8-Day Australia Tour Package: Sydney - Ayers Rock - Cairns - Kuranda

Upon arrival at the International Airport, please clear customs and complete immigration formalities. Your local guide will welcome you at the airport & travel with you to the hotel for check-in. Afterwards you'll be free to explore on your own. Bursting with character, Sydney is a vibrant city catering to all your desires whether you seek exhilaration, exploration or relaxation. Discover Sydney’s unique blend of dining, shopping and recreation options in one of the world’s most attractive city environments. Sydney's sparkling harbor is the jewel in the city's crown. It's flanked by golden beaches and bush land, and is home to one of the most famous bridges in the world.

After breakfast, enjoy a highlights tour capturing the history of Sydney, stunning architecture, spectacular harbor views and the world famous Bondi Beach. Pass through the historical Rocks area and Circular Quay as you learn about the history and significance of the area. View the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge from Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a chair specially designed for the governor’s wife to look out over the harbor. Travel through Chinatown, Darling Harbor, and the nightlife district of Kings Cross. Travel via Watson Bay and stop at “The Gap”, for fantastic views and photo opportunities before arriving at world famous Bondi Beach. Return to the city, passing the exclusive suburbs of Double Bay and Rose Bay.

Travel through the western suburbs of Sydney into the rugged beauty of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park. First we stop at the Featherdale Wildlife Park, this is Sydney’s ultimate interactive wildlife experience. Get up close to koalas, kangaroos and wallabies and discover a fascinating family of more than 2,200 animals, birds and reptiles including a 4 ½ meter saltwater Crocodile. Meet them all in a natural bush setting spread across 7 level acres. Then we continue to Blue Mountains, it is a natural wonderland of untamed bush, spectacular rock formations and native wildlife. See magnificent steep valleys, canyons and the famous cliff formation “The Three Sisters”. The views reach to the horizon, waterfalls plummet to the valleys below and there are numerous lookouts and other places where you feel one with nature. Explore the townships of Leura and Katoomba with its range of boutiques, art and antique galleries and cafes. Then we'll return to Sydney, passing Homebush, the site of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

After breakfast we'll transfer to Sydney airport and fly to Ayers Rock. On arrival in Ayers Rock airport, you will be met and transferred by private coach to your hotel. In the afternoon, travel to the western section of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to the immense 36 rock domes of Kata Tjuta. Take a walk into Olga Gorge. Hear about the domes’ formation, once thought to have been a single rock, many times the size of Uluru (Ayers Rock). Learn of the flora and fauna of the region – some plants you will see are so rare that they are only found in and around these rock formations. Return to a special vantage point from which to view Uluru at Sunset. Witness a display of colors from gentle, dusky blues and purples to fierce orange and reds, glowing with the last remnants of the day.

Rise early to watch the day’s first light illuminate Uluru in a fantastic array of every changing colors. On the tour around the base of the rock, see ancient rock-paintings, water holes and hear stories of Aboriginal legends. Travel to the Cultural Center and Mankuru Arts and Craft Coop, to learn more of this ancient culture. From there we'll go to Ininti Café for a delicious buffet. Afterwards we'll transfer to the airport and fly to Cairns. On arrival in Cairns, you will find a friendly welcome. Then we'll transfer you to your hotel, located at one of the best spots in Cairns with great views from every room, right beside the seaport, city shopping and Reef Casino.

After breakfast, Ocean Spirit Cruises will take you on a cruise to Michaelmas Cay to snorkel, dive and sail on Australia’s magnificent Great Barrier Reef. Michaelmas Cay is a picturesque reef sand island surrounded by magical coral gardens teeming with an incredible diversity of marine life. The Cay is a protected seabird sanctuary playing host to over 20,000 migratory seabirds and is one of the most important nesting sights in the Southern Hemisphere. The tour includes four hours on the reef, morning refreshments, hot and cold buffet lunch, snorkeling equipment and demonstration, informative ecological presentations by marine biologists, bird tour, and live musical entertainment on the homeward sail with a glass of Australian sparkling wine. Then we'll return to Cairns.

After breakfast you meet your local guide for a full day Tour of Kuranda Rainforest. We will take the original Kuranda Scenic Railway, it offers the old world charm of travelling in authentic timber carriages, gently meandering past breathtaking scenery. A spectacular journey comprising unsurpassed views of dense rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls within the world heritage listed Barron Gorge National Park. We'll arrive in Kuranda, the 'village in the rainforest.' It is famous for having the biggest and most frequent art and craft markets in Tropical North Queensland, with exotically handcrafted goods and Aboriginal artifacts. Kuranda also boasts Australia's biggest butterfly display which is home to exotic species such as the brilliant blue Ulysses and the Red Lace Wings butterfly that flash their presence as smaller and camouflaged species feed on the tropical flowers and trees of their expansive sanctuary. Take time to relax and enjoy good food at one of the local restaurants or coffee shops. Afterwards, we'll take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a unique rainforest experience that takes you on an unforgettable journey deep into the forest. You'll glide just meters above the canopy providing uninterrupted views of the rainforest, the Coral Sea and the lush Cairns Highlands. Your adventure includes time at two mid-stations where you can learn more about this fascinating environment from the forest floor. Next, we'll head to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, which enables guests to immerse themselves in Aboriginal culture with authentic music, dance and storytelling by the Tjapukai people. The world’s oldest living culture is brought to life by Aboriginal performers who engage guests with interactive activities such as didgeridoo playing, face painting and boomerang throwing and educate them about the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef’s traditional rainforest people. Exciting audio-visual effects and professionally choreographed shows ensure the genuine cultural experience is entertaining. Afterwards we'll head back to the hotel.

After breakfast, we'll say farewell and transfer to the airport.