First Choice
Internal-vacation flights included
Internal-vacation flights included

Contrasts of Australia

9 Day Guided Vacation | Melbourne to Sydney

There’s no denying Australia’s diversity. This Melbourne to Sydney tour invites you to glimpse a full range of natural attractions, whether two World Heritage Sites in Cairns (the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland) or the eye-popping, art-clad laneways of Melbourne and architectural marvel of Sydney Opera House. Wherever you venture, expect to discover First Nations culture.

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$4576

Adult Twin i A person 16 years and over (note a person 16–17 years must be accompanied by a person 18 years and over). All prices are per person, land only unless otherwise indicated.
Above lowest price is based on 2024-11-28 departure

$5809

Single i A person, who must be 18 years and over, travelling alone, must pay the single room price. All prices are per person, land only unless otherwise indicated.
Above lowest price is based on 2024-11-28 departure
Prices above are per person in USD
Single rooms are limited and subject to availability
Child prices may be available on request

*Internal-vacation flights: Please note that prices include land and internal-vacation airfares, which AAT Kings will book in order to fulfil the holiday itinerary.

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Trip Details

trip-details-whats-includedWhat's included

  • • 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House
    • Centrally located premium hotels
    • 8 included attractions/experiences
    • Arrival and departure private airport transfers

trip-details-diningDining

  • • 2 Dinners with Wine
  • • 8 Full Breakfasts
  • • 1 Lunch
  • • 1 Farewell Dinner

trip-details-flight-infoFlight Information

  • Day 1 – flights to arrive prior to 12.30pm into Adelaide Airport
    Day 15 – flights to depart anytime from Darwin Airport
    Internal-holiday flights: Please note that prices include land and internal-holiday airfares, which AAT Kings will book in order to fulfil the holiday itinerary:
    Day 3 Melbourne to Cairns
    Day 6 Cairns to Sydney 
    Return airfares from your home port are not included in the price above.
    Return airport to hotel transfers are included in the holiday price.
     

trip-details-what-to-bringWhat to Bring

  • • Warm layers in cooler months
  • • Camera
  • • Comfortable walking shoes
  • • Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
  • • Water bottle

trip-details-fitness-level-requirementsFitness Requirements

    Low level of fitness required

Itinerary Generating PDF...

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Settle into your hotel on the banks of the Yarra River and meet your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and dinner at the South Wharf riverside pub, The General Assembly restaurant. It's a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a unique setting.

  Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne

  Included Meals: Dinner with Wine

Join your Travel Director for a city sights tour that includes a private walk through Melbourne's famous hidden laneways. You'll discover the city's eclectic little lanes, arcades, café society and fascinating street art. There's time afterwards to explore the city on your own, enjoy an optional experience or simply relax and watch the world go by.

  Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne

  Included Meals: Breakfast

Things start to heat up in Cairns, the heart of Tropical North Queensland. Jump aboard a cruise at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures to discover some of the wildlife that calls this part of the state home, koalas, wallabies and crocs among them, before helping protect their habitats by planting trees as part of our Rainforest Restoration project. Talk about a feel-good day.

  Hotel: Hilton Hotel Cairns

  Included Meals: Breakfast

Get ready for an experience of a lifetime - board a high-speed catamaran and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel and view this natural living wonder up close (equipment provided) or stay dry and explore the stunning reef from the comfort of a semi-submersible craft, just one metre underwater. On board you'll be treated to a buffet lunch before you cruise back to Cairns.

  Hotel: Hilton Hotel Cairns

  Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a free day to do as you choose. A great option is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda. Be amazed as you travel over and through World Heritage rainforest, explore quaint Kuranda village and later board the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway for the return journey. If you’d prefer to spend the day relaxing by your hotel pool or sitting back at a local café you can do that too! In the evening meet up with your travelling companions for a dining experience at Ochre Restaurant.

  Hotel: Hilton Hotel Cairns

  Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Following a leisurely start to the morning it’s time to switch the tropical vibes back to city highlights as you fly to Sydney. Check into your centrally located hotel and spend the rest of the day and evening exploring as you wish. Ask your Travel Director for sightseeing and dinner suggestions.

  Hotel: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney

  Included Meals: Breakfast

Discover one of the great highlights of Sydney, the beautiful Sydney Opera House, on a guided tour inside this iconic building before experiencing the beauty of the city aboard a sightseeing harbour cruise sailing past Circular Quay, Shark Island, magnificent homes, beaches and parkland, and the iconic Harbour Bridge. If there ever was a place that slipped from the pages of a fairy-tale, Wendy’s Secret Garden at Lavender Bay is it. Overlooking Sydney Harbour, this pocket of floral paradise is explained by a local volunteer – did you know this was once unused wasteland? Take a walk around the grounds among the shrubs, herbs, and towering trees lining meandering paths, eyes peeled for the resident parrots, gulls, kookaburras and wagtails. Your visit provides a contribution to the ongoing maintenance of the enchanting garden.

  Hotel: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney

  Included Meals: Breakfast

The day is yours to explore at your leisure or book one of our hand crafted selection of optional activities. There are so many sights and experiences to be had in this city and further afield. This evening you can share your stories of your day with your fellow travellers at your Farewell Dinner.

  Hotel: Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney

  Included Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

All good things must come to an end. Fill up on your last breakfast before bidding farewell to your fellow travel companions. 

  Included Meals: Breakfast

Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.


Contrasts of Australia

First Choice

9 Day Guided Vacation

Melbourne to Sydney

There’s no denying Australia’s diversity. This Melbourne to Sydney tour invites you to glimpse a full range of natural attractions, whether two World Heritage Sites in Cairns (the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland) or the eye-popping, art-clad laneways of Melbourne and architectural marvel of Sydney Opera House. Wherever you venture, expect to discover First Nations culture.

Highlights

Local Connection

Discover what lies within the Opera House on an insiders tour. Fall in love with Sydneys Wendys Secret Garden; a volunteer horticulturalist revealing secret nooks in this floral wonderland.

Cultural Immersion

Melbourne’s laneways are a work of art, with street murals, hidden bars, boutiques, and cafés. We’ll show you where to look.

Sustainable Footprints

Cairns is the gateway to World Heritage listed rainforest. Ensure its protection by helping plant trees with our Rainforest Restoration project.

Wildlife & Nature

It doesn’t matter how many times you splash about in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef never fails to impress. There are too many world records being broken here to mention.

Accommodation

Your Guided Holiday includes a range of quality accommodation for your comfort.
The accommodation you will enjoy on this tour includes:

Optional Experiences

Please note, prices for Optional Experiences are subject to change.

To ensure your holiday is filled with memorable experiences, we have included a range of quality Optional Experiences for you to choose from and partake in, if you wish, during your holiday. The experiences can be booked on tour through your Travel Director.

Melbourne Skydeck (Melbourne)

Adult Price: AUD $28,00

Child Price: AUD $19.00

 

Experience the awe-inspiring 360 degree floor-to-ceiling views of Victoria's capital city at the Melbourne Skydeck, Eureka Tower. This viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere!

Melbourne Skydeck

Phillip Island - Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife (Melbourne)

Adult Price: AUD $199.00 

Child Price: AUD $139.00

If you’re curious about our native wildlife or just love animals, we’ve got you covered today! Start the day off with a visit to the Koala Conservation Reserve where you’ll join an experienced park Ranger and explore the tree top boardwalks to see the koalas up close in their natural habitat. Then there is the main attraction – The little penguins waddling up the sand to their dune burrow homes returning from their daily fishing excursion. Arrive at Phillip Island Parade Visitors Centre and learn about the life cycle of the little penguins and learn of the environmental and conservation initiatives in place to ensure the wildlife and vulnerable geology of Phillip Island remains protected.  As the sun goes down, head to the beach and watch as the Little Penguins battle the surf and make their way to their dune burrows. See the Little Penguins up close as they return to their nests to greet their families.

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Phillip Island - Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife

Down Under Tours Daintree Dreaming With Ngadiku Walk (Cairns)

Adult Price: AUD $330 Child Price: AUD $294

A cultural journey taking you from coast to rainforest experiencing natural beauty and ancient culture. Learn traditional hunting and gathering skills as you search for bush tucker of mud crabs, fish and mussels before tasting and sharing what you have caught and gathered. A short drive away is the lush rainforest of Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. Here you will experience the splendour of the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest. Enjoy a guided interpretive walk through the ancient rainforest and along the banks of the pristine waters of the Mossman Gorge. Lunch & damper included.
Down Under Tours Daintree Dreaming With Ngadiku Walk

Down Under Tours Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway (Cairns)

Adult Price: AUD $199 Child PriceAUD $105

Join your Down Under Tours coach transfer to Smithfield Station. Here you join Skyrail and marvel at the World's Most Beautiful Rainforest Experience, including time at both Red Peak and Barron Falls stations, both with spectacular lookouts. On arrival in Kuranda, the Village is yours to explore. The vibrant and colourful Heritage markets take place daily. Your return to Cairns is aboard the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail. Winding around curves, across bridges and through hand-hewn tunnels, this amazing engineering feat is a tribute to our pioneers. Upon arrival at historic Freshwater Station, you will board your coach back to your accommodation.

Down Under Tours Kuranda Skyrail and Scenic Railway

Blue Mountains Day Tour (J16) (Sydney)

Adult Price: $269.00 Child Price: $189.00

Explore the World Heritage-Listed Blue Mountains in style, starting with a visit to Sydney Zoo, Australia’s most advanced Zoo in the heart of Western Sydney, gateway to the Blue Mountains. See dingoes, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils and echidnas in a cage free environment in the Australian Precinct. Enjoy a delicious lunch in a local café in the heart of the Blue Mountains surrounded by locals then enjoy some free time discovering the unique mountain town of Leura with its quaint shops. Visit the famous Three Sisters rock formation up close from Echo Point. A highlight of the day is a stop at Scenic World where you can enjoy a ride on the Scenic Railway, Cableway and Skyway, a great way to see the steep valleys, canyons and get another perspective of the Three Sisters. Take a walk along the Rainforest boardwalk and immerse yourself in nature from the valley floor. Return to Sydney via coach.

Blue Mountains Day Tour (J16)

Waterfall, Wetlands & Skyrail Adventure (Kuranda)

Adult: $299.00 AUD
Child: $225.00 AUD

Embark on a Make Travel Matter® guided Waterfall, Wetlands & Skyrail adventure from Cairns. Explore Cattana Wetlands' palm forest with your experienced driver guide and Barron Falls with a Djabugay cultural guide. Savour lunch at Skybury, then journey to Emerald Creek Ice Creamery. Finish the day on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway travelling over and through the World Heritage Listed rainforest.

Waterfall, Wetlands & Skyrail Adventure
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