Evening departure from London Heathrow with Quantas

In transit

On arrival in Sydney, you will be met and transferred to the Shangri-La Hotel for 4 nights in a deluxe grand harbour view room.

Board your Captain Cook Cruise vessel this morning at 10.00 hrs at Jetty No.6, Circular Quay for your coffee cruise. This cruise is a great introduction to Sydney and takes you right around Sydney Harbour and into the upper reaches of Middle Harbour. The cruise concludes at Circular Quay at approximately 12.20 hrs. The remainder of the afternoon is spent at your leisure.

The next two days are free to enjoy some of the many highlights of Australia’s largest and oldest city. Without doubt one of the most spectacularly located anywhere on earth, Sydney has it all, with a vibrant waterfront that is alive with yachts and ferries of all shapes and sizes, all set before the backdrop of one of the most easily recognizable harbour settings on earth. Take in the surreal white pinnacles of its famous Opera House and explore the historic Rocks district, the heart of the old city. Climb the famous bridge and take in the harbour and city landmarks from an altogether more original vantage point. Browse some of the many stores that line Sydney’s bustling streets, head for one of the nearby beaches, or sample some of the many superb restaurants on offer in this most friendly and cosmopolitan of cities. Alternatively why not visit the magical Blue Mountains or join a wine tour of the Hunter Valley? We would be happy to arrange any sightseeing tours that you may require.

Same as above

Today you will be collected from your hotel and taken to the domestic airport for your onward flight to Melbourne, Australia’s vibrant second city, where a diversity of cultural influences has helped to create one of the country’s most engaging cities You will be met on arrival and transferred to the Langham Hotel for a 2 night stay in a river guestroom.

A full day at leisure. Melbourne is a city renowned for its culture and relaxed lifestyle, filled with many fine galleries and museums, stately architecture and landscaped gardens, superb shopping and of course a reputation for some of the finest cuisine in the country. It is also a city famed for its sporting connections, with events running throughout the year, covering everything from cricket and racing, to tennis and Australian rules football. Why not take a guided tour of the city, taking in some of the highlights of its Victorian grandeur, or take a cruise along the Yarra River. Another option is a day trip out to nearby Phillip Island to see the famous and amusing nightly Penguin Parade.

Make your way today to the Budget Rent-A-Car depot to collect your rental vehicle. Depart Melbourne and head west, travelling along the Princess Freeway towards Geelong, where you will join the Surf Coast Highway towards the coastal resort town of Torquay, the official start of the Great Ocean Road. One of Australia’s most spectacular stretches of highway, the Great Ocean Road runs along Victoria’s western coast, sandwiched between the glorious Otway Ranges and the glittering waters of the Southern Ocean. You might want to consider making a short detour to the surfing mecca of Bells Beach, to take in its stunning coastal views, before continuing through the scenic coastal towns of Angelsea and Lorne en route to the picturesque fishing port of Apollo Bay Make your way to Chocolate Gannets for a 2 night stay in a Premium Sea Villa. The drive is approximately 185 Kilometres.

Enjoy a full day at your leisure. Nestling amidst the foothills of the Otways, Apollo Bay is a charming little town with a distinctly alternative feel. Home to an annual music festival, its pubs are generally filled with an array of local musicians and its lively streets offer a wealth of superb restaurants and cafes, art galleries and museums, as well as a fabulous seaside golf course. You can also hire boats and do a spot of fishing, whilst the steep and narrow road leading up to Mariners Lookout to the east of the town, will bring you to a short walk leading to some spectacular views out across the township and the surrounding coastline.

This morning you may wish to enjoy a stroll through some of the magnificent coastal rainforest or perhaps make a small detour off the Great Ocean Road and travel through the Otway National Park to nearby Cape Otway, the most southerly point on the Great Ocean Road and a infamously treacherous stretch of coastline. Depart Apollo Bay later this morning and continue along the Great Ocean Road, passing through Port Campbell and the Port Campbell National Park, taking in some of this stretch of the coast’s most magnificent scenery, including “London Bridge”, “The Arch” and the iconic and world renowned “Twelve Apostles”, giant rock stacks of immense grandeur that rise out of the waters of the Southern Ocean. Just before you reach the beautifully located and historic town of Warnambool, the Great Ocean Road ends and you will join the Princes Highway for the short drive on to the charming fishing village of Port Fairy, a town steeped in the rich history of whalers and seal fishermen. Today’s drive is approximately 195 kms via the Great Ocean Road. Stay overnight at the Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel, in a premium room.

Depart Port Fairy and travel along the Great Ocean Road to Portland, a busy deep-water port and historic town that is the last stop on the Victoria coast heading west along the Princes Highway. Continue via Dartmoor, Mount Gambier, Penola and Coonawarra to arrive at Naracoorte, in the heart of the limestone coast region of South Australia, a drive of approximately 258 kms. Stay overnight at Dartmoor Homestead in an Artemis Room.

Depart Naracoorte and travel to the farming town of Keith, where you will join the Dukes Highway through Murray Bridge and onto the gracious and distinctly ‘European’ city of Adelaide, lying along the banks of the Torrens River. The drive today is approximately 333 kms. Stay 2 nights at the Hyatt Regency Adelaide in a riverview guest room.

Enjoy a full day at your leisure. Charming and sophisticated, but without the big city feel of some of Australia’s larger destinations, Adelaide is relatively compact, but with plenty to offer the visitor, including an abundance of museums and quirky galleries, picturesque parklands, trendy cafes and fantastic shopping. You can take a tour of the city’s highlights, taking in its Victorian architecture and Botanic Gardens, or hire a bike and explore the scenery of the nearby Mt Lofty ranges. Other options include a trip out to the long sandy beaches of Glenelg, site of the first landing of the colonists in 1836, or a full-day tour of the stunning Barossa Valley, a region well known for its exquisite and internationally acclaimed wines.

Today you will be transferred by private car from the hotel to the domestic airport. Depart on your flight from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. Upon arrival, transfer to the Southern Ocean Lodge for a 2 night stay in a Flinders Suite.

Enjoy a full day exploring Kangaroo Island - a wildlife wonderland of birds, koalas, echidnas, goannas, seals, sea lions and kangaroos. The island is also renowned for its spectacular scenery, its unusual rock formations, rugged coastline and turquoise fringed seas.

Transfer from the Southern Ocean Lodge to the airport. Depart on your flight to Adelaide and return by private transfer to the Hyatt Regency Adelaide for an overnight stay in a riverview guestroom.

You will be collected from your hotel for a private transfer to the railway station. Depart on the world famous Ghan Train to Alice Springs at 12.20 hrs. Stay overnight in a Gold Kangaroo Sleeper cabin.

Arrive in Alice Springs approximately 13.45pm and transfer to the Alice Springs Resort for an overnight stay. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore something of this most fascinating of destinations, perhaps taking in the old Telegraph Station, or the unique School of the Air.

Today join an Australian Pacific Touring (APT) journey for a 3 day tour to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Departing Alice Springs today you will head southwest, passing through the MacDonnell Range and stopping at the Outback Camel Farm, before passing the flat-topped mesa of Atila (Mount Conner) on the way to Ayers Rock Resort. Later today you will travel out to the Kata Tjuta (many heads) or the Olgas as they are known locally, a cluster of some 36 unusually eroded rock formations, set amidst a meandering network of chasms and valleys and dominating the stark skyline of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Take a guided walk along Walpa Gorge, before travelling to the spectacular setting of Uluru (Ayers Rock) for a complimentary glass of wine and an opportunity to watch the setting sun cast its golden glow across this most unique and most scared of monoliths. Stay for 2 nights at the Sails of the Desert Hotel.

Rise early this morning and enjoy a tea or coffee as the rising sun casts its first rays over Uluru’s immense sandstone face. Take a guided walk to Mutijulu waterhole, site of some fierce Aboriginal tribal clashes and tour the base of Uluru to view the mysterious indigenous artwork and learn more about the geology and fauna of the region on the guided Mala Walk. This area is steeped in the lore and myths of the Anangu, whose ‘dreamtime trails’ still link Uluru with their ancestral spirits. Visit the Cultural Centre and the Maruku Arts and Craft Cooperative, before enjoying a delicious Australian sunset barbeque on the spectacular ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner, ideally located overlooking Ayers Rock itself. After dinner and a chance to relax an astronomer will take you on a guided tour of the night sky.

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cairns. You will be met on arrival and taken to the Daintree Rainforest for a 2 night stay at the Daintree Eco Lodge and Spa.

Enjoy a full day at leisure. Join an indigenous guided Rainforest Walk to learn something of the flora and fauna of the region, explore the Mossman Gorge, or take a dawn or dusk river cruise. Of course you may simply wish to indulge in some of the fabulous spa treatments on offer whilst you take in the tranquil surroundings. .

Transfer today to Cairns Airport for your flight to Hamilton Island where you connect with a launch to Hayman Island. Stay for a 3 nights in a Lagoon room.

The next two days are at leisure to enjoy one of Australia’s premier island resorts. Ideally placed to enjoy the abundant wonders of the Barrier Reef, you can choose to do as much or as little as you wish and when you are not pampering yourself in the resort’s superb spa, relaxing poolside or on the stunning beach, there are plenty of watersport activities to try, wine tastings and snorkelling trips out to neighbouring Islands and reefs.

As above

Depart Hayman Island for your next destination.