Highlights
- Follow in the footsteps of Olympians as you tackle the 2026 Sydney Marathon
- Hand-feed koalas and taste cool-climate wines on a day trip along the Pacific coast
- Spend a full day snorkeling and cruising around the Great Barrier Reef
- Brave Class II and III rapids on a whitewater rafting adventure
- Learn about Indigenous customs on a guided excursion into the Daintree Rainforest
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Sydney, Harbour Bridge Climb | Sydney |
| Day 2 | Highlights of Sydney Walk | Sydney |
| Day 3 | Run the 2026 Sydney Marathon | Sydney |
| Day 4 | Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wine Day Trip | Sydney |
| Day 5 | Fly to Cairns, Gateway to the Tropical North | Cairns |
| Day 6 | Snorkel the Outer Barrier Reef | Cairns |
| Day 7 | Barron River Whitewater Rafting Adventure | Cairns |
| Day 8 | Transfer to Daintree, Kuku Yalanji Rainforest Exploration | Daintree |
| Day 9 | Daintree Rainforest Food Adventure & Waterfall Picnic | Daintree |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Cairns, Fly to Sydney, Depart |
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sydney, Harbour Bridge Climb
G'day and welcome to Sydney! With a dazzling natural harbor, epic beaches, an impressive restaurant scene, and an unquenchable thirst for fun, you'll never get bored in this city—which is why it's the perfect place to start any Australian adventure. If you've arrived at Sydney's airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your central accommodation. Refresh, then set out to find lunch, take a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, or stretch your legs with a run along the edge of Sydney Harbour.
If you've already settled in for a few days and recovered from jet lag, you could tackle something more challenging this afternoon, joining an adrenaline-filled climb across the city's famous "coathanger." The three-hour journey over the Harbour Bridge takes you 439 feet (134 m) above sea level, where you'll be treated to 360-degree views of the city, including east to the Sydney Opera House and west to the Blue Mountains.
Day 2: Highlights of Sydney Walk
Eat a hearty breakfast and lace up your most comfortable shoes this morning for a 3.5-hour walk through Sydney. Led by an expert local guide, you'll check off some of the city's most important landmarks while charting its history from the ancestral homeland of the Eora people to today's modern metropolis. Begin at Circular Quay, where the colonial First Fleet landed in 1788, and stroll to sites like the Opera House, Hyde Park Barracks, and St. Mary's Cathedral.
Listen as your guide shares diverse perspectives on Sydney's development, featuring stories of its Aboriginal people, British colonists, and multicultural immigrants. Continue into The Rocks (the city's oldest district) to explore its tangle of cobblestone streets, then end with a craft beer at a brewery with scenic views toward the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Afterward, the rest of the day is free, but you'll want to keep things light to rest and prepare for tomorrow's race. Grab lunch at one of The Rocks' trendy gastropubs, then head back to the hotel for a dip in the pool and an early night.
Day 3: Run the 2026 Sydney Marathon
It's an early 6:30 am start for the 2026 TCS Sydney Marathon, now one of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors. The race sets off from the North Sydney Oval (the starting line of the 2000 Sydney Olympics Marathon) and begins with a traffic-free run across the Harbour Bridge. The challenging, somewhat hilly route continues through the city center, skirting the harbor, following the vibrant thoroughfare of Oxford Street, and looping through the green spaces of Hyde Park, the Royal Botanic Garden, and Centennial Park.
Sydney loves its sport, and the city-center portions of the race have a raucous, celebratory energy, with plenty of spectators and locals cheering you on. The final stretch leads to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, where the iconic "sails" provide a dramatic background for the finish line.
Day 4: Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wine Day Trip
Celebrate your achievement and recover from yesterday's race however you like today; you could take things easy and stick close to the hotel, or set off on a guided day trip to explore the nature, wildlife, and landscapes south of Sydney. This full-day excursion sets off from Circular Quay and starts with a drive south through the eucalyptus forests of Australia's oldest national park, where you'll stop at a wildlife center to meet koalas and hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies.
Continue along the spectacular Grand Pacific Drive, which stretches for 87 miles (140 km) from Royal National Park to Nowra, hugging the coast with many scenic stretches suspended over the Pacific. When you near the famous Sea Cliff Bridge, you'll stop at a beachside café for a classic Aussie lunch, and if the weather's good, you can cool off afterward with a dip in the ocean. Post-lunch, take a gentle hike to a local waterfall, and end the day with a visit to a boutique winery, where you can sample some of the region's acclaimed cool-climate wines.
Day 5: Fly to Cairns, Gateway to the Tropical North
It's time for a change of scene this morning, as you transfer by private vehicle to the airport and catch a 3.5-hour flight to Cairns. This relaxed, coastal city is located in Queensland's Tropical North, and serves as the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef and the 135-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest. On arrival, a private driver will transfer you to your beachfront hotel to get settled.
You could keep things relaxed with an afternoon spent around the pool, or step across the street to stake out a spot on the sand. To start exploring, head downtown to stroll the Esplanade, which stretches along the waterfront, and take a dip in the city's saltwater lagoon. If you want a primer before tomorrow's reef adventure, visit the Cairns Aquarium, which is dedicated exclusively to the marine animals of the tropical Queensland region.
Day 6: Snorkel the Outer Great Barrier Reef
Grab your swimsuit and sunscreen this morning and transfer an hour north up the coast to Maranos Wharf in Port Douglas. Here you'll head down to the water, meet your captain and crew, and step aboard a catamaran for a day of snorkeling and swimming in the Outer Barrier Reef. Listen to fascinating talks on the reef's fragile ecosystem and diverse marine life as you cruise, then drop anchor and dive into the vibrant underwater world. You can choose to snorkel with an expert guide or independently, and take your time exploring until it's time to climb back aboard for a light breakfast of fresh fruit and pastries.
The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and an essential ecosystem for the world's oceans, providing vital habitat and protection for marine life. Over the course of the day, you'll get the chance to snorkel at two different reef locations, with special permissions that help you access less crowded areas and spot some of the reef's 1,500 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and six species of sea turtles. Enjoy a packed lunch and a cold beer on the cruise back to Port Douglas, then return to Cairns in time for dinner.
Day 7: Barron River Whitewater Rafting Adventure
Today, you'll venture north of Cairns once again, this time turning inland for a whitewater rafting trip down the Barron River. After a pickup from your hotel, you'll transfer 15 minutes outside the city to the meeting point, where you'll join your fellow rafters and head across the fertile forests and farmlands of the Atherton Tablelands to the Barron River Gorge. Upon arrival, you'll meet your experienced river guide, get fitted with all the necessary rafting gear, and listen to a thorough paddling tutorial before stepping into your raft and casting off.
As you follow the current west toward the Pacific, you'll encounter thrilling Class II and III rapids, with chances to surf the rafts into freestanding waves and tackle exhilarating drops. Take a breather on calmer stretches, and admire the lush, tropical scenery and colorful birdlife of the riverbanks. When you finally reach the ending point, change into dry clothes and take a look at the action-packed photos captured along the trip. You can choose your favorites as a memento of the day before transferring back to your hotel for a free afternoon around the pool.
Day 8: Transfer to Daintree, Kuku Yalanji Rainforest Exploration
Continue your journey north today as you meet your private driver for the two-hour drive into the UNESCO-listed Daintree National Park, part of northern Queensland's vast Wet Tropics region. Estimated at over 180 million years old, this is the world's most ancient tropical rainforest, encompassing over 463 square miles (1,200 sq km) of dense forests, pristine rivers and waterfalls, and endless white-sand beaches, plus diverse wildlife like saltwater crocodiles and cassowaries (giant flightless birds).
Get settled in your luxury lodge, located within the national park, then venture deeper into the rainforest with members of the Kuku Yalanji people, the Daintree's traditional custodians. Explore rainforest and coastal habitats with your local guides as you sample seasonal Indigenous food called "bush tucker," look for shellfish, and learn traditional hunting techniques, including the art of spear throwing. Complete your adventure with a swim in a pristine freshwater stream and a visit to the dramatic Mossman Gorge, located in Daintree's southern section.
Day 9: Daintree Rainforest Food Adventure & Waterfall Picnic
It's the last full day of your itinerary, and you'll spend it on an immersive (and tasty) exploration of Daintree's farmland and forests. Hop into a custom bus with your local guide, and start with a visit to a small cacao producer, where you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating process of turning cacao beans into their award-winning chocolates. Then, continue to a family-run fruit farm, where you'll tour the grounds, help pick exotic tropical fruits by hand, and taste-test sun-ripened rambutan, pitaya (dragon fruit), and mangosteen.
Your next stop is at a sustainable seafood farm, where you'll join an exclusive tour and sample a gourmet tasting platter featuring the freshest saltwater barramundi. Then it's time to set off into the rainforest, with an exciting off-road ATV ride to Cassowary Falls. Cool off with a swim in the pristine waters, and sit down to a falls-side picnic that includes an artisan grazing board of local cheeses, sausages, barramundi dip, and crackers.
Day 10: Transfer to Cairns, Fly to Sydney, Depart
Day 10 of your Australian adventure starts with a transfer to the airport, where you'll board a flight back to Sydney. From here, continue your journey or connect with your flight home. Safe travels!
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