Discover The Best of Australia

Arrive Melbourne

Welcome to the start of your wonderful holiday this morning as you arrive into Melbourne. Upon arrival you are met and are transferred to your hotel. Check in and relax. Spend the rest of the day walking around the city, or discovering the city on the inner circle tram that is free for all. The best and the liveliest place to spend the evening at Federation Square. Overnight in Melbourne

Melbourne

Post breakfast, you start the day on the hop on hop off bus of Melbourne to get acquainted with the city and visit the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). Enjoy a one hour tour of the MCG. The MCG has been the scene of many great sporting events. An MCG Tour invites you to relive more than 150 years of sporting excellence on the grand stage of this magnificent stadium. You will visit the famous Long Room, MCG Library, CV Bill Lawry Indoor Cricket Centre. In the afternoon you could take the free tram and head to the Harbor Town area that houses more than 200 shops, it is the largest retail shopping precinct here! Overnight in Melbourne

Melbourne – Philip Island - Melbourne

Enjoy your tour to Phillip Island, home to an astounding array of wildlife, including Australia’s largest fur seal colony, the Little Penguins and cuddly koalas. Visit Maru Animal Park, for up close and personal encounters with koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and much more. Enjoy the opportunity to pat and feed kangaroos, wallabies and a host of Australian wildlife. View spectacular coastal scenery at the Nobbies; two rocky outcrops abundant in marine life. Browse through the educational Phillip Island Visitors Information Centre. Learn about the Little Penguins and life on this stunning island. Watch the Little Penguins as they battle the surf and make their way to their dune burrows and learn of the environmental and conservation methods that are initiated to ensure the remarkable wildlife and vulnerable geology of Phillip Island remains protected. See the Little Penguins up close as they return to their nests to greet their young families and view the powerful southern coastline with its clean, sandy beaches and rocky shores. Stop in Cowes for dinner (own expense) before returning back to Melbourne. Overnight in Melbourne

Melbourne – Great Ocean Road

You will be picked up from the hotel and drive along to the GOR. Our journey begins its coastal ties with a short walk along the beautiful waterfront in Geelong. Get a caffeine hit at one of the cafes or just enjoy the transformed promenade and the clean coastal air. Once joining the Great Ocean Road in the surfing haven of Torquay our focus turns to Australian native wildlife as we observe Eastern Grey Kangaroos in the wild. This is one of many opportunities to see and hear about our unique and unusual animals in their native habitat. Our coastal experience then hits overdrive along the very scenic, cliff-hugging section of the Great Ocean Road. While winding our way along we stop to view sites such as the Memorial Arch and tell you of  the intriguing story about the construction of this incredible memorial road. After lunch in Lorne, the largest of the seaside villages, we cruise along more of the spectacular road, stopping at many scenic spots including Kennett River where we can see koalas in their natural habitat and many colourful native birds. Our journey then finds us in another popular seaside town, Apollo Bay, where a walk on the beach, the marina or an exploration of the village helps immerse you in the tranquillity of the region. Heading into the foothills of the Otway Ranges we arrive at Beacon Point Ocean View Villas. Your private self-contained villa is set high on a hill overlooking the Southern Ocean and provides an amazing setting to relax and unwind for a couple of hours. There are plenty of birds in this natural bush setting and it is not unusual to spot Koalas, Wallabies or even Echidnas. Tonight, we dine at the award-winning restaurant Chris at Beacon Point. This is regarded as the best restaurant in the region and has a fantastic menu that utilises great local produce. Included in the tour is a two-course dinner that can be made up of any of their wonderful entrees, mains or desserts. Overnight in GOR Area

Great Ocean Road - Melbourne

Our second day starts with breakfast at the locals favorite Bay Leaf Cafe. Great coffee, tea and vast breakfast menu make this a perfect way to start another full day. Our journey starts with us travelling through the Great Otway National Park and taking one of the walks through magnificent cool-temperate rainforest to see majestic Eucalypts and ancient tree ferns. Continuing through the Aire river valley your guide will introduce you to the strong Aboriginal heritage of the region with many tribes living prosperously around the coastline for thousands of years. In the same area millions of years ago when Australia was part of the great southern land, Gondwana, dinosaurs were roaming the land. A unique find along the coast in 1987 uncovered important clues into the worlds pre-historic past. Arriving at the shipwreck coast we discover the Icons of Australias natural beauty, the 12 Apostles. Timing is everything, as we arrive the stacks are lit with the morning sun and crowd free making them perfect for photos. This is a bonus for taking a 2 day trip as the stacks are silhouettes in the afternoon and usually overcrowded. After hearing of the creation of the stacks and holding some of the limestone rock you can explore the boardwalks or brave a helicopter flight along the coastline (own expense). 

Melbourne - Sydney

Breakfast this morning is followed by your transfer to the airport in order to board your flight to Sydney. Upon arrival you are met and are transferred to your hotel. Check in and the rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore and enjoy the city. Sydney is a great place to chill out in and have loads of fun. Later in the evening let the city romance you and remind you why it is the most spectacular harbour in the world. The Sydney Showboat is Australia’s most luxurious authentic paddle wheeler, renowned for it’s famous dinner cruise and show. Since 1987, over 4 million happy guests have enjoyed our spectacular dinner cruise and show experience. For all of their guests, the expression ‘THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT’ has come alive on board the Sydney Showboat with the dazzling nightly show – The Voyage of Love. The Showboat follies, in the tradition of the leading shows of Paris, have caused a revolution on the high seas! The experience is comparable to any of the leading Sydney restaurants with dinner cruise offering a restaurant dining experience that includes an innovative 3 course dinner menu. Enjoy the show and the meal. The Harbor turns magical in the night with all the illuminations etc and is a grand way to end the day. Later upon termination of the cruise make your way back to the hotel. Overnight in Sydney

Sydney - Sydney to Blue Mountains approximately 100kms (62 miles)

Arrive in Sydney and proceed westwards directly to Blue Mountains after picking your car. The Blue Mountains is one of the most spectacular and captivating wilderness parks in the country, and a supreme example of Australia’s diversity. Upon arrival there check in at your hotel and then you can explore the place, make your way to the city centre and enjoy a hot cup of Devonshire tea / coffee / chocolate with mouth watering scones served with fresh cream and jam at the fabulous and quaint “Bygone Beauties”, the owner is in the Guinness Book for owning the most number of tea pots! Head then to the various attractions the area has to offer – you could start with the Echo Point Lookout, to view the

Three Sisters Rock Formation and then head to the Scenic World which includes the Cableway, Walkway and the Railway (this is the world’s steepest incline) which takes you into the heart of the rainforests. One could also opt for some great walking paths in the areas here. The IMAX theatre has a great movie running that you could catch as well. All this and more packed in a single day sure makes your time here well worth it. There is the Blue Mountain passport (bus) that takes you to all these attractions which you could book there itself on arrival. After the wonderful experience head back and overnight at hotel in Blue Mountains. (Katoomba)

Sydney: Blue Mountains to Port Stephens (214kms)

Today after breakfast you can head to the coast and the save swimming beaches and seafood restaurants of Port Stephens. We recommend a boat cruise to see the wild dolphins. Port Stephens is the collective name for the port and the peninsula. The giant scoop of Port Stephens is a natural aquatic playground. Bottlenose dolphins in the bay, fabulous seafood, great diving right off the beach at Nelson Bay, a choice of bay or ocean beaches that range from superb to splendid – this is a barefoot paradise, as the holiday crowds testify! Port Stephens, known as the Blue Water Wonderland, is a natural bay two and a half times the size of Sydney Harbour and almost enclosed by two dormant volcanic headlands. The sparkling blue water is edged by native bushland, sheltered white beaches and small fishing villages. Overnight at hotel in Port Stephens

Port Stephens to Sydney Approximately 210km (131 miles)

Take some time to explore the magnificent bays and beaches before you depart Port Stephens. It takes 3.5 hours to reach Sydney thus head back south passing through the fantastic Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park before arriving in Sydney and drop off your vehicle. Later you can plan your day leisurely so that nothing is missed. It is recommended to fit in a visit to the Opera House (on own) and also do the Discovery Bridgeclimb first thing in the morning (can be prebooked). For those not doing the Bridgeclimb, you could also spend time at Bondi Beach and later enjoy a coffee cruise along the harbor. Overnight in Sydney

Depart Sydney

Breakfast this morning is followed by your transfer to the airport in order to board your flight back home. Hope you have had a fabulous holiday