Natural Beauties
This cross-country itinerary allows you to experience Australia’s rugged natural beauty, diverse culinary offerings and ancient tradition of storytelling, all while encountering some of its most iconic landmarks. As you explore Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Uluru’s vast red outback, the Great Barrier Reef’s unmatched beauty, and the wildlife of Kangaroo Island, you’ll not only witness incredible icons but also settle into the Australian way of life.
- Sydney – Landmarks: the Rocks, Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Manly Beach, The Blue Mountains. Sunset Cruise. Bridge Climb.
- Hobart – Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Coal River Valley, Freycinet Peninsula, Oyster Farm, Freycinet National Park & Winery
- Ayers Rock – Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Kantju Gorge, Mutitjulu Waterhole, Mulgara Gallery, Field of Light, Walpa Gorge
- Cairns – Gondwana Rainforest, Cruise along the Daintree River, Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, Adventure on the Great Barrier Reef.
Day 1
Arrival in Sydney
Welcome to Australia! On arrival in Sydney, after you have cleared immigration formalities and collected your luggage you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel by private luxury car. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Day 2
Sydney Landmarks & Sunset Cruise (B,D)
This fast-paced and exclusive afternoon day tour of Sydney will leave you feeling like a truly connected local and totally tailorable to your needs! From the city’s East side to the majestic beauty of the North side, you will cover all of Sydney’s landmarks in relaxed Australian local style. Board a luxurious private sailing yacht for an incredible 3-hour charter taking in the sunset on Sydney Harbour. At the end of your charter, your driver will escort you back to your hotel.
Day 3
Bridge Climb, Opera House Tour (B,D)
Today is your morning of adventure! Start the day by climbing the highest steel arch bridge in the world. Sydney Harbour Bridge is located 134 metres above the port, and allows breathtaking 360-degree views of the city, the port and surrounding suburbs. Following your Bridge Climb tour, your private guide will meet you and escort you to the Opera House by foot. Stop for lunch on the way (own expense). After lunch, step beneath the sails and discover what makes the Opera House so inspiring. Uncover the stories, history and magic of the Sydney Opera House with an incredible guided tour*. Private transfer back to your hotel.
Spend the afternoon at leisure. This evening enjoy a three-course meal curated by three-hatted executive chef Peter Gilmore at a premium table with guaranteed Bridge views at the amazing Bennelong Restaurant. Private transfer to the restaurant is included. Return to your hotel at your leisure.
* You will climb around 200 steps as you move throughout foyers and spaces, and not have the opportunity to sit for any long period of time during the 1 hour privately guided tour.
Day 4
Sydney – Hobart (by flight) (B,L,D)
Check out of your hotel and transfer by private luxury car to Sydney Airport and board your flight to Hobart. On arrival in Hobart, enjoy an introduction to Tasmania’s capital city and its engaging history. Travel to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to experience Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Wallabies, Quolls and other Australian animals first-hand. Continue to the Coal River Valley followed by lunch at a local vineyard. Enjoy a scenic drive passing coastal fishing villages enroute to your hotel. Check in and spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Day 5
Freycinet (B,L,D)
Join one of Saffire’s knowledgeable guides for an easy two-hour tour which combines two of the popular shorter walks of Freycinet Peninsula – Cape Tourville and Sleepy Bay. Then Don a pair of waders and visit a working oyster farm located in a beautiful setting within an internationally significant wetland and ornithological site. Develop an understanding for wetland and marine ecology, plus a taste for prized Pacific oysters.
Day 6
Freycinet (B,L,D)
The internationally renowned Freycinet National Park is a ‘must see’ sight to behold during your stay at Saffire. Join one of their informative guides on a walk to the lookout over Wineglass Bay. Learn about the peninsula’s rich history and behold the famous white sandy beach on this two-hour walking adventure. Afterwards, visit the local Freycinet Winery where you will learn the art of winemaking and indulge in some fine Tasmanian fare – and some wine tastings of course! A wine lover’s delight!
Day 7
Freycinet – Hobart – Melbourne (by road and flight) (B,L)
Depart for Hobart enjoying a scenic drive passing coastal fishing villages. After lunch at one of Tasmania’s renowned restaurants, explore the Museum of Old & New Art, one of the world’s most unique and controversial museums. Continue to Hobart and enjoy an introduction to Tasmania’s capital city and its engaging history before your guide will bid you farewell at Hobart Airport. Fly to Melbourne, and on arrival, collect your baggage and walk across to your hotel located just outside the airport.
Day 8
Melbourne – Ayers Rock – Uluru (by flight) (B,L,D)
Check out of your hotel and walk across to the domestic terminal to check-in for your flight to Ayers Rock. On arrival, transfer by complimentary shuttle bus to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure or enjoy included Signature Experiences on an intimate shared basis with fellows guests at scheduled times.
Mala Walk & Kantju Gorge – Signature Experience (2 hours): Departing Longitude 131° before sunset, you will travel into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Journey along the Mala Walk and as day transforms into night, you will walk into Kantju Gorge to witness the gorge walls ablaze with the light of the setting sun. Sipping sparkling wine and nibbling on canapés, guests enjoy the silence and solitude of Kantju Gorge as the sun slowly disappears for the day. Return to Longitude 131° after viewing the brilliant sunset.
Table 131° – Signature Experience (2 hours): Table 131° is without doubt the perfect way to wind down after a day of discovery. Dine out on sumptuous outback fare and discover the wonders of the night sky. Arrive at the venue after dark and feast on four delicious courses complemented with the finest Australian wines. Later, Longitude’s resident astronomer regales the gathering with tales of the Southerly constellations. Return to the Dune House for after dinner drinks or float back to your luxury tent, for a deep slumber under the stars. Table 131° operates subject to weather and climatic conditions.
Day 9
Mutitjulu Waterhole, Gallery Tour & Field of Light (B,L,D)
Mutitjulu Meander – Signature Experience (2 hours): Experience the remarkable changing colours of the desert landscape and the spectacular sight of Uluru as day breaks over Australia’s heartland. A morning walk around Uluru’s base tells the Aboriginal Tjukurpa story of Kuniya Piti and reveals the swimming hole and frequently running waterfall at Mutitjulu. It’s also the home of wanampi, an ancestral watersnake. Morning tea is served in the cool shade of the trees before the tour returns to Longitude 131°.
Gallery Tour: Enjoy a visit to Mulgara Gallery to see authentic Aboriginal art and meet the artist in residence. You will also have the opportunity to stroll around the Town Centre perhaps to visit the bank, post office or news agency returning to Longitude 131° in time for lunch. Located in the foyer of Sails in the Desert Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort in the Northern Territory, Mulgara Gallery offers a superb selection of Australian hand-crafted glassware, pottery, textiles, metal and leather work.
Field of Light – Signature Experience (45 min): Guests wander at leisure along pathways through the award-winning sculptor Bruce Munro’s incredible light installation. An outback fairyland, the celebrated open air art phenomenon is made up of some 50,000 individual stems crowned with colourful frosted glass bulbs that bloom and appear to sway as the inky night blankets Australia’s spiritual heartland. As darkness descends on the desert, guests are transported to Table 131°, to dine under a glittering canopy of stars.
Day 10
Walpa Gorge (B,L,D)
Walpa Gorge & Kata Tjuta – Signature Experience (4 hours): Departing Longitude 131° prior to sunrise, this experience heads to Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas and comprising 36 majestic domes. Continue your journey to Walpa Gorge where the natural history of Kata Tjuta is explained in great detail. Light refreshments appease the appetite before returning to Longitude 131° for a well-earned breakfast.
Day 11
Ayers Rock – Cairns (B)
Check out of your hotel and transfer by courtesy shuttle bus to the airport. Depart Ayers Rock for Cairns. On arrival, transfer by private luxury car to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Day 12
Cairns – Palm Cove (B)
Spend the day at leisure. Palm Cove, a sleepy beachfront neighborhood offers the perfect laid back holiday destination. With over 25 restaurants and cafes along the meandering Williams esplanade, dining is a delicious adventure every day. You can fill your days exploring all the natural attractions of the region, or simply laze by the pool or on beach. The tropical ambiance will lull you into a totally relaxed feeling, but if you still crave excitement, Cairns is only 25 minutes away where you can enjoy the casino, shows and night clubs.
Day 13
Daintree National Park & Cape Tribulation (B,L)
Depart your hotel early this morning and head north on a stunning scenic coastal drive between the Coral Sea and the Australian Great Dividing Range to the Daintree National Park. Practice some boomerang throwing on a stunning beach and have a glimpse of Cape Tribulation. A delicious lunch with fresh local products is served while you have the opportunity to hand feed some Wallabies and enjoy a cold drink from the bar. Enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Daintree River and visit the Mossman Gorge for a guided walk before you return to your hotel late in the evening.
Day 14
Great Barrier Reef (B,L)
Silverswift is ready to whisk you away for a day of fun and adventure on the Great Barrier Reef. This is an active day all about being in the water for your dive or snorkel adventure of a lifetime! You’ll explore spectacular coral formations and underwater gardens awash with vibrantly coloured marine creatures as you visit three different outer reef sites at Flynn, Pellowe, Milln and/or Thetford Reefs. Locations vary with the day’s conditions however each site is chosen for visual impact, ecological diversity and the challenge of discovery!
Day 15
Departure Cairns (B)
Check out of your hotel and transfer by private car to the airport. Depart Cairns for your international flight home.
- Meet and greet on arrival at Airport.
- Accommodation and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner).
- Entrance fees where applicable.
- Tours as indicated in the itinerary.
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver guide.
- Transfers
- Travel Protection is offered on all packages at an additional cost.
Shangri-La Hotel
Sydney
The Langham
Sydney
Saffire Freycinet
Hobart
Pan Pacific Melbourne Airport Hotel
Melbourne
