Australia 360: The grand tour

Ready to explore the best of Australia and check new sights off your bucket list? It's time for an adventure down under! Pack your bags and head to your departure airport for a flight to Sydney. Overnight on board.

Continue your journey to Sydney. Due to the time difference, you will lose a day on your outward journey but will gain it back on your return. You are not in-flight for two full days.

Arrive in Sydney and self-transfer to the hotel for some free time to relax after your journey. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is the most populous city in Australia. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Hawkesbury River, it’s considered one of the world's most beautiful and livable cities. It boasts an iconic skyline, incredible museums, delicious restaurants, a lively atmosphere, and stunning natural beauty. One of its most famous attractions is the Sydney Opera House, located on Sydney Harbour. Overnight in Sydney.

Today you’ll enjoy a half-day panoramic tour of Sydney. You will visit the historic Rocks area and hear about early convict history. You’ll continue through the financially focused Central Business District (CBD) and Macquarie Street. Marvel at 18th-century sandstone architecture such as NSW Parliament House, Rum Hospital, Hyde Park Barracks, and St Mary’s Cathedral.Then, head to Mrs. Macquarie’s Point to enjoy magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Continue through Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, home to the rich and famous. Travel along the coves and shores of one of the world’s most impressive coastlines, making a few stops for photo opportunities, including a panoramic photo of the Sydney skyline. You will pass through areas such as Kings Cross, Double Bay, and Rose Bay before arriving at Watsons Bay.Then you’ll have the option of a short coastal walk with views of the South Pacific Ocean and the entrance to Sydney Harbour. Travel on to the famous Bondi Beach, visit the beachfront promenade, put your toes in the sand, and see bronzed Aussie lifesavers and surfers riding the waves.Continue on to Tamarama and Bronte beaches before returning to the city via Centennial Park and Paddington, a trendy district with its elegant terrace houses and boutique shops along Oxford Street. The final stop of the day will be Darling Harbour. Overnight stay in Sydney.

Today you have a free day in Sydney! If you aren’t sure what to do, we recommend that you join one of these optional activities: Blue Mountains & Wildlife Park Day Trip*, Hunter Valley Signature Wine Tour**, or Sydney’s Northern Beaches & Ku-ring-gai National Park Tour***. Overnight stay in Sydney.*Blue Mountains full-day tour: The day starts with a visit to an outstanding wildlife park where you can get up close, interact, and learn about Australia’s amazing animals, birds, and reptiles. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, emus, wombats, etc. Further west into the mountains, you’ll take a short walk to see the amazing views of the Blue Mountains. Then head to the small town of Katoomba, and after lunch (not included) you’ll be taken on a long bush walk away from the crowds on national park tracks that stimulate the senses. Get up close to waterfalls, breathe in the fresh air, smell the eucalyptus trees, and see parrots and even a lyrebird. The final stop will be at the iconic Three Sisters.**Hunter Valley signature wine tour: Can you picture yourself exploring the stunning Hunter Valley wine region, tasting some of Australia’s best wine, food, cheese, chocolate, beer, and distilled spirits? This is your opportunity to make it happen and learn more about the wineries and wines grown in Australia.***Sydney’s Northern Beaches & Ku-ring-gai National Park tour: See the impressive beauty of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, with its ancient Aboriginal sites, extensive waterways, and Aussie wildlife. Visit Palm Beach, where you’ll enjoy the amazing lookout points from The Spit, West Head, Narrabeen, Long Reef, and North Head. Then, travel down the winding roads passing the scenic seascapes of Bilgola to Narrabeen Beach for a chance to view one of the best surfing spots in Sydney. Then, get away from the crowds and stroll the cliffs along the Curl Curl boardwalk. Wrap up this amazing day with a ferry cruise on the iconic Manly Ferry.Important note: these optional activities are not combinable, you can only choose one for the day.

Today you’ll self-transfer to Sydney Airtport to fly to the wonderful Ayers Rock and, upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will have free time for the rest of the day to relax. Overnight stay in Ayers Rock.

Today you’ll experience the two major landmarks in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Start with an amazing sunrise at Talinguru Nyakunytjaku in the Uluru sunrise viewing area. Here you’ll enjoy a warming cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate as the dawn creeps across the desert plain and lights up Uluru.Afterwards, on the drive to Kata Tjuta, the guide will provide you with a historical overview of the National Park. Arrive at the 36 steep-sided domes, the other icon of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. See also Walpa Gorge, meaning ‘wind’ in the local Aboriginal language. Follow the path between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta, to a lush oasis in the desert. Admire mulla mulla plants and spearwood trees at the end of the gorge. From here, enjoy a panoramic view of the southern side of Kata Tjuta, and see Uluru on the distant horizon. You can complete your day with an optional Uluru Sunset & Barbecue Dinner*. Overnight stay in Ayers Rock.*Optional Uluru sunset & barbecue dinner: Sit back and relax as you travel into the amazing Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Enjoy appetizers and complimentary Australian sparkling wine as the sun starts to move towards the western horizon and brings out the colors Uluru is famous for! After sunset, you will be transferred to the exclusive barbecue site. The site is within the Uluru National Park set amongst red sand dunes and desert oak trees providing a peaceful desert setting. Once at the site, you will enjoy a variety of Australian meats and salads, accompanied by wine, beer, or orange juice. Afterwards, your guide will conduct a tour of the night sky, describing and pointing out some of the visible constellations with the assistance of a high beam spotlight. The guide will also explain some Aboriginal stories that relate to the stars. Note: Special dietary requests must be advised before 2 pm on the day of joining this optional activity.

Start your day in Ayers Rock with an optional segway tour* to catch all the major landmarks. Later, fly from Ayers Rock to Brisbane, then transfer via shuttle bus to the Gold Coast. This coastal region in Queensland is famous for its long stretches of beach, including Surfers Paradise. Explore at your leisure or consider joining the optional Natural Bridge Glow Worm Night Tour.** Overnight stay on the Gold Coast.*Best of Uluru & segway tour: Learn to drive a segway, then circumnavigate part of Uluru and check out some of the nearby watering holes and other interesting gems of this national landmark.**Natural Bridge Glow Worm night tour: Discover the glow worms of Springbrook National Park, one of the world’s most accessible sites to see these tiny, glowing creatures.

Today, you have a free day to enjoy at your leisure. We recommend joining one of these optional activities: the Tangalooma Beach Day Cruise* or the O’Reilly’s & Lamington National Park Excursion**. Overnight stay in Gold Coast.*Tangalooma Beach resort day: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and switch to island time while you enjoy the relaxed, tropical lifestyle of Tangalooma for the day. You’ll have full access to resort facilities, including a variety of complimentary land-based activities. Spend the day as an island explorer, discovering the diverse landscape, flora, and fauna, and get a chance to see the dolphins, turtles, dugongs, and tropical fish of Moreton Bay Marine Park.**O’Reilly’s & Lamington National Park excursion: Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Gold Coast from Tamborine Mountain, then continue on to O’Reilly’s for a treetop canopy walk. Explore historic logging tracks, hear tales of early settlers, and learn about the heroic rescue stories from the Stinson plane crash. You’ll also have the opportunity to sample some local Queensland wines!