Settle into your hotel on the banks of the Yarra River and meet your Travel Director for dinner at a popular South Wharf riverside restaurant. It’s a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting.

Join your Travel Director for a city sights tour that includes a private walk through Melbourne’s famous hidden laneways. You’ll discover the city’s eclectic little lanes, arcades, cafe society and fascinating street art. 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 (own expense) or simply relax and watch the world go by.

Optional Experiences:
a. Philip Island, Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife – ADD: A$239 Per Person
If you’re curious about our native wildlife or just love animals, we’ve got you covered today! You’ll get up close to Australian animals, including koalas and kangaroos. On Phillip Island the main attraction awaits – the Little Penguins waddling up the sand to their dune burrow homes returning from their daily fishing excursion.

If you’re still getting your bearings in Melbourne, take your time to wander through the city, exploring its boutiques, galleries, and eclectic suburbs. Or, perhaps exploring the city on foot with a History and Donuts Walking Tour is more your thing. However, if you’re ready to explore beyond the city limits, consider embarking on a journey along the Great Ocean Road. This legendary stretch of coastline truly lives up to its reputation as one of the most breathtaking touring routes globally. As you wind your way along this scenic route, be prepared to encounter breathtaking views at every turn, making it an unforgettable journey that truly showcases the natural beauty of Australia.

Optional Experiences:
a. Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles – ADD: A$235 Per Person
Take a breath and enjoy a relaxed and unhindered view of the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge all before lunch, beating the traditional afternoon rush. En route let us take you on a journey inland, reaching Port Campbell National Park to marvel at the iconic limestone stacks in the morning. Spend the day with your experienced Driver Guide, meandering along the winding Great Ocean Road, taking in the spectacular coastal scenery.

b. Eureka Skydeck – ADD A$36 Per Person
Experience the awe-inspiring 360 degree floor-to-ceiling views of Victoria’s capital city at the Melbourne Skydeck, Eureka Tower. This viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere!

The rusty red landscapes of Uluru beckon as you leave Melbourne for Ayers Rock Resort, your backdrop this afternoon is the world’s largest rock monolith. Follow your guide to the perfect perch to capture Uluru as the last of the day disappears, glass of bubbles in hand (of course).

The only reason to get out of bed before dawn? For a magical Uluru sunrise. It’s a spiritual place, with stories of the Anangu, caretakers of this remote arid landscape revealed while you tour the base on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later, an Anangu artist will explain just what makes it so spiritual over an introduction to Western Desert art, introducing totems and symbols important to the region and represented in paintings and installations, another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. The red desert follows you to Kata Tjuta, where nature humbles as you walk through the towering domes of this ancient rock formation. Cheers to the end of another amazing day.

The only reason to get up before dawn on your last day in Uluru is to glimpse the kaleidoscopic Field of Light art installation of artist Bruce Munro on an Optional Experience. 50,000 glowing spindles of light blanketing the desert. Clamber to the top of a sand dune to marvel in the morning unfolding over this very special part of the world (own expense). Later, head to your next stop in tropical Cairns.

Optional Experiences:
a. Field Of Light Sunrise – ADD: A$129 Per Person
This morning you you’ll be driven the short distance to the exclusive Field of Light location. With just enough time for some background commentary on the internationally renowned artist Bruce Munro, you will arrive to see his artistic endeavour. Arriving in complete darkness, this once-in-a-lifetime experience will be etched in your mind forever. Walk through the field of 50,000 spheres of light at your own pace, and then make your way to the top of a large sand dune to the Field of Light sunrise viewing area. The Field of Light site is dark, so to ensure you have the most unique experience, we recommend you use your phone light or bring a small torch to help navigate your way on the pathway provided. At the viewing area the AAT Kings team will serve you tea, coffee or hot chocolate as the sun starts to rise and lights up the surrounding desert. From the viewing area you can see both Uluru and Kata Tjuta as the desert comes to life.

Cruising with crocs, a scenic railway ride into World Heritage listed rainforest, a wander along the Cairns Esplanade? Take a historic rail journey winding across bridges and through tunnels to Kuranda village, nestled in a tropical rainforest to explore its colourful and interesting arts and crafts. Return to the lowlands on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over and through the some of the oldest rainforest in the world. You can also choose to pair your trip to Kuranda with a visit to Hartley’s Crocodile for a wetlands cruise through the ecologically significant Melaleuca wetlands, the home of the saltwater crocodile. Today the choice is yours. Celebrate the end of an incredible day at dinner on Cairns’ waterfront at Salt House for regional seafood plucked straight from the ocean, highlighting fresh, local ingredients, and prepared on their custom-built Argentinian wood fired grill

Optional Experiences:
a. Kuranda, Scenic Rail Skyrail and Hartley’s Crocodile – ADD: A$276 Per Person
Journey on the historical Scenic Railway to Kuranda, with breathtaking views across the cane fields of Cairns, to the tropical rainforest of Kuranda. Upon arrival you will have around one hour to explore this fascinating village of colourful and interesting arts and crafts. Make your way directly to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to experience this iconic rainforest. After arriving at the Smithfield Skyrail Terminal, the coach will transfer you to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. Explore the park, including the unique eco experience of the Wetlands cruise through the ecologically significant Melaleuca wetlands; the domain of the saltwater crocodile.

The world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef, never fails to dazzle. Set out on a catamaran to explore a kaleidoscope of colour: over 1,500 species of fish, 215 different birds, 3,000 molluscs, six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, and 30 species of dolphins and whales are residents. Strap on a snorkel or visit an underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft to take in the menagerie without getting your hair wet. A tropical buffet lunch is served onboard before you return to Cairns.

Touch down in Australia’s largest city, and spend time at leisure in the buzzing metropolis of Sydney. Take a stroll along the iconic harbour, visit one of the city’s many bars, pubs, or restaurants, or simply while away the day at the beach. You decide how best to enjoy this bustling city of delights.

Bring your stamina: today is one of innumerable highlights. Go on a tour of the Sydney Opera House, discovering its architectural and performance secrets. If these sails could talk. Then see the city from the water on a Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise, enjoying a menu focusing on local food and wine. One icon to another: The world’s most famous beach beckons this afternoon, with your chance to pad along the sand at Bondi with Sydney’s beautiful people.

The hardest decision you have to make today: explore more of Sydney, or head to the Blue Mountains, 11,400 square kilometres of World Heritage listed wilderness, a place where sandstone escarpments appear to cleave off the edge of the Earth and waterfall-cooled valleys of rainforest slip dreamily from the pages of a fairytale. Or why not linger around the harbour – perhaps it’s time to glimpse it from above on a Sydney BridgeClimb. This bird’s-eye view certainly puts things in perspective (both own expense). Back at ground level, you’re in the heart of the Rocks, the city’s original colonial settlement and a place of cobbled alleys and private galleries. Your Travel Director can assist you with purchasing these additional experiences or point you in the right direction to explore on your own.

Optional Experiences:
a. Blue Mountains and Australian Wildlife – ADD: A$289 Per Person
Explore the World Heritage-Listed Blue Mountains in style, starting with a visit to Sydney Zoo, Australia’s most advanced Zoo in the heart of Western Sydney, gateway to the Blue Mountains. See dingoes, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils and echidnas in a cage free environment in the Australian Precinct. Explore the heart of the Blue Mountains surrounded by locals as you enjoy some free time discovering the unique mountain town of Leura with its quaint shops. Visit the famous Three Sisters rock formation up close from Echo Point. A highlight of the day is a stop at Scenic World where you can enjoy a ride on the Scenic Railway, Cableway and Skyway, a great way to see the steep valleys, canyons and get another perspective of the Three Sisters. Take a walk along the Rainforest boardwalk and immerse yourself in nature from the valley floor. Return to Sydney via coach.

You could spend weeks exploring Sydney. Months even. But you have today, so get set for a wild ride. Your agenda is completely up to you, but we have more than a few ideas. And ideally a stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden, which offers so many lookouts for sparkling harbor views. This evening, celebrate your tour at dinner at Midden restaurant at the Sydney Opera House. Talk about ending on a high.

Optional Experiences:
a. Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour – ADD: A$32 Per Person
Walk with our First Nations guide through the Royal Botanic Garden to learn more about bush foods, how these foods were used traditionally and how they have influenced the modern plate and palate. On this one-hour tour, guests will journey through the Cadi Jam Ora garden and learn about some of the ways that First Nations people use plants for food, medicine and other important purposes.

What an epic journey, with so many destinations explored in less than two weeks. Now you just have to sort through the photos.