Australia Explorer
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
1005
Start City:
Melbourne
End City:
Sydney
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
12 days
Age Requirement:
16+ Years Old
Tour Capacity:
16
Physical Rating:
2 - Classic
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Sep 22, 2024 | Thursday, Oct 03, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Oct 06, 2024 | Thursday, Oct 17, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Nov 05, 2024 | Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Friday, Nov 22, 2024 | Tuesday, Dec 03, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Friday, Dec 27, 2024 | Tuesday, Jan 07, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Friday, Jan 10, 2025 | Tuesday, Jan 21, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Monday, Jan 27, 2025 | Friday, Feb 07, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 | Saturday, Feb 22, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Monday, Feb 24, 2025 | Friday, Mar 07, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Monday, Mar 10, 2025 | Friday, Mar 21, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
Promotions
Save 7% Off this Tour - Guaranteed!
$600 Off Pay-In-Full Savings
$600 Off Pay-In-Full Savings
Promotion Details
Save $600 per couple ($300 solo) on Small Group, Small Ship and Private Journeys when you book and pay-in-full within 7 days of booking and prior to the final payment date. Before prices begin to increase due to higher demand, now is a great time to take advantage of these remarkable savings. Plus as always, receive our AffordableTours.com 7% extra everyday savings. (Not all dates/itineraries apply, contact your Travel consultant for applicable dates.)
Must Book By Tue, Dec 31, 2024
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›
Offer valid on new bookings only. Discounted rates are per person. For travel in 2024 and 2025. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer is capacity controlled and may be removed at anytime without notice.
Family & Friends Discount: Save $100
Family & Friends Discount: Save $100
Promotion Details
Travel is one of life's most rewarding experiences, perhaps even more so when it's shared with those you love! Take advantage of our Family & Friends offer and Save $100 per person anytime you book 4 or more people on the same A+R program.
Combinable with pay-in-full discount.
Must Book By Tue, Dec 31, 2024
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›
Applies to new bookings only. Offer combinable with pay-in-full discount. Certain restrictions may apply.
Tour Itinerary
Countries Visited
Cities Visited
Ayers Rock , Cairns , Great Barrier Reef , Kata Tjuta , Melbourne , Palm Cove , Sydney , Uluru
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Day 1
Welcome to Melbourne, AustraliaOn 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, General Tours in-the-know guide will be happy to offer assistance with recommendations.
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Day 2
Discover MelbourneAfter breakfast, join General Tours 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 a local patisserie to sample their delicate French-style macarons. End your sightseeing in the charming coastal enclave of St. Kilda where you’ll have time on your own to stroll along its inviting beachside promenade. Back at your hotel, the rest of your afternoon is at leisure.
Tonight, meet your guide this evening for a convivial 3-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 three 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. Meals B+D -
Day 3
The Beautiful Mornington PeninsulaToday’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. Discover the friendly town of Mornington and then continue to Green Olive, a 27-acre family farm. After a tour of the property including its olive groves, vineyards and kitchen gardens, you’ll sit down to a delightful farm-to-table lunch featuring fresh produce, quality meats and fine wines – all produced on the property!
After lunch, we’ll take you up to Arthurs Seat; from the top of this 1,000-foot summit, you’ll have spectacular views of Port Phillip Bay and the Peninsula’s coastal towns and golden beaches. On a clear day, you can even see the Melbourne skyline in the distance! The return drive usually takes just over an hour, so back at the Sofitel on Collins in Melbourne, you’ll have time to refresh and relax for a bit before dining on your own tonight. General Tours in-the-know guide will be happy to make personal recommendations for dining and evening entertainment. Meals B+L
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Day 4
Onward to Cairns, the Queensland Rainforest + Palm CoveCheck out after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your included flight to Cairns. On arrival, your adventures in North Queensland begin in Kuranda, a mountain village surrounded by the vast expanse of pristine rainforests that extend for more than 300 miles along the tropical coast of North Queensland. 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, General Tours 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
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Day 5
The Great Barrier ReefAfter 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, General Tours 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 General Tours resort and the Cairns marina complete this unforgettable Great Barrier Reef adventure. Meals B+L
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Day 6
A Free Day in ParadiseThis entire day is yours to enjoy the amenities and beachfront setting of General Tours tropical resort. You can also wander into Palm Cove to shop, dine, explore and just enjoy its inviting ambience. Throughout the morning, General Tours in-the-know guide will be in the hotel lobby to answer questions, suggest activities and provide assistance. Meals B
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Day 7
Fly to Ayers Rock + Discover Kata Tjutu
After an early breakfast and check-out, we’ll take you to the airport for your included flight into the Outback. On arrival in Ayers Rock, you’ll begin your exploration of these captivating landscapes as General Tours knowledgeable Trip Leader offers insight into the flora, fauna and unique geology of the region. Arriving in
After checking in to General Tours stylish 5-star resort, you’ll have time this afternoon to relax. 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
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Day 8
Sunrise at Uluru + Sounds of Silence Dinner + Field of LightArise early this morning for a delightful picnic breakfast in an al fresco setting that offers dramatic views of Uluru at sunrise – its vast presence seeming to emerge from the desert landscape as the day brightens. Enjoy a morning walk to a nearby waterhole as General Tours 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 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 deepen after dinner, settle back and stare up into the star-filled sky as General Tours 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 9
Onward to SydneyYou’ll be escorted to the airport today for your included flight to Sydney. On arrival, we’ll take you to General Tours deluxe hotel, ideally located close to the waterfront in the heart of this vibrant city. Meals B
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Day 10
Out and About in SydneyArise early this morning for General Tours 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 General Tours backstage tour!
[Please Note: The Opera House is very much a working center for the performing arts; as such, the specifics of General Tours exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and breakfast will be determined by rehearsal and performance schedules on the day of General Tours 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 Circular Quay where a short stroll brings you back to General Tours hotel. Meals B+L -
Day 11
At Leisure in SydneyThis day is yours to enjoy as you wish! Take advantage of General Tours 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 the Circular Quay Wharf to embark General Tours Captains Dinner Cruise on one of the world’s most beautiful harbors. General Tours 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 General Tours ship and stroll back to your hotel. Meals B+D
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Day 12
Depart SydneyAfter breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport for your onward journey.
Meals B
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Health and Safety Protocols for Alexander Roberts Tours
Alexander+Roberts Tours is committed to your well-being and safety while you travel.
- All Alexander+Roberts staff will maintain appropriate physical distancing at all times.
- All high-touch surfaces in coaches and private cars – like door handles, railings, armrests, and window controls – will be sanitized each morning and regularly throughout the day.
- Alexander+Roberts expert guides and drivers will wear face masks whenever in proximity to guests.
- Alexander+Roberts staff have been trained on Extra Care procedures – and how to respond to issues that may arise as you travel.
- Complimentary face masks and hand sanitizer will be available in all vehicles while touring.
- Larger luxury motorcoaches so each traveler will have two seats to themselves while touring.
- Private airport transfers with a spacious luxury vehicle when you come and go for every tour.
- Regular and frequent sanitizing of all high-touch vehicle surfaces.
- Prearranged entry for all sightseeing minimizes standing in line with other travelers.
- Whisper Headsets for groups of 5 or more allow for proper physical distancing while sightseeing, except for certain nature activities in remote areas like the Amazon.
- Alexander+Roberts carefully selects restaurants to avoid crowded high-capacity venues; Alexander+Roberts emphasizes fine farm-to-table dining with attentive and efficient service – and the choice to dine al fresco whenever available.
- No large-group dining; enjoy more spacious dining settings and smaller, well-spaced tables for included meals.
- Restaurant staff will follow the guidance of local health authorities and WHO protocols which may include facial coverings.
- Alexander+Roberts hotels are always selected for their outstanding locations, evocative ambiance, impeccable service – and cleanliness.
- Alexander+Roberts partners include the most respected luxury brands – like Belmond, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, Kempinski and JW Marriott; they are now leading the industry with their sophisticated hygiene standards and protocols to ensure the well-being of all their guests.
- Hotels will be continuously and rigorously vetted to ensure that they are following established WHO guidelines including social distancing and sanitizing procedures of guestrooms and public spaces.
- Hotel breakfasts will usually feature à la carte service and group seating will be replaced by smaller, appropriately distanced tables.
In a Small Group of Never More than 16 Guests or on a Privately Guided Tour for just your traveling party, their experienced guides have the flexibility to adjust your sightseeing based upon local conditions – to avoid times of heaviest traffic and crowding, for example. Alexander+Roberts can dine in smaller authentic restaurants, minimize the time waiting in lines, and leave a lighter footprint. You'll learn the history and stories behind the world's most iconic landmarks, immerse more deeply in the wonders of the natural world, and delight in genuine cultural engagement not possible in a larger group. It's travel without a crowd.
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?
Each person is allowed one "check-in," and one "carry-on." Remember to take all valuables with you as "carry-on", because electronic equipment, cameras, laptops, jewelry, business documents and money are not covered by the airlines' liability, so always carry them aboard with you.
Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?
Airfare from your point of origin to and from the trip is not included in the land price.
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Our tour guide was the best! He was knowledgeable about the country, always early, courteous and made us feel welcome in his country. Our tour had a side trip that was incredible due to our guide's particular experiences, The pick of our guide for our trip was absolutely perfect. Thank you for making our trip so wonderful.