12-Nights Inspiring Australia

Luxury Gold

Inspiring Australia
Adventure across Australia on this 13-day guided tour. Just outside of Cairns, explore the tropical rainforest of Daintree National Park with a Local Expert, who will teach you about the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people who live there. Fly to Uluru, where a guide will lead you through the Walpa Gorge and past its red, rocky domes. Later, watch as 50,000 solar powered lights illuminate the desert during its Field of Light display by Artist Bruce Munro. Explore Melbourne's laneways and visit the Yarra Valley for a chocolate masterclass, winery visit and gin tasting. Cruise the Sydney Harbour, then go inside its famous Opera House for a VIP tour. Celebrate your incredible trip with dinner at Bennelong Restaurant, set inside the opera house’s iconic sails.


Dining Summary

• 5 Dinner (D)
• 10 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

• Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Great Barrier Reef: Dive into one of the seven wonders of the natural world. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef and one of the most complex ecosystems we have. See incredible aquatic life beneath the surface as you swim.
• Kuranda: Board your SkyRail cable car to ascend through rainforest to reach the mountain village of Kuranda. Take time to explore the vibrant local markets before returning to Cairns via the Kuranda Scenic Railway.

Additional Included Highlights

• Enjoy seamless personal assistance throughout your journey. From securing exclusive reservations, to organising transportation, your Travel Concierge ensures every aspect of your travel is tailored to your tastes and preferences.
• In select destinations, our network of Local Expert Guides will illuminate your journey on a deeper level.
• Included at all hotels.
• Hotel taxes, porterage and tips, as well as tips for included dining experiences, are included.
• Enjoy breakfast every morning, and an array of incredible dining options throughout your journey, infused with discovery and adventure.
• On days where a Relaxed Start (RS) is indicated, you can select to indulge in breakfast in bed.
• Enjoy complimentary hotel Wi-Fi. And, on select coaches, onboard Wi-Fi may also be available.
• Transfers are included on your journey start and end dates, and where additional accommodation has been booked in advance through Luxury Gold. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city as the itinerary, may be requested.

Exceptional Dining

• Palm Cove: Savour a meal made from the finest quality local seasonal ingredients at this award-winning restaurant. Relax in the tropical setting with a glass of wine as you overlook the stunning crystal-clear water of the Coral Sea while nestled beneath Melaleuca trees.
• Uluru: Experience the magic of this powerful place as the sun sets and darkness cloaks the land. The soulful sound of the digeridoo plays as you feast on fine local cuisine during the award-winning Sounds of Silence dinner.
• Hunter Valley: Discover the bouquets of one of Australia's most famous wine regions. Arrive to a private wine tasting at a boutique winery, where you can sample the wines that grow here, then enjoy an exquisite tasting lunch with your fellow travellers.

Magnificent Stays

• Uluru: Situated in the heart of Australia’s Red Center, the five-star Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock Resort is a beautiful oasis amid the raw beauty of the Outback. It comes with a wellness spa, swimming-pool, gourmet restaurants and an impressive collection of indigenous artworks.

Passport Moments

• Daintree Rainforest: Join your Local Expert for an insightful exploration in the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. Learn about the close relationship the indigenous Kuku Yalanji people have with the land here, which they've been connected to for thousands of years. The experience reduces inequalities for indigenous people & preserves local traditions, protects natural culturally sensitive sites and promotes cultural vibrancy. This experience creates employment opportunities for local Kuku Yalanji people who are proud to share and preserve their land and culture.
• Kata Tjuta: Join your Travel Concierge for a guided walk through the sacred Walpa Gorge, which is a refuge from the hot desert sun for a variety of flora and fauna. Admire the change in colour on the gorge walls and spot the odd wallaby.
• Uluru: Arrive at the Ulu u-Kata Tju a National Park in the afternoon in time to see the sun slipping behind the majestic rock. See the vibrant colours of the landscape lit up as you sip on sparkling wine.
• Uluru: Watch the sunrise over Uluru as you are enchanted by the magical 'Field of Light' art installation by artist Bruce Munro.
• Uluru: Visit the Mutitjulu Waterhole, home to the Anangu’s wanampi, an ancestral water snake.
• Uluru: Learn about the strong connection shared over millennia between the Anangu and this ancient land on a visit to the Ulu u-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.
• Melbourne: Indulge in a memorable experience at the family-owned Yarra Valley Chocolaterie in the heart of the picturesque wine-making region. Here, you'll make and taste your own chocolate in an epic masterclass hosted by Ian and Leanne Neeland.
• Hunter Valley: Marvel at the vastness of untouched landscape on your journey northwards to the Hunter Valley. After miles of pristine natural terrain, the neat rows of vineyards will appear, whetting your appetite for what's to come.
• Sydney: Step on board a luxurious cruiser and sail around the glistening Sydney harbour while you savour a delicious lunch with a strong focus on local produce and wines.

Personalise your day

• Great Barrier Reef: Dive into one of the seven wonders of the natural

  Featured Destinations

  Hunter Valley Hunter Valley The Hunter Valley is a thriving wine producing and tourist region, around 2 hours drive north of Sydney. The Hunter Region is split into the Upper and Lower Hunter with most of the visitable wineries and tourist developments being in the Lower Hunter region(there are some notable exceptions, Rosemount Estate for example has its production centre in the Upper Hunter but has a representative cellar door in the Lower Hunter). The Lower Hunter Valley has led the way for Australian wine tourism with a good selection of cellar doors and restaurants.	Destination Guide
  Sydney 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.	Destination Guide
  Melbourne 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.	Destination Guide
  Uluru Uluru The world's largest monolith, located 280 mi/450 km southwest of Alice Springs, is a truly stunning sight, especially at sunset when its burnt-orange glow seems to set the desert on fire. Called Uluru by the Aborigines, the sandstone rock is huge (1,140 ft/350 m high, 9 mi/13 km around) and reddish brown most of the time, taking its color from iron oxide, or rust. Its presence is made more powerful by the mostly barren plain that surrounds it and disappears into the horizon. In 1985, ownership of the rock was returned to its traditional owners. It is rarely referred to as Ayers Rock anymore. Considered sacred by the Aborigines for thousands of years, the rock is now part of the expansive Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. The park includes the Olgas/Kata Tjuta, a cluster of 36 giant domelike rock formations about 20 mi/35 km west. If you want to visit both, plan to spend at least one night. You'll want to see Uluru at both sunset and sunrise. The Olgas are equally magnificent at both times of day. (But be prepared to jockey for position at either place; tour buses disgorge hundreds of visitors laden with binoculars, cameras and video equipment.) Start your visit to the park with a stop at the cultural center. Run by the Anangu (a local Aboriginal clan), the center is a wonderful introduction to the unusual rock formations and to the people who lived in their harsh shadows for centuries. Aboriginal artwork and artifacts are on display. You can also see re-enactments of life in the bush and watch informative videos. Most visitors explore the rock as part of a tour led by park rangers, Anangu guides or private tour companies. But you can also pick up a printed walking guide at the cultural center and set off on your own. Only one trail leads to the top of the rock, and it's fairly steep—those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, asthma, fear of heights or the like should remain earthbound. The Anangu prefer you walk around—not on—the rock because of its spiritual importance. If you do decide to climb it, allow two to three hours and take along a snack and plenty of water. The view from the top is spectacular, but hiking around the base is more educational and less strenuous. We suggest taking one or more of the shorter walks that pass water holes and rock paintings, allowing you to observe the rock's many faces at a leisurely pace. (Walking around the entire base of the rock takes about three hours.) Allow at least an afternoon to visit the Olgas/Kata Tjuta. A frequent debate among visitors is whether the Olgas outshine the rock. It's a close call—the Olgas are taller, reaching 1,790 ft/545 m at the highest point. Made of conglomerate (pebbles and boulders cemented together by mud and sand), they are off-limits to climbers, but you can explore some of the valleys and chasms between the rocks. Most visitors fly to Uluru or drive from Alice Springs. About the only place to stay in the area is the Ayers Rock Resort, or Yulara, whose five hotels and a campground can accommodate visitors in all price ranges. Longitude 131 is a magnificent safari camp with 15 luxury tents. Dozens of tours leave from Ayers Rock Resort, including sunrise camel rides around the rock, sunset champagne dinners in the desert, Aboriginal culture tours and stargazing. You can also rent a car there and explore on your own. Because of the excessive heat in summer, the best time to visit is April-November (winter in Australia). Always take along plenty of drinking water. If you are flying to the Outback, we suggest going overland one way from Alice Springs (four to five hours) but flying the other way—the desert drive is scenic, but it can be tedious the second time around. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru.	Destination Guide
  Cairns Cairns Cairns is the sunny garden city where the Great Barrier Reef meets the Wet Tropics Rainforest, mountains and the gulf savannah not too far away. The city's water front boasts a world class marina and wharf used by visiting cruise liners, yachts and tour vessels. Cairns is situated in the Northern end of Tropical Queensland Australia. It's a modern city with a good location to explore some of Australia's vast array of flora and fauna. With a magnificent Casino, Cairns is alive with more activities than a visitor will ever have time for. The principal attraction is the over 60 national parks from the wet tropical rain forests and lush tablelands to the truly wild Cape York Peninsula and the Great Barrier Reef.	Destination Guide

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  Valid Date Ranges

  February 2025

  02/25/2025

  03/09/2025

  $10,952 per person

  Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

  All fares are quoted in US Dollars.