October 7-17, 2024 11 Days / 10 Nights
This tour starts in Melbourne and ends in Sydney
$7,140 per person/double occupancy $1,760 optional single supplement Early arrival $380 accommodations (single or double room), includes airport transfer Includes all fees and taxes
10 nights in modern, upscale hotels in Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns, and Sydney
10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners, including drinks
3 domestic flights: Melbourne to Uluru, Uluru to Cairns, and Cairns to Sydney, including all airline fees and taxes
If combining the Spectacular Australia tour with the New Zealand tour, Sights and Soul Travels arranges for and covers the cost of the flight from Sydney, Australia (the endpoint of the Australia tour) to Queenstown, New Zealand (the starting point of the New Zealand tour)
Private, comfortable bus transportation when touring
Private airport transfers on arrival in Melbourne and on departure in Sydney
Guided tours of Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Story of Sydney, and the Aboriginal Dreaming with private guides
Full-day catamaran tour of the Great Barrier Reef with snorkeling and a semi-submersible, including lectures and presentations by marine biologists
Tour of Kuranda rain forest (koalas, kangaroos, parrots, butterflies) by Skyrail Gondolas and Golden Class Scenic Railway
Rock Dreaming Aboriginal Experience
Exclusive dinner cruise in the Sydney Harbour
Southern Highlands wine tour, visiting two award-winning vineyards
Sights and Soul Travels' Tour Director throughout the tour
Hotel porterage and all gratuities for drivers, guides, and restaurants
All activities and attractions described in the itinerary, admissions, fees, and tourist taxes
NOT INCLUDED
Additional/optional costs may include: optional single supplement, hotels' early arrival check-in charges, optional travel insurance, meals not included in the itinerary, optional activities not included in the itinerary, any required Covid-19 related testing, optional Tour Director's gratuities, telephone charges, room service, mini bar charges, laundry, personal expenses.
The tour cost does not include airfare to and from the tour’s location.
HIGHLIGHTS
The artsy city of Melbourne
The Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles Rocks
Kangaroos in eucalyptus forests
Sounds of Silence dinner and the Field of Lights
Sunrise at Uluru by camelback
Kata Tjuta domes and the Great Outback
Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef
Koalas, kangaroos, parrots, and butterflies in Kuranda rainforest
The Story of Sydney tour with Bondi Beach
Aboriginal Rock Dreaming Experience
Private Sydney Opera House tour
Southern Highlands Australian wine experience
Exclusive nighttime dinner cruise in Sydney Harbour
Enjoying local Australian food and excellent wines
Testimonials
Traveling with Sights and Soul is a dream come true. We packed in as much as you possibly could on the Australian tour and on my part it was so easy - just get yourself to the airport and the company takes over from there. I especially like having transportation provided from place to place. All the hotels we stayed at were very nice, clean, comfortable, and right in the middle of everything we wanted to see. And there's often some part of the tour that I would never have thought of doing on my own. Another huge plus is the new friends I've met on my tours with S & S. - Diane from Iowa (Australia 2 2023)
I did both the Australia and New Zealand tours and enjoyed them immensely. The tours hit the highlights of both countries. We are always “front of the line” and every experience is just a little bit more special than the average tourist. When there was a “hitch” (bad weather for a flight), it is wonderful to relax and let S&S take care of the changes and still have a great day. The local guides are the best, especially our bus driver in New Zealand. The restaurants were outstanding for location and experience, even if you’re not a foodie! The ladies on the tour were great—- there’s a friend for everyone if you’re a solo traveller! - Barbara from Calgary (Australia 2 2023 and New Zealand 2 2023)
I really enjoyed traveling to Australia - this trip exceeded my expectations in many ways. The country is beautiful and the people are so warm and welcoming. From Melbourne, Uluru, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, and lastly, Sydney, we had so many unique and wonderful experiences during this trip. Thanks to everyone at Sights and Soul for everything you do before, during, and after our trips - you're the best!!! - Marilyn from Texas
This was a great tour that touched on everything I wanted to see in Australia. I had a wonderful time and only wish to have spent more time in Cairns and Sydney, especially Cairns. I know the tour lasted about as much time as I had, but I would have liked to spend time in a pub getting to know the locals! However, this was a well-crafted tour, touching on everything I was interested in seeing and more that I didn't know about. Our tour guides were chatty and interesting and I really felt like my money was used on their experience, travel amenities and great food. I had a good time throughout the experience and was happy to have an experienced tour director along to deal with the travel ups and downs. The ladies on the tour were all amenable, so no clashing personalities, which was also great. - Janet from California
Excellent tour. Very well planned and kept us going. We saw so much. The special things like one free drink with each meal, paying for extra luggage, $10 credit on the plane etc. was really nice. - Angela from North Carolina
Tour was great. Lots of good activities, tour guides were great. Food experiences were great. Especially enjoyed the 5 course Captains Gold dinner on Day 9. – Liz from Texas
Trip of a lifetime! Thoroughly enjoyed meeting women with diverse interests, discussing our travels, books we’ve read, and adventures we have taken or hope to take. I would travel with this same group and our tour leader Marta again – loved it! – Lisa from California
Loved the opportunities to do adventure activities during the tour – camel ride, snorkeling and the Sydney Bridge climb! – Kathleen from Michigan
What a terrific adventure! Trip of a lifetime. Sights and Soul always does a wonderful job planning different activities. Kudos to everything on this Australian trip. - Sydney from Alabama
I wouldn’t leave a single thing out of this perfectly outstanding trip. I have been on 7 of your trips now and all of them have been terrific! - Linda from Massachusetts
I have the highest regard for S&S. They care about meeting all our needs and giving us the best experiences, the most opportunities, highest quality restaurants and hotels, and the friendliest and most knowledgeable staff. - Amy from New York
This is a note to all older women who may consider travel with this wonderful tour group. My "travel buddy" and I recently returned from the Spectacular Australia tour. We are both in our late 70's, curious, active, and enthusiastic travelers. This tour was so well planned and organized that we could participate in every activity at our own pace and level. We never felt that we had to do everything scheduled. Our co-travelers were social, enthusiastic, and much younger, and that was fine. Hotels were carefully selected for locale, size, and quality. Our tour leader made everyone feel special. Such attention had been paid to detail before we even got there, so days were full and seamless in the flow of activity. Our views were listened to daily. So if you are in doubt about whether or not this tour group is for you, doubt no more. We have traveled all over the world for many years, and this tour was the best! Hands down! Now if someone could just shorten the flight time, it would be perfect! Pack and go! Do it! - Lois from New Mexico
The sights were all equally fabulous. What I enjoyed the most were all the other people and how we all hit it off so fast & easily, the dinners and accommodations were fantastic. The trip seemed to be for the correct length of time. I would have liked some more free time for shopping, although I really did like the flexibility shown by Yolanta. - Gayle from Hawaii
I had a great trip and it was REALLY hard to go back to work. The trip was everything I wanted it to be - a real escape, lots of variety, land and water, some good conversations, Judaic sites, immersion in a foreign culture, and a chance for me to spread my wings a bit and remember that, when I'm not working all the time, I can have a good time. - Robin from Pennsylvania
Australia’s unique allure is boundless. Its mystical splendor emanates from the timeless land and sea, dynamic scenery and majestic wildlife, captivating flavors, and enchanting culture. A giant island afloat in the Great Southern Ocean, cut off from the rest of the world for millennia, this most ancient of continents has long hidden its startling beauty and remarkable native wildlife from the rest of the world. Inhabited by Aboriginal people who have coexisted with the land for more than 40,000 years, it was into this pristine wilderness that the British first arrived in 1788, and for the next 100 years, this beguiling land remained the haunt of convicts, explorers, and spirited free settlers, who along with growing bands of intrepid gold-miners, pearlers, farmers, and traders, forged an Australian spirit that is characterized by independence, irreverence, and a good dose of humor. Today, Australia dazzles with its contrasting landscapes and its extraordinary diversity. This vast, pristine land is affluent, sophisticated, multicultural, and laced with natural splendor: from tropical rain forests to fiery red deserts in the vast Outback, from scenic vineyards, producing excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz to gleaming modern and funky cities, and from the idyllic underwater paradise of the Great Barrier Reef to the much celebrated Aboriginal culture and art.
Journeying through Australia could last a lifetime and choices have to be made. The Spectacular Australia tour will immerse us in the radiance of the world Down Under, letting us experience the essence of the continent's unparalleled diversity and the beauty of its unforgettable landscapes. This tour will combine experiencing the breathtaking scenery and cultural achievements with the indigenous Aboriginal heritage stretching back for tens of thousands of years.
In the artsy, livable Melbourne, we'll explore its arts scene and the city's historical highlights, study the juxtaposition of styles between colonial leftovers and gleaming futuristic buildings, explore the bayside playground of St. Kilda with its expansive views and exotic buildings, we'll marvel at the city from the highest observation platform in the Southern Hemisphere, and journey along the iconic Great Ocean Road enjoying encounters with kangaroos and koalas in eucalyptus forests leading to the Twelve Apostles Rocks.
In the arid expanse of the Outback, we'll be left speechless by the timeless mystique of the spiritual Uluru, as we ride camels before sunrise to watch it take shape from the parched desert with its otherworldly presence. We'll visit this extraordinary natural monument, learn about the Aboriginal culture, and attend the unique Sounds of Silence dining experience, followed by stargazing and a tour of the Field of Lights art installation. We'll take an easy hike to explore the startlingly beautiful Kata Tjuta, with its vividly colored and steep-sided domes rising out of the desert floor.
In Cairns, we'll snorkel among the pristine, vividly colored soft and hard corals and in the marinelife rich waters in the Michaelmas Cay of the Great Barrier Reef, the largest structure on Earth made by living organisms, and one of the seven wonders of the natural world; we'll take the Skyrail gondolas to Kuranda Village to explore the primeval rainforest, walk among thousands of fluttering butterflies, visit with koala bears, and maybe pet a kangaroo.
In the architecturally breathtaking city of Sydney, we'll explore the wealth of cultural attractions, from its modern skyline to a private tour of the famous Sydney Opera House, we'll follow the Story of Sydney, relax at Bondi Beach, learn about the Aboriginal Rock Dreaming, tour vineyards that made Australian wines famous worldwide, and enjoy an elegant night-time dinner cruise in the Sydney Harbor.
WHAT SPECIALMAKES THIS TOUR
Carefully curated itinerary, including signature Australian experiences
Knowledgeable private guides and award-winning tours
Accommodation in upscale, perfectly located hotels
Dining at upscale restaurants, including drinks
Exclusive experiences, not available to larger groups
