda Railway & Army Duck Tour for incredible views of Australia's Tropical Rainforests
Explore Australia's World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest at the Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda. The park is set on 100 acres (40 hectares) of pristine rainforest within five minutes of Kuranda village, accessible from Cairns by road or by the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or the Kuranda Scenic Railway (transport between Cairns and Kuranda is not included).
This eco-friendly Kuranda attraction offers three unique experiences: the Army Duck Rainforest Tour with Tropical Fruit Orchard, Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and the Koala and Wildlife Park.
The Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience takes approximately 1 hour which includes both the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dance Performance held in the Rainforest Amphitheatre
The Koala and Wildlife Park allows visitors to experience another facet of Australia and get up close and personal with Australian wildlife.
Then after proceed to see Koala & Wild Life.
Back to Kuranda Skyrail terminal to catch down Skyrail
Drive back to Hotel
Dinner & overnight at Cairns - Day 9
Cairns / Great Barrier Reef
After breakfast, pick up from Hotel and drop off at Reef fleet terminal to proceed for a full day Reef cruise on Green Island.
Each year, more than 1.5 million visitors come to experience this World Heritage�listed area that stretches across 2000km of coastline. Diving and snorkelling are just some of the ways of experiencing this wonderfully rich ecosystem. There's also sailing, scenic flights and a world of DIY options for exploring the reef�s gateway towns and stunning islands.
�Reef Cruise� is a comfortable air-conditioned 35 metre catamaran with spacious interior cabins and a relaxed atmosphere. Travel time to Green Island is just over one hour from the Reef Fleet Terminal.
Buffet Lunch will be served on board.
Visitors can take part in the many activities available.
Back to Reef fleet terminal by evening. Pick up and drop off at Hotel.
Dinner & overnight at Cairns - Day 10
Cairns to Gold Coast / At leisure to explore Surfer's Paradise
After breakfast, transfer from Hotel to Airport for your flight to Gold Coast
Built for pleasure and remaining a place dedicated to sun, surf and the body beautiful, this strip of coast is possibly Australia�s most iconic holiday destination. Its shimmering high-rises can, when glimpsed from afar, resemble a make-believe city, and its reputation for tackiness is occasionally deserved. But this is far outstripped by the area's youthful spirit and startling physical beauty: some 52km of pristine sand with countless epic surf breaks, stunning sunsets, blissful water temperatures and 300 sunny days a year.
While Surfers Paradise�s malls and mega-clubs entertain the party-hard kids, the other neighbourhoods have distinct charms of their own, from booming culinary scenes and coastal chic to retro beach holiday nostalgia and laid-back local flavour. Not to be overlooked is the lush, misty subtropical rainforest of the hinterland � a good place to get in touch with the spirit of the traditional owners of this land, the Yugambeh people.
Upon arrival at Gold Cost Airport you will meet our representative at the arrivals, Transfer to Hotel for check in
Rest of the day at leisure to explore Surfer's Paradise
There�s no denying that Surfers' frenetic few blocks and its glorious strip of sand attracts a phenomenal number of visitors � 20,000 per day at its peak. Party-hard teens and early-20-somethings come here for a heady dose of clubs, bars and malls, perhaps fitting in a bit of beach time as a hangover remedy before it all starts again. Families are attracted by the ready availability of spacious and affordable apartments, loads of kid-friendly eating options and, yes, that beautiful beach.
Overnight at Gold Coast - Day 11
Gold Coast / Croc Express & Australia Zoo
After breakfast, depart for Croc Express & Australia Zoo tour
Take the scenic trip to Australia Zoo on the famous Sunshine Coast, home of theCrocodile Hunter. Australia Zoo is a must-see holiday highlight for Australians and international visitors alike with more than 1200 animals from around the globe, daily shows and a state of the art, wildlife preservation and conservation hospital
Made famous by the late Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter); spend 6 exciting hours at Australia Zoo; watch live shows and demonstrations including crocodile feeding and handling. Enjoy a close up encounter with some animals as the experienced handlers walk them through the park
The Zoo has a team of over 500, who believe in conservation through exciting education, who will ensure you have a wildlife experience you ll never forget
Back to hotel by evening
Overnight at Gold Coast - Day 12
Gold Coast / At leisure for sightseeing & activities
Wake up to a beautiful morning and spend the rest of the day at leisure
You could explore the beaches of Gold Coast that are a sheer delight for everyone, from beach lovers to adventure seekers. Visit the nearby Surfers Paradise Beach to soak up the sun, or feel the thrill of exciting activities like biking, skateboarding or roller-blading. Do not miss indulging in delicious local cuisines and flavours at any of the nearby restaurants
There are numerous local attractions one can indulge in ...
Marina Mirage Shopping Centre, Refresh your wardrobe at Marina Mirage Shopping Centre wrapped in the breathtaking surroundings of Queensland�s finest waterfront lifestyle destination. Just a leisurely stroll on surfer's Paradise, brings your friends & family to shop in style with big name brands under the stunning white sails of this iconic lifestyle haven. Shelter by day from Broad water breezes and cruise in to complete coastal elegance.
Sea World, one of the world�s finest marine parks and one of the most environmentally friendly lagoon habitats in the world is a five-minute drive.
Dreamworld, famous for having the biggest gravity rollercoaster in the southern hemisphere, is also home to White Water World. Dreamworld and White Water World are located off the Pacific Motorway, approximately a 30 minute drive from the hotel.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is just a 35 minute drive away and creates a never ending interactive experience with nature�s many creatures.
The Gold Coast truly is the place to holiday, especially from up high on the Q1 observation deck, SkyPoint. SkyPoint is one of the World�s Tallest Residential Tower, only a 10 minute drive from the hotel.
The Gold Coast Hinterland is made up of the spectacular McPherson Range which offers many walking trails. There are various National Parks within the McPherson Range, each with their own walking trails and a variety of activities.
Also hidden in the mountains � at Mount Tamborine � are some of the region�s best kept secrets, including boutique wineries offering wine and exquisite food, local arts and crafts, country cafes and of course the spectacular panoramic views of the Gold Coast.
At Chevron Renaissance - it�s an out of this world adventure at Infinity, where visitors will enjoy a mind-blowing journey into spectacular, futuristic maze-like worlds of wonder. An extraordinary series of around 20 multi-sensual environments are filled with unique special effects, atmospheric sound fields, groovy music and illusions.
The Australian Outback Spectacular II is located within the City�s theme park corridor and offers a three-course dinner and show enjoyed within a brilliantly presented indoor arena. Here you�ll enjoy the story of the Australian Light Horse Brigade and a celebration of the Aussie outback through a mix of theatre, music and interactive displays.
Overnight at Gold Coast - Day 13
Gold Coast to Brisbane - Departure from Brisbane
After breakfast, morning at leisure
Later transfer from Hotel to Brisbane Airport for flight to your home country
Notes
Round the Year Destination ... Extension recommended to Perth, Adelaide, Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji & French Polynesia Islands of Tahiti & Bora Bora
Hotels
Tour Inclusions [Best of Australia]
03 nights stay at Melbourne
03 nights stay at Sydney
03 nights stay at Cairns
03 nights stay at Gold Coast
Daily breakfast at hotels
Dinners at local restaurants in Melbourne, Sydney & Cairns
Transportation as per Itinerary
Phillip Island Tour Includes Penguin parade, general Viewing
Melbourne City Tour
Full Day Great Ocean Road Tour
Sydney City tour
Full day Blue Mountain Tour
Kuranda Scenic Railway & Army Duck Tour
Full Day Great Barrier Reef tour
Croc Express & Australia Zoo
Notes on itinerary
All our itineraries are "Just for Ideas" ... We will get to know you and customise an itinerary just for you that matches your requirements ... dates of travel, category of hotels, preferred airline, flexibility in choosing sightseeing, mode of travel between cities, etc.
Many of our clients have us design more relaxing, slower paced holidays with more in-depth experiences whereas some simply want to visit various destinations and cover only the highlights.
Together, we will determine the ideal route, pace of travel, accommodations, levels of pampering, style of touring, sightseeing to be included, dining preferences, adventure levels, options to meet locals, dates of travel & much more ! and based on this arrive at a price.
Do feel free to get in touch with us by a quick call on +91 79 29602961 or a short mail on mail@destinations4india.com ... Looking forward
