Australia Highlights: Sydney, Cairns & the Outback - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Sydney & City Sights Tour

Welcome to Sydney! Upon arrival, make your way to the hotel and get settled. In the afternoon, enjoy a city sights tour. Some of the highlights include the following: 

• Visit the historic area known as The Rocks, and hear all about its intriguing history
• Enjoy magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Travel to famous Bondi Beach to visit the beachfront promenade and enjoy coffee or a refreshment
• See the bronzed Aussie lifesavers and Sydney's best panoramic view at Dover Heights

Then, return to Sydney via Double Bay, Kings Cross, and Mrs. Macquarie's Point for a final, magical view over the harbor before the tour concludes. Then, the evening is at your leisure.

Day 2: Blue Mountains Day Tour

The Blue Mountains day is a journey into the heart of a unique UNESCO World Heritage region. The first stop on the tour is Calmsley Hill Farm. Enjoy morning tea, and then interact with the local animals; pet a koala and hand-feed kangaroos, wallabies, and emus. Travel through picturesque villages and view spectacular scenery and waterfalls. Enjoy a short walk to a lookout point and listen to the sounds of the unique Australian forest species.

Then, indulge in lunch with valley views, and choose what to eat based on the special menu provided. In the afternoon, visit a selection of scenic lookouts—the view from Govett's Leap is one of the most famous in Australia. Here, the waterfall drops an impressive 591 feet to the base of the cliff. The last stop is the Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens. Make a brief stop to enjoy the views of the 69-acre public space, along with a refreshment, before traveling back to your hotel. 

Day 3: Travel to Uluru (Ayers Rock)

This morning, head to the airport in Sydney to board your flight to Uluru, home of Ayers Rock. Upon arrival at Ayers Rock, meet with a representative for assistance to your hotel. In the afternoon, join your guide on a drive around the base of Uluru. Continue to the Kuniya Walk, and an escort will take you to the Mutitjulu Waterhole. View ancient rock art and learn about the Aboriginal and European history of Uluru. Visit the cultural Red Centre, then travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area to witness the striking color changes of Uluru while enjoying sparkling wine and a bite to eat. 

Day 4: Travel to Cairns

Enjoy a warming cup of tea or coffee as the first rays of sunlight slowly change the color of Uluru. Then, travel to the mystical domes of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Walk through Walpa Gorge, where the trail follows the natural creek bed between two of the tallest domes. Spend time exploring the gorge and the unusual conglomerate rock formation. In the afternoon, travel to the airport for your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival in Tropical Queensland, where the rainforest meets the sea, the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Consider stopping at the refreshing Cairns Lagoon for a swim. From dawn until dusk, the swimming pool located right in the heart of the Cairns business district is abuzz with tourists and locals relaxing on the grassy knoll or splashing in the shallows. The crystal-clear waters of the Cairns lagoon prove to be incredibly inviting as the temperature warms up and the need for a quick dip to cool off is paramount. For dinner, make your way to the Cairns Aquarium restaurant. Watch beautiful sea creatures in a 46-foot marine exhibit while enjoying a delicious bite to eat.

Day 5: Great Barrier Reef Day Trip

Board a high-speed catamaran for a full-day cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. One of Australia's most remarkable natural gifts, the Great Barrier Reef, is the world's largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and is home to more than 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays. Surrounding the reef are hundreds of picturesque tropical islands that contain some of the best golden beaches. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most sought-after tourist destinations.

Enjoy morning tea and a lunch buffet aboard the catamaran. Following the reef tour and some snorkeling, return to your hotel in the late afternoon, and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Day 6: Explore Kuranda & the Scenic Railway

Today, journey up to Kuranda village via the Skyrail, which will take you on an amazing experience over Australia's UNESCO World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest canopy and deep into the world's oldest continually surviving rainforest on earth.

When in Kuranda, take advantage of some free time to browse through local markets and cafés. You also have admission to three of Kuranda's best wildlife attractions included. Stroll through the amazing aviary exhibits at Birdworld and then visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, home to more than 1,500 free-flying tropical butterflies. Then, get up close to unique Aussie wildlife at Kuranda Koala Gardens, where you can cuddle a koala.

Complete your Kuranda experience on a mobile journey. Built more than 120 years ago, the historic Cairns-to-Kuranda train and Scenic Railway is lauded as one of the world's great train journeys. Providing a spectacular, scenic route, wind your way past the mountainous walls of Barron Gorge National Park through hand-carved, solid, granite rock tunnels and past tumbling rainforest waterfalls.

Day 7: Depart Cairns

Enjoy the morning to unwind and reflect on your trip to Australia before transferring to the airport for your departure flight home. Take with you all the new memories from your trip Down Under, and come back soon!

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