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Air Canada Vacations

Icons of Australia

Overview

Discover Australia on this guided tour that takes you through different regions. Experience the Tangalooma Island Resort, a rainforest hike, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef and the Ayers Rock, and a hike through Walpa Gorge. See, learn, and taste all that Australia has to offer.

16 days | 15 nights

Format

Guided tour

Locations

  • Brisbane
  • Cairns (Tropical North Queensland)
  • Sydney
  • Yulara

Inclusions

  • Flight to Brisbane, Australia; return from Sydney (If the Flight & Hotel package option is chosen).
  • 15 nights of accommodation
  • Domestic flights where applicable
  • Guided tours, as indicated
  • Transfers between airport/hotel
  • Admission into Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and a river cruise upon return
  • Return boat transfers in Tangalooma
  • Day pass access to Tangalooma Island Resort and full use of resort facilities, access to a day lounge
  • Eco Ranger Experience
  • Lunch voucher, 1 standard beverage
  • 4-wheel drive car tour
  • Tea or coffee and biscuits at the Cruise Centre, with lunch included 
  • 1-hour Daintree River cruise
  • Admission Daintree National Park fees
  • 1 morning tea/afternoon tea
  • 3 hours at the Outer Barrier Reef platform
  • Snorkelling equipment and Lycra suit
  • Hot and cold buffet lunch
  • Eco reef talk
  • Semi-submersible coral viewing and underwater observatory 
  • Environmental Management Charge
  • Cocktails, canapes, gourmet dinner hamper, beer, or wine at Ayers Rock
  • Wintijiri Wiru Mala story
  • Breakfast at Kings Creek Station
  • Panoramic city tour of Sydney
  • 3-hour lunch cruise
  • Admission to Calmsley Hill
  • Morning tea refreshments
  • National Park fees
  • Glass of sparkling wine or juice
  • Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah visit
  • Earn 4,000 extra Aeroplan® points per member on this tour for travel completed by December 31, 2025.

 

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Brisbane

Upon arrival in Brisbane, take your private transfer to your hotel and check in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 2

Brisbane – Sightseeing

Join your group to enjoy an informative commentary from your captain as you glide along Brisbane’s waterfront, passing the city’s skyscrapers to leafy suburbs with waterside mansions.

Explore the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where you can also feed the kangaroos and wallabies. Plus, discover the Platypus House to perhaps see the shy platypus, a native to Australia.

Day 3

Brisbane – Tangalooma

Go further than land can take you and enjoy a cruise along the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Motor along the bay in our pontoon boat to see the marine life underneath. Knowledgeable guides provide information about the island and its surroundings.

Meal(s): Lunch voucher, 1 standard beverage

Day 4

Brisbane – At leisure

Spend some time taking in all the sights and enjoying all the delicious cuisine Brisbane has to offer.

Day 5

Brisbane – Cairns

After you check out of the hotel, you will be chauffeured to the airport for your domestic flight to Cairns.

Upon arrival, your driver will escort you to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure and discover an exciting city that takes pride in its cultural heritage.

Day 6

Cairns – Daintree Rainforest

Join your nature guide and travel north along the scenic route via Mossman to Cape Tribulation. Lush farmlands contrast with the seascape as you approach the majestic Daintree River.

Take time for a short morning tea break. Then, board an informative river cruise. Relax and enjoy the splendor only the Daintree can offer as you learn of estuarine crocodiles, mangrove forests, and wildlife.

Ascend Mount Alexandra and pause for a panoramic view of a Wet Tropics World Heritage Area merging with the azure colours of the Coral Sea. Experience the rainforest intimately on the elevated boardwalk and enjoy a barbecue lunch with freshly prepared salads.

Your 4-wheel drive car tour will take you beyond Cape Tribulation along seven kilometres of the Bloomfield Track to the pristine Emmagen Creek. You’ll even have time for a refreshing rainforest swim.

After a short afternoon refreshment stop, you will cross the Daintree River by cable ferry and begin your homeward journey back.

Meal(s): Tea/coffee, lunch

Day 7

Cairns – Great Barrier Reef

Pack your bags and make your way to the Reef Fleet Terminal in Cairns for your Great Barrier Reef adventure. 

Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The stable reef activity platform is the perfect base for swimmers and non-swimmers to explore. Snorkel or dive in, visit the underwater observatory, cruise in a semi-sub, or just relax on the sundeck with a delicious buffet lunch. Don’t forget to bring your swimming costume, beach towel, hat, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes.

Meal(s): Morning and afternoon tea, lunch

Day 8

Cairns – At leisure

Spend the day exploring the beautiful city of Cairns on your own.

Day 9

Cairns to Ayers Rock/Uluru

After checking out of your hotel, meet your driver in the lobby and take your transfer to the airport to board your flight to Uluru. Upon arrival in Ayers Rock/Uluru, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Wintjiri Wiru takes place at Ayers Rock Resort and is an immersive experience into Anangu culture. It begins with a transfer from the resort to a sustainably built platform where you can take in the stunning sunset with views out to both Uluru and Kata Tjuta. A cocktail will be served before you are seated in the amphitheater with a gourmet hamper celebrating native ingredients and paired perfectly with a choice of Australian wine or beer.

As darkness falls, drones, lights, traditional music, and the Pitjantjatjara language will bring to life the Mala story under the desert sky.

As custodians of the land, Anangu hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru and share their story in an immersive storytelling experience.

Meal(s): Cocktails, canapes, gourmet dinner hamper, beer, or wine

Day 10

Uluru – Kings Canyon

Travel from Ayers Rock Resort to Kings Canyon and make the rocky climb to the rim for marvelous views of Watarrka National Park. Follow the rim of the canyon to look down its at lookout points.

Time permitting, you may choose to descend into the green oasis of the “Garden of Eden.” The circuit walk takes approximately 3 hours to complete and is rocky and steep in parts. 

This is a level 4 hike. Alternatively, you may wish to take an easier, shorter walk to explore the boulder-strewn canyon floor.

Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 11

Uluru – Sightseeing

Wake up extra early to travel to Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, the Uluru sunrise viewing area. Watch the first rays of sun light up the desert while enjoying a warming cup of tea or coffee.

Afterwards, go to the mystical 36 domes of Kata Tjuta. On the way, enjoy panoramic views of the southern side of Kata Tjuta at a dune viewing platform before arriving at Walpa Gorge. Spend some time exploring the area and the unusual conglomerate rock formations.

The 1.3 km walking trail through Walpa Gorge follows the natural creek between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.

Meal(s): Tea, coffee and biscuits

Day 12

Uluru – Sydney

Get packed and ready to meet your driver, who will take you to the airport for your flight to Sydney. Upon arrival, you will meet your driver, who will chauffer you to your hotel.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure, enjoying the fine cuisine and sites that Syndey has to offer.

Day 13

Sydney – Sightseeing

Leave your hotel for an unforgettable panoramic Sydney half-day city sights tour. You will visit the historic Rocks area and learn about the history of the early convicts. Continue through the financially focused Central Business District (BD) and Macquarie Street. Marvel at 18th-century sandstone architecture such as NSW Parliament House, Rum Hospital, Hyde Park Barracks, and St Mary’s Cathedral.

We will continue to Mrs Macquaries Point to enjoy magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge and travel along the coves and shores of one of the world's most impressive harbours.  

Travel on to famous Bondi Beach for a 30-minute stop and visit the beachfront promenade to put your toes in the sand. You’ll see plenty of bronzed Aussie lifesavers and surfers riding the waves.

The tour continues to Tamarama and Bronte beaches before returning to the city via Centennial Park and Paddington, a trendy district with its elegant terrace houses and boutique shops along Oxford Street. 

The city tour will end at Darling Harbour, where you will embark on a 3-hour cruise.

Meal(s): BBQ and seafood lunch buffet, with cake

Day 14

Sydney – Blue Mountains

Start your day early with a first stop at Calmsley Hill, a working farm that is also home to kangaroos, emus, wombats and koalas.

Continue to Blue Mountains and visit a range of stunning outlooks of the Jamison Valley before arriving at Eaglehawk Lookout, a remote lookout point where you’ll be able to get views of the famous Three Sisters rocky landmark. The Govetts Leap lookout nearby is one of the most famous lookouts in Australia that provides sweeping views down the valley to the Grose Wilderness.

End the day at the delightful Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah, where we get to enjoy the sweeping views of Sydney before travelling down the Bells Line of Road to arrive back at the hotel.

Meal(s): Morning tea, wine, or juice

Day 15

Sydney – At leisure

Continue exploring the area at leisure.

Day 16

Return to Canada

After check-out, meet your driver in the lobby of the hotel and take your transfer to the airport to board your flight back to Canada. 

Accomodations

Where you'll stay

The hotels listed below are presented as examples for your reference only. Hotel accommodation details will be communicated to you or your travel agent prior to departure.

Location

Hotel

Brisbane
Voco Brisbane (or similar)
4
Cairns (Tropical North Queensland)
Crystalbrook Flynn (or similar)
4
Yulara
Ayers Rock Resort (or similar)
4
Sydney
Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour (or similar)
4

Room details

Type of bed(s): 1 double bed or 2 twin beds
Room occupancy: Maximum 3 people (3 adults, or 2 adults and 1 child)
Unless otherwise specified, guests will stay in a standard room at all hotels during the trip.

Important Information

  • Daily service: 

    • January 2, 2024, until March 31, 2026.
  • Not included:

    • Transfers (unless specified)
    • Optional excursions
    • Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
    • Porterage fees
    • Any meals/beverages (unless specified)
    • Airport service charges, personal accident insurance
    • Gratuities

     

    • Private airport transfers to/from hotels
    • Domestic flights
    • Boat cruises/boat transfers 
    • Excursions mentioned in the itinerary are all included in the package but may be rescheduled to take place on an earlier or later day, or replaced with an alternate option depending on availability, weather, seasonality and operational reasons beyond the supplier’s control.
    • The sequence of the itinerary may be altered for reasons beyond the supplier’s control, such as accommodation availability, weather, national events, strikes, etc.