Set sail by catamaran to a coral-fringed sand island and cruise the Great Barrier Reef. Drop anchor at Michaelmas Cay, a protected seabird sanctuary, where turquoise shallows meet luminous coral gardens alive with reef fish and graceful turtles.

Choose to snorkel above coral gardens or view the reef by glass-bottom boat. An included buffet lunch and expert crew add comfort and insight to this classic reef day.

Glide above the canopy on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, skimming fan palms and ancient ferns within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Boardwalk stops and an interpretive center deepen your understanding of this 100-million-year-old ecosystem.

Return aboard the heritage Kuranda Scenic Railway, rattling through hand-cut tunnels and over trestle bridges that frame Barron Falls. Timber carriages, rainforest scents, and mountain vistas evoke the golden age of tropical rail travel.

Join a guided panoramic tour through Melbourne’s elegant grid and riverside promenades, from bluestone lanes to grand green spaces. Feel the city’s creative pulse at Federation Square and along the Yarra’s lively Southbank.

See the UNESCO-listed Royal Exhibition Building, stately civic architecture, and sporting cathedrals including the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena. Stories of gold rush prosperity and contemporary design frame Australia’s cultural capital.

Drive the Great Ocean Road, tracing surf beaches, coastal rainforests, and cliff-lined headlands where the Bass Strait meets the Southern Ocean. Seaside townships and historic lookouts reveal a route built by returned WWI soldiers as a living memorial.

On the rugged Shipwreck Coast, Twelve Apostles limestone stacks rise from swirling seas. Boardwalks and cliff-top vantage points invite you to pause for photos and reflection as waves thunder below.

Ride the Puffing Billy steam train through the fern gullies and mountain ash of the Dandenong Ranges, its open-sided carriages chuffing past wooden trestles and misty hillsides of emerald green.

Continue to the Koala Conservation Reserve and windswept Nobbies headland before evening falls at Phillip Island’s famous watch the Penguin Parade. From eco-sensitive boardwalks, see little penguins waddle ashore after a day’s fishing in Bass Strait.

Explore Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a cluster of towering domes whose Pitjantjatjara name means “many heads.” Follow the rocky creek bed to walk Walpa Gorge, where desert oaks and resilient wildflowers take root between sheer walls.

Hear how these desert domes hold cultural importance for the Anangu people and learn about the geology of their conglomerate rock. The vastness of the Red Centre unfolds at every turn.

Witness sunset over Uluru with hosted refreshments as the monolith blushes crimson, then ember-red, against a boundless Outback sky. The desert stillness and wide horizon create a contemplative mood.

Return for sunrise viewing when cool light reveals textures and ancient markings on the glowing red monolith. Respectful guidance underscores the site’s spiritual significance to its Traditional Owners.

Set out on the Mala Walk at the base of Uluru, tracing rock folds and water-sculpted curves to the shaded amphitheater of Kantju Gorge. The scale and ochre tones feel immediate at ground level.

Continue to the Mutitjulu Waterhole to learn Tjukurpa creation stories of Kuniya and Liru and see ancient rock art shelters. Insightful commentary highlights living culture and joint park management with the Anangu.

Meet your Tour Manager for an orientation walk around the harborfront, taking in Circular Quay and The Rocks. Get local tips on ferries, neighborhoods, and must-visit galleries, plus where to find great coffee and waterfront viewpoints.

Hear concise stories of colonial beginnings and contemporary culture, then receive tailored suggestions so you can enjoy a free afternoon exploring Sydney at your own pace.

Cruise Sydney Harbour for two hours aboard MV Sydney 2000, savoring a three-course à la carte dinner as city lights shimmer on the water. Glide past the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge for postcard-perfect night views.

This experience is bookable on tour at additional cost and typically operates on one evening during your stay. A relaxed ambience and attentive service make for an elegant night on the harbor.

Explore the Daintree Rainforest with a guided walk at Mossman Gorge and a wildlife-rich cruise the Daintree River. Continue to palm-fringed Cape Tribulation beach, where ancient rainforest meets the Coral Sea.

Enjoy a tropical lunch in the rainforest, sample exotic flavors at Daintree Ice Cream Company, and take in sweeping views from Alexandra Lookout. This full-day adventure is bookable on tour at additional cost.

Dine under the desert sky as the sun sets over Uluru and Kata Tjuta, accompanied by the haunting notes of a didgeridoo. Feast on a bush-tucker inspired buffet with Australian wines as twilight deepens to velvet night.

After dinner, an astronomer leads a stargazing talk beneath the Milky Way’s brilliant arc. This atmospheric evening is bookable on tour at additional cost.

Explore a wilderness of eucalyptus-cloaked plateaus and misty valleys as you gaze across the Jamison Valley to view the Three Sisters. The crisp mountain air and scent of gum trees set an evocative scene above sheer sandstone escarpments.

At Scenic World, ride the Scenic Railway down a dramatic incline, float back by cableway, and glide on the Scenic Skyway above Katoomba Falls. Glass-floored cabins reveal ravines and rainforest from an awe-inspiring vantage.

Meet Australia’s native icons at the world’s first and largest Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Wander leafy enclosures to meet Australia’s native wildlife, from koalas and kangaroos to Tasmanian devils and dingoes, while learning about rescue and conservation efforts begun in 1927.

Afterwards, relax on a narrated cruise the Brisbane River, drifting past South Bank and Story Bridge. The city’s skyline, subtropical parks, and riverside life unfold at a gentle, breezy pace.

Discover Sydney on a city highlights experience that takes in waterside viewpoints and storied neighborhoods, from The Rocks to surf-fringed Bondi Beach. Admire classic skyline angles from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair as gleaming ferries cross the harbor and the bridge frames the sails beyond.

Later, step inside the Sydney Opera House on a guided tour of Jørn Utzon’s 1973 masterpiece, a UNESCO-listed icon. Hear how its engineering broke new ground and feel the drama of its soaring sails and timber-lined performance spaces.