Contrasts of Australia

Melbourne extends a friendly welcome! (Flights to arrive prior to 12pm). Lucky for you you’re staying in the heart of it all on the banks of the Yarra River. Check into your hotel and meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a Welcome Reception at The General Assembly restaurant. At this modern pub on the Yarra River’s South Wharf, you’ll feast on a three-course dinner, washed down with your choice of local wines and beers on tap. It’s a delicious introduction to Melbourne’s cosmopolitan vibe.

Get out and see the sights today on a guided walk with your Travel Director discovering the little lanes, arcades, and café society of stylish Melbourne. Gaze up at the beautiful Victorian façades lining grand boulevards. Stroll past famous, edgy street art that shows a stylish contrast to federation buildings and churches as Melbourne’s coffee aroma wafts overhead. After your orientation, the day is yours to relax back at your hotel, go for a scenic stroll, do a little souvenir shopping, or find a spot on the banks of the Yarra River to grab a drink. Or choose to venture outside of the city on an Optional Experience such as the viewing of the incredible Little Penguins on Phillip Island. On this rare wildlife viewing experience you’ll watch the tiny, adorable penguins make their daily trek from the sea to burrows on the beach.

Go from city to tropics today as you fly north to sunny Cairns. At Hartley's Crocodile Adventures you’ll team up with a Local Specialist for a private, wildlife-rich boat cruise. They will give you the inside scoop on the life and habits of the crocs you’ll see popping up from the murky waters or lazing on the bank. Now that you’ve appreciated the beauty of the area, you can put your passion into practice helping with a Rainforest Restoration project to protect the natural wonder of the nearby Notophyll Vine Forest, an area older than the Amazon. By jumping in and helping the team plant trees, you’re supporting the protection of this rare type of dry rainforest from development and restoring it to an important wildlife corridor of native birds - a mission you’ll feel good contributing to. After a day in the wild, you’ll travel back to Cairns for a free evening to try some of the city’s famous seafood around the Cairns Marina. If you’re looking to browse among a lot of options, visit the Cairns Night Markets and have your pick of over 70 open-air stalls of local specialities. Note: If departing on an early flight from Melbourne, a boxed breakfast will be provided.

Go from city to sea today on a full day bucket list exploration of the world’s largest coral reef system in the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set sail on a high-speed catamaran for these tropical waters then explore this underwater wonderland up close donning your mask and fins for a snorkel (equipment provided). You’ll feel like a fish in an aquarium weaving through the rainbow of reefs and fish. Or, choose to stay dry in your semi-submersible, air-conditioned craft with an underwater observatory to have a different view of these tropical species. However you choose to explore, you’ll love learning the insights on the reef the colourful fish and plants that call it home from your local guide. On board you’ll be treated to a buffet lunch and afternoon tea and coffee to soak up the Aussie sun before you cruise back into Cairns.

Your last day in Cairns is all yours to kick back at the hotel pool, check out more of the city sites, or venture out of town for more adventures. One popular Optional Experience is taking the Kuranda Scenic Railway through a lush forests, past gorges, ravines, and waterfalls to Kuranda’s 'village in the rainforest.' After an epic train ride, you have time to explore this quaint village’s trails, wildlife sanctuaries, shops, and markets all within a World Heritage rainforest, before returning to the lowlands soaring above the canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. After a big day out or in town, meet up with the group for a Regional Dinner at Ochre Restaurant and enjoy Australian cuisine featuring the best local produce.

Your Australia sightseeing takes an exciting turn as you leave Cairns’ beaches for Sydney. Settle into your centrally located hotel, before taking to the streets. You could walk to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, which is close by. Your evening is at leisure, so take the opportunity to explore Circular Quay and the Rocks District. Ask your Travel Director for dining suggestions.

Kick off your Sydney exploring day with a Sydney Opera House Tour with a Local Specialist before experiencing the beauty of the city aboard a Harbour Cruise sailing past Circular Quay, Shark Island, magnificent homes, beaches and parkland, and the iconic white sails of the Opera House. Discover another side of the city, literally, soaking in the beautiful blooms of Wendy’s Secret Garden at Lavender Bay. At this tucked away retreat overlooking Sydney Harbour, meet a local volunteer and learn the story of how the garden was transformed, beginning in 1992 from unused railway land at the foot of founder Wendy’s house into a beautiful, whimsical secret spot. Take a walk around the grounds among the shrubs, herbs, and towering trees lining meandering paths, eyes peeled for the resident parrots, gulls, kookaburras and wagtails. Take a moment to enjoy the serenity of the garden, knowing that your visit, proudly a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, helps by contributing to the ongoing maintenance by volunteer gardeners of this enchanting garden. The rest of the day is yours to check out the sites of the inner city or relax before another big day.

Kick off your last day in Sydney by checking out its sights and sounds anyway you want on this free day. You might choose to wander further afield on an optional experience to the Blue Mountains, for fresh mountain air and stunning scenery. Get your adrenaline racing with a thrilling climb up (and over) the Sydney Harbour Bridge. For something more down to earth, you could wander along the harbor foreshore through the Royal Botanic Garden. Then it’s time to celebrate your travels over a Farewell Dinner with your newfound friends and travel mates.

It’s been a glorious nine days of Australia sightseeing, but all good things must come to an end. Fill up on your last breakfast before bidding farewell to your travel mates and your transfer to the Sydney airport (flights anytime).