Highlights
- Experience 5-star luxury at an adults-only resort and heritage hotel
- Spend a full day diving and then go snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef
- Experience Sydney Harbour with a private sunset dinner cruise
- Join a local chef at home for a private cooking experience
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Cairns, Transfer to Port Douglas, Wildlife Habitat Tour | Port Douglas |
| Day 2 | Full-Day Outer Reef Experience | Port Douglas |
| Day 3 | Full-Day Mossman Gorge Adventure Day | Port Douglas |
| Day 4 | Fly to Sydney, Sunset Dinner Cruise | Sydney |
| Day 5 | Guided Bike Tour, Sydney Opera House Architectural Tour | Sydney |
| Day 6 | Full-Day Australian Cooking Experience | Sydney |
| Day 7 | Depart Sydney |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cairns, Transfer to Port Douglas, Private Wildlife Habitat Tour
Welcome to the Australian tropics! This morning you'll arrive in Cairns, where a private driver will meet you for the transfer to your hotel in Port Douglas. This beachfront resort town is a favorite for exploring the two nearby UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, and the Daintree Rainforest. Check into the Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel, a luxe adults-only resort that overlooks the palm-fringed Four Mile Beach.
This afternoon, you'll get up close with cuddly koalas at Wildlife Habitat. On a private two-hour tour, you'll enter the koala enclosure for one-on-one time and visit the Tropical Animal Rehabilitation Centre, where you'll meet rescued, injured, and orphaned wildlife. Spend 90 minutes with a wildlife keeper, enjoy a private reptile presentation, and receive special souvenir photos to remember the occasion. As for lunch, enjoy dining in the company of Aussie wildlife at the center's Rainforest Beach! Before or after, you'll have time to explore the wildlife park solo, too.
Day 2: Full-Day Outer Reef Experience
Today, you'll dive into one of the world's great natural wonders with a private full-day excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. The world's largest coral reef system counts an incredible diversity of marine life, including over 1,500 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and six species of sea turtles. Made up of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, the protected area spans over 1,430 miles (2,300 km). Pack your swimsuit and sunscreen and head to the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina to board your vessel and set sail to the Coral Cays of Mackay or Undine Reefs.
Once at the protected sites, you'll get to dive into the sea and meet colorful fish, sea turtles, rays, and even sharks. Your qualified marine biologist will lead a guided snorkel tour, and afterward, you can explore with a glass bottom boat to admire giant clam gardens, beautiful corals, and a wide variety of tropical fish. The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and is an essential ecosystem for the world's oceans, providing vital habitat and protection for marine life.
Day 3: Full-Day Mossman Gorge Adventure Day
Immerse yourself in the rainforest when you travel inland to Mossman River for a one-of-a-kind private experience today. Mossman Gorge is the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Daintree National Park, which is estimated to be 135 million years old. First you'll meet the traditional owners, the Kuku Yalanji people, and take part in a traditional smoking ceremony. Enjoy a morning tea with freshly baked damper (a rustic Australian bread), then set off on a 90-minute walk through the beautiful rainforest, where you can pause to take a swim in tranquil waterholes or the gorge.
After a well-earned lunch, it's time for River Drift snorkeling. You'll literally go with the flow as you drift down the crystal-clear river while admiring what lies beneath. Learn about the local history, flora, and fauna from your guide while looking at freshwater fish, turtles, butterflies, birds, and the elusive platypus. After, you'll return to your accommodation at Port Douglas.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Fly to Sydney, Sunset Dinner Cruise
It's time to swap the tropics for Australia's most famous city: Sydney. A private driver will transfer you back to Cairns for your three-hour flight to the buzzing city. On arrival, another driver will transfer you to your hotel, the 5-star Capella Sydney. The contemporary hotel sits within a heritage sandstone building, and you'll find curated artwork, sophisticated furnishings, and intriguing objets d'art. Use the rest of the day to explore the city. Start with a visit to the iconic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and linger with a drink at a waterfront bar, like the Opera Bar.
Return to your hotel to refresh ahead of a deluxe private sunset cruise on Sydney Harbour. Step aboard a 52-foot (16 m) motor yacht and enjoy a four-hour dinner cruise where you'll watch day turn to night and feast on a delicious Australian barbecue dinner paired with wine or beer. Your captain and host will share the rich history of the city as you pass famous landmarks, and you can even go swimming, fishing, or kayaking if you wish.
Day 5: Guided Bike Tour, Sydney Opera House Architectural Tour
Today you'll explore the best of Sydney, starting with a private bike tour. Jump in the saddle and pedal past Circular Quay, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the piers at Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour, the Anzac War Memorial, Chinatown, and Hyde Park with a private guide who will share stories and tales of the city. Part way through, you'll pause for a quick refreshment before returning to your wheels—there's a lot to see!
Day 6: Full-Day Australian Cooking Experience
Today's full-day private cooking experience begins with a journey across the famous bridge to reach the Northern Beaches. En route to a beautiful private Sydney home, you'll pause at a local produce market to collect fruit, vegetables, meats, and seafood for today's cooking class.
Then, it's time to lace up your apron and join professional chef Andy Newton in the kitchen. Together, you'll prepare a special modern Australian lunch. In between courses, you're invited to stretch your legs with a short walk through the native Australian bushland to the picturesque waterfront. After a leisurely afternoon of cooking, eating, and living the life of a real Sydneysider, you'll return to your accommodation in the city center.
Day 7: Depart Sydney
It's your final day in Australia, so if you have time before your departing flight, consider joining the traditional owners of this land for an Aboriginal bush tucker tour. You'll follow your Indigenous guide on an hourlong tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens, where you'll learn more about local bush foods and how these foods were used traditionally and adapted to the modern plate and palate—all while tasting some for yourself!
Later, at an agreed time, a private driver will collect you and your bags for your transfer to the airport. Safe travels home or onward!
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