Itinerary Highlights
- Enjoy a Barrier Reef Cruise, Kuranda by Skyrail and Rail and a Whitsundays Crocodile Safari
- Embark on Island adventures in the Whitsundays and Fraser Island
- Travel through Queensland by rail on board the Spirit of Queensland and Tilt Train
- Climb to the summit of Sydney Harbour Bridge for 360-degree views of Sydney Harbour and skyline
- Best time to travel June to September
What's Included
- Accommodation Throughout
- Private Transfers
- Car Hire
- Domestic Flights
- International Flights
17 nights from £9,399 per person
Greig
Travel Specialist
Embark on a bespoke adventure across the East Coast of Australia with our unforgettable 17-night tour, boasting family-friendly accommodation and exciting adventures throughout.
Your journey starts with a three-night stay in Cairns, Australia’s city gateway to The Great Barrier Reef and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. You'll embark on a full-day cruise with plenty of snorkelling and diving opportunities in the world's most iconic eco-system, plus get the chance for some white water rafting on the Tully River.
After flying along the Queensland coast to enjoy a stay in Airlie Beach, you’ll have even more natural highlights waiting for you. From crocodile safari cruises along Proserpine River to catamaran trips through the Whitsunday Islands and humpback whale spotting in the waters of Fraser Island, you won’t find a moment to be bored.
The Gold Coast is also featured on this itinerary. After enjoying the thrilling theme park attractions of Warner Bros Movie World and hiking the Gondwana Rainforest, you'll head to Byron Bay's white sandy beaches for surfing and kayaking among dolphins. Sydney, your final stop, is where you can discover the city's beach culture and iconic buildings - including the option for a Sydney Harbour Bridge climb!
In between travelling (by scenic rail journeys, ferry and self-driving), you’ll be residing in luxurious accommodation that welcome all ages.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Cairns
Upon arrival in Cairns feel the balmy tropical air of Far North Queensland. Cairns is Australia’s northern gateway, where you can discover the oldest continuously surviving rainforest in the world, the Daintree, and the world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef. After transferring to your hotel, take a stroll along the marina promenade and enjoy dinner on the waterfront.
Day 2 Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Snorkel
Discover one of the seven natural wonders of the world on a full-day cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. Your cruise departs directly from Cairns, avoiding long road transfers to Port Douglas which allows five hours at two spectacular Outer Reef destinations. An optional helicopter flight is available from a floating pontoon for breathtaking birds-eye views of this immense reef system that covers approximately 344,000 square kilometers.
Staying at
Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel
Day 3 Afternoon Kuranda by Skyrail & Train
Enjoy a leisurely morning exploring the tropical city of Cairns. This afternoon you are transferred to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an aerial tour over the rainforest canopy on your journey to Kuranda Village. Enjoy free time exploring the quaint village and optional Kuranda attractions before boarding the Kuranda Scenic Rail for this historic journey, completing your tour with a road transfer back to Cairns. For the more adventurous, how about an adrenaline-pumping white-water raft adventure on the Tully River?
Staying at
Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel
Day 4 Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach
Depart Cairns and fly south along the Queensland coast to Proserpine, the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Transfer to your private villa at Yangaro, a luxury boutique beachfront resort just a few minutes’ drive from the vibrant holiday destination of Airlie Beach. Relax by your private pool, explore the tropical bushland right in your backyard or get a cab into Airlie Beach for dinner or to pick up a BBQ pack to cook back at the villa.
Stay at Yangaro
Day 5 Crocodile Safari
Airlie Beach
Take a trip on the wild side. Cruise the calm waters of the Proserpine River, exploring a mangrove ecosystem while observing the inhabitants including birds, fish crustaceans, and estuarine crocodiles in their natural habitats. Your tour includes a barbecue lunch and a traditional Billy Tea and freshly cooked Damper.
Stay at Yangaro
Day 6 Whitsunday Islands & Whitehaven Beach
Airlie Beach
The Whitsundays is a beautiful cluster of 74 islands, characterised by dense rainforest, hiking trails, and white sandy beaches. Best explored by water, today you have a choice of a gentle catamaran cruise to Whitsunday Island and the world-famous Whitehaven Beach. Alternatively, choose a faster-paced RedCat including 1.5 hours at Whitehaven Beach, or an exhilarating ride on a 12-metre semi-rigid inflatable with Ocean Rafting.
Stay at Yangaro
Day 7 Spirit of Queensland to Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay, Queensland
Spend a leisurely day at your private villa and pool or pick up a rental car to explore the Queensland coastline. We recommend a day at Cape Hillsborough National Park, a ruggedly beautiful and peaceful park teeming with life, with dense rainforests and eucalypts, rocky headlands, and beaches where Eastern Grey Kangaroos and wallabies are often spotted feeding on seaweed washed up overnight. Return to Airlie Beach for your overnight rail journey on the Spirit of Queensland.
Stay: Overnight in a RailBed on Spirit of Queensland
Day 8 Fraser Island Beauty Spots Tour
Fraser Island
Arrive in Maryborough West early this morning after your overnight rail journey, where you will be transferred to Hervey Bay by coach. A short ferry ride takes you to K’gari (Fraser Island), a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and the world’s largest natural sand island. Discover the natural delights of the island on a 4WD ranger-guided bus tour, including highlights such as Lake McKenzie, Seventy Five Mile Beach, and swim in the crystal clear waters of Eli Creek.
Day 9 Fraser Island Whale Watching Cruise (seasonal)
Over a thousand migrating Humpback Whales visit from July to October, relaxing and nurturing their calves in the calm waters of Fraser Island. Your 4.5-hour cruise will take you on an adventure in search of these oceanic giants. The remainder of your day is free to enjoy the amenities and pool at Kingfisher Bay Resort. If you are travelling outside the whale-watching season this day is free or you can book optional activities including a bush tucker talk and taste experience, guided canoe paddle tours or a ranger-guided night walk.
Staying at
Kingfisher Bay Resort
Day 10 Tilt Train to Brisbane - Self Drive to Gold Coast
Gold Coast
Transfer back to the mainland by ferry, connecting to a coach transfer to Maryborough West where you connect with the Tilt Train, a high-speed rail service to Brisbane. Arrive early afternoon to collect your rental vehicle for the 1.5-hour drive to Queensland’s Gold Coast. Renowned for its glorious sandy beaches, skyscrapers, family entertainment, and theme parks.
Stay at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort
Day 11 Gold Coast
Queensland's Gold Coast is the perfect destination for a family holiday. Beautiful, wide sandy beaches, endless family dining options, inland waterways to be explored by kayak or jet-skis, the gateway to the rainforests of the Gold Coast Hinterland, and theme parks such as Warner Bros Movie World and Wet & Wild.
Staying at Sheraton Grand Mirage Gold Coast
Day 12 Gold Coast
Spend a lazy day enjoying the resort amenities at Sheraton Grand Mirage Gold Coast, enjoy a family day at the beach, or drive to the Gold Coast Hinterland to discover rolling green hills, hiking trails and waterfalls in the Gondwana Rainforests, and Springbrook National Park.
Day 13 Self Drive to Byron Bay
Byron Bay
Leave the Gold Coast and drive south, crossing the border into New South Wales. Choose from the coastal drive or head inland for a scenic drive through the mountains of Nightcap National Park and onto the bohemian town of Nimbin. Today's destination is the chilled-out beach resort of Byron Bay, a mecca of sand, sun, cafe culture, and a favourite hang-out for surfers and celebrities such as Chris Hemsworth.
Day 14 Learning to Surf and Kayaking with Dolphins
Today is a fun day on and in the water. Start your day with private surfing lessons with a dedicated personal surf coach. The multiple breaks and northern NSW climate make Byron Bay the perfect year-round destination to learn to surf or hone your skills. Your afternoon Cape Byron kayak paddle takes you beyond the surf in search of friendly bottlenose dolphins. Other marine life that is often witnessed in the area are turtles and from June to October you may spot humpback whales.
Staying at
Crystalbrook Byron
Day 15 Sydney
The final destination of this Family Adventure Down Under is Sydney. A short flight from Ballina Airport takes you to the vibrant capital city of New South Wales. Your waterfront hotel, Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour is situated adjacent to the iconic Sydney Opera House. Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. For a bird's eye view of the city, head for the Sky Tower Sky Walk or take a ferry to Watsons Bay for the best Sydney sunset.
Day 16 Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
Climb the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge for spectacular 360-degree views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline. The climb takes 3-hours and involves 1,332 steps, but the views from the summit are worth it. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the city at your leisure. Take a stroll along the waterfront of Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, down the cobbled streets of the Historic Rocks area - the oldest neighbourhood in Sydney or discover Asian treats in the food markets in Chinatown.
Day 17 Sydney
Take in the views of Sydney Harbour from the water on a ferry crossing to the north shore for a fun-filled day at Sydney's historic Luna Park funfair, or take a cab to Bondi Beach for a fish & chip lunch at Icebergs. Alternatively, take a tour to the Blue Mountains or Southern Highlands for sightseeing, hiking, and wildlife encounters.
Day 18 Leave Australia
Take a final early morning walk along Sydney's spectacular harbour promenade, and Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens where you can watch comical white cockatoos. Pack your bags ready for your private transfer to Sydney Airport where you will say farewell to Australia, leaving with lifelong memories of an epic Family Adventure Down Under.
Greig
Travel Specialist
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Contact our Travel Specialists for a bespoke quote or some first-hand knowledge.
Christmas Eve: 9am - 3pm
New Years Eve: 9am - 3pm
25th Dec, 26th Dec & 1 Jan: CLOSED
Monday - Friday: 9am - 7:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
17 nights from £9,399 per person
