Australia City, Outback, Rainforest & Reef Tour - 18 Days

Highlights

• Enjoy active cycle tours around Melbourne and Sydney
• Admire beautiful sunsets and sunrises in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
• Snorkel amid coral gardens and tropical fish at the outer Great Barrier Reef
• Hike to stunning viewpoints in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Melbourne

Welcome to Australia! Upon touching down in Melbourne, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city. There's a lot to love about Melbourne. This sophisticated metropolis in the southeastern corner of mainland Australia is ranked as one of the world's most liveable cities and is known for its vibrant energy, café-filled laneways, spacious parks, and village-like inner suburbs.

Day 2: Best of Melbourne by Bike, Afternoon Free Time

After a good night's sleep, it's time to get active on a 4.5-hour bicycle tour, in which you'll visit as many of the city's famous sights and landmarks as you wish. The route will be tailored to your specific interests. Check out the Yarra River, the glitzy Crown Casino & Hotel, Flinders St. Station (Australia's oldest train station, from 1909), Federation Square, the National Gallery of Victoria, the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), and Queen Victoria Market.

You can also choose to visit the city's famous laneways and historic shopping arcades, many of which date from the 19th century. Perhaps ride out past the central districts and into suburbs like Carlton, which abounds with Italian culture and Victorian buildings. There's also Fitzroy, a hub of art and diversity home to historic pubs and a thriving LGBTQ scene.

Day 3: Great Ocean Road Day Trip

Today you'll embark on an epic all-day guided road trip down one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world: the Great Ocean Road. This stretch of highway runs 150 miles (240 km) along Victoria's southwest coast, passing national parks, limestone rock formations, seaside bluffs, coastal mountain ranges, and incredible beaches. 

Stop at various viewpoints and scenic spots to admire the rolling hills and majestic coastal cliffs. You might even spot dolphins and whales frolicking just offshore. Stroll through a eucalyptus forest where koalas are abundant. Have lunch at Apollo Bay, a tranquil seaside town that's the gateway to the famous mountains of the Otway Ranges. After, browse the local shops before embarking on a short hike through the rainforests of Otway National Park.

Travel farther west to Port Campbell National Park, and witness the world-famous rock formations on the Great Ocean Road. These include the romantic cove at Loch Ard Gorge, the London Bridge archway, and of course, the Twelve Apostles, a group of ancient limestone rock formations rising up out of the sea. 

Day 4: Fly to Adelaide

Fly 90 minutes west today to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. This former British colonial hub was named after 19th-century Queen Adelaide and is renowned for its compact size and accessibility. The city was designed in a geometrically-efficient grid pattern in a lovely locale on the River Torrens, surrounded by green parklands. Settle into your hotel, then start exploring. Grab lunch or a snack at the famous covered Central Market, stroll along the riverbank or through the Adelaide Botanic Garden, or learn about local art and culture at the Art Gallery of South Australia or the South Australian Museum. 

Day 5: Ferry to Kangaroo Island, Island Tour Day 1

This morning, take a ferry from Cape Jervis, south of Adelaide, to Kangaroo Island, which takes about 45 minutes. After your arrival, travel through the island's north coast. Your guide will take you on a bush walk, past strangely-shaped trees, on the lookout for small wallabies that are almost extinct on the mainland, a kangaroo found only on Kangaroo Island, and a variety of other birds, plants, and animals.

Break for lunch at a private bush camp and enjoy a delicious meal featuring local fish and fine South Australian wines. Spend your afternoon at the nearby Seal Bay Conservation Park, where you can take a private tour among Australian sea lions on a beautiful sandy beach and watch pups playing in the surf. As evening falls, settle into your island accommodation and fall asleep to the sounds of unspoiled nature.

Day 6: Kangaroo Island Tour Day 2, Ferry to Adelaide

Explore more of Kangaroo Island today, traveling to a private wildlife refuge. Learn about wildlife surveys tracking tiny endangered mammals and enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, then head into Flinders Chase National Park to see the Remarkable Rocks, a natural sculpture impossibly perched on top of a granite dome emerging from the ocean. Continue to Admirals Arch, a coastal grotto where a large colony of long-nosed fur seals congregate. Later in the day, return to Penneshaw, where you'll catch the ferry back to Cape Jervis and then transfer back to Adelaide.

Day 7: Morning Dolphin Sanctuary Guided Kayak Tour

Get active again today during a three-hour kayaking tour at the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, located just 25 minutes from the city center. This protected marine reserve is home to around 30 resident bottlenose dolphins, with numbers rising to over 400 during seasonal migrations.

On today's excursion, you'll paddle through a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest, a prime feeding ground for the dolphins. Your guide will share local Indigenous stories and describe the history and ecology of the area, and alongside the playful dolphins, you'll likely spot some of the area's shipwrecks, as well as a range of other wildlife, such as sting rays, long-nosed fur seals, and Aus­tralian sea lions. 

Day 8: Fly to Uluru, Sounds of Silence Dinner

Experience a complete change of scene today as you fly inland to Uluru, in Australia's Red Centre. The flight will take approximately six hours, and after your arrival, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Spend some time settling in and familiarizing yourself with the desert environment here, then enjoy a special dinner experience. The Sounds of Silence Dinner is more than just a meal—it's a spiritual discovery of the desert plains of the Northern Territory, which are home to some of Australia's most sacred Indigenous sites.

Enjoy a four-hour dinner under the star-studded Outback sky, taking in the views out to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the fabled Uluru monolith. Start with canapés and a glass of sparkling wine as the sun fades behind the dunes, then feast on gourmet "bush tucker" that features native ingredients. After dinner, gather around the fire and listen to stories about the significance of the constellations to the local people as you look up at the stars.

Day 9: Mount Conner Outback 4WD Adventure

Uluru isn't the only remarkable mountain around here, as you'll discover today on a full-day tour of Mount Conner. Located 60 miles (100 km) east of Uluru in a vast, privately-owned cattle station called Curtin Springs Station, this is the perfect natural habitat for red kangaroos and a vast array of outback birds and reptiles. Visit an ancient inland salt lake and learn more about the history of the region. End the day with a glass of sparkling wine while watching the sunset over Mount Conner, then return to Curtin Springs Station for an outback dinner.

Day 10: Sunrise at Kata Tjuta, Fly to Port Douglas

Wake up at dawn for a trip to another of the Northern Territory's natural highlights, Kata Tjuta. Enter the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and travel 25 miles (40 km) through the scenic desert landscape to these otherworldly rock formations. On arrival at the viewing area, walk to the best vantage point to see the 36 domes and mounds that comprise this sacred site. Dawn is the best time to visit because when the sun rises, the rocks glow brilliantly in the morning light. After sunrise, head to the western side of the rocks, where you'll enjoy a gourmet picnic breakfast. 

After, visit Walpa Gorge, another natural highlight of the area. Named for the wind (walpa) that blows between the massive domes that shape the gorge, it's a refuge for plants and animals of the desert. Take a stroll along a natural creek and through deep gullies between these mighty cliff faces and learn how the geology of the environment has evolved over millions of years.

Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Port Douglas, in tropical northern Queensland, a journey of about four hours. Located just north of Cairns, Port Douglas is a resort town on the Coral Sea and a base for excursions to Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef. It's also a great destination in its own right and perfect for travelers who want a tropical escape in a relaxed environment. After your arrival, spend the rest of the day browsing Port Douglas' boutiques and dining in its al fresco restaurants. A visit to Four Mile Beach is essential; here, you can laze on the golden sands fringed by palm trees.

Day 11: Outer Great Barrier Reef Day Tour with Snorkeling

Tour the underwater world of the outer Great Barrier Reef today, starting with a cruise out to the coral cays of the Mackay or Undine Reefs. Admire the coastline and the views of the Daintree Mountains as you sail away from the land. Once at the protected reef site, you can snorkel over the pristine coral with a qualified marine biologist on a guided snorkeling tour. If you'd rather not get in the water, take a glass-bottomed boat tour instead. You'll see abundant marine life, including turtles, giant clam gardens, colorful corals, and tropical fish. Lunch and snacks of fresh local tropical food will be provided. 

Day 12: Daintree Dreaming Tour with Indigenous Fishing

See more of the sights of the tropical north today while learning about the local Indigenous culture. The full-day tour will take you to Cooya Beach (Kuyu Kuyu), a traditional fishing ground of the Kuku Yalanji people. Join one of the Kubirri Warra brothers on a walk along the beach, mudflats, and mangroves and get an introduction to traditional fishing and gathering techniques, with the aim of finding your own "tucker" (food).

Day 13: Animal Encounters at Wildlife Centers

Australia is home to some wonderful wildlife, and if you haven't seen it all in the wild, head to one of the region's wildlife centers to see more. Spend time within koala and wallaby enclosures interacting and touching these unique animals. Move through the Wildlife Care Centre, which is dedicated to looking after rescued wild animals that are sick or injured. Enjoy a private reptile presentation and learn about local pythons and crocodiles. You may be able to hold a koala, too!

In the afternoon, head to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures. Explore the park on a cruise through the ecologically-significant Melaleuca Wetlands, keeping an eye out for saltwater crocodiles. In the rest of the park, you can also see waterbirds, turtles, wallabies, and cassowaries. Watch the notorious "head shake and death roll" of a huge crocodile at the Crocodile Attack Show, hold a small crocodile for a photo, and see the world's most venomous snakes at the Snake Show.

Day 14: Fly to Sydney

Say goodbye to tropical Queensland today and fly south to Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia's largest city. The flight takes about three hours, and upon arrival, you'll be picked up at the airport and transferred to your accommodation. Take some time to rest after the journey or head out into the city to get your first glimpse of the spectacular landmarks like Sydney Harbour, Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House.

Day 15: Blue Mountains Hiking Tour

Head straight back out into nature today on a full-day tour of the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Your first stop is Calmsley Hill, a working farm that's home to kangaroos, emus, wombats, and koalas. Continue to a range of stunning outlooks over the Jamison Valley, from where you can take in the beautiful vistas the Blue Mountains are known for. Arrive at Eaglehawk Lookout, a remote spot far from the crowds, where you'll be rewarded with views of the famous Three Sisters. As the sunlight moves throughout the day, the colors and character of this natural landmark shift and change.

When you reach Evans Lookout, you'll be given a packed lunch and instructions for a fun hike. Cross valleys and ridges as you trek from Evans Lookout to Govetts Leap, one of Australia's most famous lookouts, to enjoy the views out across Australia's answer to the Grand Canyon, the Grose Valley. After the hike, your last stop of the day will be at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens at Mount Tomah, where you'll have some time to check out the flora, including the ancient Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis). 

Day 16: Guided Bike Tour of Sydney

Back in the city today, tour some of its big-name highlights and some hidden attractions on a three-hour bike tour. You'll cycle past city landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, the Royal Botanic Garden, and Hyde Park. See city gems off the common tourist trail as you pass the Museum of Contemporary Art, the ANZAC War Memorial, Sydney Tower, Chinatown, Parliament House, and the Queen Victoria Building.

Halfway through the tour, make a pit stop at a local pub for a quick pint before getting back on the road. This classic bike tour is great for children and riders without much cycling experience, as it maintains a leisurely pace throughout. 

Day 17: Sydney Opera House Tour

The Sydney Opera House is no doubt one of Australia's most well-known and recognizable buildings, and you'll learn more about it today during a guided tour. The brainchild of Danish architect Jørn Utzon, construction began in 1959 and was completed in 1973. It's a multi-venue performing arts center that presents more than 2,000 shows to over 1.5 million audience members each year.

On the guided tour, you'll go inside to see its inner workings. With a series of state-of-the-art audiovisual components—in which images are projected right onto the building—your guide will take you on an unforgettable journey through this global icon.

Day 18: Depart Sydney

It's time to say goodbye to Sydney today as you catch your departing flight. Depending on your time of departure, there may be time for some last-minute souvenir shopping at the Queen Victoria Building (if you're looking for high-end goods) or Paddy's Market in the Newmarket area (open every day except Monday and Tuesday). When the time comes, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport. Safe travels!

More Great Australia Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Australia? Check out these other Australia itineraries, explore different ways to spend 18 days in Australia, or discover the best time to visit Australia.

A note on diacritical and retroflex markings: In order to support the best technical experience and search functions, diacritical markings have been omitted from this article.