Australian Ultimate City Tours

Sydney Opera House sunset

Short modules of 2-5 days which may be combined.

These modules presented are simply suggestions – should you wish to customize to your own requirements, we are happy to do this for you, perhaps with a wine tour module or two.  Other city tours on request.

Day 1   Sydney   
Met on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Sydney, 4 nights

Day 2  Sydney Old & New (B)
Departing your city hotel we travel to the charming Rocks area where you take a stroll around the historic area with its quaint old cottages, pubs and churches. Rejoin the vehicle and travel along Macquarie St – the seat of government for NSW, the Mint and Hyde Park Barracks. Travelling past St. Mary’s Cathedral you visit Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair for an unsurpassed view of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Bridge. Continuing along the shores of Sydney Harbour you travel through Kings Cross, Double Bay and Rose Bay. Passing the up-market real estate we pause briefly for a morning tea in the beautiful Sydney Harbour National Park. We then travel further to South Head with its breathtaking view of Sydney Harbour and the City. Take a short stroll along the cliff tops and rejoin the vehicle to continue to Bondi Beach and Centennial Park to the city. Afternoon at leisure

Day 3  Blue Mountains 4WD Adventure (BL)
This fantastic Eco tour begins at your hotel and heads westwards across the coastal plain  to the Great Dividing Range of Australia. It is here we  leave the average Blue Mountains tourist behind d and enter the National Park to unlock a piece of Australia you would never have known existed.  We visit an ancient Aboriginal site and outstanding lookouts; examine rock formations and the unusual plants and wildlife that abound the area.  From the quaint little village of Leura we skirt around Cliff Drive to Katoomba where you will find yourself looking out over the magnificent Jamieson Valley (Australia’s Grand Canyon) and the Three Sisters. We enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch including a selection of fine Australian wines with a cheese platter under the canopy of the  Australian bush.   Before returning to Sydney we drop into a hidden valley where we roam the area seeking out the many kangaroos that graze in the wild (conditions permitting). Reluctantly we leave the National Park for return to our hotel passing through the Olympic 2000 site on route.

Day 4  Harbour  cruise, Opera House (B,L,D)
Cruise the world’s most beautiful harbour and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch as you pass the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and  bays. This evening a special treat – an Evening at Sydney’s world famous Opera House with guided tour, dinner and selected performance. Transfers to and from the Opera House included.

Day 5  Depart (B)
Transfer to airport for onward or homebound flight.

Day 1  Cairns
Met on arrival and transfer to hotel
Accommodation: Cairns, 4 nights

Day 2  Great Barrier Reef (BL)
Visit the Great Barrier Reef, a true wonder of the world, to see coral formations, a kaleidoscope of colour. The lagoon offers swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving, presentation by a marine biologist,  semi-submersible reef viewing, tropical buffet lunch,  helicopter flight for spectacular Reef views.

Day 3  Ultimate Kuranda Experience (BL)
Travel by steam train through hand hewn tunnels and over gorges to Kuranda, with time to explore village and market (open W/Th/F/Su).  Return on Skyrail, gliding over the rainforest canopy to Caravonica Lakes.  Discover ancient Aboriginal culture at Tjapukai Aboriginal Park including a performance by the Tjapukai
Aboriginal Dancers.

Day 4  Cape Tribulation Rainforest (BL)
Travel through the sugar cane and pineapple plantations toward the Daintree River where we join our cruise which takes us through areas where the rainforest meets overhead and crocodiles can normally be seen basking on the muddy banks. We enjoy a home prepared morning tea whilst cruising the placid waters
before returning to our vehicle to cross the river aboard a barge. We enter the Daintree Rainforest making our way to Cape Tribulation where we stroll through the rainforest to the shores of the Coral Sea. Here we view the bay against the backdrop of the dense rainforest. We enjoy a delicious lunch under the canopy of
the forest before  travelling along the Bloomfield Track to Woobadda creek. After exploring the area we return along the track taking a stroll deep into the rainforest. Returning to the vehicle we travel Southward and enter the Mossman Gorge with its breathtaking waterfalls and rushing waters. Drop off at
hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 5  Depart (B)
Transfer to airport for onward or homebound flight

Day 1  Melbourne
Met on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Accommodation: Melbourne, 4 nights

Day 2  City, Gardens, Tramcar dinner  (BD)
This  morning discover the diversity of this multi-cultural city on this tour. See historical buildings, beautiful gardens, and shopping areas famous for their restaurants and fashion. Melbourne is the sporting city. Melbournians are passionate about their Aussie Rules footy and almost all sports known to mankind.  
Travel past the sporting precinct that became famous in the 1956 Olympic Games and now roars to the cheers of Aussie Rules crowds each weekend. See the nearby Rod Laver Tennis Centre that host the Australian Tennis Open each year. Melbourne is home to people from all over the world and this cultural
diversity is expressed in the food and fashion centers. Walk along the shopping strips of up-market traditional Toorak, funky Chapel Street Prahran or culturally Vietnamese Bridge Street Richmond.

Return to the Melbourne botanic Gardens for the morning / afternoon tea near the banks of the Yarra River. Drive to the Italian precinct of Lygon Street Carlton and see the historic Exhibition Buildings alongside the ultramodern Melbourne Museum.  Finish your tour at the bustling activity of Queen Victoria  
Markets where huge range of fresh produce, exotic foods, clothing and artifacts are sold amidst a chorus of stall holders. Note: Queen Victoria Markets are not open Mon/Wed. This evening enjoy dinner on board the Colonial Tramcar restaurant. As it cruises the scenic streets of Melbourne, diners can enjoy  fine cuisine and drink the very best of Australian wines.

Day 3  Koalas and Wine  (BL)
From Melbourne city centre, travel through a cross section of suburbs to the eucalypt forests of Warrandyte. Enjoy a short stroll with your guide with a chance to see the diverse bird life and koalas that inhabit the forest. Your guide will bring the natural history of this region to life. A short drive to a nearby forest area will enable you the chance to see wild kangaroos relaxing in their natural habitat. Drive downward into the rich greenness of Yarra Valley. Over 50 wineries are established in the valley, varying in size from small family vineyards to large international establishments.  We visit historic wineries for wine tastings and browse at a display of fine artwork. Lunch will be at the award winning Eyton Restaurant at Rochford Winery. Enjoy superb food looking onto the vineyards. After lunch, visit a boutique winery for further wine tastings. Drive through the valley to the cool and inviting forests of the Dandenong Ranges. The tall wet eucalypt forests feature the large mountain ash trees and verdant canopy of tree ferns.  A short walk with your guide takes you along a fern gully stream deep into the forest. The mimicking calls of the lyrebird can sometimes be heard. Return to city centre through the established suburbs of South Eastern Melbourne.  

Day 4  Fairy Penguin Parade (BD)
This fascinating experience takes you southeast of the city through the rich Gippsland coastal region. Visit a boutique winery overlooking Westernport Bay hearing colourful stories about explorers, sealers and whalers who settled this region. Phillip Island is known as the wildlife island. Walk amongst the treetops at
the Koala Conservation Centre to see a protected koala company. Walk with your guide in nature reserve bushland and wetlands. The walk provides the opportunity to see wallabies and a range of bird life in the wild. Penguins come ashore each evening at dusk from their ocean feeding grounds. The large penguin
colony enters the beach in groups and “walk and talk” loudly as they work their way into the dunes where their burrow nests are situated. Boardwalks enable the visitor to gain close contact with the penguins in the dune area. Enjoy a fish and chip dinner at the Jetty Restaurant in Cowes at Phillip Island. Return to
Melbourne inland, arriving late evening.

Day 5  Depart (B)
Transfer to airport for onward or homebound flight.

Day 1  Hobart
On arrival in Hobart met and transfer to hotel
Accommodation: Hobart, 3 nights

Day 2  Historic Port Arthur (BL)
Today we travel around the historic birthplace of this fascinating city – Constitution Docks and Battery Point and across the Tasman Bridge to Sorell and onto Forestier and Tasmanian Peninsulas. As we enter the Peninsula, we are greeted with breathtaking scenery. We visit the tessellated pavement, Tasman Arch,
The  Blowhole and the ruggedly beautiful coastline around Devil’s Kitchen. Rejoining the vehicle after a short stroll we continue onto Port Arthur. The settlement was created to put fear and hatred into the minds of those unfortunate  enough to be sent there.  Visit the ruins of the settlement whilst hearing tales of the hardships suffered by the convicts. We  board a short cruise around the harbour, and enjoy a light lunch before re-boarding our vehicle for Hobart.

Day 3  Historic Richmond and Ross (B)
This historic journey takes us northwards across the Tasman bridge to the quaint village of Richmond. Here we visit Australia’s oldest bridge, the Jail St John’s and St Luke’s Churches. Rejoining the vehicle we continue onto Ross, Tasmania’s finest heritage village, We visit the Wool centre where we can follow the history of the production of fine wool, as well as an historical exhibit on the history of the area. Ross was also home to the Female factory where convict women were put to work sewing and laundering garments. Some 12,000 women were transported over the 50 year convict era. From Ross it is off to Campbelltown and the forest areas toward the coast at Swansea. We call in at Kate’s Berry Farm with magnificent views across the bay. Maybe enjoy a local made ice-cream or taste the home made jams. Continuing down the coast we are met with outstanding views of the coastline and winter forest country as we journey back to Hobart.

Day 4  Depart (B)
Departure transfer to airport for onward or homebound flight.

Day 1 Adelaide
On arrival in Adelaide, met and transfer to hotel
Accommodation: Adelaide, 3 nights

Day 2  Adelaide City Tour (B)
The most understated of Australia’s state capitals, Adelaide is a charming, medium-sized city with a contemporary edge. It has a dry, Mediterranean climate, which ensures the greenery of the parks and gardens year round and makes the many outdoor restaurants and sidewalk cafés very tempting. We will show you the highlights of the city and Adelaide Hills on this half day tour. We start our tour at Victoria Square. Eight acres in extent, it was laid out as the principal square of Colonel Light’s plan of Adelaide in March 1837. He refers to it on his first map as ‘the great square’. The center of attraction in VS is the General Post Office, an
impressive building with an elaborate main hall and a clock tower. This is a great way to start to orientate yourself. From here we head North west and towards Parliament House. This classical building with its majestic marble columns is a beautiful example of nineteenth century architecture. We then head down to the banks of the Torrens River for morning tea, where you have time to wander the walkways in the immediate area. We make the short journey to Morphett St Bridge, then stroll north up the hill, walking away from the city for some amazing photos of the Adelaide sky line, and also views of the grandstands of the Adelaide Oval. To finish up your morning we head out of the city, into the Adelaide Hills and enter the town of Hahndorf. Settled in 1839 by Prussian and East German immigrants, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. The young German women of the town packed eggs, butter and vegetables
and walked 25 kilometres through the night to sell their wares in Adelaide. There are two places we will concentrate our time on here. Firstly, The Cedars, Hahndorf home for 56 years to the renowned artist Sir Hans Heysen. We will wander the historic house, studio and gardens and view the  extensive selection of
the artist’s work still owned by the Heysen family. Then to finish this half day we stop at the historic Beerenberg Farm, which dates back to the 1830’s when the Paech family along with many other German immigrants, settled the village of Hahndorf. The Beerenberg Farm boasts traditional crops which are grown on the farm and include strawberries, sweetcorn and mixed vegetables, but more recently Beerenberg has established an international reputation for its interesting and varied jams, home style pickles, chutneys and sauces. We will have you back in Adelaide in time for lunch 

Day 3  Full day Barossa Valley tour (BL)
There are many wine regions in Australia but this area is especially unique. The combination of a rich European heritage and the fresh vitality of Australia is embodied in the lifestyle of the Barossa. The peaceful rural setting hides many treasures such as magnificent old churches, wineries and historic cottages. After leaving the main city centre we head north, over the Torrens River and into the Torrens Gorge. Covering 400 square kilometres of land, this area prides itself on its unspoiled beauty and love of the great outdoors. You may be lucky enough to see kangaroos and emus grazing near the road before venturing to the Chain of Ponds, which features a breathtaking backdrop of giant reservoirs and towering pine trees. We make our way to Williamstown and admire the beautiful stone buildings before having morning tea from the historic Lyndoch bakery.  We admire the panoramic views offered from Menglers Hill Lookout, which gives you fantastic photographic opportunities looking out onto the Barossa Valley, before a visit to The Angas Park Fruit Company at the charming stone brick town of Angaston. We will even get the chance to sample some of the renowned range of dried fruit. Lunch will be at 1918 Bistro & Grill. Set within an old villa set back from the road it has a lovely garden setting during summer and open fires inside during winter. The cuisine is Modern Australian with an ever changing menu. The afternoon will then be spent amongst the vineyards and wineries that make this area so popular and famous around the world. This afternoon will be created to suit your palate. Whether you prefer the red or white, dry or sweet, our guide will discuss with everyone what they prefer and visit wineries appropriate to your taste. This is the joy of a small personalised group. The day will finish with a stop to view the most famous of all premium Australian wine, Grange. At Penfolds Magill Estate we will enjoy a comprehensive tasting in the original Still Room, tour the historic Magill Cellars and view a complete set of Grange. These wines are worth several hundred dollars per bottle so have your wallet at the ready! That ends your magical day with us and we will have you back in town early evening

Day 4  Depart (B)
Transfer to the airport for your onward or homebound flight.

Day 1  Alice Springs Town Tour, evening Aboriginal performance (D)
Met on arrival and transfer to hotel. This afternoon a tour of Alice visiting Anzac Hill, the Old Telegraph Station, Royal Flying Doctor Base supporting life in the Outback, before drop off at hotel.   Tonight the Red Centre Dreaming – dinner and show with authentic, traditional performance featuring dancing weaponry, interaction, didgeridoo playing and cultural history. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on arrival followed by a three course dinner accompanied by wine and soft drink served with the main course. ‘Red Centre Dreaming’ is an interactive and unique entertainment in a ruggedly beautiful bushland setting.
Hotel transfers included. Accommodation: Alice Springs, 2 nights

Day 2  Hot Air Ballooning, Camel Safari (BD)
A hot air balloon flight this morning, over the rugged McDonnell ranges, seeing wildlife or the vast open spinifex plains, followed by a gourmet breakfast. The day is then free for you to enjoy Alice on your own. Tonight, Take a Camel to Dinner! Transfer to meet your camels, take a leisurely ride past magnificent gums trees on your way to the Camel Farm.  Visit the museum before dinner, served with homemade bread and salads, Australian wine or beer.

Day 3  Depart (B)
Transfer to the airport for your onward or homebound flight.

Day 1  Olgas and Dunes tour
On arrival Ayers Rock, transfer to hotel. Our afternoon tour to the Olgas introduces you to the desert and its development. A short walk to the dune lookouts lets you delight in the spectacular panoramic view of the domes of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) – a very sacred place to the Aboriginal people. Stroll into Walpa Gorge’s grand recesses to hear how it has evolved over millions of years and discuss the secrets of plants, animal and human survival in the desert. As the sun sets sit back and absorb the desert solitude or relax and chat to your guide about Australia’s red centre over a glass of complimentary sparking wine. Accommodation:  Ayers Rock, 2 nights

Day 2  Spirit of Uluru tour and dinner under the Stars (BD)
Morning tour to Uluru (Ayers Rock) where a short guided walk is taken to areas of special interest viewing rock art and waterholes whilst discovering the  fascinating relationship the Anangu people have with Uluru. Absorb the images and gain an insight of how Uluru provided a tangible link with the creation time
ancestors. Finally visit the remarkable Uluru Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre before returning to hotel.  Picnic breakfast on tour included.  Tonight, the Sounds of Silence tour for dinner under the stars – an experience not to be missed!

Day 3 Depart (B)
Transfer to airport for onward or homebound flight.

Day 1  Darwin
Met on arrival and transfer to hotel.  Accommodation: Darwin, 1 night

Day 2  Darwin to Kakadu National Park (BL)
Note: tour departs on Wed and Sat only.
Join small group scheduled service tour to explore the beautiful perennial waterfalls of Litchfield National Park and the cultural landscape of Kakadu National Park.  We depart Darwin this morning and travel east along the Arnhem Highway across the Adelaide & Mary River systems towards Kakadu.  A brief stop at the
Bark Hut Inn before continuing across the South Alligator River flood plains and travel on to one of Kakadu’s famous rock art sites at Burrungui (Nourlangie Rock), where you will see ochre rock paintings, spanning a period of continuous occupation of this area for over 20,000 years. Your guide will explain the stories and mythology relating to the art.  After lunch we continue on to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, an impressive building built in the shape of the local Pig Nosed turtle.  Here you will learn more about the traditional Aboriginal owners of the park, their culture, beliefs and lifestyles. From here we continue our
journey to this evening’s accommodation. Lunch on tour included today. Accommodation: Cooinda, 1 night

Day 3  Yellow Waters/Lake Bennett (BL)
This morning we embark on a guided cruise of the world famous Yellow Water wetlands with the opportunity to see some of the myriad bird life and perhaps the awesome saltwater crocodile.  Brolgas, Jabiru, Whistling Ducks, Radjah Shellduck & Magpie Geese together with many species of Kingfisher and Heron abound in these wetlands.  After the cruise we travel south along through the South Alligator Valley to spend time in the southern, less visited section of Kakadu known as the stone country.  A visit to this area will surely be a highlight.  Gunlom was made famous in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” as Echo Pool.   Here we have the opportunity to have a refreshing swim and explore the beautiful plunge pool.  Leaving Kakadu we continue westward to the historic mining settlement of Pine Creek, site of a major gold rush a century ago and still a gold mining town today.  After a brief look around the town, we continue to our overnight accommodation. Accommodation: Lake Bennett, 1 night

Day 4  Litchfield National Park (BL)
This morning our journey takes us to Litchfield National Park via the township of Batchelor.  We visit the beautiful Wangi Falls and Tolmer Falls lookout two of the many waterfalls cascading from the Tabletop Ranges.  Perhaps a swim in the plunge pool at the base of Wangi, or a walk to explore the surrounding monsoon rainforest. After lunch we travel on to Florence Falls, perhaps the prettiest of them all. There is also the opportunity to view the unique magnetic termite mounds before we leave the National Park and continue on to Darwin.  Breakfast and lunch on this day included. Accommodation: Darwin (1 night).
Note: in Dec-Mar (wet season), some areas become inaccessible due to flooding, so alternative areas will be visited.

Day 5  Darwin (B)
Transfer to airport for onward or homebound flights.