The Wonders of Australia with Travelsphere

The Wonders of Australia

This all-encompassing tour of Australia introduces you to so many of the highlights of this thrilling destination. Explore beautiful Perth and uncover the nature-lovers' paradise of Kangaroo Island, to see kangaroos, koalas and wallabies. Take a scenic journey along the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne, opt to visit Phillip Island to watch the delightful penguin parade, then take in Sydney's spectacular sights. Next, you'll see Uluru at sunset and sunrise, as well as the mysterious Olgas. Continue your adventure in Alice Springs, famous for its Flying Doctor Base and the School of the Air, before heading to Kakadu National Park. Here, you'll head off on a cruise in search of crocodiles and get to admire fascinating Aboriginal rock art. Cairns in Queensland, is your gateway to the amazing Great Barrier Reef. Spend lazy days soaking up the sun or discover even more on a range of optional excursions.

What's Included:

• Private Chauffeur Service, Free Airport Parking or £100 reduction if you make your own arrangements
• 14 meals: 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner and welcome drink
• Return flights from London
• Travelsphere Tour Manager
• 27 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels plus 2 nights in flight

• Overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage

  Included Holiday Highlights:

• Tour of Perth
• Journey along the Great Ocean Road
• Visit Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunset and enjoy a cocktail, then visit again at sunrise
• Tour of Alice Springs
• Cruise the Katherine Gorge
• Discover Adelaide
• Discover Melbourne
• See the Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)
• Kakadu National Park
• Great Barrier Reef catamaran cruise
• Visit Kangaroo Island
• Sydney’s iconic sights
• Authentic Aussie bush barbecue
• See Aboriginal paintings at Nourlangie Rock
• Discover Brisbane

Days 1 & 2: UK - Perth

Make you own way to the airport or be collected by our Private Chauffeur (if you've pre-booked) for your flight to Perth.

Days 3 - 5: Perth

On arrival in the beautiful city of Perth early on day 3, we'll transfer you to your hotel. You'll stay here for a further two nights, so there's plenty of time to explore, and a half-day tour of this exciting, cosmopolitan city will get you started. Among your discoveries will be clean, uncrowded beaches and lush green parks all set against a stunning backdrop of modern skyscrapers.​ Perth has so much to offer and you can get out and about to discover its delights just as you wish today. It's one of the world's most envied locations in which to live, with lush parks, excellent restaurants, the stunning Swan River and a lovely warm climate. As an alternative, you might choose to join an optional excursion to Rottnest Island, which sits just 19km off the coast of Perth. It's home to the friendly quokka, a small wallaby-like marsupial, and beautiful white-sand beaches. Today has been left free so you can make further discoveries in Perth at your own pace. From bush walking trails to botanical gardens, there's loads to keep you occupied. Alternatively, why not join an optional tour of the lively port city of Fremantle, which you'll reach via a cruise on the Swan River. During free time, coffee-lovers should head to Cappuccino Strip, lined with open-air coffee shops, pubs and restaurants. Other highlights include the fishing boat harbour, a host of interesting museums and the historic Fremantle markets - more than 150 stalls selling everything from local delicacies to jewellery. We'll head back to the hotel by road.​

Day 6: Perth - Adelaide

Your next destination is Adelaide, and we'll fly here today. On arrival, an orientation tour will show you the highlights of the city before we transfer you to your hotel. Later, why not join our thrilling optional excursion, an Adelaide Oval Roof Climb. You'll walk across the roof of this iconic sports stadium with an experienced guide, for superb views over the city. A special Roof Climb suit and harness are provided, but make sure you wear closed-toe shoes, then off you head on an exciting adventure.

Day 7: Adelaide - Kangaroo Island

There's an early start today, as we head to Cape Jervis, where we take a ferry over to Kangaroo Island. More than a third of this nature-lovers' paradise is a protected nature reserve, and home to many native wildlife species. As well as kangaroos and wallabies, look out for sea lions basking on the sandy beaches and koalas dozing in the branches of eucalyptus trees. The island is also home to more than 260 speices of birds, many of which can be seen year round, and 52 plant species that are found nowhere else on earth. Its shores play host to many types of whale as well as dolphins, so keep your fingers crossed for a sighting.

Day 8: Kangaroo Island - Adelaide

Your discoveries of Kangaroo Island continue today with a visit to Flinders Chase National Park. Here you'll see Admirals Arch - a beautiful arch of rock which has been shaped by the Southern Ocean - and the sculptured granite boulders known as Remarkable Rocks. You'll also visit Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, which boasts a notable population of koalas, and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, where you can get up close to many species of wildlife. Later, we'll travel back to Adelaide.​

Day 9: Adelaide - Warrnambool

You're going to travel along the Great Ocean Road today as you head to Warrnambool in Victoria. You'll see more of this stunning route tomorrow.

Day 10: Warrnambool - Melbourne

Today en route to Melbourne, you'll see much more of the Great Ocean Road - quite simply one of the most spectacular coastal routes in the world. Highlights along the way include the Twelve Apostles, although only eight of these towering limestone stacks remain, the impressive Arch and many other dramatic rock formations.

Day 11: Melbourne

Enjoy a lazy morning, before setting off on a tour of Melbourne. Highlights include Federation Square, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Flinders Street Station and the Grand Prix Circuit that circles Albert Park Lake. Another stop is Fitzroy Gardens, which features pathways lined with towering elms, colourful floral displays and the Fairies' Tree sculpture - a centuries-old tree stump featuring delightful carvings.

Day 12: Melbourne - at leisure

You can slow the pace a little and spend the day at leisure, or you might be tempted to join an optional visit to Phillip Island to see the remarkable penguin parade. At sunset, after a hard day's fishing, hundreds of these delightful creatures - the world's smallest penguin - appear from out of the ocean and waddle their way across the beach to their sand dune burrows. You can take in this marvellous spectacle from special viewing stands and boardwalks, which give you the chance to get up close to nature.​

Day 13: Melbourne - Sydney

We're flying to Sydney this morning, where you'll stay for the next three nights. On your afternoon sightseening tour, you can tick off the gorgeous white sands of Bondi Beach and Hyde Park, which is home to numerous monuments including the ANZAC Memorial. You'll also visit Darling Harbour, which hosts a dazzling array of attractions from bars and bistros to an aquarium and a zoo, as well as Mrs Macquarie's Chair. This huge sandstone rock was hand-carved by convicts into the shape of a bench for Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth, in 1810. Why not sit for a while and take in the views from this wonderful vantage point. Another unforgettable option is to join an optional twilight dinner cruise aboard an authentic timber tall ship complete with billowing sails.

Day 14: ​Sydney- at leisure

With a day at leisure, you can discover Sydney at your own pace. As you explore you'll find that its centre is surprisingly compact. Alternatively, you could choose to discover Sydney Harbour from the water. This hour-long optional cruise will introduce many wonderful sights, from beautiful gardens and parkland to the iconic Sydney Opera House and Bridge. For an entirely different perspective, you could take in exceptional views of Sydney Harbour and the surrounding area on a guided Sydney Harbour Bridge climb. Don't worry, you'll get a safety briefing beforehand and will wear a harness at all times. At the end you'll receive a group photo, a cap, certificate and a pass to the Pylon Lookout for further sweeping views. Another option is to step beneath the sails and enjoy a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. You'll learn about the history of the building, uncover stories about artists and the shows performed here and have an opportunity to visit areas usually off limits to the general public.​

Day 15: Sydney- at leisure

Enjoy a further day at leisure, or if you want to join an organised trip, come with us on a thrilling optional excursion. You'll head through the Blue Mountains, past the Three Sisters rock formation and along Jamieson Valley - Australia's answer to the Grand Canyon. Finally, you'll visit Scenic World, where you can opt to take a journey on the world's steepest incline railway into ancient rainforest, or enjoy a cable-car ride over the valley.​

Day 16: Sydney - Uluru

Depart this morning on our flight to Uluru, or Ayers Rock, via Alice Springs. This gigantic sandstone monolith, which is two miles long, 1,000ft high and measures six miles around the base, is located in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. One of the most impressive landmarks in Australia, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a sacred place in Aboriginal culture and features many caves and ancient rock paintings. It's an incredible sight at any time of the day, but at sunrise and sunset it changes colour dramatically with the light. Your sunset visit this evening includes a cocktail.​ This evening you can enjoy an optional visit to the impressive Field of Light installation.

Day 17: Uluru - Alice Springs

You've an early start today, but it's definitely worth it as you visit Uluru once again, but this time at sunrise. You can also tour the base of the rock and view Aboriginal rock paintings in the caves here. After this we'll head to the mysterious Kata Tjuta, although you may know these 36 domed rock formations better as The Olgas. Located to the west of Uluru, they are thought to have similarly been one huge piece of rock but over millions of years they have been shaped this way by nature. We then continue by road to Alice Springs, where you'll enjoy an authentic bush barbecue in the Australian Outback this evening. The fun starts at sunset as we take to the road to try to spot kangaroos. Before you eat you can try your hand at boomerang throwing, and afterwards you can indulge in a spot of stargazing.​

Day 18: Alice Springs - at leisure

You can spend today as you wish in Alice Springs. If you want to get out and about in the great outdoors, join an optional excursion to the spectacular Western MacDonnell Mountain Ranges.

Day 19: Alice Springs - Darwin

This morning, head off on a fascinating tour that introduces you to the Flying Doctor Base and the old Telegraph Station, the original site of the first European settlement in central Australia, which is now a museum. You will also visit the famous School of the Air. Later we'll transfer you to the airport for your flight to Darwin.

Day 20: Darwin - Kakadu National Park

Your destination today is Kakadu National Park, where you'll discover lush rainforest, scenic rivers and a diverse range of wildlife. It is most famed though for its natural galleries of fascinating Aboriginal rock art. Before we make our way to our hotel, you've the chance to walk up Ubirr Rock, where you'll see some of the most outstanding examples of rock art in the world.

Day 21: Kakadu National Park - Katherine

A journey by road this morning takes us to Katherine via the stunning Nourlangie Rock. Here you can set off on a walk to see more Aboriginal rock art. Next, head off on a thrilling cruise on the famous Yellow Water Lagoon, where you can look for many species of birds - from whistling ducks to eagles - and crocodiles in their natural habitat.​

Day 22: Katherine - Darwin

Today's highlight is a cruise through the Katherine Gorge, to see ancient rocks and caves decorated with Aboriginal paintings. As you sail through this picturesque valley, expert guides will explain the history and geology of the area and tell you all about the flora and fauna you're likely to see. You'll step ashore for a walk before boarding another boat for your return journey.​

Day 23: Darwin - Cairns

This morning we're heading to Cairns where we will stay, it's your gateway to the Great Barrier Reef!

Day 24: Great Barrier Reef

Today you have the chance to explore a whole new world on an included trip by catamaran to the outer Great Barrier Reef. You'll see that marine life comes incredibly close to the vessel, and you can experience the reef without getting wet from the comfort of a semi-submersible or an underwater observatory. Of course, you can also go snorkelling in this amazing underwater world – all the equipment and guidance you need is provided, as well as lunch.

Day 25 & 26: Cairns - at leisure

You can spend today doing just as you wish, exploring at your own pace or simply enjoying the facilities at your hotel. If you want to get out in the great outdoors, why not come with us on an optional trip to Daintree Rainforest. Daintree is an ecologically unique tropical forest, which is home to an extensive range of flora and fauna. Also included is an environmental wilderness cruise as you go in search of crocodiles with an expert guide. You'll then enjoy lunch at the Daintree Tea House and round off your excursion with a tour of Daintree.

Day 27: Cairns - Brisbane

Today we'll transfer you to the airport for your flight to Brisbane. The capital of the Sunshine State, boasting 293 days a year of sunshine, Brisbane is a modern, bustling metropolis that sits on the banks of the Brisbane River. There is no shortage of things to see and do here including a vast array of restaurants, cafés and shops to explore. The Eat Street Market on the North Shore is always buzzing with activity and the sights, smells and tasty treats are well worth discovering. Head to the cliffs at New Farm Park for beautiful views of the iconic Story Bridge lit up at night, against the backdrop of the sparkling city, or enjoy a drink at one of the city's many rooftop bars. A great way to explore is on a CityCat, which takes you out into the river to explore from the water. The South Bank, Queensland's Cultural Precinct, is also well worth a visit. Here, you'll find Streets Beach, Australia's only beach that is located within a city!

Day 28: Brisbane - at leisure

Before flying home tomorrow you might choose to spend a day at leisure. Alternatively, why not join an optional excursion to North Stradbroke Island. Fondly known as Straddie by the locals, it is the world's second largest sand island at about 38km long and 11km wide. Relax on the beach, or maybe head off on a bush walk, keeping an eye out for resident kangaroos, koalas and kookaburras - the largest member of the kingfisher family.

Day 29: Brisbane - UK

We will transfer you to the airport today for your return flight to the UK.

Day 30: UK

You'll arrive back in the UK today. Upon arrival, either make your own way home or your Travelsphere Private Chauffeur Service will be waiting for the journey home (if you've pre-booked).