Ultimate Australia

Our Australian adventure begins as we meet at London Heathrow and board our flight to Singapore.

In Singapore, we join our flight to Cairns in the Tropical North Queensland region, where we arrive late on Day 2. We transfer to our hotel and check in for four nights. Our hotel overlooks the Trinity Wharf, and is ideally situated to explore the area. After your long journey, relaxing is no doubt a priority, but if you're keen to step out into the tropical night air and get to know your surroundings, you could wander along the boardwalk of the Esplanade where there are several al fresco restaurants to choose from. Dinner is independent this evening.

After breakfast, you have a full day at leisure to get to know this tropical city at your own pace. Known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a nature-lover's paradise, surrounded by mountainous rainforests, spectacular reefs and pristine beaches. You might be tempted to take a dip in the lagoon, walk along the waterfront promenade or relax at the hotel swimming pool or beach.

If you're feeling adventurous, there are plenty of outdoor activities available locally, from horse riding on the beach to scuba diving. Other options are to visit the Flecker Botanic Gardens or the wonderful Cairns Aquarium where you can view some of the colourful marine life and aquatic creatures of the reef, which can usually only be seen by experienced divers. This evening we meet up for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, we are transferred by coach to Rainforeststation Nature Park, located within the beautiful tropical rainforest. We take a unique trip on a World War II amphibious military transport unit, or 'Army Duck', seeing the local flora. Next, we take a guided Dreamtime Walk. We learn how Indigenous Australians understand the world and its creation, before experiencing a 'pamagirri' dance performance by an Indigenous dance group.

After a barbecue lunch, we travel to Kuranda village in the rainforest, where there's time to look around the local craft market before transferring to the station. Here, we take a journey in refurbished heritage carriages along the 125-year old Kuranda Scenic Railway. Refreshments are served enroute as we travel through the rainforest, across the stunning Barron River Gorge with its gorgeous vegetation and tumbling waterfalls. We return on the same scenic route, travelling through lush rainforest, back to Cairns. This evening you are free to dine independently.

Today is a full-day excursion into the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest and most complex coral reef system. From the harbour of Cairns we board an air-conditioned catamaran for a cruise into this marine paradise, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. Our first stop is Green Island, a 'coral cay' (a small sandy island on a coral reef) where we have two hours at leisure to explore this idyllic setting on a self-guided walk.

Continuing into the Great Barrier Reef, we moor alongside a pontoon for an on-board reef presentation and a buffet lunch, followed by an afternoon of viewing the unique wildlife and coral reefs from an underwater observatory. You can also experience the brilliant marine life close-up during a snorkelling session, or catch a glimpse of tropical fish, giant clams and sea turtles from a glass-bottom boat. We return to Cairns with a free evening to dine independently and you may like to wander through the Cairns Night Market, open each day from 4.30 to 10pm.

We transfer to the airport early this morning to fly to Uluru. This iconic rock is the world's largest monolith, and incredible sight to behold, as it rises out of the flat desert floor. Our first visit is to the Mutitjulu waterhole, one of the few permanent water sources in the region, and we discover how important this site is to its traditional owners. We then visit the Uluru Cultural Centre, where - on a self-guided tour - we can learn about the culture of the local Anangu people and spiritual significance of Uluru, view arts and crafts and hear about the Anangu creation story.

This evening we enjoy a magical dinner in the desert, within view of the ancient red rock, watching it change colour as the sun sets. Our dinner includes sparkling wines and canapés, followed by a barbecue buffet dinner with a bush-inspired menu, selected drinks and dessert. Later, we enjoy a marvellous stargazing experience as a 'star talker' decodes the southern night sky, pointing out the planets and galaxies, visible in the clear desert atmosphere. We are taken back to our hotel at the end of the evening.

Today is a full day of exploring the spectacular natural beauty of the Uluru area. We begin our day with a sunrise visit to Uluru, watching as the sun's rising rays dance across the vivid orange rock. We then return to our hotel for a leisurely breakfast. Our adventures continue with a guided tour of the fascinating landscape of huge domed rock formations, also known as 'Olgas', which are part of the Kata Tjuta National Park. The Anangu people believe that these rocks possess spirit energy, and the site is used for cultural ceremonies.

We are transferred back to our hotel by lunchtime for an afternoon at leisure - a chance to relax by the pool, enjoy the hotel facilities or visit the local shops in the Uluru hotel complex. There is a shuttle bus running between the various hotels where you may like to dine. This evening we enjoy another sunset experience, with drinks and nibbles.

Today we leave Uluru to travel by coach through the vast ochre outback to Alice Springs, a remote town in the Northern Territory, between the parallel ridges of the rugged McDonnell Ranges. On our way, we stop for lunch at a typical Australian roadhouse, Erldunda - a place with a quirky Australian character, which was once a cattle station and now offers hospitality to travellers from all over the world.

In the afternoon we continue towards Alice Springs, breaking our journey with an interesting stop at a camel farm, where we learn about the crucial role these animals played in building the famous railway line and opening up the country. After our talk, we enjoy afternoon tea.

We arrive into Alice Springs, described as the beating heart of Australia's red centre, and check into our hotel for two nights. Known locally simply as 'Alice' the indigenous name for this fascinating red desert town is Mparntwe. This evening we dine independently, and there are several places in town to enjoy a meal, including four restaurants and a bar at our hotel.

This morning we visit one of the most visited landmarks in Alice Springs - Anzac Hill - a cenotaph and war memorial. The views from up here are impressive, looking out across the town of Alice and the McDonnell ranges. We continue to the Old Telegraph Station for a tour and morning tea. This marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs, established in 1871 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide. The Telegraph Station also connected Australia with the undersea telegraph network of the British empire. We also take a look at Alice Springs' School of the Air, where children across the vast outback region are taught 'over the air', by radio.

We then visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum, an institution in the vast Australian Outback where communities may live 1,000 miles from a doctor. Here, we learn about the history of the life-saving work of this air medical service, and the people who fly out to treat people living in remote areas. We return to our hotel and this evening you are free to dine locally in Alice Springs.

Today begins with an early morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Adelaide. Arriving around midday, we transfer to a downtown hotel for three nights with a city sightseeing tour enroute (if upgrading to travel by rail, you'll arrive on Day 11 for two nights).

This attractive city was Australia's first major settlement, planned in the 1830s, which - unlike New South Wales and Tasmania - wasn't a penal colony. We stay in the heart of the city, overlooking Victoria Square. With a reputation for good food and wine, there are plenty of tempting places to eat this evening. Chinatown is just around the corner and Gouger Street, Adelaide's popular restaurant precinct, close by.

Optional Upgrade - on selected dates only, it is possible to travel to Adelaide on the iconic Ghan train instead of by air, taking an epic overnight journey in Silver or Gold Service, with exceptional cuisine and an inclusive drinks service in the Gold Lounge. Please call us to discuss details.

Known for its wonderful wine regions, Adelaide is one of the Great Wine Capitals of the world. Today we dive into its wonderful wine heritage as we explore the famous vineyards that surround the city. We travel to the fertile Barossa Valley, where our day includes vineyard tours, wine tastings and pairings at celebrated wineries, including the popular Jacob's Creek and the Seppeltsfield Estate, one of Australia's oldest wineries known for its fortified wines, where we have a relaxed lunch.

On our return journey to Adelaide this afternoon we visit Hahndorf, the oldest German settlement in Australia, in the scenic surrounds of the Mount Lofty Ranges, where there's free time to look around. Back in the attractive city of Adelaide you are free to find dinner, and could try local specialities such as fish or seafood, or choose from a wide selection of multicultural eating places.

With a free morning in beautiful Adelaide - a walkable city with good transport links - you could explore the Botanic Garden with its handsome tree-lined avenues, gardens of indigenous plants, a glasshouse and Art Deco palm house. Alternatively, take a walk along the river, visit the Art Gallery or the South Australian Museum, where you can view collections of fossils, Aboriginal artefacts, and read stories of Antarctic expeditions. The city's covered Central Market is close to our hotel and, over lunch, you could browse traditional craft stalls and sample South Australia's foodie offerings.

In the afternoon we set off on a guided city tour of Adelaide's sights and major points of interest accompanied by historic tales. Known as the 'City of churches', we pass the cathedral, the historic Government House and Parliament Building. After transferring back to our hotel, the rest of the day and evening is free to continue exploring, maybe enjoying a meal in one of the city's great restaurants.

This morning we have an early start as we join the Overland train on a journey East to Melbourne. Breakfast and lunch are served on board as we travel into Victoria, Australia's 'Garden State'. Outside the diverse landscapes change from rugged mallee scrub to fields of green and gold. On arrival into Melbourne this evening we walk across the road from the Southern Cross Station to check into our central hotel for three nights, Batman's Hill on Collins Street. This is the hub of Melbourne's buzzing central business district, which offers high-end shopping and a fantastic choice of restaurants including Japanese, Vietnamese, French and Italian, alongside Australian fare - a healthy fusion of local and international cuisine.

This morning we begin exploring Melbourne, the cosmopolitan capital of Victoria. Our city tour takes us to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia's largest stadium, and among other grand buildings we see the city's historic Parliament House. We drive through Melbourne's leafy suburbs then join the nostalgic Puffing Billy steam train at Belgrave station for a delightful journey to the rainforest and fern gullies of the spectacular Dandenong Ranges. Our route takes us to the peaceful Lakeside Visitor Centre, above the pretty lake, where we enjoy lunch. We return to Melbourne on the Puffing Billy then transfer back to our hotel where you are free for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Melbourne is known as Australia's cultural capital. In the downtown area, besides dazzling skyscrapers, you'll find many museums, art galleries and elegant Victorian-era buildings. Just beyond, and well worth the walk along the Yarra River, are lush gardens including the Queen Victoria Gardens, and the wonderful Royal Botanic Gardens.

This morning we enjoy an excursion along one of the world's most scenic roads today, a coach journey along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road. Travelling along the south-east coast of Australia, the route takes us past verdant forest, rushing waterfalls, and glittering ocean. We're likely to see surfers, and possibly dolphins or other wildlife. We make a short stop at a beach resort called Lorne enroute, then at a spot near Kennet River where there's a chance to see koalas in their natural habitat. At the laid-back town of Apollo Bay we break for lunch, then continue to the scenic Loch Ard Gorge along the coast and pass the Twelve Apostles, a collection of dramatic limestone rocks standing inland and overlooking the crashing waves. At Loch Ard Gorge we have some free time before we retrace our coastal journey back to Melbourne.

Arriving back at our hotel this evening, you are free to enjoy your last night in Melbourne and dine independently at one of the appealing restaurants in our local neighbourhood.

This morning we take a short walk across the road from our hotel to the Southern Cross rail station where we join the cross country train to Sydney. Travelling in First Class, lunch and dinner is available on the train and it may be advisable to order your meals early in the day. This day-long rail journey takes us past open plains of Australian bush and farmland, mostly cattle and dairy farms, with stops at remote stations and towns with distinctive names, such as Wagga Wagga. As we approach Sydney the landscape becomes hilly and more densely populated.

Sydney is a dynamic city with a buzzing atmosphere, a striking harbour and streets lined with grand historical buildings and impressive skyscrapers. Our train arrives into Sydney in the early evening and we are transferred to our hotel in Darling Harbour, which offers several waterfront restaurants and is close to the central business district where you'll find many more attractions and interesting places to eat.

After a morning at leisure to explore your surroundings, we embark on yet another highlight of our holiday in Australia: a cruise from Darling Harbour for an exhilarating trip around Sydney Harbour, a great way to see some of the city's most iconic sights as we enjoy a buffet lunch on board. From our boat, we see Sydney's stunning Opera House, the jewel in the city's crown and a masterpiece of late modern architecture, and one of Australia's most familiar landmarks, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the largest steel arched bridge in the world.

The rest of your afternoon is free and there's plenty to see and do in this exciting city - you might like to wander down to the Rocks, one of the very first settlements of Australia, which has traces of its 18th and 19th century heritage in the form of old pubs and warehouses, now converted into modern buildings. You might enjoy a walk along the waterfront of Sydney Harbour to the Opera House, from where you can continue walking to the remarkable 200-year-old Royal Botanic Gardens with its wonderful trees - including some massive Moreton Bay fig trees - exotic flowers and birdlife. The lively harbour area has several museums, art galleries and historic buildings to discover.

We journey into the Blue Mountains. Just 30 miles outside of Sydney, this beautiful area has UNESCO World Heritage status and is named due to its dense eucalyptus forests which create a blue haze when the sunlight hits.

We visit the unique Three Sisters rocks at Echo Point, overlooking the vast Jamison Valley. These striking rock formations inspired an Aboriginal legend, in which three sisters were turned to stone by their father, to protect them from a tribal war. We then visit a typical Victorian village named Leura, where you're free to lunch in one of the quaint cafés or to browse the interesting galleries and shops.

After lunch we take a short trip on the world's steepest incline railway, the Katoomba Scenic Railway. Our dramatic trip passes sandstone cliffs and enters a rock tunnel beside the tree-covered Orphan Rock, before emerging into the ancient rainforest. We have time to walk through the rainforest, listening out for local birds including the distinctive Lyre bird before returning to the top of the valley and taking the Scenic Skyway ride from the lookout point across the valley. There's time to wander through the visitor centre, before returning to Sydney by coach, where your evening is free.

On our penultimate day we're taken on a guided sightseeing tour of Sydney's famous landmarks and its Eastern suburbs, travelling by coach along the coastline to Bondi Beach, frequented by sun-kissed surfers and known for its laid-back vibe. The name Bondi originates from the Aboriginal word for 'surf' - and there's free time to enjoy this relaxed beach resort, its vast beach, cafés and restaurants, over lunch and into the afternoon before our journey back to Sydney.

Tonight is the final evening of our Australian holiday and we enjoy dinner with our group.

We have a leisurely morning in Sydney - for final sightseeing, gift buying or possibly a relaxing walk along the harbour - before we are transferred to the airport for our afternoon flight to London Heathrow, via Singapore.

Travelling via Singapore, we touch down in London Heathrow early on Day 21. We return home with many special memories, and possibly dozens of photographs, of our wonderful discovery tour of Australia's amazing landscapes, coastlines and stunning cities.