Sydney, Reef & Rainforest Itinerary

Welcome to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's cities. Blessed with a glorious natural harbour, golden beaches, and a blissful climate, this incredible metropolis offers a stunning introduction to Australia.

Settle in with a stroll along Circular Quay. With the Harbour Bridge at one end and the Opera House at the other, is there any more iconic place to begin your Australian dream vacation?

Accommodation: Sydney - 3 Nights

Discover Sydney’s rich and complex story on this expert-led small-group walking tour. Explore key landmarks while gaining insight into Australian history, culture, society, and the experiences of First Nations people. Beginning at Customs House, learn about British colonisation and its impact on the Cadigal people of the Eora Nation. Along the way, hear stories of Aboriginal leaders, governors, convicts, entrepreneurs, and migrants who shaped the city. The tour winds through Sydney’s vibrant centre before concluding in The Rocks at a popular brewery, where harbour views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge provide a memorable finishing touch.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy some free time to discover Sydney in depth, at your own pace. Sailing through Sydney Harbour really is a must-do. Take a ferry to Manly for a laid-back beach day, or cruise to Taronga Zoo, whose stunning location offer outstanding harbour views for visitors and animals alike.

Adventurers can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge: as well as 360 degree harbour views, you'll learn all about this engineering marvel from an expert guide. Or tackle the Bondi to Bronte walking trail along the sandstone cliffs for panoramic views of the South Pacific Ocean.

The Sydney Fish Market is the largest market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Here you can pile your plate with fresh mud crab, Balmain bugs, lobsters, fish n chips or freshly cut sashimi, and take your haul outside to eat on the pier.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today you will fly to Hamilton Island where you will be surrounded by pristine white beaches and a whole world of coral and marine life. It's hard to believe this tranquil resort island is just 16 kilometres away from the Queensland coast. Hamilton Island is the perfect base to explore the 74 islands of the Whitsundays.

Fringed by coral reefs and secluded inlets, the 6 square kilometre island is easy to get around, with golf buggies being a popular mode of transport! 70% of the landscape is protected National Park, offering endless opportunities to reconnect with nature during your visit.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hamilton Island - 3 Nights

Experience the ultimate Whitehaven Beach adventure on this full-day tour of Whitsunday Island. Cruise to the pristine 7km stretch of iconic white silica sand and explore the breathtaking Hill Inlet. Follow a short guided hike along paths once walked by the Ngaro people, taking in panoramic views from the famous Hill Inlet Lookout. Discover the northern end of the beach before returning south, where you can relax, sunbathe, stroll to the Southern Lookout, take part in fun beach activities and enjoy a mouthwatering beach BBQ prepared by our crew, creating an unforgettable day of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty. Swim, explore, and soak up the sun on this unforgettable coastal escape.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Continue to enjoy island life however you wish. Play a round of golf on the island's 18-hole championship course, trek the island’s walking trails, hire a dinghy and discover secluded coves, or try any Whitsunday excursions you didn't fit in yesterday.

If you fancy a lazy day you don't have to leave the resort: spoil yourself with a sumptuous luxury Spa treatment, swim a few lengths of the infinity-edge pools, sip cocktails from the poolside bar and allow time to drift away.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Fly to Cairns and take a leisurely hour-long drive to tropical Port Douglas. Welcome to the only place on Earth where two World Heritage-listed sites meet: the aquamarine waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and the stunning canopy of oldest living rainforest on the planet: the Daintree Rainforest.

Port Douglas: Reef and Rainforest

Port Douglas itself is a foodie haven with cafés, bars, and restaurants galore. A year-round resort destination, you can dine al fresco and swim in the warm ocean waters no matter when you visit. With three nights here you have ample time to discover the region's many delights.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Distance: 70 km | 43 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 15 mins

Accommodation: Port Douglas - 3 Nights

Set out on a full-day sailing and snorkelling adventure to the pristine Mackay Coral Cay, designed for ocean lovers and conservation-minded travellers. 

Glide across turquoise waters before exploring vibrant coral gardens at your own pace, where giant clams, sea turtles, and colourful reef fish thrive in their natural environment. Marine biologists accompany the journey, offering engaging presentations and insights into the reef’s delicate ecosystem and fascinating marine life. Perfect for underwater photography or relaxed exploration, this eco-focused experience blends adventure and education, creating a meaningful and immersive connection with the Great Barrier Reef’s extraordinary natural beauty.

Included Meals: Lunch

Ideal for nature lovers and water enthusiasts, this tour begins with an interpretive river walk along a shallow or dry riverbed, guiding guests upstream through lush rainforest. The journey then shifts to a new section of the river, where participants receive river sleds for the next stage of exploration. From here, they can drift peacefully beneath a dense green canopy before experiencing the thrill of faster-moving currents. Blending tranquillity, adventure, and immersion in the natural environment, this experience offers a unique way to connect with the river’s changing moods and landscapes.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Travel to the heart of the ancient Daintree Rainforest, this region is one of the most biologically diverse and extraordinary landscapes in Australia. Stretching between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation, the area is renowned for its lush tropical rainforest, pristine beaches, winding waterways, and remarkable wildlife. Part of the World Heritage-listed Daintree National Park, the region offers incredible opportunities to explore scenic walking trails, spot rare birds and crocodiles, discover Indigenous culture, and experience the unique place where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Distance: 65 km | 40 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 30 mins

Accommodation: Daintree Rainforest - 2 Nights

A wide range of activities are available including horse riding, river wildlife cruises, sea kayaking and Great Barrier Reef snorkelling and diving trips. For those with a more leisurely inclination, there are wonderful beaches -- Cow Bay and Thornton's Beach to explore, tropical fruit and ice-cream tastings, or just taking in the ambience of the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest. The pristine nature of the rainforest on the property allows it to support a small, but vibrant, community of Cassowaries -- a rare flightless bird that is the essence of Australia's wet tropics and a species becoming very rare indeed.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Say farewell to the rainforest and return to Cairns today to board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. 

We know you will enjoy your 12 Day Sydney, Reef and Rainforest Fly/Drive vacation and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Approximate Distance: 65 km | 40 miles   Total Driving Time: 1 hour 30 mins