09 DAYS ESSENTIALS AUSTRALIA

Continue to Australia on your overnight flight. Enjoy the onboard food and amenities.

Flight through the darkness

Greetings from Australia! You will be taken to your hotel for check-in after arriving at Melbourne International Airport. Take the remainder of the day to relax and explore the city at your own pace.

Melbourne overnight

The tour this morning will cover a lot of both modern and old sites. As your driver guide informs you of what to watch out for along the journey, experience Melbourne's commotion. You will first tour Melbourne's downtown. This city and the surrounding suburbs are known as Australia's shopping capital, and they are home to upscale malls and specialty shops carrying top-tier goods and brands. St. Pauls's Cathedral, the Princess and Regent Theatres, and other magnificent examples of Melbourne's architectural splendors can be seen. Explore Federation Square and the Royal Exhibition Buildings, as well as Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, to witness landmark structures, uncommon and attractive plant species, and gorgeous scenery. Visit the stunning 26-hectare Fitzroy Gardens, which were designated as a National Trust property in 1974 and are highly regarded for their historical and horticultural significance. You can tour the charming Tudor Village or the Conservatory, which is famous for its amazing floral display. the Captain Cook's Cottage website (entrance not included). Captain James Cook's parents once resided in this charming small cottage, which is located in the center of the Fitzroy Gardens. With period-appropriate furnishings and a garden from the 18th century surrounding it, it has been meticulously repaired and maintained. Go to Albert Park, the site of the Australian Grand Prix, and the thriving Queen Victoria Market. After that, take a picture at the Shrine of Remembrance, a monument created to remember Victoria's residents who served in World War I. All Australians who have served in battle are now honored there. Around noon, your journey will come to a finish at Federation Square. The rest of the day is at your leisure to leisurely explore the city.

Melbourne overnight

Choose from the following optional tours or spend the day at your leisure.

Melbourne overnight afternoon is optional.

Island of Philip

Visit Philip Island by taking a tour. Enjoy the stunning sights of Melbourne's affluent districts as you go. Numerous contemporary structures may be seen here among stunning federation residences, many of which date back to the late 1800s. Your views will grow more rural as the South Gippsland Highway approaches the terrain, passing through smaller communities and farming properties. Phillip Island's entry point is San Remo, which is also the region's seafood hub. Local fishermen can be seen casting a line off the jetty as you pass through this charming fishing community.

The sole bridge that connects Phillip Island to the mainland will be your next stop. The Little Penguin Parade is one of Phillip Island's most well-known attractions, but it also has a diverse array of animals and an excellent shoreline with great surfing conditions. There is a wealth of information on Phillip Island, including details about the island's history, the local animals, and of course the Penguin Parade, available at the Penguin Parade Visitors' Facility. You may read more about the Little Penguin's way of life here. To discover your own piece of Penguin memorabilia, you may also visit their gift shop. Visit Summerland Beach to witness a Little Penguin magic show. These little fellows will win your heart without a doubt! The Little Penguins will surface from the water just as the sun is about to set over the ocean, then saunter along the beach to their sand dune burrows. The largest colony of these tiny penguins in the world is located on Phillip Island. The smallest penguin species is called the little penguin. They treasure their community of Little Penguins. All of the money made from the parade is used to fund research, environmental protection, and educational initiatives to keep their species alive and well. When the trip concludes, hotel drop-offs will start at around 10:30 PM (April to September) and 11:30 PM (October to March).

Afternoon lanes and arches are optional tours.

2:00 PM departure time; Federation Square or the Time Out Cafe near the Visitors Center as the meeting place.

Discover the neat and fascinating history of this neighborhood by taking a stroll through Melbourne's lovely back alleyways in the late afternoon. Learn about independent designers, offbeat eateries, artisan and specialized shops, street art, and regional architecture. There is something for everyone on this tour! There will be afternoon tea provided. At around 5:00 PM in the city, the tour will come to a conclusion.

FULL DAY IS OPTIONAL TWELVE APOSTLE & GREAT OCEAN ROAD

Time of Departure: 8:00 AM

The Great Ocean Road's attractions will be displayed to you throughout this excursion. On your journey, discover numerous fern-filled gullies and river inlets as well as the well-known seaside township of Lorne, a refuge for surfers. Before traveling the entire length of the Great Ocean Road, you will stop for lunch in Apollo Bay (lunch is not included). Along the way, you will pass soaring limestone cliffs, expansive white beaches, and stunning forest landscapes. The amazing Twelve Apostles, which are limestone stacks rising abruptly from the Southern Ocean, offer a magnificent display of significant natural erosion. You may observe the Loch Ard Gorge while strolling along the promenade and admiring the spectacular views from numerous vantage points. Get ready to be enchanted by the love romance and the heartbreaking tale of the lives lost on board the Loch Ard. Discover the tragic history of the more than 50 ships that have sunk in Port Campbell National Park. Before beginning your return trip to Melbourne, extend your tour past Port Campbell to explore the London Bridge's ruins. The tour will end at 8 o'clock, at which point hotel drop-offs will start.

PUFFING BILLY HERITAGE STEAM TRAIN JOURNEY IS OPTIONAL.

Time of Departure: 8:10 AM

Travel from Melbourne to the Dandenong ranges, where you will encounter beautiful ferns and substantial woodlands. The Dandenong Ranges, also referred to as the Dandenongs by locals, are a stunning low mountain range about 35 kilometers east of Melbourne. With waterfalls, undulating hills, steep valleys, and mountain ash trees (the tallest blooming plant in the world), they reach a height of more than 630 meters at its highest point.

You might have the chance to manually feed Crimson Rosella birds (seeds will be provided). Take a journey on the Puffing Billy Steam Train that has been restored and marvel at the towering mountain ash and lovely gorges of the Sherbrooke Forest while taking in the breathtaking views and the lush rainforest surroundings. Before you visit the small town of Sassafras, which is well-known for its gorgeous antiques and regional crafts, sip on a cup of Devonshire tea. Spend your free time exploring the region and going for walks. Reboard the bus to take you back to Melbourne. At Federation Square, the tour will come to a close about 1:00 PM.

You will travel alone (transport not included) to Melbourne's Southern Cross Railway Station this morning in order to catch your train to Sydney. Make your own way to the hotel after arriving at Sydney Central Station (transfer not included). The rest of the day is at your leisure to leisurely explore the city.

Sydney overnight

Optional: MELBOURNE to SYDNEY flight

includes round-trip airport shuttle service from the hotel in Melbourne to the airport and from the hotel in Sydney to the airport.

You will leave this morning for a half-day tour of Sydney (transport not included). The gathering place is Wheat Road, which is located in Darling Harbour beside the Sydney Aquarium. At 8:00 AM, the tour will start. There are various attractions you may find, such as the Rocks, the Sydney Opera House, and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, which offers stunning views of the harbour and the city skyline. Travel to Bondi Beach, Australia's most well-known surfing destination, where you can stroll down the sand and put your toes in the refreshing water. The Gap, the entrance to Sydney Harbour, will be your next stop. The Gap offers stunning views of the coastline and has a dramatic seaside cliff on Sydney's east coast. Travel back to Sydney via the well-known neighbourhoods of Double Bay, Paddington, and Kings Cross. Around midday, the trip will come to a close, and you can get off at Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. Return to the hotel on your own (transfer will not be included). Enjoy the remainder of your free time.

Sydney overnight

A HARBOUR HIGHLIGHTS CRUISE IS OPTIONAL.

2:30 PM departure time; No. 6 Jetty, Circular Quay departure point

Arrive at the meeting location on your own (transport not included), then board your Captain Cook Cruise for a midday Harbour Highlights cruise. Take in the breathtaking vistas of Sydney Harbour, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, affluent districts, and Darling Harbour while travelling on a powered vessel. You will return to the starting place after the voyage.

Take the day at your leisure or reserve a tour that is optional.

Blue Mountains, Featherdale Wildlife Park, and a River Cruise Are Optional for the Overnight Stay in Sydney You will be transported to Wheat Road, the Streetside behind the Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbour, after being picked up from your hotel. While you board your coach and travel into the breathtaking Blue Mountains, sit back and unwind as your driver-guide provides details on the day's schedule. Head west towards the Blue Mountains after crossing the renowned Sydney Harbour Bridge. Purchase breakfast tea (not included) in the charming Leura village before continuing to Scenic World to enjoy the vistas of the Jamison Valley.

You can choose to go by cable car, skyway, or railroad (not included). The Three Sisters will be seen across the Megalong and Jamison Valleys from Echo Point, where you will make your next stop. Discover the significance of this rock formation in the Aboriginal Dreamtime. Before continuing to the Featherdale Fauna Park, make a stop at the Waradah Aboriginal Centre (admission is not included). Here, you may get up and personal with the local wildlife. Hand-feed wallabies, emus, and kangaroos, and get close contact with a koala. Spend the afternoon taking a leisurely sail from the Parramatta River to Sydney Harbour while taking in the landscape and neighbourhoods along the water. Either Circular Quay or Darling Harbour are good places to get off the boat. At around 6:00 PM, the tour will come to a close.

You will be collected this morning at the scheduled time and driven to Sydney International Airport in preparation for your trip home.