Highlights
- Soar high above Alice Spring's desert landscapes in a hot-air balloon
- Explore the charming hidden laneways of Melbourne and Adelaide
- Look for colorful marine life as you snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef
- Drive at your own pace to see the sights along the Great Ocean Road
- End the trip with free time and a four-hour guided tour of Sydney
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Hobart, Explore the City at Leisure | Hobart |
| Day 2 | Port Arthur Tour, Bonorong Wildlife Tour | Hobart |
| Day 3 | Bruny Island Day Trip | Hobart |
| Day 4 | Wilderness Cruise, Old Hobart Pub Tour | Hobart |
| Day 5 | Fly to Melbourne, Explore the City at Leisure | Melbourne |
| Day 6 | Café Culture Walk, Laneways Tour | Melbourne |
| Day 7 | Drive the Great Ocean Road to Port Campbell | Port Campbell |
| Day 8 | Drive to Mount Gambier, Visit the Twelve Apostles & Penola | Mount Gambier |
| Day 9 | Drive the Limestone Coast to Adelaide | Adelaide |
| Day 10 | Central Market Tour, Wine & Dine Tour | Adelaide |
| Day 11 | Fly to Alice Springs, Visit Desert Park | Alice Springs |
| Day 12 | Hot-Air Balloon Flight, Town Like Alice Tour | Alice Springs |
| Day 13 | Transfer to Uluru, Visit Camel Farm & Kata Tjuta | Uluru |
| Day 14 | Dot Painting Workshop, Field of Light Dinner | Uluru |
| Day 15 | Fly to Cairns, Transfer to Port Douglas, Wildlife Habitat Tour | Port Douglas |
| Day 16 | Mossman Gorge Adventure Day Trip | Port Douglas |
| Day 17 | Mackay Coral Cay Cruise & Snorkeling Tour | Port Douglas |
| Day 18 | Fly to Sydney, Explore the City at Leisure | Sydney |
| Day 19 | Panoramic Sydney Sights Tour, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Hobart, Explore the City at Leisure
Welcome to the city of Hobart, Australia's state capital of Tasmania! After a two-hour flight from Sydney, meet your airport driver for a hotel transfer. Settle in, then set off on foot to explore the colonial architecture and heritage charm of this historic harbor city set among the foothills of Mount Wellington, known for having the cleanest air in the world.
Walk to Salamanca Place with its row of Georgian sandstone warehouses built in the 1830s from stone quarried at the cliffs of Battery Point. Soak up the atmosphere over a beer or coffee, and sample the famous scallop pie with its creamy mild-curry sauce. Enjoy the creative heartbeat of the city's galleries, craft shops, and artist's studios, then choose from a range of dining options for dinner.
Day 2: Port Arthur Tour, Bonorong Wildlife Tour
Grab an early breakfast before a scenic one-hour drive to the UNESCO-listed Port Arthur Historic Site—the dramatic reminder of Australia's convict past and the early settlement of the colony of Van Diemen's Land, now called Tasmania. Witness the beautiful place convicts called "hell on earth," which began as a timber mill in 1830.
Join a 40-minute guided walk of the scenic ruins and restored buildings and explore the interactive and interpretive displays. Follow up with a cruise of Carnarvon Bay around the Isle of the Dead, visiting the spectacular Devil's Kitchen and Tasman Arch, then enjoy a quick lunch back at one of the cafés before the return drive to your hotel.
Day 3: Bruny Island Day Trip
Join your driver this morning on a 1.5-hour trip to the picturesque Bruny Island, known for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife. Once there, embark on a fun and informative three-hour guided cruise alongside some of Australia's highest sea cliffs and beneath towering crags. Drift close in order to listen to the Breathing Rock, enter deep sea caves, and pass through the narrow gap between the coast and The Monument.
Day 4: Wilderness Cruise, Old Hobart Pub Tour
Glide beneath the highest vertical sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere at Cape Pillar during a three-hour wilderness cruise along the coastline in Tasman National Park. Discover waterfalls, rock formations, and deep-sea caves from custom-built boats with all-around views. Teeming with wildlife, spot seals, migrating whales, albatrosses, sea eagles, playful dolphins, diving gannets, and more.
Day 5: Fly to Melbourne, Explore the City at Leisure
This morning, take a transfer to the airport for your 1.5-hour flight to Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria. On arrival, meet your driver for a transfer to your hotel. Then, step out to explore this vibrant and culturally diverse city. Catch a tram to Lygon Street for authentic Italian, Acland Street for Eastern European cakes and pastries, or Little Bourke Street's Chinatown for Asian treats.
Day 6: Café Culture Walk, Laneways Tour
As the cultural capital of Australia, expect funky street art and bohemian coffee shops tucked away in corners on this morning's three-hour "café culture" walk. With a map in hand, sip, slurp, and savor the local foodie scene as you indulge in tastings and hear stories of migrant influences that transformed the city through the heritage "coffee palaces" of the 1880s and the Italian cafés of the 1950s.
Day 7: Drive the Great Ocean Road to Port Campbell
Pick up your rental car for today's 170-mile (275 km) Great Ocean Road adventure! Follow this scenic coastal road to Bells Beach, famous for the Rip Curl Pro world surfing competition. Discover local surf culture and heritage at the Australian National Surfing Museum, then drive to the seaside town of Aireys Inlet to enjoy a walk to the Split Point Lighthouse of "Round the Twist" TV fame.
Continue to the town of Lorne and relax on the beach with a fish and chips takeaway—try the flake (shark)—or enjoy the view from a beachside café. Walk off lunch at beautiful Sheoaks Falls just south of Lorne, then drive up behind the town to Teddys Lookout for sweeping views of the Great Ocean Road and Bass Strait.
In the early afternoon, stop at the town of Kennett River to spot koalas, then continue through Apollo Bay to the Cape Otway Lighthouse—the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia. Climb to the observation deck for fantastic views across the Southern Ocean before driving to your accommodation in the lively little town of Port Campbell.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 8: Drive to Mount Gambier, Visit the Twelve Apostles & Penola
After breakfast, continue your coastal adventure on today's 190-mile (300 km) drive. Swing by one of the Great Ocean Road's main attractions, The Twelve Apostles—windswept limestone stacks (only eight remain) formed by erosion over millions of years. Then, just minutes away, soak in the drama of Loch Ard Gorge, named after the ill-fated ship that ran aground there in 1878.
Continue to the famous natural landmark, London Arch—formerly known as London Bridge, until the section closest to the mainland collapsed in 1990, leaving two tourists stranded on the remaining piece. Keep an eye out for little penguins here. Nearby, peer into the void of The Grotto sinkhole from one of two platforms and catch the mist from the surging ocean.
Next, drive along the aptly named Shipwreck Coast, with its 700 shipwrecks battered by wild seas, before heading inland to the historic town of Penola, located in the Coonawarra wine region and home to Australia's first saint, Mary MacKillop, in the 1860s. Enjoy a country pub meal with an award-winning local cabernet before driving 30 minutes south to your hotel in Mount Gambier.
Day 9: Drive the Limestone Coast to Adelaide
Today's road trip will take you 320 miles (500 km) along the Limestone Coast. Begin with a 1.5-hour drive to the chic coastal town of Robe. Enjoy a quick dip and stroll along the beautiful Obelisk Coastal Trail, passing the historic old gaol ruins, jetty, and marina. Then, drive 30 minutes north for a closer look at the 134.5-foot-high (41 m) Cape Jaffa Lighthouse museum—decommissioned in the 1970s.
Follow the coast to the magnificent Coorong—a 62-mile-long (100 km) saline lagoon filled with abundant wildlife and home to the story "Storm Boy" by Colin Thiele. At Jacks Point Pelican Observatory, see the largest breeding colony of the Australian pelican. Further north, cross the mighty Murray River on the historic ferry at Wellington, then stop for a wine tasting in Langhorne Creek, famed for its viticulture since 1860.
From here, drive just over an hour to the South Australian state capital, Adelaide, where you'll drop off your rental car and check into your hotel. Refresh, then explore Adelaide's diverse and lively bar and restaurant scene, from chic rooftop bars to cozy hidden gems. Then, with a festival calendar to rival all others, check out a cultural event or stroll along the beautiful Torrens Riverbank.
Day 10: Central Market Tour, Wine & Dine Tour
After a sleep-in, skip breakfast and join a three-hour guided tour of South Australia's vibrant culinary icon—the Adelaide Central Market. Taste a delicious selection of foods from local artisan producers and chat with stallholders whose families have traded the market for generations. Then, settle in for a gourmet lunch at a market café and watch the world go by before returning to your hotel.
Day 11: Fly to Alice Springs, Visit Desert Park
This morning, take a transfer to the airport for your 2.5-hour flight to Alice Springs (known locally as "Alice") in the Northern Territory. On arrival, meet your driver for a transfer to your hotel, then head out to soak in the area's Indigenous culture at one of the vibrant art galleries and discover local history at the "1942 World War II Bombing of Darwin" exhibit in the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum.
Day 12: Hot-Air Balloon Flight, Town Like Alice Tour
See the vast desert landscape from the sky on this morning's four-hour hot-air balloon adventure. Take off near dawn, ascending into the stillness to spot wildlife, including red kangaroos, as you drift over the iconic Red Centre. Marvel at the sweeping views of the MacDonnell Ranges, then, upon landing, enjoy a glass of sparkling wine. Back in town, seek out some barramundi fish for lunch.
Day 13: Transfer to Uluru, Visit Camel Farm & Kata Tjuta
Check out of your hotel this morning for a full-day guided transfer to Uluru in the UNESCO-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. On the way, visit an authentic outback camel farm and enjoy lunch at Yulara. Here, get up close to the ancient geological formation of Kata Tjuta and its 36 domes on an afternoon hike. Afterward, travel 40 minutes east and check into your resort accommodation near Uluru.
Breathe in and feel the powerful presence of Uluru, one of the world's largest monoliths at 1,141 feet (348 m) high. End your day watching Uluru's colors change as a blazing red sun dips across the 550 million-year-old Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park—a profoundly spiritual site with special cultural significance to the local Indigenous people, the Anangu. For dinner, try some kangaroo with bush tucker spices.
Day 14: Dot Painting Workshop, Field of Light Dinner
Today you'll join an inspiring 1.5-hour dot painting workshop with a local Anangu artist as they share their Indigenous culture and local Pitjantjatjara language with you. Learn about traditional art, symbols, and tools as you create a meaningful piece to take home. Back at the resort, enjoy a bush food experience, a guided garden walk, or a didgeridoo (Indigenous instrument) workshop.
Day 15: Fly to Cairns, Transfer to Port Douglas, Wildlife Habitat Tour
Catch the shuttle to the airport this morning for your three-hour flight to tropical Cairns in Far North Queensland. Meet your driver for a one-hour transfer to your hotel in Port Douglas. Refresh before taking a two-hour tour with a wildlife keeper at Wildlife Habitat. Explore the woodlands, rainforest, and savanna habitats and meet their native residents, like the emus and the southern cassowary.
Day 16: Mossman Gorge Adventure Day Trip
During today's full-day adventure, immerse yourself in the 180 million-year-old UNESCO-listed Daintree Rainforest—the world's oldest virgin rainforest. Pack all-weather shoes, a swimsuit, and a towel before your hotel pick-up, then travel to the spellbinding Mossman Gorge for a Kuku Yalanji smoking ceremony, which includes cleansing evil spirits and applying traditional body paint.
Day 17: Mackay Coral Cay Cruise & Snorkeling Tour
Tick off your bucket list today, and set sail northeast to Mackay Coral Cay for a full-day epic eco-adventure snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef's outer reef. Sit back and relax on a luxurious catamaran sailing through the Coral Sea, teeming with vibrant marine life. Enjoy morning tea on board, then, once at Mackay Coral Cay, gear up, pull on a seasonal lycra suit, and grab a flotation device (if you need one.)
Day 18: Fly to Sydney, Explore the City at Leisure
Check out of your hotel this morning for a transfer to the airport for your 3.5-hour flight to Sydney. On arrival, meet your driver for a transfer to your hotel, then start your leisure day with brunch in a trendy Surrey Hills restaurant. Explore funky boutiques and sip craft beers in Newtown, the bohemian university hub, then wander the heritage-listed Royal Botanic Gardens.
In the afternoon, catch a 12-minute ferry ride across the harbor to the historic Taronga Zoo, with its jaw-dropping views back toward the city. Walk among koalas in the tree canopy and see platypus in the pond near the wildlife retreat. Afterward, grab yum cha in Chinatown or check out Paddington Markets' 150 stalls on a Saturday.
This evening, dive into Darlinghurst's art scene for dinner and drinks, then cap off the night with a stroll to Mrs Macquarie's Chair—a rocky sandstone outcropping—for an impressive Opera House view. Alternatively, book a sunset dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour for a lasting memory of the city before returning to your hotel for the night.
Day 19: Panoramic Sydney Sights Tour, Depart
Check out and leave your bags at the hotel this morning, then meet your guide for a four-hour tour of Sydney's sights. Begin by exploring the history of The Rocks district, where early convict tales come alive. Then, admire iconic landmarks like the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, followed by a visit to the Queen Victoria Building—a five-story shopping palace that opened in 1898.
Stroll along trendy Oxford Street and past Paddington's charming terrace houses before reaching the Pacific Ocean to see the coastal cliff walk at Tamarama. Unwind at Bondi Beach's promenade with a coffee or cool drink while bronzed Aussie lifesavers watch over the surf. Then, soak in panoramic views at Dover Heights before returning to the city. Try one of the restaurants along the harbor for lunch.
And now it's time to bid farewell. Wander back to your hotel and meet your driver, who will transfer you to the airport in time for your onward flight. Safe travels!
More Great Australia Itineraries
Map
