Intrepid Travel Best of Australia Itinerary

Welcome to Sydney (Warrane), land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 1 pm. Afterward, join a guided walk through The Rocks with an Aboriginal guide, exploring Hicksons Reserve, Campbells Cove, and Cumberland Walk while learning about the area's history, land, water use, and spiritual connections. Continue with a leader-led tour of iconic sights like the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and Sydney Tower Eye. Finish with a welcome dinner at Darling Harbour before settling into your hotel.

Included Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Sydney - 3 nights

Today, explore the Blue Mountains, starting with views at Wentworth Falls and Fletchers Lookout. Visit Echo Point for iconic Three Sisters views, then walk the Three Sisters track. Enjoy lunch at Lookout Restaurant or in Katoomba town. In the afternoon, head to Scenic World for sweeping mountain views. Ride the world’s steepest railway into Jamison Valley, exploring boardwalks through rainforest. Experience the Scenic Skyway for stunning aerial views of Katoomba Falls and the Three Sisters before returning to Darling Harbour for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Approximate Travel Time 1 hour 30 minutes each way

Your leader will choose the most appropriate walks for your group and the weather today, which might include the Three Sisters Walk (Grade 1, 800m return/25-45min) and Wentworth Falls track (Grade 3, 1.4km return/45 min-1 hour).

This morning after breakfast, you’ll hop on the public ferry from Sydney Harbour to Manly. Departing regularly from Circular Quay, the ferry cruises past the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House before passing Kirribilli House (the Prime Minister’s official residence), Bradleys Head and South Head before arriving at Manly Wharf. From here, you’ll walk to Manly Beach where you can enjoy the cafes and laidback beach lifestyle or join your leader for a coastal walk to the nearby Shelly Beach. This afternoon, take the ferry back to Circular Quay and take a short walk back to your accommodation. Say goodbye to you Leader and any group members who may be finishing their travels here in Sydney. You will be unaccompanied until the Welcome Meeting in Alice Springs tomorrow at 6pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your included airport transfer will take you from the hotel to Sydney Airport this morning. Fly to Alice Springs*  (Mparntwe in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Alice Springs is now located). This quintessential laidback Aussie town is the perfect place to start your journey into the ancient culture and landscapes of Australia’s Outback. This is your launching pad to reach some of the top spots on the agenda over the next few days. Your adventure officially kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your group leader and new travel companions. Until then, feel free to check out some of the town’s sights or tuck into an Outback inspired meal at one of the quirky local cafes.

Accommodation: Alice Springs - 1 Night

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

• Flight not included, direct flight time approximately 2 hours 45 mins

Start your day exploring Simpsons Gap in Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges National Park) with a First Nations guide, learning about local flora, fauna, and the Tjunba totem. Walk along the riverbed marking the boundary between Eastern and Northern Arrernte tribes. Journey onward through semi-desert landscapes to Watarrka National Park and hike the scenic Kings Creek Walk, surrounded by majestic cliffs and rock formations. Cap off the day with an included dinner and a visit to the Light Towers, an immersive visual and auditory experience.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Approximate Travel Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Kings Canyon - 1 Night

Spend the morning exploring Kings Canyon with a 3-hour rim walk across the plateau, from the 'Lost City' to the 'Garden of Eden'. Enjoy views of red rock cliffs and palm forests. Then, drive through the red landscape to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, where you may spot brumbys, camels, or wallabies. Hike to a lookout at Kata Tjuta’s stunning ochre-colored domes before heading to Uluru. Watch the sun set over the iconic sandstone monolith, witnessing its breathtaking color changes.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Uluru/Ayers Rock - 2 Nights

Special notes: Your trekking time today will be approximately 4 hours or 6 km. The King Canyon rim walk today is a Grade 4 walk, which requires a good level of mobility and health. Your leader can suggest shorter options for those seeking an easier walk.

You'll start the day early in one of the best ways imaginable – watching a spectacular sunrise over Uluru. Embark on a short walk across the rust-coloured landscape to a nearby waterhole and marvel at some of the traditional art sites.

Your leader will shed light on the history and nature here and explain how the Anangu people are deeply connected to the lands. After, stop by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to continue learning about First Nations culture. 

Head back to Yulara to your hotel and say goodbye to your Leader and any group members who may be finishing their travels today. You will be unaccompanied until the Welcome Meeting in Cairns tomorrow at 6pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast

The free resort airport shuttle will take you from the hotel to Yulara Airport today, then fly to Cairns (flight not included). Cairns is also known as Gimuy, in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which Cairns is now located. This is the gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the gorgeous Daintree Rainforest. The next part of your adventure officially starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight at your hotel, where you’ll meet your trip leader and your new fellow travellers. If you arrive in Cairns with time to spare, why not check out the Cairns Botanical Gardens – just five minutes from the CBD, you’ll find yourself in a lush tropical wonderland. Or simply wander the waterfront promenade, popping into any local bars that take your fancy. Later, head out with your group for an included dinner. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Cairns - 2 nights

• Direct flight time from Yulara to Cairns approx 2 hours 45 mins

After breakfast, soar over the ancient rainforest on the Skyrail to Kuranda. Explore the village, visit the markets, or relax in local cafes. Drive to Port Douglas, enjoying coastal views. Take an orientation walk, stopping at Trinity Bay Lookout to admire the beach. Finish with drinks and dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your accommodation.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Approximate Travel Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Today, you’ll visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest. When you arrive, head out on a one-hour crocodile and wildlife spotting boat tour along the Daintree River (Julaymba). On the electric Solar Whisper, you’ll hear the sounds of nature around you as you look out for crocs, birdlife, snakes, frogs, crabs and fish. Your experienced guide will be accustomed to the nuances of the river, the rainforest and the mangroves, meaning you’ll be able to find wildlife you wouldn’t be able to find on your own. After you find some feathered friends and long-toothed foes, head north to Cape Tribulation, stopping at Jindalba Boardwalk and a local ice cream factory on the way.  

Meals Included: Lunch

Approximate Travel Time: 4 hours 

Accommodation: Port Douglas - 2 Nights

This morning, embark on a full-day boat tour from Port Douglas to explore the Great Barrier Reef’s Coral Cays. Guided by marine biologists, learn about the reef’s fragile ecosystem as you sail through crystal-clear waters. Enjoy expert presentations and snorkel at an exclusive site, discovering vibrant coral gardens, giant clams, turtles, and fish. A buffet lunch with prawns and afternoon tea featuring local Daintree produce will be served onboard. After a day of wildlife spotting, relax in Port Douglas this evening, reflecting on your unforgettable adventure.

Meals Included: Lunch

This morning, visit Mossman Gorge for a Ngadiku Dreamtime walking tour with a local Aboriginal guide. Learn ancient stories in the Kuku Yalanji language while exploring private tracks, cultural sites, and traditional shelters. Witness a smoking ceremony, then walk through the rainforest, discovering plant use and bush food sources. Enjoy bush tea and damper before heading south to Palm Cove. Stop along the way to explore the beachside town and grab lunch. Your trip ends here or in Cairns around 4pm.

Flights Between Trips
Flights from Sydney To Alice Springs and from Yulara to Cairns are not included. Please see the itinerary for information on recommended flight details and book these through your agent or directly with the airline.

Start & End Times
The trip starts in Sydney with a Welcome Meeting at 1 pm on Day 1 at our joining point hotel. The trip finishes in Palm Cove on Day 12 in the early afternoon or in Cairns at our finish point hotel at approximately 4pm. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request (Cairns only).

Single Supplement
A Single Supplement can be booked if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.

Combination Trip
This is a combination trip made up of three shorter trips. This means the composition of your group may change in Alice Springs or Cairns as some group members leave and new ones join you.

Itinerary Variations

• Some activities on this trip are subject to weather and water conditions and on occasion, may be cancelled for safety or operational reasons. In the case of cancellation, we will endeavour to find a suitable replacement activity.
• The provider strives to improve trip itineraries. If improvements can be made, or if circumstances beyond their control make changes necessary, the provider reserves the right to vary itineraries and to make substitutions.