Highlights of Australia

Departure Time: 8:00 AM

This tour will show you the wonders of the Great Ocean Road. Discover the popular coastal township of Lorne, a surfer's haven, and see many fern-filled gullies and river inlets on your journey. You will stop for lunch at Apollo Bay (lunch will not be included) before traveling the length of the Great Ocean Road passing by towering limestone cliffs, sweeping white beaches, and breathtaking forest scenery. See a fabulous spectacle of massive natural erosion at the incredible Twelve Apostles, which are limestone stacks rising dramatically from the Southern Ocean. Walk along the boardwalk as you take in the breathtaking scenery from various viewing platforms and see the Loch Ard Gorge. Prepare to be swept away by the romantic and tragic story of love and the lives lost on board the Loch Ard. Explore Port Campbell National Park and discover the tragic history of over 50 ships wrecked along the coastline. Continue your tour beyond Port Campbell to see the remnants of the London Bridge before starting your return journey back to Melbourne. The tour will end at approximately 8.00 PM, at which time hotel drop offs will commence.

Departure Time: 8:10 AM

Depart Melbourne and head on a journey to the Dandenong ranges where you will discover lush ferns and dense forests. The Dandenong Ranges, known to the locals as the Dandenongs, are beautiful low mountain ranges located just 35 km east of Melbourne. At their peak, they rise higher than 630 meters and are cloaked in lush rainforests of Mountain Ash trees (the tallest flowering plant in the world), waterfalls, rolling hills, and steep valleys. You may get the opportunity to hand feed Crimson Rosella birds (seeds will be provided). Head on a ride on the restored Puffing Billy Steam Train, marvel over the towering mountain ash and beautiful gullies of the Sherbrooke Forest and take in the spectacular views and the lush rainforest settings. Sip on a cup of Devonshire Tea before you visit the quaint town of Sassafras, known for their beautiful antiques and local crafts. Enjoy free time to wander around and explore the area. Re-board your coach for your return ride to Melbourne. The tour will end at approximately 1:00 PM at Federation Square.

Head on a tour of Philip Island. On your way, enjoy the magnificent views of Melbourne’s affluent suburbs. Here you will see many modern buildings alongside beautiful federation homes — many of which were built in the late 1800s. As the South Gippsland Highway approaches the landscape, your sights will become more rural with smaller townships and farming properties along the way. San Remo is the gateway to Phillip Island and the seafood capital in the region. As you travel through this quaint fishing village, you will see local fishermen casting a line off the jetty. Next, you will cross the only bridge that connects Phillip Island to the mainland. While Phillip Island is famous for its Little Penguin Parade, it also boasts an incredible coastline with ideal surfing conditions and a wide range of wildlife. The Penguin Parade Visitors’ Facility has extensive information available for Phillip Island with its rich history, local wildlife, and of course, the Penguin Parade. Here you can learn about the Little Penguin and its lifestyle. You can also browse through their souvenir shop to find your own Penguin memorabilia. Head down to Summerland Beach to see a Little Penguin magic. You will certainly fall in love with these little guys! Just as the sun sets over the ocean, the Little Penguins will emerge from the sea and waddle up the beach to their sand dune burrows. These Little Penguins are the smallest of the penguin species, and Phillip Island is fortunate enough to be home to the largest colony of these creatures in the world. They cherish their Little Penguin colony. To protect them, all the revenue generated from the parade is invested back into research, environment, and education projects to ensure their species flourish. This tour will end at approximately 10:30 PM (April to September) and 11:30 PM (October to March), at which time hotel drop-offs will commence.

Departure Time: 2:00 PM; Departure Point: Time Out Cafe near the Visitors Centre or Federation Square.

Head on an afternoon walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets and discover the neat and fascinating history of this area. Discover artisan and specialty retailers, quirky cafes, independent designers, street art, and local architecture. This tour offers something for everyone! Afternoon tea will be included. The tour will end at approximately 5:00 PM in the city.

Head on a full-day Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Rail tour. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Smithfield Terminal to board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at the scheduled time advised by the driver and glide above the rainforest canopy to Kuranda. There are two stations en route where you can alight and head on a walk through the rainforest to the magnificent lookouts or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Centre. Arrive in Kuranda to enjoy free time for approximately one hour and a half and explore the 'Village in the Rainforest' with its many attractions including the Heritage Markets which operate daily. You will have time to enjoy lunch (at your own expense). We recommend you visit other Kuranda Village attractions such as Birdworld, The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, or the Kuranda Koala Gardens (at your own expense). At 2:00 PM you will board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for your journey to Cairns and enjoy the breathtaking views as the train travels through 15 hand-cut tunnels and past spectacular waterfalls. Stop at Barron Gorge to see the falls before arriving at the Freshwater Station. The tour will end at approximately 4:00 PM, at which time the hotel drop-offs will commence.

The Kuranda Scenic Rail Gold Class Upgrade Includes: Dedicated host service; individual seating, moveable tub-style chairs; ambient, historical decor including timber-looking flooring, historical photos, and fans; quality refreshments including sparkling Australian wine, beer, orange juice, soft drinks, ice water, appetizers, and chilled towels throughout the journey; The Kuranda Scenic Rail gift pack including a pewter KSQ pin, pen, postcard, and postage; and a souvenir Z-card (commentary companion).

The Kuranda Scenic Rail Gold Class Upgrade includes: Dedicated host service; individual seating, moveable tub-style chairs; ambient, historical decor including timber looking flooring, historical photos and fans; quality refreshments including sparkling Australian wine, beer, orange juice, soft drink, ice water, appetisers and chilled towel during the journey; Kuranda Scenic Rail gift pack including pewter KSQ pin, pen, postcard and postage; and souvenir Z-card (commentary companion).

Depart from Cairns and head south as you travel past Walsh's Pyramid, one of the largest naturally formed pyramids in the world. Here your guide will make a stop so you can take a photo of this unique North Queensland landmark. From there you will travel up the World Heritage Site of the Gillies Highway, climbing 730 metres above sea level as you take in the breathtaking views overlooking the Goldbourgh Valley. Just before you reach the top of the incredible Gillies Range, you will have a brief photo opportunity at the Heales Lookout before heading into the gorgeous Atherton Tablelands. Your first stop will be the beautiful World Heritage Site of Lake Barrine Crater Lake National Park. Upon arrival, your tour guide will take you on a short walk to visit the 1000-year-old Twin Kauri Pines, the true giants of the rainforest. After the guided walk, enjoy a delicious freshly baked scone with jam and cream accompanied by a locally grown and freshly brewed cup of tea and coffee (unlimited cup refills). From there, depart on a 40-minute guided wildlife cruise on the lake. Once the cruise is complete, you will all meet back at the bus for departure to the historical town of Yungaburra. Yungaburra is known for having the highest number of Nationally Listed Heritage buildings in Queensland. Your next stop will be at The Curtain Fig Tree, located in Curtain Fig Tree National Park. From there, take the time to descend from the mountains down the Palmerstone Highway through sugarcane and banana fields to the coastal town of Innisfail. Upon arrival, enjoy a delicious lunch at Roscoe's All You Can Eat Hot Buffet. Paronella Park will be your next destination — you will be guided through the extensive National Trust Gardens as you discover the rich history of Jose Paronella's wonderful achievements and how he built the Spanish Castle in the rainforest. Continue northbound passing by Babinda — the wettest town in Queensland with an annual rainfall of over 4 metres per year. This "umbrella" town sits between Queensland’s two highest mountains: Mt Bartle Frere (1,611 metres) and Mt Bellender Ker (1,593 metres). These majestic mountains are covered in World Heritage Rainforests and form part of the Great Dividing Range; Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest land-based range in the world. From there you will head on an approximate 50-60-minute drive back to the city of Cairns and return to your accommodation.

Departure Time: 2:30 PM; Departure Point: No. 6 Jetty, Circular Quay

Make your own way to the meeting point (transfer will not be included) and board your Captain Cook Cruise to head on an afternoon Harbour Highlights cruise. Travel onboard a motorized vessel and take in the magnificent views of the Sydney Harbour including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, exclusive suburbs, and Darling Harbour. The cruise will take you back to the starting point.

Explore the stunning Blue Mountains on this full-day optional tour from Sydney. Begin with a visit to Sydney Zoo, where you can see native Australian wildlife including kangaroos and koalas, along with a First Nations cultural talk. Continue to the Blue Mountains and visit Echo Point to admire the iconic Three Sisters rock formation. You will also have the option to experience Scenic World (at own expense) or enjoy a self-guided walk along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, offering scenic views of the surrounding landscape. The tour concludes at Homebush Bay, with an optional ferry transfer back to Sydney Harbour (at own cost).

Timings: Depart:7.05 AM, Return:5.00 PM (Approx)
Inclusions: Sydney Zoo entry, national park fees, inner-city pickup, driver/guide
Exclusions: Scenic World rides, ferry transfer

In the morning, at the arranged time, you will be picked up and transferred to the Sydney International Airport for your flight back home.