A choice of Superior or Standard hotels

10-meals

Transfers throughout

Sightseeing in each destinations

Kangaroo inter-island flights and tours

With the Darwin/Top End extension

3-nights Litchfield/Kakadu/Katherine National Parks tours

Day 3 ~ Sydney: Morning arrival and transfer to your hotel. Leisurely day. Four Seasons Hotel Sydney or Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour

Day 4 ~ Sydney:  Your morning coffee cruise on Sydney’s justly famous harbor highlights points of interest and history of the harbor and the city. Relax aboard as you pass the world-renowned Opera House and some of Sydney’s delightful waterfront suburbs.

Day 5 ~ Sydney:  Experience the vibrancy of Sydney, one of the world's most spectacular cities. See The Rocks—Sydney's birthplace, the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour and cosmopolitan Kings Cross. Visit Bondi Beach, Australia's most famous surf beach.

Day 6 ~ Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne:  Morning flight to Canberra, to see the best of Australia’s capital in a single day, from the towering heights of Mt. Ainslie Lookout to the historical Australian War Memorial. Tour the Parliamentary Triangle, viewing the High Court and the National Gallery, with lunch at the Parliament House. Complete your visit with the display at Regatta Point and a drive by the embassies and diplomatic missions. Early evening flight to Melbourne. L. Sofitel Melbourne or Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne

Day 7 ~ Melbourne: Your morning city tour includes the lovely Fitzroy Gardens, Captain Cook’s Cottage, the Botanical Gardens and the charming Victorian architecture of the city. This evening, a special event is planned: dinner aboard Melbourne’s famous Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. As you cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, you’ll enjoy fine cuisine and the very best of Australian wines. D

Day 8 ~ Melbourne: Today you’ll see some of Victoria’s most spectacular coastal scenery as you travel via Geelong and the holiday resort of Torquay to the spectacular Great Ocean Road. You’ll be awed by the Twelve Apostles, remnants of the London Bridge and the Loch Ard Gorge

Day 9 ~ Melbourne/Kangaroo Island:  Fly to Adelaide and connect to Kangaroo Island. With your driver/guide and 4WD, explore this captivating place, searching out wild koalas, high in the gum trees, and tiny wallabies among the undergrowth. Before visiting Seal Bay, enjoy a delicious bush barbecue lunch with fine local wines. Walk along the beach among sea lions lounging lazily in the sand. D . Wanderer’s Rest

Day 10 ~ Kangaroo Island/Adelaide:  Visit Flinders Chase National Park, the habitat of kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, countless birds, and the rare Cape Barren geese. A spectacular grotto, Admirals Arch, houses a New Zealand fur seal colony. Next stop: the Remarkable Rocks—surreal looking boulders tossed atop a granite dome. After a picnic lunch, visit the penguin colony before your brief flight to Adelaide. B,L
Hyatt Regency or Rydges South Park

Day 11 ~ Adelaide: A delightful way to see the city is aboard the Adelaide Explorer, a tram replica bus that covers the city in a leisurely three hours with informative commentary about its history and life as it is today. You may also stop for awhile at a place of interest and rejoin the tour when the next bus passes.

Day 12 ~ Adelaide/Alice Springs: Morning flight to Alice Springs, followed by a tour of the historic Old Telegraph Station, Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Strehlow Research Center.  Crowne Plaza Alice Springs or All Seasons Oasis

Day 13 ~ Alice Springs/Ayers Rock:  Fly to Ayers Rock. Tonight, dine in the desert and experience the Sounds of Silence: a spectacular outback sunset over The Olgas, the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo and the finest tastes of outback cuisine. Afterward, an astronomer explains the southern skies, the Milky Way, brilliant stars and constellations. D. Sails in the Desert or Outback Pioneer

Day 14 ~ Ayers Rock/Cairns:  This morning, tour the base of the world's largest monolith, learning about the intricate background of the Aborigines' paintings and ancient occupation sites. Later, off to Tropical North Queensland. Sofitel Reef Casino or The Oasis Resort Cairns

Day 15 ~ Great Barrier Reef:  Travel up the coast to Port Douglas and join the high speed catamaran MV Quicksilver for a cruise to the Outer Reef. Anchor at Agincourt Reef for swimming, snorkeling or viewing the reef in the submarine viewer. A delectable seafood buffet is served. L

Day 16 ~ Kuranda:  A picturesque rail journey to Kuranda this morning. Tour the little township and then take a fun ride aboard an Army Duck with your Rainforestation guide explaining the ecology of the area. Visit the koala sanctuary and meet up with other typical Australian wildlife. After lunch, delight in a performance by the Pamagirri Dancers, depicting Aboriginal Dreamtime legends from a culture over 40,000 years old. Ride the Skyrail cable car above the rainforest canopy before returning to Cairns. L

Day 17 ~ Cairns/Los Angeles: Back to the airport for your homeward flights --via Sydney--to Los Angeles. En route, you'll re-cross the International Date Line and regain the day "lost" earlier, arriving mid-morning.

SPECTACULAR TOP END 6-DAY EXTENSION BY MOTORCOACH

Extension operates daily June-August, less frequently during the rest of the year. Details on request.

Day 17 ~ Cairns/Darwin:  Fly to Darwin for your next adventure! Private car transfer to your hotel. Saville Park Suites

Day 18 ~ Darwin/Litchfield National Park/ Katherine:  An early start today as you travel to Litchfield National Park. Highlights include the fascinating termite mounds, magnificent Tolmer, Wangi and Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole. Enjoy lunch and a swim before continuing to Katherine via the Adelaide River. L. Pine Tree Motel

Day 19 ~ Katherine: This morning there will be a memorable excursion to Elsey National Park. Visit Territory Manor; Mataranka Homestead, where you can swim in the magical thermal pool; and the Elsey Replica. Return to Katherine for a cruise along the Katherine River, which winds through Nitmiluk National Park. The towering gorge walls provide shelter to many species of birds and animals. L

Day 20 ~ Katherine/Kakadu National Park:  Depart Katherine for an exciting two days in Kakadu National Park, arriving via the southern end and the Mary River. Continue to Waterfall Creek, a deep permanent pool fringed by pandanus palms and high cliffs. Then on to Cooinda, home of Yellow Waters, where you will see a variety of birds, wildlife and crocodiles during a memorable sunset cruise. L. Gagudju Lodge Cooinda

Day 21 ~ Kakadu National Park/Darwin:  Up early today to visit Nourlangie Rock, magical in the early morning hours. On to Ubirr, where rock art dating back some 20,000 years will introduce you to the beliefs and legends of the local Aboriginal people. Today’s experience will create long-lasting memories of Kakadu for you. See the South Alligator River and Bowali Visitor Centre before you return to Darwin. L Saville Park Suites

Day 22 ~ Darwin/Los Angeles: Transfer to the airport for your flights, via Sydney, home. En route re-cross the International Date Line and regain the time "lost" earlier, arriving mid-morning.