Tour Description

There’s no denying Australia’s diversity. This Melbourne to Sydney tour invites you to glimpse a full range of natural attractions, whether two World Heritage Sites in Cairns (the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland) or the eye-popping, art-clad laneways of Melbourne and architectural marvel of Sydney Opera House. Wherever you venture, expect to discover First Nations culture.

Priced From:

$ 7990pp ^*

From: 2024-12-26

To: 2025-03-27

Start Location: Melbourne (VIC), Australia

End Location: Sydney, Australia

Trip Type: Country Explorer

Tour Advisors

Tiffany McCrea-Lennon

Managing Director

Michelle Baldwin

Travel Specialist

Gaylyn Murdoch

Administration Manager

Russell Mein

Travel Specialist

Holly Skene

Travel Co-ordinator

Kim Thomas

Broker

Itinerary

Welcome to Melbourne

Day 1

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne

Settle into your hotel on the banks of the Yarra River and meet your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and dinner at the South Wharf riverside pub, The General Assembly restaurant. It's a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting.

Melbourne Sightseeing

Day 2

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne

Get out and see the sights today on a guided walk with your Travel Director discovering the little lanes, arcades, and café society of stylish Melbourne. Gaze up at the beautiful Victorian façades lining grand boulevards. Stroll past famous, edgy street art that shows a stylish contrast to federation buildings and churches as Melbourne’s coffee aroma wafts overhead. There's time afterwards to explore the city on your own, enjoy an optional experience to Phillip Island to see the nightly ritual of the Penguin Parade. Or simply relax and watch the world go by.

Melbourne - Cairns

Day 3

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hilton Hotel Cairns

Things start to heat up in Cairns, the heart of Tropical North Queensland. Jump aboard a cruise at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures to discover some of the wildlife that calls this part of the state home, koalas, wallabies and crocs among them. Now that you’ve appreciated the beauty of the area, you can put your passion into practice helping with a Rainforest Restoration project, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, to protect the natural wonder of the nearby Notophyll Vine Forest, an area older than the Amazon. By jumping in and helping the team plant trees, you’re supporting the protection of this rare type of dry rainforest from development and restoring it to an important wildlife corridor of native birds. Talk about a feel-good day. *If you are departing on an early flight from Melbourne, a boxed breakfast will be provided.

Great Barrier Reef

Day 4

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hilton Hotel Cairns

Go from city to sea today on a full day bucket list exploration of the world’s largest coral reef system in the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set sail on a high-speed catamaran for these tropical waters then explore this underwater wonderland up close donning your mask and fins for a snorkel (equipment provided). You’ll feel like a fish in an aquarium weaving through the rainbow of reefs and fish. Or, choose to stay dry in your semi-submersible, air-conditioned craft with an underwater observatory to have a different view of these tropical species. However you choose to explore, you’ll love learning the insights on the reef the colourful fish and plants that call it home from your local guide. On board you’ll be treated to a buffet lunch and afternoon tea and coffee to soak up the Aussie sun before you cruise back into Cairns.

Cairns Free Time

Day 5

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Hilton Hotel Cairns

Today is a free day to do as you choose. A great option is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda, travelling over and through World Heritage rainforest, explore quaint Kuranda village and later board the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway for the return journey (own expense). If you’d prefer to spend the day relaxing by your hotel pool or sitting back at a local café you can do that too! After a big day out or in town, meet up with the group for dinner at Ochre Restaurant and enjoy Australian cuisine featuring the best local produce.

Cairns - Sydney

Day 6

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney

Following a leisurely start to the morning it’s time to switch the tropical vibes back to city highlights as you fly to Sydney. Check into your centrally located hotel and spend the rest of the day and evening exploring as you wish. You could visit Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge or the new Sydney Modern Art Gallery, which are both close by. Ask your Travel Director for sightseeing and dinner suggestions.

Sydney

Day 7

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney

Discover one of the great highlights of Sydney, the beautiful Sydney Opera House, on a guided tour inside this iconic building before experiencing the beauty of the city aboard a Harbour Cruise sailing past Circular Quay, Shark Island, magnificent homes, beaches and parkland, and the iconic Harbour Bridge. If there ever was a place that slipped from the pages of a fairy-tale, Wendy’s Secret Garden at Lavender Bay is it. Overlooking Sydney Harbour, this pocket of floral paradise is explained by a local volunteer – did you know this was once unused wasteland? Take a walk around the grounds among the shrubs, herbs, and towering trees lining meandering paths, eyes peeled for the resident parrots, gulls, kookaburras and wagtails. Your visit provides a contribution to the ongoing maintenance of the enchanting garden.

Sydney

Day 8

Duration: 1

Accommodation: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney

The day is a free day to explore at your leisure or book one of our hand crafted selection of optional activities. There are so many sights and experiences to be had in this city and further afield. You might choose to visit the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, for fresh mountain air and stunning scenery. Or get your adrenaline racing with a thrilling climb up (and over) the Sydney Harbour Bridge (both own expense). This evening you can share your stories of your day with your fellow travellers at your Farewell Dinner.

Farewell from Sydney

Day 9

Duration: 1

All good things must come to an end. Fill up on your last breakfast before bidding farewell to your fellow travel companions.

Dates & prices

Start Date: 2025-01-16

End Date: 2025-01-24

twin

Child Price: 7660

Adult Price: 8325

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8325

single

Child Price: 6860

Adult Price: 10625

Start Date: 2025-01-30

End Date: 2025-02-07

twin

Child Price: 7325

Adult Price: 7990

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7990

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10180

Start Date: 2025-03-06

End Date: 2025-03-14

twin

Child Price: 7660

Adult Price: 8325

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 8325

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10625

Start Date: 2025-03-20

End Date: 2025-03-28

twin

Child Price: 7325

Adult Price: 7990

twinShare

Child Price:

Adult Price: 7990

single

Child Price:

Adult Price: 10180

Contrasts of Australia

Tour Advisors

Itinerary

Dates & prices