Discovering Australia

Day 1 – Spain – Sydney

Departure by scheduled flight to Sydney. Overnight on board.

Day 2 – In flight

Day 3 – Sydney

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel (check in guaranteed from 2:00 p.m. unless booked the night before).
Note: there are flights that allow arrival during the night of day 2 (supplement in price).

Day 4 – Sidney. City tour

Breakfast, lunch and lodging.
In the morning we will make a half day city tour with English speaking guide, touring the city center, the historic district The Rocks, the beautiful Darling Harbour, views of the Opera House, Sydney Bridge, the Botanical Gardens, St Mary Cathedral, the Art Gallery, stop at Macquarie’s Chair for a panoramic photo of the Opera House and the skyscrapers of downtown. Continue to the nightlife district: Kings Cross and the residential neighborhoods of Double Bay, Rose Bay, Vaucluse, The Gap viewpoint, Bondi beach, back to the center, we will cross the Paddington neighborhood with its historic houses. Lodging.

Day 5 – Sydney. Sydney Harbour Cruise

Breakfast and overnight.
Free morning at leisure to stroll on your own through downtown, its great shopping centers and Pitt Pedestrian Street, the waterfront, Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour and Paddy’s Markets in Haymarket.
In the evening, dinner cruise aboard Captain Cook enjoying the beautiful views of the city illuminated or at sunset (depending on the time of year) Note: operates Wednesday through Sunday; Friday and Saturday has live music. Lodging.

Day 6 – Sidney. Blue Mountains Excursion

Breakfast, lunch and overnight.
Excursion to Blue Mountains National Park. We will cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards the Blue Mountains. Our first stop is at Calmsley Hill, a sheep farm, also home to kangaroos, wallabies, emus, wombats and koalas. We will enjoy morning tea and have time to observe the native animals.

The tour winds into the Blue Mountains, offering panoramic views of the Jamieson Valley and making stops at beautiful locations along the way. We will stop at Eaglehawk, an overlook overlooking the Three Sisters, an iconic rock formation in the park. Here, the guide will likely share the legend associated with these rock formations. Next, we will enjoy a two-course lunch in the village of Blackheath, specifically at the Hydro Majestic, which offers breathtaking views (drinks not included).

In the afternoon we will proceed to the Govetts Leap lookouts, the stop offers views of waterfalls cascading from a height of 180 meters to the base of the cliff. It is a breathtaking place to admire nature! A brief stop to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice in a lovely setting with panoramic views of Sydney. This stop will be made on the return journey through Bells Line of Road, a fruit growing area. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 7 – Sydney – Ayers Rock (flight)

Breakfast and lodging.
Transfer to the airport and departure on a morning flight to Ayers Rock. Arrival in Ayers Rock and transfer to the hotel.
Passengers must apply for the Northern Territory Pass directly on the website, at a cost of AUD 10 pp.

Day 8 – Ayers Rock. Excursion to Kata Tjuta National Park.

Day 9 – Ayers Rock. Kings Canyon

Breakfast and lodging.
Morning drive with English speaking guide to Kings Canyon, stopping for breakfast at Kings Creek Station on the way. Ascent to Kings Canyon with panoramic views of Watarrka National Park. The first 30′ is a steep ascent to the rim of the canyon, along which we will hike approx 6 km, descending at some points such as the grotto and natural viewpoints, the Garden of Eden. The walking circuit takes approx. 3 hours to complete. It is recommended for people with good physical ability. Alternatively you can opt for a shorter walk along the base of the canyon. After free time for lunch, return to Ayers Rock.

Day 10 – Ayers Rock – Cairns (flight)

Breakfast and lodging.
60′ before sunrise, drive through the desert to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Here we will enjoy the serenity of the sunrise of this spiritual place while the sun’s rays change the color of the monoliths. We will walk to the best positioned point to observe the 36 rocks at sunrise, then go to the west side of the rock where we will be served a typical picnic breakfast. Then we will walk through Walpa to the grotto, a sacred place of aboriginal ceremonies. As we walk among these huge rocks, the guide will explain about the geology of the place that has evolved over millions of years. Transfer back to the resort. Later transfer by shuttle to the airport and departure by flight to Cairns. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Day 11 – Cairns. Excursion to Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation.

Breakfast, lunch and lodging.
Excursion with English speaking guide to Cape Tribulation and Daintree National Park. Departure on the scenic Captain Cook Highway along the tropical coast flanked by the blue waters of the Coral Sea.
Continuation of the tour passing through sugar cane fields and through the Mossman rainforest, Daintree, while the guide explains the local history of sugar cane plantation and learn about the local products. Walk through the native forest with its diverse species of flora and fauna, cassowaries, tree kangaroos. Then we will go down to the beach at Cape Tribulation to walk and throw the boomerang.
Picnic lunch on a beach in Cape Tribulation National Park.
Cow bay is a spectacular white sandy coastline dotted with giant “Beauty Leaf” trees. Here the guide will tell us the story of Captain Cook and how he reached these Australian shores.
40′ cruise on the Daintree River exploring the forest shores in search of crocodiles. The guide will explain the incredible ecosystem of the rainforests and mangroves where these crocodiles live. On the return trip we will stop at Waluwurrigga, at the mouth of the Daintree River to take pictures before boarding the ferry across the river. Return to Cairns.

Day 12 – Cairns. Great Barrier Reef Excursion

Breakfast, lunch and lodging.
Full day Great Barrier Reef cruise with lunch, semi-submersible boat and snorkeling.
The Great Barrier Reef stretches 2300 kms from the northern tip of Queensland to the south off Bundaberg and is the largest tropical marine park in the world. It is composed of 350 types of hard coral, 1500 species of fish of various colors, more than 5000 mollusks and crustaceans, 22 species of seabirds, 6 species of turtles, 800 species of starfish and thousands of sponges. In this marine park there are more than 900 islands, many of which are simple sand cays, with almost no vegetation.

Day 13 – Cairns – Melbourne (flight)

Breakfast and lodging.
In the morning, transfer to the airport to take the flight to Melbourne. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Melbourne is a city with more than 3.5 million inhabitants, has a fascinating combination of magnificent Victorian buildings restored to their original splendor, with modern glass skyscrapers, reflecting a healthy and thriving economy. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Australia, and its center is home to Greek, Italian, Chinese and several other nationalities. One of the characteristics of this city is its beautiful parks bordering the commercial center, and the Yarra River that crosses it. It is also the capital of sports, concentrating major sporting events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Grand Prix of Motorcycling, and the Open Tennis.

Day 14 – Melbourne. Great Ocean Road Excursion

Breakfast and lodging.
Breakfast and full day excursion with English speaking guide to the Great Ocean Road, known as the shipwreck coast. We will pass through beautiful coastal villages and local summer resorts such as Torquay, Lorne, Apollo Bay. We will walk through the native forests of Otway National Park and photograph the 12 Apostles from the natural viewpoints on the edge of the cliff. These giant boulders are the result of erosion by sea and wind that began almost 20 million years ago.
The Great Ocean Road was built by nearly 3,000 soldiers returning from World War I, in a project that lasted 14 years, and in tribute to the fallen compatriots of the war. Finally, we will stop in Port Campbell and return by the internal route via Colac, arriving in Melbourne at dusk, admiring the illuminated city as we cross the Westgate Bridge.

Day 15 – Melbourne. City tour

Breakfast and lodging.
Today we will have a guided city tour in English (group of max. 12 people), to see the beautiful buildings of Victorian architecture, Bourke St. Mally, Collins Street, the financial center and the cathedral of modern architecture Royal Exhibition Building, St. Paul’s Square, the Princess and Regent theaters, the Federation, a walk through the Botanical Gardens, visit Fitzroy Gardens (where Captain Cook’s hut is located), pass by the MCG and the Rod Laver Arena, home of the Open Tennis Tournament.
View of the Southbank and its cafes facing the Yarra River and the state-of-the-art Crown complex and Las Vegas-style casino. Crossing the West Gate Bridge we will reach the St Kilda neighborhood and the waterfront, with panoramic views of downtown. Entrance to Eureka Skydeck 88 for a panoramic view of the city.
Free afternoon. We suggest a visit to the Melbourne Museum or a stroll through the Victoria Markets and the great malls of downtown or a walk through Southgate and its riverfront cafes.
Optional: Dinner at the famous Melbourne Tramcar Restaurant (not included).

Day 16 – Melbourne – Spain

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport and departure flight back to Spain. Overnight on board.