From Australia's Great Barrier Reef and its Red Center to its fantastic cities, experience the country's diverse landscapes and iconic landmarks during the holidays on a vacation that includes a Christmas Eve wine-tasting and lunch in the Barossa Valley and a beach-style Christmas Day in Adelaide.
After starting in Cairns, this exceptional tour ends in Sydney with a New Year's Eve dinner overlooking Sydney Harbour at a restaurant with views of the city's famous New Year's fireworks - one of the world's most exciting places to celebrate the New Year.
Unforgettable Experiences
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Itinerary
With a heady dose of holiday cheer, your festive Australian vacation begins in the tropical North Queensland region today. As your flight touches down in Cairns, make your own way to our centrally located hotel overlooking Trinity Wharf.
After a long journey, you may simply wish to relax at the hotel, but if you wish to get to know your surroundings, our accommodations are ideally situated to explore the area. Nearby, the Cairns Esplanade is the beating heart of the city. You might like to wander along its boardwalk to watch the sunset over the water or hop on the Reef Eye, a state-of-the-art Ferris wheel with 360-degree views over Cairns and the ocean. For dinner, you could discover the al fresco restaurants dotting the Esplanade, serving everything from modern Australian cuisine - a fusion of local and international cuisine - to Asian fare. Overnight Cairns.
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Hotels
The unique Kuranda Scenic Railway has journeyed through tropical North Queensland for more than 125 years and provides its passengers with breathtaking views of one of the most stunning areas of Australia. The 23-mile-long track winds through the lush green World Heritage Rainforest, past cascading waterfalls and a variety of birds, fauna and reptiles before it terminates at the small mountain village of Kuranda. Demand for the Kuranda Scenic Railway began in 1882 when, unsatisfied with the often-unpassable road from Port Douglas, local tin miners began calling for a railway line that would lead them to the coast. Years of debate followed, with railway leagues from both Cairns and Port Douglas fighting for the right to the railway, before construction on the line officially began in 1886. Although initially designed for commuter purposes, the railway began operating as a tourist attraction as early as 1936 and today is used solely for this purpose, transporting tourists through the spectacular rainforest to the tropical village of Kuranda every day of the year except Christmas Day.
The XPT follows the route of the Hume Highway through the state of Victoria, passing through Benalla and the cathedral city of Wangaratta before entering the state of New South Wales and the Riverina region. The broad, flat plains of the Riverina comprise some of the most agriculturally productive land in Australia due to the favorable climate and a plentiful water supply. The XPT service continues through the cities of Albury and Wagga Wagga and then heads west to Cootamundra and the Southern Tablelands. Leaving Goulburn, the train enters the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, a mountainous wine-producing region that sits on the Great Dividing Range. Finally, after passing through the suburbs of Campbelltown and Strathfield in the Australian capital, the service pulls into Sydney's Central Railway Station.
The recently refurbished Overland serves the route between Adelaide and Melbourne. During this daylight journey, we travel in Red Premium Service, which offers passengers comfortable reclining seats and complimentary orange juice or water upon boarding the train. Red Premium Service passengers have access to the licensed Red Service Café Carriage, which serves a selection of snacks, meals and drinks. There is also an at-seat trolley service with snacks and drinks available for purchase, as well as a limited selection of a la carte dishes.