Tours and accommodation packages - Queensland and The Barrier Reef.

28 Days from Sydney.

Day 1 Tue. Sydney, Hay.
Crossing the Great Dividing Range and traveling through the rural townships of Mittagong and Goulburn, our scenic drive takes us through the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.
Stay: Hay, Bishops Lodge Motor Inn.
(D)

Day 2 Wed. Barossa Valley.
Travel along the Murray River through Mildura and Renmark. Journey through the Barossa Valley wine region with its sprawling vineyards and leafy vistas. Visit historic Jacob's Creek winery and sample some of Australia's finest regional wines.
Stay: Barossa Valley, Novotel Barossa Valley Resort.
(BD)

Day 3 Thur. Salt Lakes, Coober Pedy.
Visit Wadlata Outback Centre and learn about the Outback. Continue past salt lakes to the opal mining town of Coober Pedy.
Two Night Stay: Coober Pedy, Desert Cave Hotel.
(BD)

Day 4 Fri. Coober Pedy, Opals, Breakaways.
Enjoy a full day exploring the town of Coober Pedy with a tour of an underground home, church and Umoona Opal Mine. Then travel to the eerie landscape of The Breakaways.
(BD)

Day 5 Sat. Uluru (Ayers Rock) Sunset Drinks.
Travel into World Heritage, listed Uluru, Kata Tjuta National Park, arriving at Ayers Rock Resort. Travel to Sunset Strip to enjoy drinks as the sun sets on Uluru. Two Night Stay: Ayers Rock Resort, Sails in the Desert Hotel. B NEW! Upgrade to Longitude 131º Stay for two nights at this luxury wilderness camp. All meals, drinks and activities included. Minimum of two passengers required. (Additional Expense)
Two Night Stay: Ayers Rock Resort, Sails in the Desert Hotel. Luxury in the desert as you explore Uluru.
(B)

Day 6 Sun. Uluru, FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING, 'Sounds of Silence' Dinner.
Choose to climb Uluru or walk to Mutitjulu waterhole. Choose the Liru Walk, or a Harley Davidson tour or five, mile guided base walk or the Predators of the Red Centre show. Travel to Kata Tjuta (Olgas), once a monolith larger than Uluru. Explore Walpa (Olga) Gorge. Tonight dine outdoors on gourmet local cuisine at the ‘Sounds of Silence’ desert dinner and experience the magnificent stars of the Southern sky at night.
(BD)

Day 7 Mon. Kings Canyon, FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING, DINE AROUND DINNER.
In Kings Canyon climb to the rim or choose the more gentle floor walk to the natural amphitheatre. Tonight, choose an ‘Aussie, style’ barbecue or a buffet meal.
Stay: Kings Canyon Resort.
(BD)

Day 8 Tue. Alice Springs, DINE AROUND DINNER.
By special permit, travel through Aboriginal land, visiting Hermannsburg. Explore Angkerle (Standley Chasm) and Simpsons Gap, part of the West MacDonnell National Park. Enjoy our Dine Around Dinner in Alice Springs.
Two Night Stay: Alice Springs Resort.
(BD)

Day 9 Wed. FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING.
Choose a full day 4WD tour to Palm Valley. Alternatively join the Dreamtime tour with the Walpiri tribe or visit the unique Desert Park. Perhaps visit the Cultural Centre and learn to play the didgeridoo or ride a camel down the generally dry Todd River. This afternoon enjoy a town tour of ‘The Alice’.
(B)

Day 10 Thur. Bond Springs Station.
Visit Bond Springs Station, a working cattle ranch. Travel to Karlwekarlwe (Devils Marbles) and explore the unusual boulders. Enjoy sunset drinks at Tennant Creek.
Stay: Tennant Creek, Bluestone Motor Inn.
(BD)

Day 11 Fri. Mataranka Thermal Pool.
Today we stop for a drink at the Daly Waters Pub, then we cross Elsey Station, from ‘We of the Never Never’ fame to Mataranka. Here, swim in the natural thermal pool set among luxurious tropical vegetation.
Stay: Katherine, All Seasons Hotel.
(BD)

Day 12 Sat. Katherine Gorge, Kakadu National Park
We enter Nitmiluk National Park with its spectacular gorges formed by the Katherine River cutting through the rugged Arnhem Land plateau. Enjoy a cruise through the towering walls of Katherine Gorge, with a local guide providing commentary on the wildlife and ancient rock art. Travel to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and visit the Bowali Visitors Centre with its interpretive displays of ecology and country.
Two Night Stay: Jabiru, Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn, right in the heart of Kakadu National Park.
(BD)

Day 13 Sun. Wildlife Cruise.
We explore stunning Kakadu National Park, rich in flora, wildlife and beautiful scenery. Visit the famous Ubirr rock art gallery including X-ray style paintings (subject to road access) and Nourlangie Rock, before a Yellow Waters Sunset Cruise through some of the wetlands of Kakadu. Tonight, the local delicacies of kangaroo, crocodile, barramundi and emu are on the menu at Gagudju Lodge in Cooinda.
(BD)

Day 14 Mon. Jumping Crocodile Cruise.
Cruise the Adelaide River to see fearsome crocodiles jumping out of the water. Travel to Darwin and enjoy a city tour.
Two Night Stay: Darwin, Novotel Atrium Hotel
(BD)

Day 15 Tue. Darwin, FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING.
Choose from a day tour to Litchfield National Park, a huge sandstone plateau with cascading waterfalls where you can swim in the natural pools and wander amid the intriguing magnetic termite mounds. Perhaps just take in the scenery on a Darwin Harbour luncheon cruise, check out the Indo-Pacific Marine and Pearling Exhibitions, or explore Darwin on the Tour Tub ‘jump on, jump off’ bus. Adventure upgrade - Full Day Reef and Sports Fishing..
(B)

Day 16 Wed. Darwin, Cairns.
Fly to Cairns (own expense), transfer to hotel. Relax and discover Cairns before your feature dinner later that evening.
Two Night Stay: Cairns, Rydges Tradewinds, guaranteed Ocean View Rooms.
(BD)

Day 17 Thur. FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING.
Visit Rainforestation, see an Aboriginal performance, or ride the Kuranda Railway, or take a safari to Cape Tribulation or try white water rafting or a spa treatment or Inlet cruise.
(B)

Day 18 Fri. FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING, Port Douglas.
At Port Douglas, choose from three Great Barrier Reef cruises or take a balloon flight. Enjoy sunset drinks before dinner.
Stay: Port Douglas, Radisson Treetops Resort, set in rain forest gardens.
(BLD)

Day 19 Sat. Skyrail, Dunk Island, DINE AROUND DINNER.
Join the Skyrail Cableway over rainforest to Kuranda. Journey through the Atherton Tablelands and visit Millaa Millaa Falls. Join a relaxing cruise to Dunk Island and enjoy our Dine Around Dinner.
Two Night Stay: APT EXCLUSIVE! Dunk Island Resort, Garden Rooms.
(BD)

Day 20 Sun. At Leisure on Dunk Island.
Relax or join in island activities on this Great Barrier Reef island. All activities at own expense. (B)

Day 21 Mon. Hamilton Island.
Cruise the idyllic Whitsundays to Hamilton Island. Relax and discover the many features of Hamilton Island. That evening choose from one of the many dining places for dinner (own expensive).
Two Night Stay: Hamilton Island, Reef View Hotel

Day 22 Tue. FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING, Sunset Drinks, DINE AROUND DINNER.
Select from our extensive range of Freedom of Choice Touring options. Alternatively, you may take advantage of our Adventure Option, a full day Outer Reef cruise offering an extended trip over the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. This replaces your Freedom Of Choice activity (Additional cost per person, please enquire). Then enjoy sunset drinks before experiencing our Dine Around Dinner.
(BD)

Day 23 Wed. Rockhampton.
We rejoin the coach at Shute Harbour and travel through Mackay to Rockhampton. Tour Henderson Park then stroll in the Botanic Gardens and stand on the Tropic of Capricorn.
Stay: Rockhampton, Travelodge
(BD)

Day 24 Thur. Fraser Island.
From Hervey Bay, cruise the Great Sandy Strait to Fraser Island.
Two Night Stay: Fraser Island, Kingfisher Bay Resort.
(BD)

Day 25 Fri. FREEDOM OF CHOICE TOURING, Fraser Island.
Explore Fraser Island with Freedom of Choice Touring, or perhaps upgrade to an Adventure Option, an enthralling full day 4WD Beach and Lakes Tour around this pristine island (Additional cost per person, please enquire). This evening, enjoy the Bush Tucker Talk with a park ranger and chef before savouring a delicious Bush Tucker Barbecue.
(BD)

Day 26 Sat. Australia Zoo, Brisbane.
Today we visit Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, then continue onto Brisbane.
Stay: Brisbane, Royal on the Park.
(B)

Day 27 Sun. Coffs Harbour.
Travelling via the Gold Coast we visit bohemian Byron Bay on the way to the subtropical town of Coffs Harbour.
Stay: Coffs Harbour, Novotel Pacific Bay Resort.
(BD)

Day 28 Mon. Sydney.
Travel through New South Wales’ ‘Big River’ country and coastal towns to Sydney. Arrive late this afternoon where your tour concludes.
(B)

Tour No OQSS

Land content only.
Tour operates in reverse QOSS