Wonders of Australia

Kick off your wondrous travels through Australia in sunny Brisbane. You have a free afternoon and evening, so why not explore some inner-city Brisbane sights? You could walk to the hub of the city, Queen Street Mall, where rich heritage and modern retail collide. Perhaps venture into South Bank's Parklands (site of Expo 88). Or for an injection of culture and adventure, visit South Bank's Cultural Precinct. Later, kick off your trip meeting your Travel Director and travelling companions for a Welcome Reception and dinner.

This morning, you’ll get to experience Aboriginal culture on a tour of Birrunga Gallery, Brisbane's Indigenous Gallery. You will be personally guided by one of our acclaimed First Nations artists to view the original work by resident artists, and to gain valuable behind-the-artwork insights and stories behind some of Australia’s leading contemporary Aboriginal art. The afternoon and evening are yours, to perhaps explore Queen’s Wharf or the trendy bars and restaurants of Brisbane’s South Bank. Ask your Travel Director for recommendations.

There are no cars on Hamilton Island. Which pretty much sums up the pace of life on this drop of dreaminess in the middle of the Whitsundays. Feel your pulse slow as you ease into ‘Hamo’ speed, perhaps taking a dip in the gin-clear Coral Sea, maybe heading off for a round of golf, definitely booking a recliner by the pool. If you feel the need to explore further afield, book a golf buggy. Wherever you wander, re-join the crew for sunset cocktails.

The Great Barrier Reef is immortalised in record books for good reason. Yes, it breaks records in size. But it also breaks them in beauty – there will be moments today, skipping over the archipelago in a catamaran, when you’ll think someone has taken the glasses off your nose and cleaned them for the first time. Skip over the World Heritage listed Coral Sea to a pontoon – your base to swim and snorkel with what lies beneath. That includes six of the world’s seven marine turtles. How many can you count? For a different perspective, take to the skies on an optional scenic flight revealing the scale and drama of this magical part of Queensland. You’ll fall in love with Heart Reef. 

After yesterday’s Great Barrier Reef overload, we wouldn’t blame you for sleeping in. But… there are so many other things to see and do around Hamilton, at your leisure. Enjoy brunch at the marina, or lace up your hiking boots and head up Passage Peak for unbroken views across the archipelago. Perhaps followed by a well-deserved dip at Catseye Beach or Coral Cove. The stretch of sand that’s regularly voted the most beautiful in the world, however, is Whitehaven – so high in silica, it squeaks underfoot. It’s a short boat-ride away, but we can help you get there. 

Sleep in, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, sneak in one last swim and soak up the views – you’re on Hamilton Island time, after all. This patch of paradise is a siren you’ll want to return to. But you’ve got another watery outlook to distract you: Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Watch the city light up as you enjoy dinner at a waterside restaurant.

There are some places that sear into your memory. The Sydney Opera House is one. This harbourside building is mind-blowing from the outside, and equally mesmerising from the inside, as you’ll discover on a behind-the-scenes tour. The city’s other famous landmark is Bondi Beach, a crescent of sand where the beautiful people flock to swim and surf. Don your swimsuit and join them, or stroll the promenade in search of boutiques and achingly cool cafes. Speaking of food, this afternoon you’re doing good at Our Big Kitchen, helping feed those in need within the Bondi community. 

You could spend weeks exploring Sydney. Months even. But you have today, so get set for a wild ride. Your agenda is completely up to you, but we have more than a few ideas. Perhaps a bird’s-eye perspective of the city on a Sydney BridgeClimb? Maybe a ferry to Manly for fish-and-chips on the beach? And ideally a stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden, which offers so many lookouts for sparkling harbour views, amplified over dinner when you jump on a boat to cruise under the Harbour Bridge and beside the Opera House.

You’ve experienced Sydney from most angles, but you’re about to see it from above the clouds as you bid farewell to your fellow companions.