12-Nights Wild Australia from $8,085

Swain Destinations

OFFER ID 1565839

Wild Australia
Start your adventure with 3 nights in cosmopolitan Melbourne. Enjoy a full day city to country experience, venturing out to the Mornington Peninsula, one of Australia's prettiest coastal wine regions. You will also take a guided walking tour of the city to uncover the hidden treasures of Melbourne's Lanes and Arcades. Next, head to The Whitsunday's where you will stay in the boutique Beach Club Hotel on Hamilton Island before spending a magical night in Australia's first underwater accommodation and have a front row seat to the dazzling underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Fly on to Sydney where you will be taken to Taronga Zoo for your two night Wildlife Retreat package. Sleep inside the zoo, and experience something a little different to the everyday. Enjoy views towards Sydney Harbour and sleep with a kangaroo outside your window. It's possible. One of the many inclusions is a night walk, the zoo is closed and only guests of the Retreat will join this experience. Finish your Aussie vacation with two nights downtown, with a city sights tour and a private excursion to the Blue Mountains.

Your Itinerary Includes:

Round trip airport transfers
3 nights Melbourne
City to country tour
Lanes and arcades tour
2 nights Hamilton Island
1 nights at Reefsuites
Activities at Reefsuites
2 night Hamilton Island
2 nights at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Activities at Taronga Zoo
2 nights Sydney
Blue Mountains tour
Meals: 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

12 nights from $8,085 per person

Itinerary

Swain Destinations: Wild Australia

Day 1 Welcome to Australia!
Welcome to Melbourne! Upon arrival after clearing customs you will be met by your driver and transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Park Hyatt Melbourne

Day 2 City to Country Experience
When it comes to vibrant city life, Melbourne is unparalleled. It is also unique among Australian cities to have so much on offer, so close at hand. Wander the lanes, explore the boroughs, drive through rolling hills and native eucalyptus forests, sample stunning local wines and farm gate produce, get up close to a koala, dip your toes in the Southern Ocean - all in a single, beautiful day.

Park Hyatt Melbourne
Meals: B, L

Day 3 Lanes and Arcades Walking Tour
Have you ever been to a city and wondered what all the fuss was about? Or wasted time trying to find that cool local café you were told of, then ended up missing everything? Melbourne's arcades and laneways hide many of these answers. Join this indulgent morning walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets, and become orientated in the life of the city that locals love. Discover local designers and specialty retailers that often are only found in the city. Some of the quirkiest cafes, independent designers, street art, architecture, and historical tales are found in these walkways, there is something for everyone, locals and visitors alike.

Park Hyatt Melbourne
Meals: B, L

Day 4 Travel to Hamilton Island
Ahead of your flight you will be transferred to Melbourne airport by private vehicle. On arrival into Hamilton Island you will be met by your driver and transferred to your accommodation.

Hamilton Island Resort
Meals: B

Day 5 Hamilton Island at Leisure
With a choice of over 65 different activities available on and around Hamilton Island, there's something to appeal to travelers of all ages and interests. Whether you prefer to relax by the pool or to explore the Whitsundays - or a bit of both - there are plenty of options to choose from: daily tours to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach, sea kayaking, twilight sailing, game fishing, scenic flights, diving, koala visits, bush-walking, and water-skiing. There is golf at the Hamilton Island Golf Club, spa treatments from two different on-island spas, and a variety of live entertainment at the bars and restaurants.

Hamilton Island Resort
Meals: B

Day 6 Reefsuite
Reefsuite is a two-day, one-night encounter with the Great Barrier Reef - an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sleep submerged in the waters of the reef. Exclusive Heart Pontoon at Hardy Reef is your destination - a permanently moored pontoon, located 40 nautical miles from shore on the outer Great Barrier Reef. Swim, snorkel, dive and explore this amazing natural ecosystem.

Reefsuite
Meals: B, D

Day 7 Reefsuite
Dawn on the reef is peaceful and unhurried. There's time for some more snorkeling after breakfast - the reef is all yours to enjoy - or return to the underwater observatory and watch the reef come to life. After lunch, your Cruise Whitsundays vessel returns you to the mainland. Your night on the reef may be over, but your Reefsuite memories will stay with you forever.

After departing Reefsuite you will be transferred to your accommodation on Hamilton Island.

Hamilton Island Resort
Meals: B

Day 8 Hamilton Island at Leisure
Today you are at your leisure to enjoy Hamilton Island.

Hamilton Island Resort
Meals: B

Day 9 Travel to Sydney
Ahead of your flight you will be transferred to Hamilton Island airport by private vehicle. Upon arrival into Sydney you will be transferred to the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga.

Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Revel in the natural beauty of the bushland, and step into a lush sanctuary where koalas and echidnas roam, and platypus swim. Join a guided tour with a passionate keeper, immerse yourself in their stories and encounter a close and emotional connection with the animals.

Wildlife Retreat At Taronga
Meals: B, D

Day 10 Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Your guide will take you into the Zoo before it is open to the public. Explore the Blue Mountains Aviary, visit the Red Kangaroos and the Tasmanian Devils before heading back to the Retreat. Today you will also have time to enjoy an up-close experience with one of Australia's iconic native animals during your koala encounter. Learn more about the conservation efforts that Taronga Zoo Sydney plays in the protection of the Koalas. Continue to enjoy your unlimited access to Taronga Zoo during the rest of the day.

Wildlife Retreat At Taronga
Meals: B, D

Day 11 Taronga Zoo and Sydney In Style Tour
After breakfast, you have the opportunity to enjoy the unique early morning atmosphere of the Zoo. At the conclusion of your Wildlife Retreat Package, feel free to continue exploring the Taronga Zoo with your complimentary general admission.

After your departure from Taronga Zoo you will be transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Sydney In Style Tour
Depart from your Sydney hotel to discover the fabulous city of Sydney. You will travel through the business district and shopping areas, see Darling Harbour and the vibrant China Town and drive along Oxford Street with its trendy terrace houses and boutique fashion shops. See Centennial Park, a 220-hectare urban parkland in Eastern Sydney. Reaching the coastline, see Bronte and Tamarama, then go on to explore the famous Bondi Beach. Spend 30 minutes walking the promenade or enjoying a coffee overlooking the beach.

From here, continue along the coastal drive past Macquarie Lighthouse to the Southern Headland of Sydney Harbour. Visit Watsons Bay before following the harbor foreshore towards Sydney City. You pass some of Australia's most exclusive waterfront suburbs where harbor mansions may be seen. Drive through Vaucluse, Double Bay before reaching the colorful Kings Cross. Head through Woolloomooloo and see the famous Harry's Cafe De Wheels. Visit Sydney's Botanical Gardens and enjoy some spectacular Harbour Bridge and Opera House views. Return to Sydney's CBD via Saint Mary's Cathedral, historic convict buildings, State Parliament House and the historical quarter of the 'Rocks.' Visit Sydney's Observatory Hill for amazing views over Sydney Harbour to the Blue Mountains. Drop off back at your Sydney hotel, restaurant or other city location.

Park Hyatt Sydney
Meals: B

Day 12 Blue Mountains Tour
A day like no other - you're off to experience the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, in private. Beyond the big picture, this is a scenic widescreen epic. Marvel at deep canyons, sheer cliff walls, sandstone escarpments and tall waterfalls almost every time you step out. Explore historic villages, enjoy tea and scones in a quaint cafe, see Echo Point, home to The Three Sisters.

You are collected from your city hotel for an enjoyable drive through Sydney's West into the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains. The first look at the spectacular panorama of the Blue Mountains National Park is made from Wentworth Falls. Then, head to the quaint Leura village and stop at BYGONE Beauties for morning tea and scones, and a chance to explore the Teapot Museum. From here, head to Echo Point at Katoomba and the Three Sisters - part of Aboriginal folklore. A stop is made at Scenic World, where you have he opportunity to ride the Scenic Railway (the worlds steepest) to Dinosaur Valley, or experience the epic valley views from the Scenic Cableway (Scenic World is an optional extra to be paid direct on the day). Enjoy lunch and superb views at The Boiler House Restaurant at Medlow Bath, then on to Blackheath and spectacular Govetts Leap lookout. Marvel at deep canyons, sheer cliff walls, sandstone escarpments and tall waterfalls of the Grose Valley. At Mt Tomah, wander through The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden…. OR…. a little further onto Bilpin for Cider tasting. All too soon, it is time to head back to the city, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and on to your hotel.

Park Hyatt Sydney
Meals: B, L

Day 13 Depart Australia
Ahead of your flight this morning you will be transferred to Sydney airport by private vehicle. We hope you have enjoyed your stay in Australia!

Meals: B

Featured Destinations

Great Barrier Reef

Hamilton Island

Sydney

Sydney

Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.

Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:

1. Explore the historic Rocks

Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the world-famous harbour

Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry

Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington

Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee

Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is a maze of hidden laneways, opulent bars, exclusive restaurants and off-the-beaten-track boutiques. Here you can soak up culture, hit the sporting grounds, taste the dynamic food and wine scene, dance til dawn or wander the parks and leafy boulevards. Visit Federation Square, the city's landmark cultural space, and enjoy a sunset beer on the St Kilda promenade. Shop till you drop on funky Brunswick Street or upmarket Chapel Street. Wander Southbank's cafes, bistros and bars and get a world tour of cuisines in Carlton, Richmond and Fitzroy. Take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens and cheer with a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Five Must-Have Melbourne Experiences:

1. Shop till you drop

Bag a bargain at the Rose Street Artist's Market and browse the funky boutiques on Brunswick Street. Buy designer labels such as Akira Isogawa and Zimmerman on Chapel Street in Prahran or in the historic Melbourne General Post Office, which covers an entire city block. For everything from fashion to furnishings at fantastic value, visit Bridge Road in Richmond. Melbourne is a shopper's haven, offering eclectic boutiques, high-end fashion, funky homeware stores and European style piazzas in the city's arcades and hidden laneways.

2. Bar hop and dance till dawn

Sip a cocktail in a converted sea container in Chinatown, enjoy a sunset beer in a St Kilda pub or listen to cabaret in lush retro surroundings in jazz bars in the city. Linger over exquisite tapas and exotic wine in a Little Collins Street bar and mingle in a pink parlour with fake grass in Bourke Street. You can party from dusk in the bars of Brunswick Street. Or dance till dawn in bars in the city's lantern-lit laneways, secret apart from the spill of coloured light under heavy brass doors.

3. Get into the gourmet goodness

Let the aroma of good coffee waft over you in Melbourne's gothic European laneways. The city is famous for its coffee and old-world café culture but there's so much more to explore. Once you've downed a 'short black' or taken an afternoon aperitif, try tea in a nineteenth-century hotel or salivate over your silver spoon in acclaimed restaurants like Nobu, Botanical and Becco. Pick up fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood at the Queen Victoria Market on a Saturday, known for its bustling crowds and buskers. Try out the restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars in Southbank or Federation Square. Make your way around Melbourne's multicultural cosmos of cuisines: Carlton for Italian classics, Richmond for budget-friendly Vietnamese and Fitzroy for Spanish tapas.

4. Fill up on culture

See a performance by the Australian Ballet, which is based here in Australia's cultural capital. Or enjoy a dazzling musical at the Princess Theatre. Browse the Southern Hemisphere's best collection of international art at the National Gallery of Victoria. Or visit the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square, a landmark cultural 'space' for Melbournians. Challenge yourself with the creative collections in the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank. To learn more about Melbourne's Aboriginal cultural heritage, see contemporary and dreamtime art or take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens.

5. Go sports mad

Cheer for an Australian Rules Football game with a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over winter. Go cricket mad in summer, when the city hosts the Ashes and one day internationals. Or join the huge crowds watching the Australian Tennis Open at Melbourne Park. Rev heads head to Melbourne in March for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Albert Park. And whether you are a racing fan or just a casual punter, you won't want to miss the Melbourne Cup - the world's richest horse race on the first Tuesday in November.

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

10/01/2024 - 11/30/2024

from $8,085 per person

12/01/2024 - 03/31/2025

from $8,205 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $8,085 per person

Length

12 Nights

Air City

Call for airfares from your city.

Vacation Rating

Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.

Remarks

Prices are per person, twin/double share in USD. All highlighted savings are reflected in the price. Price does not include airfare unless otherwise stated. Travel may be limited to certain days of the week. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Pricing may increase over Holiday and special event periods and may not be reflected in price grid. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Prices are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. CST #2012413-20

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1565839

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North Bay Travel Group

(707) 484-3836