Highlights
- Walk along the famous Bondi to Coogee coastal trail with optional swim stops
- Soak up the magnificence of Uluru at an open-air restaurant under the stars
- Spend a full day snorkeling around coral cays on the Great Barrier Reef
- Explore Indigenous stories with a local guide in the Daintree Rainforest
- Fly in a hot-air balloon above Melbourne city, then dive into its coffee culture
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Sydney, Half-Day Sydney Sights Tour, Sunset Dinner Cruise | Sydney |
| Day 2 | Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour | Sydney |
| Day 3 | Bondi Coastal Walk, Cottage Point Inn Fly & Dine, Roar & Snore | Sydney |
| Day 4 | Fly to Uluru, Open-Air Dinner Experience | Uluru |
| Day 5 | Desert Awakenings, Scenic Flight, Wintjiri Wiru After Dark | Uluru |
| Day 6 | Fly to Cairns, Transfer to Port Douglas, Free Time | Port Douglas |
| Day 7 | Full-Day Mackay Cay Outer Reef Tour | Port Douglas |
| Day 8 | Morning Wildlife Habitat Tour, Afternoon Indigenous Tour | Port Douglas |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Mossman, Free Time | Mossman |
| Day 10 | Rainforest Waterfall Helicopter Escape, Dreamtime Gorge Walk | Mossman |
| Day 11 | Transfer to Cairns, Fly to Melbourne, Small Group Dinner | Melbourne |
| Day 12 | Sunrise Balloon Flight, Café Culture Walk, Half-Day Melbourne Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 13 | Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour | Melbourne |
| Day 14 | Depart Melbourne |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sydney, Half-Day Sydney Sights Tour, Sunset Dinner Cruise
G'day and welcome to Sydney! With its famous natural harbor, epic beaches, cutting-edge restaurant and bar scene, and an unquenchable thirst for fun, you'll never get bored in this city—which is why it's the perfect honeymoon destination. Upon arrival at Sydney's airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your city accommodation. Refresh, then set out to find lunch or go for a walk through the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens and along the edge of Sydney Harbour.
This afternoon, you'll get to explore Sydney with a local. After lunch, you'll hear fascinating stories of early convict history in The Rocks area and see postcard-worthy views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Shop until you drop at the Queen Victoria Building and explore the trendy Oxford Street district. Head east for a scenic walk around Tamarama and Bronte, and enjoy a refreshing drink at the famous Bondi Beach while admiring bronzed Aussie lifesavers.
Later, embark on a sunset cruise of Sydney Harbour and watch the aquamarine color of the water turn warm orange and then twilight blue as the sun sets on your final day in Australia. You'll admire iconic sights such as the aforementioned Harbour Bridge and Opera House, as well as Fort Denison, Luna Park, and more, all accompanied by a delicious three-course dinner. Snap photos as the sky is set alight at sunset and the city skyline comes alive.
Day 2: Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Tour
Australia's oldest wine-growing region is home to more than 150 vineyards, and on today's full-day Hunter Valley tour, you'll sip, swill, and sample your way through all things local. Today's full-day food and wine tour will showcase the best of the Hunter, including the region's famous semillon wines. Your guide and driver will take your small group to smaller boutique wineries, where you can feel the passion in every drop and share stories about the history and landscape of the Hunter Valley and Australia's wine culture.
You'll visit at least three wineries for relaxed private tastings, offering several varieties at each cellar door. You'll also stop for lunch at a café (with wine, of course). At some point in the day, you'll visit a local cheesemaker to taste various cheeses and learn about how they're made. Finally, return to Sydney at the end of an indulgent day out in the Hunter.
Day 3: Bondi Coastal Walk, Cottage Point Inn Fly & Dine, Roar & Snore
Put on your sneakers and set off early to walk the famous clifftop walk from Bondi to Coogee, a 3.7-mile (6 km) coastal walk with dazzling views this morning. It usually takes two to three hours to complete, depending on how often you stop—there's the temptation of a swim at every beach you pass! Begin at Sydney's Bondi Beach, pass the Art Deco Bondi Icebergs swimming club, admire 2,000-year-old traditional Indigenous rock carvings at Marks Park, grab a coffee at Tamarama Beach, walk past the heritage-listed Waverly Cemetery, see Gordons Bay and finish at Coogee Beach.
Before lunch, board a private 20-minute scenic flight destined for the award-winning Cottage Point Inn. This beautiful waterfront restaurant is located in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and is renowned for its exceptional modern Australian cuisine. The friendly staff will greet you with a warm welcome and great Australian wines. After your laid-back and leisurely three-course lunch, board the seaplane for your return to the city. Circuit above the Harbour Bridge and Opera House before landing at Rose Bay.
Tonight, you'll get up close with furry locals with a sleepover at Taronga Zoo, where your luxury safari tent overlooks Sydney Harbour. Venture down just before sunset to enjoy welcome canapés and beverages on arrival, then follow a keeper on a night safari where you'll meet some of Taronga's iconic residents, big and small. Fall asleep to the sounds of the zoo animals, then wake up for a behind-the-scenes experience with some of the zoo's friendliest residents.
Day 4: Fly to Uluru, Open-Air Dinner Experience
Today, you'll wake up to the sounds of the zoo coming alive and enjoy breakfast at the luxe campsite. This morning, you're free to explore every corner of the zoo ahead of your flight to Australia's outback. A driver will pick you up from the zoo and transfer you to the airport for your 3.5-hour flight to Uluru (Ayers Rock), the spiritual heart of the desert plains. On arrival in the red center, collect your luggage and meet a shuttle that will drop you off at your accommodation.
Closer to dusk, experience the enchanting Australian outback with an intimate dinner beneath the stars at Tali Wiru, an open-air restaurant with magnificent views of Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuta. You'll devour a four-course meal from the top of a red dune, infused with ancient native herbs and ingredients, such as wallaby, quandong, Davidson plum, lemon myrtle, toothfish, muntries, and desert oak. Of course, each dish is expertly paired with top-quality Australian wine.
Day 5: Desert Awakenings, Scenic Flight, Wintjiri Wiru After Dark
Rise early this morning to experience the tranquil predawn under a canopy of stars. Watch the sunrise hit the surrounding landscapes as you dine on a traditional Aussie breakfast with egg and bacon rolls, tea, coffee, and locally made damper (soda bread) with golden syrup. From there, your local guide will explain the region's natural history and show you animal tracks in the sand. After, buckle up for a 25-minute helicopter ride above Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. There's nothing like seeing the mega monolith from above to truly appreciate the scale and majesty of Uluru.
This evening, deepen your connection with the local Anangu culture through storytelling, an art form the local people have shared for thousands of years. Journey out to an intimate amphitheater where you'll experience Wintjiri Wiru's chapter of the ancestral Mala story under the desert sky with the help of choreographed drones, lasers, projections, music, and Pitjantjatjara language.
Day 6: Fly to Cairns, Transfer to Port Douglas, Free Time
After breakfast, you'll swap the arid outback for the lush tropics. A private driver will take you to the airport for your 2.5-hour flight to Cairns, where a private driver will meet you for the transfer to your hotel behind Port Douglas. This beachfront resort town is a favorite for exploring the region's two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, and the Daintree Rainforest. Check into your luxurious resort, relax, and unpack.
Use your afternoon to explore the tropical town of Port Douglas, which really has it all. Beyond the rainforest and the reef, there's also the crystal-clear creeks of Mossman Gorge and the palm-fringed golden sands of Four Mile Beach to explore. Venture down to this pretty stretch of bronze sand where you can flop on the sand, swim in the warm waters of the Coral Sea, or explore the rock pools at the beach's northern end. Find somewhere romantic for a special dinner for two in town.
Day 7: Full-Day Mackay Cay Outer Reef Tour
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Today, you'll dive into one of the world's great natural wonders with a luxury full-day excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. The world's largest coral reef system offers an astounding diversity of marine life, including over 1,500 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and six species of sea turtles. Made up of over 2,900 individual reefs and hundreds of islands, the protected area spans over 1,430 miles (2,300 km). Pack your swimsuit and sunscreen and drive 20 minutes to the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, where you'll set sail to the Coral Cays of Mackay.
Once your catamaran arrives at the protected reef sites, you'll have the chance to dive into the sea and meet colorful fish, sea turtles, rays, and even sharks. Enjoy every minute, as this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an essential ecosystem for the world's oceans, providing vital habitat and protection for marine life.
Day 8: Morning Wildlife Habitat Tour, Afternoon Indigenous Tour
Get up close with cuddly koalas at Wildlife Habitat this morning. On a private two-hour tour, you'll enter the koala enclosure for quality time and visit the Tropical Animal Rehabilitation Centre, where you'll meet rescued, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Spend 90 minutes with a wildlife keeper, enjoy a private reptile presentation, and receive special souvenir photos to remember the occasion.
This afternoon join a local guide who will share details about the special relationship the local Kuku Yalanji still have with their land. You'll gain an insight into the history, culture, and traditions of the local Indigenous people while walking through the world's oldest living rainforest and seeing where the rainforest meets the reef. Learn about the environment, native foods, and medicines, sample some bush tucker (food), and swim at one of the clear freshwater streams in the area.
Day 9: Transfer to Mossman, Free Time
After a few days relaxing by the beach, it's time to trade the reef for the rainforest. Today a private transfer will take you 30 minutes inland to a luxurious rainforest lodge. This relaxed eco-retreat is set above the gently flowing Mossman River and surrounded by the cool leafy canopy of the Daintree Rainforest. Check into your room then take a swim in the beautiful, freeform pool, kick back in a hammock with a holiday read, or book a luxe treatment at the award-winning spa.
In the afternoon, you could embark on a self-guided hike through the forest or borrow e-bikes and ride past sugar cane fields to the nearby town of Mossman. For something more gentle, take a slow stroll through the Kitchen Garden where you'll find a diverse range of tropical produce cultivated on-site. Have a guess which ingredients will appear in your dinner tonight!
Day 10: Rainforest Waterfall Helicopter Escape, Dreamtime Gorge Walk
After breakfast, a private charter helicopter will depart with you aboard. Soak in aerial views of the tropical rainforest-lined coast and the sparkling azure waters of the Coral Sea before a scenic landing at Stewarts Creek Waterfall. This magnificent fall is a jewel in the UNESCO-listed Daintree National Park and is only accessible by helicopter. Leave the world behind as you enjoy a refreshing swim in the cool waters, listen to the sounds of the rainforest, and dig into a gourmet picnic basket with wine.
This afternoon, connect with an experienced Kuku Yalanji guide who will take you on a walk near Mossman Gorge. The 90-minute experience starts with a traditional welcome and smoking ceremony. After, you'll set off on foot, where your guide will explain traditional plants and their uses and share the secrets of making bush soaps and ocher paint. You'll also pass traditional huts as your guide tells you about the rainforest and the special relationship and connection the Kuku Yalanji have with this tropical environment.
Day 11: Transfer to Cairns, Fly to Melbourne, Small Group Dinner
Enjoy a final breakfast in the rainforest, then a private transfer will take you back to Cairns airport for your 3.5-hour flight to Melbourne. On arrival in the cultural capital of Australia, another driver will transfer you to your accommodation. Drop your bags and set out for a spot of sightseeing. Start with Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, Queen Victoria Markets, and the Royal Botanical Gardens. Then dive into the city's hip laneways, where cool street art and coffee shops are tucked into hidden corners.
There are so many great restaurants in Melbourne, and with new ones popping up regularly, it's hard to keep up. That's why you'll join a local foodie this evening and sample the best of Melbourne's impressive restaurant scene with a progressive dinner, squeezing a handful of restaurants and bars into one night. You'll sit down at three of Melbourne's best dining spots, enjoying savory dishes with carefully paired wines. Each venue has a different food style, with history and design as diverse as the city.
Day 12: Sunrise Balloon Flight, Café Culture Walk, Half-Day Melbourne Tour
Rise early this morning to spend a peaceful hour drifting gently over Melbourne before the city wakes up. Imagine feeling the warmth of the flames as the balloon rises over the city's legendary landmarks, including the MCG, Port Phillip Bay, and the Eureka Tower. This is the only major city in the world you can float directly above by hot-air balloon! After, enjoy a hot breakfast with sparkling wine at a 5-star hotel, then continue your explorations with a tour of the city's world-famous coffee scene with a local expert, who knows where to find the best sips and bites.
Then, in the afternoon, explore Melbourne's many colorful neighborhoods, each with its own culture. Your guide will take you from bohemian Fitzroy to seaside St. Kilda and from Little Italy to Little Saigon as you explore the city's quirky lanes, Victorian arcades, and grand boulevards while meeting locals along the way.
Day 13: Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour
Today you'll journey along the spectacular Great Ocean Road—one of Australia's greatest coastal drives. Your small group eco-tour will travel along the Surf Coast, stopping at pristine beaches and taking in unrivaled views as you wind around each bend. Venture off the Great Ocean Road and into the Great Otway National Park while looking for wild koalas in the eucalyptus trees, then continue along the Surf Coast for a lunch stop in Apollo Bay.
After lunch, emerge from the Otway Ranges and arrive at the Shipwreck Coast with its indented coastline and distinct array of limestone formations, including the world-famous Twelve Apostles. Stroll the boardwalks here and take in the scenery before moving on to the heart of the Shipwreck Coast, the spectacular Loch Ard Gorge and descend to the beach once more at Gibsons Steps. This is a huge day out, and you won't return to the city until the evening.
Day 14: Depart Melbourne
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