Click Here to View Your Vacation
Explore Australia's wilderness destinations on a custom trip with Audley Travel
From the Red Centre to the depths of the Great Barrier Reef - experience Australia's greatest wilderness destinations on a trip customized by a destination expert just for you. Plus, get a trip upgrade of $100 in value.
You'll dine under the stars in the Outback, explore the waterfalls and rainforest of the Atherton Tablelands, and spend two days acclimating amid the culture and coastline of Sydney.
Special Offers and Member Benefits:
- Special Offer*
- Member Benefits
- Trip customized specifically for you by a destination expert
- $100 value trip upgrade
- 24/7 on-trip support
- All in-country transfers
Travel Shaped Around You:
We know that travel has the most meaning when it's created individually for you. Our specialists will only start designing your trip once they understand exactly what you want it to be. So, consider this idea simply as inspiration for your own experience.
Where You Will Stay:
Each stop on this tour has you staying in lodging as fabulous as the destination themselves:
- Harbour Rocks Hotel - Set in the heart of Sydney’s historic Rocks district, and at over 150 years old is steeped in history itself. This charming boutique hotel provides personal, high quality service and a unique 'home-from-home' ambiance in the midst of this bustling, vibrant city.
- Desert Gardens Hotel - Stylish and contemporary, offering a comfortable base with views over one of Australia's most iconic sites. The hotel is set in native, landscaped gardens surrounded by 'Ghost Gum' evergreen trees, with facilities including two restaurants and a swimming pool.
- Shantara Resort & Spa - Superbly positioned on Davidson Street, the Shantara Resort & Spa's location will ensure you're among the excitement of Port Douglas with the serenity of the resort as your retreat. The combination of pools and water features throughout the resort creates a sense of tranquillity from the moment you arrive.
- Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat - This accommodation is set on 230 acres of private rainforest and rare wet sclerophyll forest, offering an idyllic base to explore the beautiful Tablelands. The beautiful self-contained treehouses are nestled in their own forest and offer total privacy with each treehouse featuring a large spa bath in a private bathroom, cosy wood fireplace, fully self-contained kitchen, washing facilities and private veranda complete with BBQ.
Tour Highlights:
-
Cruise Sydney Harbour and see iconic buildings such as the Opera House.
-
Visit the great monolith of Uluru in the Red Centre.
-
Discover the underwater kingdom of the Great Barrier Reef.
-
Experience the wilderness of the Atherton Tablelands.
Call to Book
1-800-222-7448
Included With Your Trip
Inclusions:
- Scheduled international and domestic flights
- In-destination transfers
- Activities and excursions as detailed
- All accommodation
- 24-hour support while you travel
Ideas for Experiencing Australia:
As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Australia and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.
- The Indian Pacific Train - Linking two oceans in one of the world’s longest and greatest train journeys. Traveling from Sydney to Perth, or vice versa, it covers a distance of 2,720 miles over three nights.
- Snorkeling with Whale Sharks - Experience a unique ocean experience in swimming with the largest fish in the sea. From late March to early July each year whale sharks converge in the nutrient-rich waters off the Ningaloo Reef, timing their annual visits with the coral spawning.
- Sydney Opera House Backstage - This intimate tour is unique in that you have exclusive access to areas normally reserved for the stars and their crew.
- Melbourne After Dark - Melbourne is breathtaking under lights and this tour will have you marveling at the heritage buildings throughout the Golden Mile, leaving you mesmerized by St Patrick's Cathedral, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, and the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building.
Need help selecting a package?
With endless choices and options that can be customized, select get a quote below and let us build a vacation that’s perfect for your needs and budget. We’ll book the best package for you directly, and combine it with any AAA promotions to get you the best deal!
Additional Package Options:
- Vacation Protection Insurance
- Roundtrip Airfare
- Hertz® Rental Car
- Direct Airport Transfer Service (town car or limousine)
- And much more!
Additional Information
AAA Membership grants you access to your own travel team! Let a AAA Travel advisor personalize your vacation from start to finish. Wherever you want to go, our travel team has likely been there, so ask questions and gain insider information.
Here is a look at the details of this trip:
At A Glance: Australia: Sydney, Uluru & Great Barrier Reef Itinerary ~ 11 days ~ Sydney to Cairns ~ All breakfasts ~ from $5,875 per person
Day 1: Sydney
On arriving in Sydney you're met by an Audley representative and transferred by private vehicle to your downtown accommodation. The remainder of the day is free to relax after your long flight. If you do have some energy, or fancy a walk, we suggest ambling around the historic Rocks district, full of art galleries, heritage buildings, and cafes.
Day 2: Sydney
Walk down to the harbour today in time to meet your skipper and take in the sights of Sydney on board a catamaran cruise. It's a great, relaxed introduction to this city. On this two hour meander around Port Jackson Harbour, you'll get views of the Rocks, Darling Harbour, the striking Opera House and the Botanic Gardens. A buffet lunch of local seafood, salads, hot and cold dishes and desserts is included in the cruise. You have the rest of the day at leisure. We suggest climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge (affectionately nicknamed 'the coathanger', and not as strenuous as it looks). In the evening, we can arrange for you to see a performance at the Opera House should you wish.
Day 3: Sydney
You have another day at leisure to enjoy Sydney today. Take a stroll along the waterfront and through the Botanic Gardens, or you may like to explore further afield, taking a trip out to the Blue Mountains to go bushwalking or admire the striking Three Sisters sandstone rock formation. Located about an hour and a half from the city, you can take the train there and back or hire a car for the day.
Day 4: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
This morning you will make your way to the airport in time for your domestic flight to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Red Centre. The flight time is 3 hours and 40 minutes. On arriving you're met by an Audley representative and transferred to your nearby hotel. You have the rest of the day to relax by your hotel pool, or, if you're keen to get out exploring, we recommend a visit to the Cultural Centre within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park as it gives you a glimpse into the cultural significance of Uluru and Kata Tjuta to the local Anangu people. This evening you will enjoy an Outback dining experience under a night sky you'll never forget, complete with champagne and canapés, Australian bush tucker and a stargazing session with a local astronomer.
Day 5: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
You wake early this morning in time for the spectacle that is sunrise over the Kata Tjuta (Olgas) ranges. You'll enjoy this from a viewing platform, with a small group tour of only 12-16 passengers. Afterwards you'll be dropped off back at your hotel to relax for a few hours before being collected again for another desert experience: a guided visit to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Here your guide will explain the history and aboriginal significance of this iconic site as you walk among the folds of the rock. Notice how its reddish hue changes or deepens with the light. Later you'll watch sunset over Uluru, before being returned to your hotel.
Day 6: Port Douglas
Your morning is spent at leisure. For those still keen to explore the desert, we can arrange a Harley-Davidson ride. You're transferred back to the airport this afternoon in time for your onward flight to Cairns in tropical north Queensland. Flight time is about two and a half hours. On arriving, you'll collect your hire car and make your way to the wonderful beach town of Port Douglas, just north of Cairns where two world heritage sites meet — the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
Day 7: Port Douglas
Spend the day aboard your Reef Cruiser to snorkel the majestic Great Barrier Reef. Get lost in a vast underwater ecosystem, exploring the fragile reef and swimming alongside the many fish it houses. You may even see a giant clam, Manta Ray, or reef shark prowling the waters! Lunch is included aboard the ship.
Day 8: Port Douglas
Today you will be collected from your accommodation for a full day tour of the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Through your guide, you will learn of the ecological history of the rainforest, and how the local indigenous peoples of the area have lived symbiotically with the rainforests for tens of thousands of years. The tour will continue on to the famed Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef. You will head back to your hotel in Port Douglas later this afternoon.
Day 9: Port Douglas
Today is a day at leisure to explore Port Douglas. You might want to wander along Macrossan Street and explore the many boutique galleries and shops, or just relax on Four Mile beach.
Day 10: Atherton Tablelands
Today drive southwest to the Atherton Tablelands where you can enjoy two nights in the rainforest to spot birdlife and go hiking.
Day 11: Atherton Tablelands
Spend today at leisure exploring the region and perhaps taking in some of the area's waterfalls and walking trails, such as the routes around Lake Tinaroo. Alternatively, explore the Crystal Caves, a network of subterranean chambers filled with crystals, fossils and fluorescent minerals.
Day 12: Return home
This morning, return to Cairns Airport and drop off your hire car before boarding your onward flight.
Get an Estimate
Product Code: AAA-audleyTC_093021_Audley_ZD
All pricing and offers for accommodations and other non-air travel are per person, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to availability and change without notice. Pricing does not include taxes, fees, fuel surcharges, gratuities, resort fees, or airfare unless otherwise noted and is valid on new bookings only. Prices, fees, and other restrictions are subject to supplier policies. All offers, including but not limited to, bonus amenities, upgrades, prices, and group benefits are based on select dates, resorts, room categories, and/or fare codes. Specialty pricing may require proper identification. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates, and other restrictions may apply. When traveling outside the United States a valid passport is required. It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to have the proper documentation and identification required by the United States and other governments at the time of travel. When passports are required, it must be valid for a minimum of six months past your date of return. AAA strongly recommends the purchase of AAA Travel Protection. Usage of a credit card for travel arrangements may provide additional protection, please consult your credit card policies. Under certain circumstances the package price may be subject to supplemental price increases imposed by the supplier. Price increases include, but are not limited to fuel surcharges, taxes or fluctuations in foreign exchange markets that may be imposed after the date of purchase. Air-inclusive prices do not include government imposed taxes and fees, including but not limited to a September 11th Security Fee, U.S. or international government imposed taxes and fees, Federal Excise Fees, among others. Some carriers charge additional fees for checked bags, fuel surcharge, meals, etc. Please check the carriers website for details. Air-inclusive pricing is based on select departure cities. Prices from other cities may vary. AAA Northeast acts solely as a sales agent for travel suppliers and is not responsible for the actions or inactions of such suppliers. We monitor all of the information presented on our website; however, we do not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of the offers displayed. Review full Travel Disclosure and Consent at time of booking.
Prices shown are per person based on double occupancy, exclusive of international airfare. They are intended as a broad indication of how much you should budget for a similar trip. Your trip can be customized to match your preferred budget, interests, trip duration, departure date and accommodation style. The deposit price is 5% of the total cost of the tailor-made tour.