Australian
Itinerary
Ideas
I suggest the following areas and activities for your consideration, but this is just a short list of the hundreds of the incredible adventures that Australia has to offer. If there are any other areas that you would like to visit or things that you want to do, just tell me. Swim with wild dolphins or sea lions? Ride a camel? No problem, we can do.
City Tours: Bus, small group or private tours of the city and neighboring beach suburbs or even a walking tour of the historic Rocks district.
Harbor Cruises: Sydney is best seen from the water
and we recommend either a harbor lunch or dinner cruise or a half day of sailing and relaxing with a local skipper.
Opera House: Either a fascinating hour-long tour of the famous Opera House or an evening
including a tour, dinner and performance of opera, drama or theater.
Destination NSW
Bridge Climb: Yes, you can climb to the top of the Harbour Bridge!
Wine Touring: The Hunter Valley wine region us just a couple of hours away and day tours (bus, small group or private)
and overnight tours are available.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Club
The Blue Mountains: “Australia’s Grand Canyon” is just a couple of hours from Sydney but a million miles away. Small group, 4 wheel drive tours get you off the road, away
from the crowds and into the wilderness areas of this World Heritage-listed national park. Mountain biking and hiking are other exciting options.
Beautiful Blue Mountains
Surf Lessons: We have city tours that include surf lessons on
famous Bondi Beach or behind the scenes visit to the North Bondi Surf Club, ground zero for surfing.
Wildlife Tour: Get out into the "bush" to spot koalas, kangaroos and other iconic Australian wildlife in their
natural habitat.
Whale Watching Cruises: (May to mid-November only)
Rainforest Dining
Queensland Islands
Yes, you can stay on the Great Barrier Reef. These are great island resorts in beautiful settings and we’ll help you pick the one that’s right for you.
Queensland
Rainforest Rail
Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the tropical rainforests of North Queensland and the secluded beauty of Cape Tribulation to the north. We recommend at least 4 nights here (or nearby Palm Cove or Port Douglas) to enjoy
the following:
Rainforest: A small group or private 4 wheel drive "eco tour” visiting the exotic rainforest the pristine beaches of this unique World Heritage-listed area. For a special treat, spend a few nights
at a lodge in the rainforest.
Reef: Mr. Australia will help you pick the Reef trip that is just right for you. Non-swimmers can enjoy glass-bottomed boat or semi-submersible options and swimmers can enjoy snorkeling
or even an "introductory" scuba dive without being a certified diver!
Rainforest from Above
Day tours: Enjoy an exciting full day tour including the historic train to Kuranda, the “Skyrail” back down and lunch at the Tjapukai Aboriginal
Culture Center or a wildlife park.
Flames of the Forest: A candle-lit group dinner in the rainforest. This is really unique.
Barossa Valley Vines and Wines
South Australia
Use charming Adelaide as your base to visit the many attractions of the region. We recommend at least 4 nights here for the following:
Kangaroo Island: A short flight from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island can best be described as a “zoo without fences.” It is home to a wide variety of native wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, dolphins,
sea lions, fur seals, eagles and ospreys (to name a few), living in their natural environment. Kangaroo Island has a “rough and ready” early history full of tales of sealers, whalers and escaped convicts.
We recommend spending
two days here to tour this unique area with a small-group, 4-wheel drive tour. Two days and two nights are even better.
Wine Touring: The scenic Barossa Valley is Australia’s oldest and best-known wine
region and a haven for foodies. A day or overnight tour is a treat for the eyes and the palate.
Dolphin Encounter: Sail along the coast and swim with these wild, beautiful creatures, or just watch from
the boat.
Table for Two with a View
Tasmania
Rated by Conde Nast Traveler as the #1 temperate (not tropical) island in the world, this uncrowded wonderland features beaches, mountains, temperate rainforests, waterfalls, remnants of the convict era and Australia’s
friendliest locals. This is also a great place to get “up close and personal” with native wildlife such as wombats, wallabies, possums and the Tasmanian Devil. To fully appreciate the natural wonders of Tasmania
you have to get out of the main cities of Hobart and Launceston, which requires at least 3-4 days. Travel by rental car is recommended, but tours and coach travel are also possible.
We recommend:
-
A day trip (or overnight) from Hobart to tour the site of the Port Arthur penal colony
- An overnight visit to either Cradle Mountain or Freycinet National Parks, or both!
- A visit to historic Strahan
to ride the historic railway and take a fascinating river cruise
Wineglass Bay Cruise
Convict Era Sites
Tasmanian Waterfall
Victoria
Cosmopolitan Melbourne is your gateway to enjoy this state. Popular activities in and around Melbourne include:
Penguins on Parade
Great Ocean Road tours or drive.
Fairy Penguins: Tour to Phillip Island to watch the little penguins return to their nests after a day of feeding at sea. Tours often include other attractions such as a Koala sanctuary, Phillip Island Nature Park, Seal
Rocks or a farm visit.
The Great Ocean Road: This scenic coastal road offers stunning views of the surf, the rugged coastal cliffs and stone monoliths rising from the ocean.
Wine Touring: The
nearby Yarra Valley region is easily visited in a day.
Puffing Billy Train: Ride
Australia’s most famous narrow gauge steam train through the scenic Blue Dandenongs mountains. Day tours include other area attractions as well.
South Bank Complex: This dining and entertainment complex includes the Crowne Casino, restaurants,
hotels, nightclubs and other activities.
Laneways between main streets in the city center off a fantastic array of unique boutique shops and cafes to explore on your own or on a guided tour.
Outback Dining
Learning the Old Ways
Northern Territory
The “Red Center” (Ayers Rock and Alice Springs) is the most popular area of interest here, but the Darwin area offers amazing “off the beaten track” experiences. The two areas are connected by the Ghan train that runs twice a week.
Billabong Cruise
Credit: Tourism NT/Helen Orr
Credit: Tourism NT
Ayers Rock / Uluru: A two-night stay here allows you to see the Olgas rock formation, tour the base of Ayers Rock, learn about Aboriginal culture and dine under the stars of the outback sky at the “Sounds of Silence” dinner.
Alice Springs: Visit
“The Alice” to experience a real Outback city. Visit the headquarters of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the School of the Air and other city attractions or enjoy outback activities such as hot air ballooning, camel rides or 4x4
tours.
Kings Canyon National Park: Why not spend a night at this stunning national park on a two day tour from Ayers Rock to Alice Springs. Enjoy great outback scenery, a comfy lodge and great canyon walks in or above
the canyon.
Darwin Area (the “Top End” of the country): Spend 3-4 nights here for a tour the “Crocodile Dundee country” of Kakadu National Park and, if time allows, Litchfield and Katherine National Parks.
This area is a wonderland of scenery, history and wildlife and a truly unique experience.
Credit: Tourism NT/Helen Orr
Ancient Artwork
Mr. Australia Enjoys Outback Showers