Australia in Eleven Nights — Melbourne, Gold Coast, Cairns and Sydney
This is the long version of the east coast: four cities instead of three, eleven nights, and the reef added in the middle. It is the itinerary for travellers making one trip to Australia and wanting the country rather than a corner of it.
Journey overview
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
This is the long version of the east coast: four cities instead of three, eleven nights, and the reef added in the middle. It is the itinerary for travellers making one trip to Australia and wanting the country rather than a corner of it.
Journey highlights
The moments that make this journey unforgettable — the signature experiences we have woven through every day, so the best of the destination is never left to chance.
- Four cities in eleven nights — Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Sydney.
- A full day on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.
- The Great Ocean Road and the Phillip Island penguin parade.
- Two Gold Coast theme-park days with entries included.
- The Blue Mountains and a hop-on hop-off pass in Sydney.
Day-by-day itinerary
You are met at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and driven to your hotel by private vehicle. The rest of the day is free. Melbourne's centre is compact and walkable, which makes for a gentle first evening after a long flight. · Melbourne
A full day southeast to Phillip Island, ending at the penguin parade, where little penguins come ashore at dusk and cross the beach to their burrows. Shared basis, returning to Melbourne in the evening. · Melbourne
A full day southwest along the Great Ocean Road, running close to the water before reaching the limestone stacks standing offshore below the cliffs. Shared basis. · Melbourne
A travel day. You transfer to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport for your domestic flight to Brisbane Airport, the gateway for the Gold Coast, then continue to your Gold Coast hotel. Domestic airfare is not included. · Gold Coast
A full day at Movie World, the film-themed park on the Gold Coast, with theme-park entry included. You make your own way to and from the park. · Gold Coast
A second theme-park day at Sea World, with a jet boat ride included alongside your entry. You make your own way to and from the park. · Gold Coast
A travel day north to Cairns by domestic flight from Brisbane Airport. Domestic airfare is not included. The remainder of the day is free once you reach your Cairns hotel — Cairns is tropical and noticeably warmer than the coast you have left. · Cairns
A full-day reef cruise from Cairns out to an island on the Great Barrier Reef, returning in the afternoon. Lunch is provided as part of the excursion, which runs on a shared basis. · Cairns
A travel day south to Sydney by domestic flight, then a private transfer to your hotel. Domestic airfare is not included. The remainder of the day is free. · Sydney
A full-day excursion west to the Blue Mountains, the sandstone escarpment country outside Sydney. The escarpment drops away into forested valleys that hold their haze through the day, which is where the range gets its name. The excursion runs on a shared basis and returns to the city in the evening. · Sydney
A hop-on hop-off sightseeing pass for Sydney, valid for the day. You set your own route and stop where you want rather than following a fixed tour. · Sydney
Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and a transfer to Sydney Airport for your onward flight. Your onward flight is not part of this package, so allow the check-in time your airline requires. If you have been diving in Cairns, check your operator's guidance on how long to wait before flying.
What's included & excluded
Exactly what your journey covers — set out clearly, with no surprises, so you know precisely what to expect.
Included
- Eleven nights' accommodation — three in Melbourne, three on the Gold Coast, two in Cairns and three in Sydney.
- Daily breakfast, from Day 2 to Day 12.
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to your hotel.
- Private airport transfers on each domestic sector, between your hotel and the departure or arrival airport, on Days 4, 7 and 9.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Sydney hotel to Sydney Airport.
- Full-day Phillip Island penguin parade excursion, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Full-day Great Ocean Road tour, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Movie World theme-park entry.
- Sea World entry with a jet boat ride.
- Full-day Great Barrier Reef island cruise from Cairns, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Lunch on Day 8, provided as part of the reef excursion.
- Full-day Blue Mountains excursion, on a seat-in-coach basis.
- Hop-on hop-off Sydney sightseeing pass.
Excluded
- GST is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- TCS is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
- All meals other than those listed under Inclusions, including dinners and drinks with meals.
- Transport to and from the Gold Coast theme parks. Entries are included; getting there is your own arrangement and at your own cost.
- Any sightseeing, entry ticket, in-water activity or excursion not specifically listed under Inclusions. This includes diving, and any equipment hire or guided activity charged separately by the reef operator.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone, minibar, and anything of a personal nature.
- Early check-in and late check-out charges, and any hotel upgrade.
- City taxes or resort fees charged directly by the hotel.
- Anything not specifically listed under Inclusions.
Related to this journey
Every destination on this journey has its own guide — attractions, where to stay and what to eat — and the journeys that pair with this one are a click away.
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