11-Nights Australia Explorer from $9,999

Day 1: Welcome to Melbourne, Australia

On arrival, you'll be warmly greeted and escorted to the sophisticated 5-star Sofitel on Collins. This evening, you're invited to gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome drink and some light hors d'oeuvres. Afterwards, you can dine on your own here at the Sofitel or at one of the many fine restaurants that are located within a few blocks of the Sofitel; of course, our in-the-know guide will be happy to offer assistance with recommendations.

Day 2: Discover Melbourne

After breakfast, join our engaging Australian Trip Leader for a guided city tour. See important landmarks like the Victorian Arts Center and Captain Cook's cottage - and delight in a stroll through the lovely Royal Botanic Gardens. At the Shrine of Remembrance, you can learn about Australia's wartime history as you explore on your own. Then delight in the light-filled elegance of the Royal Arcade that opened in 1870 and stop by Melbourne's own chocolate makers, Koko Black. Make your own selection from the beautiful array of handmade chocolates to take away with you. Back at your hotel, the rest of your afternoon is at leisure.Tonight, meet your guide this evening for a convivial 3.5-hour food walking tour of Melbourne's hidden away and local favorite dining spots. There are so many great restaurants in Melbourne, and with new ones popping up regularly, it is hard to keep up! The best way to sample Melbourne's wonderful restaurant scene is to experience a few in one evening. You will visit two unique venues, with carefully chosen wine tastings and tantalizing savory tastes from their menus. Each venue is a different food style, with history and design as diverse as the city, ending at one of Melbourne's delicious gelato café for a sweet treat. Meals B+D

Day 3: The Beautiful Mornington Peninsula

Today's full-day excursion takes you outside the city to explore the dramatic coastal scenery, quiet fishing hamlets, picturesque farms, and award-winning vineyards of the Mornington Peninsula. Head to Green Olive, a 27-acre family farm. Enjoy a guided tour of the farm learning about the biological approach to farming and paddock to plate food production. You will also learn about the water, waste and energy aspects of the property's sustainability program. After the tour, sit down to enjoy grazing style food and wine. After lunch, visit one of the Mornington Peninsulas leading wineries for a guided tasting. Also included is a meander of the Sculpture Park. This is self-guided, so you can take it at your own pace and truly appreciate all that this world-class art estate has to offer. Finally, you will have a private and personalised Pt. Leo Estate Cellar Door experience that includes five wines of your choosing. At the completion of your experience rejoin your coach for the journey back to the city. Meals B+L

Day 4: Onward to Cairns, the Queensland Rainforest + Palm Cove

Check out early and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Cairns. On arrival, your adventures in North Queensland begin in Kuranda and the Koala Gardens, a mountain village surrounded by the vast expanse of pristine rainforests where you'll see koalas, kangaroos and more. Next up is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, a 4.5-mile adventure that takes gliding just a few yards above the treetops before descending through the lush canopy layers and deep into the heart of the forest at Skyrail's two rainforest mid-stations for the ultimate tropical rainforest experience. At the conclusion of your 1.5-hour cableway adventure, our motorcoach will take you to Palm Cove, a charming beach community just north of Cairns, where you'll enjoy a 3-night stay at Peppers Beach Club & Spa; A+R guests will stay in spacious 1-bedroom accommodations with a private balcony overlooking the unique lagoon-style swimming pool or lush tropical gardens. The restaurants, boutiques and galleries of Palm Cove are just a short stroll away along the town's shaded beachfront esplanade. Meals B

Day 5: The Great Barrier Reef

After breakfast, you'll be escorted to the Cairns Marina to embark your full-day cruise adventure to Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef. Situated nearly 25 miles off the coast and close to the pristine outer reef systems, Michaelmas is the largest of the uninhabited coral cays in the Cairns region. It's home to 35 unique species of sea birds and its gently sloping beach offers comfortable entry into the sheltered waters that surround the cay. With complimentary snorkeling equipment, you'll discover a colorful undersea realm teeming with colorful marine life - including sea turtles, hundreds of species of tropical reef fish, mollusks, and other invertebrates. The reef surrounding Michaelmas Cay is particularly renowned for its abundance of giant clams! Throughout the day, our engaging and knowledgeable marine biologists are on hand to answer questions and enrich your exploration. In addition to snorkeling, the reef lagoon offers excellent swimming and you can always take some time to explore the flora and fauna of the Cay. You can also join an available guided snorkeling tour - or stay dry as you explore the reef world from a semi-submersible vessel! A smorgasbord luncheon and roundtrip transfers between our resort and the Cairns marina complete this unforgettable Great Barrier Reef adventure. Meals B+L

Day 6: A Free Day in Paradise

This entire day is yours to enjoy the amenities and beachfront setting of our tropical resort. You can also wander into Palm Cove to shop, dine, explore and just enjoy its inviting ambience. Throughout the morning, our in-the-know guide will be in the hotel lobby to answer questions, suggest activities and provide assistance. Meals B

Day 7: Fly to Ayers Rock + Discover Kata Tjutu + Field of Light

Check out early this morning and we'll take you to the airport for your included flight into the Outback. Upon arrival in Ayers Rock, you'll begin your exploration of these captivating landscapes as our knowledgeable Trip Leader offers insight into the flora, fauna and unique geology of the region. Arriving in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, a guided walk in Walpa Gorge promises spectacular views of the 36 towering red-rock domes that comprise Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). You'll learn about the importance of Kata Tjuta as a sacred Aboriginal ceremonial site and gaze in wonder upon the scale of the rock walls that surround you.This evening you'll gather for an unforgettable experience - starting with canapés and sparkling wine on a viewing platform overlooking Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the sun casts its waning glow over the Outback and the dominating presence of Uluru, the evocative strains of the didgeridoo will summon you to dinner. Featuring locally-sourced ingredients, you'll savor a wide variety of dishes inspired by the region's early settlers, enhanced by a free-flowing selection of Australian wines and beer. As the darkness deepens after dinner, settle back and stare up into the star-filled sky as our resident expert helps you to locate the Southern Cross, the signs of the Zodiac, and other constellations of the Southern Sky.After an introduction to the artist and his work, you'll be invited to experience the Field of Light - an evocative, mesmerizing open-air work by Bruce Munro, the British-born artist celebrated for his vast site-specific installations. Covering an area the size of seven football fields, this is Munro's largest work to date. Immerse yourself in this fantasy garden with 50,000 spindles of light that seem to breathe and sway in the sweet desert air. Meals B+D

Day 8: Sunrise at Uluru

Arise early this morning when you will be transferred to the sunrise viewing area - a setting that offers dramatic views of Uluru at sunrise - its vast presence seeming to emerge from the desert landscape as the day brightens. Return to the hotel for breakfast before heading out again for your Uluru Base tour. Enjoy a morning walk to a nearby waterhole as our guide shares the Creation stories of the region's indigenous inhabitants and points out the native flora. View Aboriginal rock paintings and then stop by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Center to learn more. Back at Sails in the Desert, you can take a dip in the pool, relax on your private balcony or patio, or join one of the activities offered by the resort. This evening, if you wish, you might be able to catch the hotel's resident storyteller as they share deeper, personal insight into Aboriginal history and culture. As the sun dips towards the horizon, we'll take you to a prime vantage point to witness the sun set over Uluru (Ayers Rock). Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and experience the shifting moods of Uluru as darkness begins to fall. Meals B

Day 9: Onward to Sydney

You'll be escorted to the airport today for your included flight to Sydney. On arrival, we'll take you to our deluxe hotel, ideally located close to the waterfront in the heart of this vibrant city. Meals BGuests traveling from September 2027 onward will stay at Crown Towers Sydney.

Day 10: Out and About in Sydney

Arise early this morning for our insiders-access tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House, a stunning architectural landmark with a dramatic harbor-front setting. Taking you behind the scenes, you may have the opportunity to stand on the Concert Hall stage, take up the conductor's baton in the Opera Theater orchestra pit, or even peek inside the stars' dressing rooms. The Green Room is usually the private domain of performers and crew, but this is where we've arranged for you to enjoy a hearty breakfast - a highpoint of our backstage tour! [Please Note: The Opera House is very much a working center for the performing arts; as such, the specifics of our exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and breakfast will be determined by rehearsal and performance schedules on the day of our visit.] From the Opera House, you'll continue your guided tour with some of the city's other well-known landmarks, including the Harbour Bridge and Botanic Gardens. From Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, you'll have a breathtaking view of the Bridge and Opera House. A guided walk through the historic Rocks district is enlivened by colorful tales of the convicts, sailors and rogues who were among the city's earliest settlers! See the Parliament House and St. Mary's Cathedral and drive through some of Sydney's most vibrant districts including Kings Cross and Paddington. Strolling along Bondi Beach, you'll see surfers and world-famous Aussie lifeguards! Then take in the view from Sydney Heads, situated at the mouth of the harbor, before enjoying lunch and a glass of wine at the charming Watson Bay Hotel. After lunch, a private water taxi is a delightful way to make the return journey to Darling Harbour where a short stroll brings you back to our hotel. Meals B+L

Day 11: Day at Leisure + Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise

This day is yours to enjoy as you wish! Take advantage of our hotel's heart-of-it-all location to explore more of this friendly city at your own pace. This evening, make your way down to Darling Harbour's King Street Wharf to embark our Captain's Dinner Cruise on one of the world's most beautiful harbors. Our comfortable motor yacht offers panoramic picture windows and an open Top Deck so you can take in the views as you enjoy a selection of complimentary Australian wines, beers and juices. As you make your way past iconic landmarks like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, a 3-course dinner will be served in the air-conditioned dining room. After this delightful experience, you'll step off our ship and stroll back to your hotel. Meals B+D

Day 12: Depart Sydney

After breakfast, you'll be escorted to the airport for your onward journey. Meals B