Ultimate Australia

Your vacation begins in Cairns, in Australia's Tropical North Queensland region, where you meet the Tour Manager at our hotel. After checking in for four nights you are free to unwind. Our hotel overlooks the Trinity Wharf, and is ideally situated to explore the area. If you're keen to step out into the tropical night air and get to know your surroundings, you could wander along the boardwalk of the Esplanade where there are several inviting al fresco restaurants to choose from for an independent dinner this evening.

Please note: on the  March  11, October 21 and November 26 departures, the itinerary will run in reverse from Sydney to Cairns to align with the Ghan's schedule.

After breakfast, you have a full day at leisure to get to know this tropical city at your own pace. Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a nature-lover's paradise, surrounded by mountainous rainforests, spectacular reefs and pristine beaches. You might be tempted to take a dip in the lagoon, walk along the waterfront promenade or relax at the hotel swimming pool or beach.

If you're feeling adventurous, there are plenty of outdoor activities available locally, from horse riding on the beach to scuba diving. Other options are to visit the Flecker Botanic Gardens or the wonderful Cairns Aquarium where you can view some of the colorful marine life and aquatic creatures of the reef, which can usually only be seen by experienced divers. This evening we meet up for a welcome dinner at a local waterfront restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning brings a unique experience as we transfer by coach to Rainforestation Nature Park, located within the beautiful tropical rainforest. There we take a trip on a World War II amphibious military transport unit, or 'Army Duck', driving among the local flora. Next, on a guided 'Dreamtime Walk' we learn how Indigenous Australians understand the world and its creation, before experiencing a 'pamagirri' dance performance.

After a barbecue lunch, we travel to Kuranda village in the rainforest, where there's time to look around the local craft market before heading to the station. Here, we board refurbished heritage carriages in Royale Class, for a journey along the 125-year old Kuranda Scenic Railway into the rainforest, through the stunning Barron River Gorge with its tropical vegetation and tumbling waterfalls. We return on the same scenic route back to Cairns. This evening you are free to dine independently.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a full-day excursion into the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest and most complex coral reef system. From the harbor of Cairns we board an air-conditioned catamaran for a cruise into this marine paradise, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Our first stop is Green Island, a 'coral cay' (a small sandy island on a coral reef) where we have two hours at leisure to explore this idyllic setting on a self-guided walk.

Continuing into the Great Barrier Reef, we moor alongside a pontoon for an on-board reef presentation and a buffet lunch, followed by an afternoon of viewing the unique wildlife and coral reefs from an underwater observatory. You can also experience the brilliant marine life close-up during a snorkelling session, or catch a glimpse of tropical fish, giant clams and sea turtles from a glass-bottom boat. We return to Cairns with a free evening to dine independently and you may like to wander through the Cairns Night Market, open each day from 4:30 to 10pm.

• Breakfast, Lunch

We transfer to the airport early this morning to fly to Uluru. This iconic rock is the world's largest monolith, an incredible sight to behold, which rises out of the flat desert floor. On arrival, a short walk takes us to the Mutitjulu waterhole, one of the few permanent water sources in the region, and we discover how important this site is to its traditional owners. We then visit the Uluru Cultural Centre, where - on a self-guided tour - we can learn about the culture of the local Anangu people and spiritual significance of Uluru.

This afternoon is at leisure, before setting off for a magical 'Sounds of Silence'* dinner in the desert, within view of this mysterious red rock, watching it change color as the sun sets. Our meal begins with sparkling wine and canapés, followed by a barbecue buffet dinner with a bush-inspired menu, selected drinks and dessert. Later, we enjoy a marvellous stargazing experience as a 'star talker' decodes the southern night sky, pointing out planets and galaxies, visible in the clear desert atmosphere.

*Please note: on certain departures, we will enjoy a Field of Light dinner instead of the Sounds of Silence dinner.

• Dinner

Today we continue exploring the unique natural beauty of the Uluru area. The day begins with a sunrise visit to Uluru, witnessing the sun's rising rays dancing across the vivid orange rock, before returning to our hotel for a leisurely breakfast.

Our adventure continues with a guided tour of the fascinating landscape of huge domed rock formations, known as 'Olgas', which are part of the Kata Tjuta National Park. The Anangu people believe that these rocks possess spirit energy, and the site is used for cultural ceremonies.

We transfer back to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure - a chance to relax by the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or possibly visit the local shops in the Uluru hotel complex. There is a shuttle bus running between the hotels in the area, where you could choose to dine. This evening we enjoy another sunset experience, with drinks and nibbles, before a free evening.

• Breakfast

Today we leave Uluru to travel by coach through the vast ochre outback to Alice Springs, a remote town in the Northern Territory, tucked between the parallel ridges of the rugged McDonnell Ranges. On our way, we stop for lunch at a typical Australian roadhouse, Erldunda - a place with a quirky Australian character, which was once a cattle station and now offers hospitality to travellers from all over the world.

In the afternoon we continue towards Alice Springs, breaking our journey with an afternoon tea stop at a camel farm, where we hear a talk about the crucial role these animals played in building the famous railway line.

We arrive into Alice Springs, described as the beating heart of Australia's Red Center, and check into our hotel for two nights. Known locally simply as 'Alice', the indigenous name for this fascinating red desert town is Mparntwe, meaning watering place. This evening you are free to dine on your own, and there are several places to choose from in town, including four restaurants and a bar at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we visit one of the most visited landmarks in Alice Springs - Anzac Hill - a cenotaph and war memorial. The views from up here are impressive, looking out across the town of Alice and the McDonnell ranges. We continue to the Old Telegraph Station for a tour. The station marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs, established in 1871 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide. The Telegraph Station also connected Australia with the undersea telegraph network of the British empire. We also visit Alice Springs' School of the Air, where children across the vast outback region are taught 'over the air', by radio.

Our tour continues to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum, an institution in the vast Australian Outback, where communities may live hundreds of miles from a doctor. We learn about the life-saving work of this air medical service, and the people who fly out to treat people in remote areas. We return to our hotel and this evening you are free to dine locally in Alice Springs.

• Breakfast

Today begins with an early morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Adelaide. Arriving around midday, we transfer to a downtown hotel for three nights with a city sightseeing tour enroute (if upgrading to travel by rail, you'll arrive on Day 11 for two nights).

This attractive city was Australia's first major settlement, planned in the 1830s, which - unlike New South Wales and Tasmania - wasn't a penal colony. We stay in the heart of the city, overlooking Victoria Square. With a reputation for good food and wine, there are plenty of tempting places to eat this evening. Chinatown is just around the corner and Gouger Street, Adelaide's popular restaurant precinct, close by.

Optional Upgrade - On selected dates only, it is possible to travel to Adelaide on the iconic Ghan train instead of by air, taking an epic overnight journey in Silver or Gold Service, with exceptional cuisine and an inclusive drinks service in the Gold Lounge. Please call us to discuss details.

With a free morning in beautiful Adelaide - a walkable city with good transport links - you could explore the Botanic Garden with its handsome tree-lined avenues, gardens of indigenous plants, a glasshouse and Art Deco palm house. Alternatively, take a walk along the river, visit the Art Gallery or the South Australian Museum, where you can view collections of fossils, Aboriginal artefacts, and read stories of Antarctic expeditions. The city's covered Central Market is close to our hotel and, over lunch, you could browse traditional craft stalls and sample South Australia's foodie offerings.

In the afternoon we set off on a guided city tour of Adelaide's sights and major points of interest accompanied by historic tales. Known as the 'City of churches', we pass the cathedral, the historic Government House and Parliament Building. After transferring back to our hotel, the rest of the day and evening is free to continue exploring, maybe enjoying a meal in one of the city's great restaurants.

• Breakfast

Known for its wonderful wine regions, Adelaide is one of the Great Wine Capitals of the world. Today we dive into its wonderful wine heritage as we explore the famous vineyards that surround the city. We travel to the fertile Barossa Valley, where our day includes vineyard tours, wine tastings and pairings at celebrated wineries, including the popular Jacob's Creek and the Seppeltsfield Estate, one of Australia's oldest wineries known for its fortified wines, where we have a relaxed lunch.

On our return journey to Adelaide this afternoon we visit Hahndorf, the oldest German settlement in Australia, in the scenic surrounds of the Mount Lofty Ranges, where there's free time to look around. Back in the attractive city of Adelaide you are free to find dinner, and could try local specialities such as fish or seafood, or choose from a wide selection of multicultural eating places.

Please Note - For departures March 4 and November 11 we will have our wine tasting and lunch at Lambert Wines.

• Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we have an early start as we join the Overland train on a journey East to Melbourne. Breakfast and lunch are served on board as we travel into Victoria, Australia's 'Garden State'. Outside the diverse landscapes change from rugged mallee scrub to fields of green and gold.

On arrival into Melbourne this evening we walk across the road from the Southern Cross Station to check into our central hotel for three nights, Batman's Hill on Collins Street. This is the hub of Melbourne's buzzing central business district, which offers high-end shopping and a fantastic choice of restaurants including Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, French and Italian, alongside Australian fare - a healthy and inventive fusion of local and international cuisine.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today begins with a guided sightseeing tour of Melbourne, the cosmopolitan capital of Victoria. Our city tour takes us past the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia's largest stadium, and among other grand buildings we see the city's historic Parliament House. We drive through Melbourne's leafy suburbs then join the nostalgic Puffing Billy steam train at Belgrave station for a delightful journey to the rainforest and fern gullies of the spectacular Dandenong Ranges. Our route takes us to the peaceful Lakeside Visitor Centre, above the pretty lake, where we enjoy lunch. We return to Melbourne on the Puffing Billy then transfer back to our hotel where the rest of your afternoon and evening is free to discover this exciting city.

Melbourne is known as Australia's cultural capital. In the downtown area, besides dazzling skyscrapers, you'll find many museums, art galleries and elegant Victorian-era buildings. Just beyond, and well worth the walk along the wide Yarra River, are expansive gardens including the Queen Victoria Gardens, and the magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today promises an excursion along one of the world's most scenic roads, a journey along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road. Travelling by coach, this spectacular route takes us past verdant forest, rushing waterfalls, and glittering ocean. We're highly likely to see surfers, and - if we are lucky - may spot dolphins or other wildlife.

We make a short stop at a beach resort called Lorne. Then, at the laid-back beach town of Apollo Bay we break for lunch, then continue along the coast to the scenic Loch Ard Gorge. We have time to enjoy this beautiful viewpoint before retracing our coastal journey back to Melbourne. We pass the Twelve Apostles, a collection of dramatic limestone rock set along the rugged coast, overlooking the crashing waves.

Arriving back at our hotel this evening, you are free to enjoy your last night in Melbourne and dine independently at one of the many appealing restaurants in our local neighbourhood.

• Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we take a short walk across the road from our hotel to the Southern Cross rail station where we join the cross country train to Sydney. Travelling in First Class, lunch and dinner is available on the train and it may be advisable to order your meals early in the day. This day-long rail journey takes us past open plains of Australian bush and farmland, mostly cattle and dairy farms, with stops at remote stations and towns with distinctive names, such as Wagga Wagga. As we approach Sydney the landscape becomes hilly and more densely populated.

Sydney is a dynamic city with a buzzing atmosphere, a striking harbor and streets lined with grand historical buildings and impressive skyscrapers. Our train arrives into Sydney in the early evening and we are transferred to our hotel in Darling Harbour, which offers several waterfront restaurants and is close to the central business district where you'll find many more attractions and many inviting places to eat.

• Breakfast

After a free morning, we embark on another highlight of our tour: a cruise around Sydney Harbour, an exhilarating way to see some of the city's most iconic sights, with a buffet lunch on board. The most prominent is Sydney's stunning Opera House, the jewel in the city's crown and an architectural masterpiece. We also pass under one of Australia's most renowned landmarks, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the largest steel-arched bridge in the world.

The rest of your day is free and there's plenty to see and do in this exciting city. You could wander down to the Rocks, one of the first Aboriginal settlements of Australia and the place where Sydney's original convicts settled, whose old pubs and warehouses are now converted into modern buildings. A scenic walk takes you along the waterfront of Sydney Harbour to the Opera House, where you can continue to the remarkable 200-year-old Royal Botanic Gardens with its incredible trees - including Moreton Bay fig trees, exotic flowers and birdlife. Sydney's harbor area has several museums, art galleries and historic buildings to discover.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today we journey into the Blue Mountains by rail. Just 30 miles outside of Sydney, this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed area is named due to its dense eucalyptus forests which create a blue haze when the sunlight hits.

First we visit the unique Three Sisters rocks at Echo Point, overlooking the vast Jamison Valley. These striking rock formations inspired an Aboriginal legend, in which three sisters were turned to stone by their father, to protect them from a tribal war. We continue to a charming Victorian-era village named Leura, with free time to lunch in one of the quaint cafés or to browse the galleries and shops. Our excursion continues with a trip on the world's steepest incline railway, the Katoomba Scenic Railway. This short but dramatic trip passes sandstone cliffs and enters a rock tunnel, before emerging into the ancient rainforest. After walking through the tall rainforest, we return to the top of the valley and take the glass-bottom Scenic Skyway ride from the lookout point across the valley. Returning to Sydney by coach, your evening is free.

• Breakfast

On our penultimate day we're taken on a guided sightseeing tour of Sydney's famous landmarks and its Eastern suburbs, travelling by coach along the coastline to Bondi Beach, frequented by sun-kissed surfers and known for its laid-back vibe.

The name Bondi originates from the Aboriginal word for 'surf' - and there's free time to enjoy this relaxed beach resort, its vast beach, cafés and restaurants, over lunch and into the afternoon. You're free to find lunch and a local favourite is the 'Bondi Burger', a spicy chicken burger which you can sample at a Bondi institution called Oportos before we drive back to Sydney.

This evening we mark the final night of our Australian holiday with a group dinner at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today starts with a leisurely morning in Sydney - for final sightseeing, gift buying or possibly a relaxing walk beside Darling Harbour.

Our epic Australian adventure has taken us from the sensational Great Barrier Reef and the sacred site of Uluru to the wonderful cities of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. With rides on scenic railroads and a heritage steam train, a catamaran trip into the Great Barrier Reef and an iconic cruise into Sydney harbour, this tour has taken us across thousands of miles of Australia's vast and inspiring land.

We are transferred by coach to Sydney airport where you are free to continue your journey homewards.

• Breakfast