Complete Australia
28 days from Melbourne to Cairns
From $ 5199
Duration28 days
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Are you ready to completely slather yourself in all things Australia? Travel to the Land Down Under and spend a month exploring everything this island nation has to offer. Start in Melbourne and move on from there to national parks, wine tastings, the Outback, beach days, sea kayaking, sailing, and loads more. Get the total Oz experience with this all-encompassing tour, and, who knows, you might even acquire a taste for Vegemite by the end.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 28 days
    Service level: Basic
  • Starts in: Melbourne
    Physical Grading: Average
  • Ends in: Cairns
    Ages: 18+
Complete Australia - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Melbourne

Start place: Melbourne

There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore the city. If you arrive early enough, head into the city to take in the 'cultural capital of Australia'. Get lost in the city's famous laneways, go on the hunt for the perfect flat white (hint: Melbourne loves its coffee shops), catch the tram to St. Kilda, or wander around the über-cool Fitzroy neighbourhood.
Arrive at any time. Please ensure to arrive before 7pm for an important group welcome meeting where you can meet your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members.

End place: Melbourne

Day 2: Melbourne/Port Campbell

Start place: Melbourne

Depart early morning for the journey to Port Campbell. Check out the famous surf coast, visiting the towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay en route. Make a stop at Great Otway NP for an included rainforest walk. Explore the scenic attractions of the Great Ocean Road including the picturesque 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
Travel past world-famous surf beaches along the Great Ocean Road. Enjoy views of the 12 Apostles and walk through the rainforest in Great Otway National Park.

End place: Port Campbell

Meals: B
Day 3: Port Campbell/Halls Gap

Start place: Port Campbell

Start the day visiting more attractions of the Great Ocean Road including The Arch and the now broken London Bridge. Visit Tower Hill State Wildlife Reserve for a chance to see animals endemic to Australia such as koalas, emus and kangaroos. Opt to visit an Aboriginal Cultural Centre to learn about the significance of the area to the indigenous people. End the day with an evening walk in the Grampians NP.
Visit the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve en route 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 4: Halls Gap/Adelaide

Start place: Halls Gap

Early start to explore more of Grampians NP. Walk to the stunning Jaws of Death Balconies, visit MacKenzie's Falls, and travel onto Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.
Explore Grampians NP. Enjoy waterfalls, lakes and beautiful vistas. Later, travel to Adelaide.

End place: Adelaide

Meals: B
Day 5: Adelaide

Start place: Adelaide

There are no planned activities during the day, so enjoy free time to explore the city. Opt to go for a cruise to swim with dolphins (seasonal), take the tram to Glenelg beach, visit a nearby winery, grab lunch at the Central Market, or enjoy time getting lost in the city.
Take advantage of a free day to explore Adelaide.

If you're travelling between mid-September to May, opt to go on a dolphin-spotting cruise. Pre-book the "Dolphin Swim and Cruise" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour. New travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. You are welcome to join them at a group meeting this evening, followed by an optional dinner.

End place: Adelaide

Day 6: Adelaide/Quorn

Start place: Adelaide

Hit the road in the morning. Admire scenic views across the Clare Valley and enjoy a local food experience featuring South Australia's best regional produce. Travel to the town of Quorn for the night.
Enjoy a local food experience in the Clare Valley, then it's on to Quorn.

End place: Quorn

Meals: B
Day 7: Quorn/Flinders Ranges

Start place: Quorn

Take the day to explore the amazing scenery of Flinders Ranges.
Head to Wilpena Pound for a walk to a natural amphitheatre sacred to the Aboriginal Adnyamathana people. Learn about Aboriginal art and early settler history.

End place: Flinders Ranges

Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Flinders Ranges/William Creek

Start place: Flinders Ranges

We follow the Oodnadatta Track, strewn with ruins of failed early settler activity, along the route of the equally unsuccessful original Ghan Railway route. Visit the dry salt lake of Lake Eyre.
Travel along the Old Ghan Railway route. Marvel at ruins of early settler sites and opt for a scenic flight over the great salt lake of Lake Eyre.

End place: William Creek

Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: William Creek/Coober Pedy

Start place: William Creek

Travel 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 the importance of opal to the area. Overnight like the locals by sleeping in an underground hostel, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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.

End place: Coober Pedy

Meals: B
Day 10: Coober Pedy/Kings Creek

Start place: Coober Pedy

Take in the vastness of the Outback on a driving day, then bed down in a swag (padded canvas bedroll) around a campfire and sleep under the Outback sky.

End place: Kings Creek

Meals: B, D
Day 11: Kings Creek/Uluru

Start place: Kings Creek

Enjoy the morning taking in the scenery or by going on an optional 4km walk through the gorges and valleys of Kings Canyon of Watarrka Natoinal Park.
Enjoy a morning walk through the gorges and valleys of Kings Canyon. Drive to Uluru, where Australia's most iconic view awaits. Experience the colourful sunset at Uluru while enjoying a glass of bubbly.

End place: Uluru

Meals: B, L
Day 12: Uluru

Start place: Uluru

The next morning, awake before sunrise to do the Mala Walk around part of the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) while learning its significance to the local Aboriginals. Visit the cultural centre to get a better understanding of the area.
Enjoy the Mala Walk at Uluru to learn the importance of the rock to the Aboriginal Australians.

Today, opt to view the spectacular scenery from above when you pre-book the "Uluru & Kata Tjuta Helicopter Ride" optional activity on the checkout page.

End place: Uluru

Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Uluru/Sydney

Start place: Uluru

Transfer to the airport and fly to Sydney.

End place: Sydney

Meals: B
Day 14: 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 15: Sydney/Tamworth

Start place: Sydney

Travel to the Hunter Valley for a wine tasting before continuing on to Tamworth for a taste of Australian country living. Due to operational reasons, tours that are scheduled to visit Tamworth between January 23-27, 2018 will be rerouted to Coffs Harbour for the night.

End place: Tamworth

Meals: B, D
Day 16: 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 17: 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 18: 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.
Enjoy free time to hit the beach, get a massage, or try sea kayaking.

End place: Byron Bay

Day 19: 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 20: Brisbane/Noosa Everglades

Start place: Brisbane

Head north to Noosa, and enjoy a free afternoon for surfing or strolling the boardwalk to Noosa National Park, where koala sightings are common.

End place: Noosa River

Meals: B
Day 21: Fraser Island/Noosa Everglades

Start place: Noosa River

Travel by private 4x4 and ferry to reach Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. Walk through the rainforest, visit Lake Mackenzie, and drive along Australia's only sand highway.

End place: Noosa River

Meals: B, L
Day 22: Noosa Everglades/Airlie Beach

Start place: Noosa River

Go canoeing along the calm waters of the Noosa Everglades before hopping an overnight train north to Airlie Beach.

End place: Airlie Beach

Meals: L
Day 23: Airlie Beach/Whitsunday Islands

Start place: Airlie Beach

After arriving in Airlie Beach, transfer to the marina and embark on a maxi yacht which will be our home for the next three days. 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 24: 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. Again we drop anchor in a secluded bay for the night.
Hike to an island lookout over Whitehaven Beach, known for its stunning white sand, then enjoy free time on the famous beach. Anchor off of a secluded tropical island at night.

End place: Whitsunday Islands

Meals: B, L, D
Day 25: 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 26: 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 27: Cairns

Start place: Cairns

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 28: Cairns

Start place: Cairns

Depart at any time.

End place: Cairns

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Inclusions

Included

  • Your G for Good Moment: Reef Ecologic Coral Restoration, Whitsunday Islands Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Adelaide Your Foodie Moment: Local Food Experience, Clare Valley 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
  • Rainforest walk in Great Otway National Park
  • 12 Apostles visit
  • Aboriginal cultural centre visit
  • Tower Hill Reserve visit
  • Underground mine tour
  • Champagne sunset viewing of Uluru
  • Mala Walk around Uluru and cultural centre visit
  • Hikes at Grampians National Park, Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Kings Canyon
  • Sydney orientation walk
  • Fraser Island 4x4 excursion
  • Entrance fees to Cooloola Recreation Area and Fraser Island in Great Sandy National Park
  • Noosa Everglades overnight excursion
  • Noosa Everglades canoeing excursion
  • Whitsunday Islands sailing excursion (3 days)
  • Whitehaven Beach visit
  • Internal flight
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

  • Transport

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

  • Accommodation

    Hostels (19 nts), Swag camping (3 nts), Maxi-yacht (2 nts), Underground hostel (1 nt), Cabin (1 nt), Overnight train (1 nt) All nights multi-share

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