Australia Encompassed
25 days from Sydney to Melbourne
From $ 3759
Duration25 days

Sydney, Melbourne, Fraser Island, the Whitsundays — your crash course in all things Australia starts now. For 25 days, you’ll head up the East Coast (and participate in wine tastings, surf lessons, and maxi yacht sailing), fly to Alice Springs, then go down south to Kings Canyon, Uluru, and Adelaide, just to name a few destinations. The Great Ocean Road will eventually lead you to Melbourne, and a wide variety of accommodations and transport along the way will keep things exciting. With a competitive price and small tour group, there’s never been a better time to discover the Land Down Under.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 25 days
    Service level: Basic
  • Starts in: Sydney
    Physical Grading: Average
  • Ends in: Melbourne
    Ages: 18+
Australia Encompassed - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Sydney

Start place: Sydney

There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city.

If you arrive early enough, head down to the harbour's edge to 'The Rocks' historic area and the Opera House.
Arrive at any time. Want to start your Down Under adventure with an adrenaline rush? Add the 'Sydney Adrenaline Bundle' or 'Sydney Bridge Climb' extra to your tour. Get an incredible view of the iconic Sydney Harbour from the top of the Harbour Bridge, then zip through the waterways on a jet boat ride if you book the 'Adrenaline Bundle'. PLEASE NOTE: If booking either of these extras, a pre-night in Sydney is highly recommended as the Bridge Climb starts early in the morning on Day 1.

End place: Sydney

Day 2: Sydney

Start place: Sydney

Enjoy a free day to explore Sydney. Opt to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, hop on a jet boat ride through the harbour, or chill out at Bondi Beach.

End place: Sydney

Meals: B
Day 3: Sydney/Tamworth

Start place: Sydney

Travel to the Hunter Valley for a wine tutorial before continuing on to Tamworth for a taste of Australian country living.

End place: Tamworth

Meals: B, D
Day 4: Tamworth/Yamba

Start place: Tamworth

Continue north, visiting Raspberry Lookout and Boundary Falls in Gibraltar National Park en route. Once in Yamba, head to the beach for a swim.
Travel over the Great Dividing Range to Yamba, a quaint beach town. Go for a swim at the beach, relax, and enjoy the view.

End place: Yamba

Meals: B
Day 5: Yamba/Byron Bay

Start place: Yamba

After breakfast, travel the coastal road to the stunning surf and arts town of Byron Bay. Enjoy plenty of free time to experience the hippie surfing town. Options are abound — walk to the lighthouse (located on Australia's most easterly point) for a chance to see whales swimming off shore or hang ten with the locals after an included surfing lesson.
Continue up the coast to Byron Bay, an alternative hippie paradise. Hit the beach and enjoy an included surf lesson.

End place: Byron Bay

Meals: B
Day 6: Byron Bay

Start place: Byron Bay

The free time is yours to explore. Walk along the long stunning beach, play in the surf, or simply hang out at the Byron Bay Brewery and people watch. Want to get your adrenaline pumping? Go skydiving, try sea kayaking, or go on a dolphin watch.

Opt to pre-book the "Byron Bay Ocean Kayaking" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Enjoy free time to hit the beach, get a massage, or try sea kayaking.

End place: Byron Bay

Day 7: Byron Bay/Brisbane

Start place: Byron Bay

Travel north, and opt for a night out in Queensland's capital. Stop along the way to Brisbane for a quick break at one of the many surf spots such as the Gold Coast.

End place: Brisbane

Meals: B
Day 8: Brisbane/Noosa Everglades

Start place: Brisbane

Set off to the Noosa Everglades for an evening surrounded by stunning wilderness. Please note that due to operational reasons, this night and the following night may be reversed. All activities and inclusions will remain the same.

End place: Noosa River

Meals: B, L
Day 9: Noosa Everglades/Fraser Island

Start place: Noosa River

Once on the island, enjoy a 4x4 tour of Fraser Island, driving along over 100km of beach. Go for a swim in Lake McKenzie, and enjoy a rainforest walk along the way.
Travel by private vehicle and ferry to reach Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. Explore the island by 22-seat 4x4 truck. While on Fraser Island, main luggage will be stored in a secure storage facility. Each person will need to pack an overnight bag with max weight of 5kg, as access to main luggage will not be available again until the next day. This is due to luggage capacity restrictions in 4x4 vehicles.

End place: Fraser Island

Meals: B, L
Day 10: Fraser Island/Airlie Beach

Start place: Fraser Island

Enjoy a morning of exploring by 4x4 to hit the remainder of Fraser Island's highlights, before hopping an overnight train north to Airlie Beach.

End place: Airlie Beach

Meals: B, L
Day 11: Airlie Beach/Whitsunday Islands

Start place: Airlie Beach

After arriving in Airlie Beach and some time for brunch, head to the marina and embark on a maxi yacht which will be our home for the next two nights. Set sail to a secluded cove in the Whitsunday Islands where you will drop anchor for the night.
Embark on a 3-day maxi yacht sailing adventure. Enjoy beach visits, island bush walks, and time to snorkel the reefs. Anchor off of secluded tropical islands at night.

End place: Whitsunday Islands

Meals: D
Day 12: Whitsunday Islands

Start place: Whitsunday Islands

The sailing route today allows us to follow part of Captain Cook's route up through the Whitsunday Islands.

Planeterra has partnered with Reef Ecologic, a nonprofit specialized in creating innovative solutions to challenges facing coral reefs. In the Whitsundays they are working to engage the community and travellers to restore the reef following the 2017 cyclone. Reef Ecologic's new coral gardens in the Whitsundays foster natural coral fragments to be replanted into the reef for a healthy marine environment.
Hike to an island lookout over Whitehaven Beach, known for its stunning white sand, then enjoy free time on the famous beach. Learn about community efforts to protect and restore coral in the Great Barrier Reef before heading out to snorkel over a Planeterra-supported coral garden. Anchor off of a secluded tropical island at night. Please note that snorkelling over the Reef Ecologic Coral Restoration project may occur on the first or last day of your Whitsunday Islands excursion, if weather conditions or tides are not ideal on this day.

End place: Whitsunday Islands

Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Whitsunday Islands/Airlie Beach

Start place: Whitsunday Islands

After three days at sea, we sail back to Airlie Beach for a night on land in a local beach hostel. Feel free to relax by the pool at the end of the day.
Continue sailing through the gorgeous backdrop of the Whitsunday Islands. Sail to the resort town of Airlie Beach for a night on the town.

End place: Airlie Beach

Meals: B
Day 14: Airlie Beach/Cairns

Start place: Airlie Beach

Admire the scenery on the train north to Cairns. Get ready for an early morning wake-up today for the journey to Cairns. Make sure to stock up on snacks and bring personal entertainment – it may be one of the longer travel days on this trip, but it's worth it to reach The Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef!

End place: Cairns

Meals: L
Day 15: Cairns

Start place: Cairns

Opt to pre-book the "Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Enjoy a free day to visit the Great Barrier Reef or get the adrenaline pumping by whitewater rafting or bungee jumping. Cap it all off with a Big Night Out in Cairns.

End place: Cairns

Day 16: Cairns/Alice Springs

Start place: Cairns

New travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. Consider sitting in on the welcome meeting, and get to know everyone at an optional dinner.
Fly to Australia's interior and transfer to the hostel.

End place: Alice Springs

Meals: B
Day 17: Alice Springs/Uluru

Start place: Alice Springs

Depart early for the Red Centre. Travel to Kings Canyon and embark on an optional walk, weather permitting, through the gorges and valleys of Watarrka National Park.

Continue on to the Yulara campground for the night.
Depart early and travel to the Red Centre. Hike the awe-inspiring Kings Canyon (seasonal) before continuing on to Uluru. During the summer (late October - early March), due to high temperatures we'll be visiting the Ochre Pits and Ellery Creek Big Hole in the West MacDonnell Ranges instead of Kings Creek. During the winter, if the temperature is forecasted to be 35°C or above we will also be following the summer itinerary.

End place: Uluru

Day 18: Uluru

Start place: Uluru

Visit the Aboriginal Cultural Centre to get a better understanding of the area before embarking on the Mala Walk around part of the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock). Learn the significance behind this iconic destination for the local people.

Experience the colourful sunset at Uluru while enjoying a glass of bubbly. Marvel at the night sky while bunking down in a swag (canvas bedroll) for the night.
Visit an Aboriginal culture centre and enjoy the informative Mala Walk at Uluru. Catch the sunset over Uluru with a glass of bubbly in hand. Camp under the stars of the night sky—the only way to really experience the Outback.

End place: Uluru

Meals: B, D
Day 19: Uluru/Coober Pedy

Start place: Uluru

Travel across the Outback to the unique opal mining town of Coober Pedy, where people live underground to avoid the heat. A guided mine tour gives insight to the mining process and then importance of opal to the area.
Travel to the town of Coober Pedy, the world's opal mining capital. After a guided tour of a mine, escape the heat like the locals by spending the night underground. This is one of a few long travel days on this itinerary. The vast expanses of the Outback make long drives necessary to travel between towns – so strap in and enjoy the desert scenery, get to know a fellow traveller, and chill out on this epic Outback roadtrip!

End place: Coober Pedy

Meals: B
Day 20: Coober Pedy/Flinders Ranges

Start place: Coober Pedy

Prepare for an early morning start for the travel day to Flinders Ranges.
Admire the Outback while travelling to the Flinders Ranges for the night.

End place: Flinders Ranges

Meals: B, D
Day 21: Flinders Ranges/Adelaide

Start place: Flinders Ranges

Travel through the Clare Valley wine area, making a stop for a wine tasting and demonstration to learn about the development of the vineyards in the area. Arrive in Adelaide, known as the "city of churches'.
Explore the Flinders Ranges before travelling to Adelaide. Enjoy a wine tasting in the Clare Valley along the way.

End place: Adelaide

Meals: B
Day 22: Adelaide

Start place: Adelaide

With an emerging art scene, natural beauty and attractions, and incredible restaurants, Adelaide has tons to see and do. Get out and discover the hub of South Australia!
Enjoy a free day to discover Adelaide. Opt to go on a dolphin-spotting cruise (seasonal), or check out more wineries.

End place: Adelaide

Day 23: Adelaide/Halls Gap

Start place: Adelaide

Depart early and travel inland to Grampians NP, known for its sandstone mountain range and impressive rock art. Walk to the stunning Balconies and visit MacKenzie Falls.
Set off early and travel inland to Grampians National Park, known for its sandstone mountain range and impressive rock art. Trek through the forest, lush with vegetation and wildlife.

End place: Halls Gap

Meals: B
Day 24: Halls Gap/Port Campbell

Start place: Halls Gap

Enjoy an early morning walk in Grampians NP, lush with vegetation and wildlife. Opt to visit an Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the significance of the area to the indigenous people. Drive along the Great Ocean Road, viewing sites including the collapsed London Arch.
Enjoy an early morning walk in Grampians NP and visit an Aboriginal cultural centre (time permitting). Stop for a visit to the Arch along the Great Ocean Road.

End place: Port Campbell

Meals: B
Day 25: Port Campbell/Melbourne

Start place: Port Campbell

Explore the scenic attractions of the Great Ocean Road including the picturesque Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles formations. Stop at the Great Otway National Park for an included rainforest walk en route to Melbourne.
Travel along the Great Ocean Road. Visit Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles, then travel past world-famous surf beaches. Walk through the rainforest in Great Otway National Park. Tour ends upon arrival to Melbourne in the evening. Tour ends upon arrival in Melbourne in the afternoon. Consider booking post-tour accommodation in Melbourne to explore the city.

End place: Melbourne

Meals: B

Inclusions

Included

  • Your G for Good Moment: Reef Ecologic Coral Restoration, Whitsunday Islands Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Hands-On Moment: Wine Tutorial, Hunter Valley Your Hands-On Moment: Surfing Lesson, Byron Bay Your Discover Moment: Byron Bay Your Discover Moment: Cairns Your Big Night Out Moment: Cairns Your Foodie Moment: Local Food Experience, Clare Valley Your Discover Moment: Adelaide
  • Sydney orientation walk
  • Fraser Island 4x4 excursion
  • Entrance fees to Cooloola Recreation Area and Fraser Island in Great Sandy National Park
  • Noosa Everglades overnight experience
  • Noosa Everglades canoeing excursion
  • Whitsunday Islands sailing excursion (3 days)
  • Whitehaven Beach visit
  • Rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park
  • Champagne sunset viewing of Uluru
  • Mala Walk at Uluru and visit to the culture centre
  • Underground mine tour (Coober Pedy)
  • Walks at Kings Canyon and Grampians National Park
  • Internal flight
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  • Transport

    Private vehicle, Train, Maxi yacht, 4x4 vehicle, Ferry, Plane, Walking
  • Accommodation

    Hostels (16 nts), Swag camping (2 nts), Maxi yacht (2 nts), Cabins (2 nt), Overnight train (1 nt), Underground hostel (1 nt) All nights multi-share

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