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Iconic Australia: Famous Cities & Red Centre Explorer

10 days, Sydney to Melbourne

Map of the route for Iconic Australia: Famous Cities & Red Centre Explorer
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Itinerary

Day 1Sydney

Arrive at any time. Join your CEO for a welcome meeting.

There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and explore your surroundings.

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Rydges Sydney Central (or similar)
Hotel

Day 2Sydney/Manly Beach

Sunny Sydney welcomes you and hit the road right away with your CEO to dive into exploring this stunning city. Set off on a walking orientation tour of some of the city's well known landmarks. Slowly make your way to Circular Quay, where you'll hop onto a ferry to cross the harbor to Manly beach. Your CEO will point out some must do's while you're in Manly, like the coastal walk to Shelly beach, and some places to grab some local food. You can't go wrong with some fish and chips by the sea. In the evening, join your CEO and fellow travelers for a meal together at a local restaurant.

Sydney Orientation Walk
Sydney

Get a feel for the city on a short orientation walk led by your CEO.

Manly Beach
Sydney – Manly Beach

Join your CEO and take a local ferry out to Manly Beach. Enjoy free time at Manly! Opt to surf, relax on the beach or choose to walk to Shelly Beach.

Accommodation

Rydges Sydney Central (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 3Sydney

Today is yours to spend as you see fit. There is quite literally too much choice in Sydney, so use your time wisely. Choose from exploring on foot the Rocks neighborhood, which is also home to the city's Museum of Contemporary Art. Or get the blood pumping by booking a jet boating tour or climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Free Time
Sydney Full Day

Enjoy free time in Australia's biggest beachside city, Sydney!

1

Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
3h-4h

Climb one of the most famous bridges in the world – the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Soak in amazing panoramic city views of Sydney at the top – a perfect photo opp and memory to take home with you!

Accommodation

Rydges Sydney Central (or similar)
Hotel

Day 4Sydney/Yulara

Board a flight bound for Yulara, the gateway to the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. Spend the afternoon getting straight out there and exploring, starting with the Walpa Gorge walk at Kata Tjuta. Catch the sunset at Uluru before making your way back to your permanent tented camp. Enjoy an outdoor meal cooked at camp and some time under the stars.

Plane
Sydney – Yulara

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge Walk
Uluṟu Kata Tjuṯa National Park Afternoon

Walk into Walpa Gorge where the sheer faces of the dome extend hundreds of meters above you. The gorge itself is a natural creek that carves its way between the two tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.

Sunset at Uluru
Uluru1h-1h30m Afternoon

Marvel at the changing colours over the desert and keep reminding yourself that yes, you really are there.

Accommodation

Uluru Camp (or similar)
Campground

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 5Yulara/Kings Canyon

Sunrise over Uluru is not to be missed, so rise early and catch sunrise over Australia's most iconic Indigenous landmarks. This morning, take the time to explore Uluru on foot on a guided walk through some of the most culturally significant areas of the site. These sacred spaces are some of the oldest on the planet, and understanding the interpretation behind them makes them even more impactful. Later, head to the Kings Canyon region overland, to your next permanent tented camp in the bush.

Uluru at Sunrise
Uluru45m Morning

Get up early, grab a coffee and watch the reddish hues of massive Uluru come to life as the sun rises.

Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluṟu Kata Tjuṯa National Park1h30m-2h Morning

Visit Uluru this morning with the guided interpretive Mala walk. Exploring on foot with an accredited guide is the best way to fully grasp the size and cultural significance of Uluru.

Private Vehicle
Yulara – Kings Canyon3h30m300km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Kings Canyon Camp (or similar)
Campground

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6Kings Canyon/Alice Springs

In the desert morning, head out for an early hike throughout Kings Canyon. Choose between the harder 3 hour hike and a more approachable one hour option. The Rim walk is a 6km walk along the upper rim of Kings Canyon. The most difficult part of the hike is the very beginning with a 500 step ascent, but the landscapes and views you are rewarded with are more than worth the effort. You won't even remember the effort it took to get up there. (Sort of!) If you prefer to take it easy, enjoy a 2km hike through canyon valley. Later on, rest up on a drive East to Alice Springs.

Private Vehicle
Kings Canyon – Alice Springs4h300km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Anzac Hill Hike
Alice Springs Afternoon

Take a short hike to the top of Anzac Hill to see panoramic views of Alice Springs and a memorial for Australian veterans.

Kings Canyon Hike
Kings Canyon3h-4h Morning 5-6km

HIke through beautiful Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park on this walk that visits the natural amphitheatre, the North and South walls, and the Garden of Eden.

Accommodation

Desert Palms Alice Springs Hotel (or similar)
Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 7Alice Springs/Melbourne

In addition to its rich Indigenous history and culture, Alice Springs is home to the Telegraph Station that linked Australia top to bottom in the 19th century. This telegraph connection also integrated Australia into the wider network within the British Empire, allowing Australia to be connected to the outside world in a matter of hours, versus days. Enjoy a tour of Alice Springs including insight into the Station and Anzac Hill. Next up, grabbing a flight to quirky, cool, Melbourne, the city of food and arts.

In the afternoon, grab a flight to quirky, cool, Melbourne and settle in with an optional dinner with your CEO.

Plane
Alice Springs – Melbourne

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Accommodation

Causeway 353 Hotel (or similar)
Hotel

Day 8Melbourne

Melbourne is one of the easiest cities to traverse on foot and by public transport, so you will be getting your steps in today. Start the morning off by exploring the Queen Victoria markets with your CEO, before jumping into a guided tour where you will be led through some of the famous and off the beaten track-spots in Melbourne's famous laneways. Choose from one of dozens of lunch spots for a bite to eat and catch your breath, before ending the afternoon at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne, a sprawling 38 hectares of green space housing over 800 species of plants from the world over.

Queen Victoria Markets
Melbourne

Visit the largest market in the state of Victoria. With hundreds of vendors, from food, to handicrafts and thrifted treasures, its easy to spend hours here.

Melbourne Laneways Walk
Melbourne1h30m-2h Morning

Discover the small laneways packed with shops, cafés and restaurants that make Melbourne so unique. Grab a delicious barista coffee to-go (which no trip to Melbourne would be complete without!), and set out to experience Melbourne's laneways with an expert local host. Journey through this 'secret city,' seeing local hotspots and incredible street art while learning about the city's history.

Royal Botanic Gardens
Melbourne

Wander through a green haven right in the middle of massive Melbourne. Walk through the 1.6 mile loop, accessible for all.

Accommodation

Causeway 353 Hotel (or similar)
Hotel

Day 9Melbourne

Another Australian city with tons to do, so a day at leisure gives you plenty of time to craft the perfect day. You may want to take a trip out to see the Phillip Island Penguin Parade or embark on a full day tour out along the Great Ocean Road.

Free Time
Melbourne Full Day

Spend today exploring Australia's cultural capital, Melbourne.

1

Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow

12 Apostles, Otways & Great Ocean Road
Melbourne12h-13h 576km

Kick start this adventure early from Melbourne and travel straight to the 12 Apostles. Enjoy time to take in the scenery before the crowds of people arrive. Wander along the boardwalk and marvel at the limestone rocks and then continue on to the Gibson Steps. Walk down to the beach for a different perspective before grabbing lunch at a local cafe. With renewed energy the group will drive through the Great Otway National park where we’ll stop for a quick hike through the ancient rainforests here. From there, travel further along the Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay. There’s time here to grab an optional ice cream before trying to spot koalas, kangaroos, and king parrots near the Kennett River. Before heading back to Melbourne the group will make a final stop to the town of Lorne. Grab a snack, stroll past the shops, or walk along the beach in this quaint destination.

Accommodation

Causeway 353 Hotel (or similar)
Hotel

Day 10Melbourne

Depart at any time.

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

Iconic Australia: Famous Cities & Red Centre Explorer

| 10 days - Sydney to Melbourne - from $2849 USD