14 Day Must Do Australia Vacation Package Itinerary

Crowned "The World's Most Liveable City" for seven years in a row, friendly Melbourne is the perfect place to begin your Australian self-drive adventure.

This compact, diverse metropolis is begging to be explored after settling into your comfortable accommodation. There are hidden charms around every corner, beautiful Botanic Gardens and chic city squares where you can soak up the atmosphere to your heart's content.

Here are some of our favourite things to do in Melbourne:

• Lose yourself in cobbled laneways lined with tempting coffee shops, chic boutiques and cozy bars.
• Admire the always-evolving street art covering every inch of Hosier Lane
• Take a tram to St Kilda beach's historic esplanade and drop into Acland St's irresistible cake shops.
• Make a sporting pilgrimage to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground
• Grab a bite to eat at Queen Victoria Market - it's the largest market in the Southern Hemisphere
• Choose from a dizzying array of restaurants & eateries — you're in Australia's foodie capital.

Accommodation: Melbourne - 3 Nights

Join this indulgent morning walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets, and get orientated in the life of the city that locals love. Discover local designers and specialty retailers, that often are only found in the city. Some of the quirkiest cafes, independent designers, street art, architecture, and historical tales are found in these walkways, there is something for everyone, locals and visitors alike.

Morning tea is included before a restaurant lunch with a glass of wine. See over 30 stores on this casual stroll and return to those you like best in the afternoon: make a day of it in Marvellous Melbourne.

Travel on a small-group tour from Melbourne to Phillip Island to see the penguin parade and other wildlife highlights of Victoria. Your full-day tour stops at Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park to meet Australian natives such as koalas and wallabies. Explore the dramatic Cape Woolamai surf beach and the Nobbies boardwalk where you can enjoy the views of the rugged South Coast. Full-day small group wildlife tour to Phillip Island from Melbourne, hand-feed the kangaroos and wallabies at Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary, enjoy the views of Phillip Island's rugged coastline from the Nobbies boardwalk and see the penguin parade when hundreds of little penguins emerge from the ocean for the night.

Bid farewell to the city and fly to Australia's Red Centre for your first glimpse of magnificent Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is also known.

Ayers Rock stands 348 metres above the ground and reaches over 700 metres underground. Uluru is also home to the World Heritage listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is of extreme importance to the local Aboriginal people.

The Magical "Field of Light"

Tonight enjoy the Field of Light Installation with a Star Pass. Marvel at this desert spectacle of 50,000 glass spheres of Bruce Munro's amazing Field of Light installation.

You will be welcomed at a raised viewing area for canapés and chilled sparkling wine to the sounds of a didgeridoo. As the sun slowly sets, the coloured lights of 50,000 glass spheres come to life before you. Created by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro, this magical installation has to be seen to be believed.

Accommodation: Ayers Rock - 3 Nights

Travel to Kings Canyon - From Ayers Rock Resort, stopping for breakfast at Kings Creek Station along the way.

Climb to the rim of the canyon - Make the rocky climb to the rim of the canyon for marvellous views of Watarrka National Park. Follow the rim of the canyon stopping to look down into the canyon gorge at look-out points. Time permitting, you may choose to descend into the green oasis of the 'Garden of Eden'.

Circuit walk - The circuit walk takes approximately 3 hours to complete and is rocky and steep in parts. It is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. Alternatively, you may wish to take an easier, shorter walk to explore the boulder-strewn canyon floor.

Return to Ayers Rock Resort - After lunch (own expense).

Experience the tranquillity of the pre-dawn land under a canopy of stars. Watch the amazing transformation of colours and life as the desert awakens with Uluru and Kata Tjuta as your backdrop. Watch the distant domes of Kata Tjuta come into view and enjoy a traditional Aussie breakfast. Once the sun is up, enjoy a guided tour at the base of Uluru. First stop is Kuniya where you'll take a short walk to the Mutitjulu waterhole.

This evening your journey begins on a lone sand dune. Here you enjoy sparkling wine and a selection of delectable canapés. Dining under the sparkling outback sky as the sun sets, you feast on a BBQ buffet of authentic Australian delicacies complemented by some of Australia's quality wines. Stargazing Attention then turns to some of the world's best stargazing. In winter, guests gather around a campfire to savour a special treat of hot mulled wine.

 Uluru (Ayers Rock) Scenic Flight

Experience the beauty of Uluru on a dramatic scenic flight. Soaring over Uluru and the incredible rock formations of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) gives you amazing views of the area from a whole new perspective.

Fly from Ayers Rock to Cairns

With its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, Cairns is a haven of scuba diving, snorkelling, reef cruises, fishing, rainforest walks, native bird and wildlife watching.

Sun-seekers and locals alike flock to Cairns Esplanade's swimming lagoon on the city’s foreshore. There are picnic areas, birdwatching viewpoints, free barbecues and fitness equipment along the boardwalk, perfect for unwinding after your flight.

Accommodation: Cairns - 3 Nights

Enjoy a full day cruise to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the tropical island paradise of Green Island.

Great Barrier Reef: Full Day Cruise

Climb aboard the Ocean Free - a 16.5 metre sailing schooner - and set sail for Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef, where the beautiful coral gardens of Pinnacle Reef are begging to be explored.

A delicious smorgasbord lunch is served on board the boat to fuel you up for your adventures, and how you choose to spend your day is entirely up to you! Wander the rainforest tracks, snorkel or scuba the pristine waters, or relax on the beach and sip cocktails from the island bar. This is a fantastic day tour experience at the heart of one of the great natural wonders of the world.

Experience the best of the Cairns Tableland region and explore the high-country west of the city; sampling local produce and meeting local characters along the way. Drive out of the rainforest and on to the multi-cultural village of Mareeba and get an introduction into Australia's largest coffee growing region. Travel on through banana plantations, sugar cane and through the townships of Tolga and Atherton en route to Herberton and its Historic Village. Enjoy a selection of local tropical fruit and a cheese platter. Then enjoy a swim at the iconic Millaa Millaa falls followed by lunch at the Smokehouse Cafe along Queensland's highest scenic drive with epic views of the Tablelands and the Great Divide Range. Walk into the forest to view one of Australia's oldest trees, The Curtain Fig Tree, standing at 500 years old. Finish the day at The Humpy Store to purchase local produce, nuts, fruit etc.

Fly onwards to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's big cities. Blessed with a glorious natural harbour, golden beaches and a blissful climate, this incredible metropolis makes a stunning final destination on your Contrasts of Australia Tour.

Settle in with a stroll along Circular Quay. With the Harbour Bridge at one end and the Opera House at the other, is there any more iconic place to begin your Australian dream vacation?

Accommodation: Sydney - 4 Nights

Enjoy some free time to discover Sydney in-depth, at your own pace.

Take a ferry to Manly for a laid-back beach day, or cruise to Taronga Zoo, where both animals and visitors alike can enjoy jaw-dropping harbour views. Adventurers can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge or tackle the Bondi to Bronte walking trail along the rugged sandstone cliffs. Foodies will love visiting the Sydney Fish Market, where you can pile your plate high with freshly caught & cooked seafood and take your haul outside to eat on the pier.

However you choose to spend your day, Sydney is guaranteed to win your heart.

BridgeClimb is an experience that will never be forgotten on one of the world's most modern wonders, The Sydney Harbour Bridge. The BridgeClimb experience begins with a comprehensive briefing and safety demonstration to prepare you for the Climb of Your Life.

The exhilaration and personal satisfaction achieved by reaching the top of the Bridge is rewarded by the breathtaking view that lies before you as you scale up the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There is no adventure like it in the world ...no view like it ...no feeling like it!

Relax, get away from the city, and enjoy some fabulous wine and food in Australia's oldest wine-growing region. Just 2 hours north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley combines world-renowned wines with gourmet local produce and stunning countryside - all the makings for a fabulous, relaxing day.

This tour concentrates on the smaller, boutique wineries in this stunning area, where regional variations are even more prominent and the passion of the wine-makers is obvious. These wineries help bring the wine-making process to life, and you will enjoy private tastings with those for whom wine-making is their greatest passion.

Depart Sydney

Say farewell to Sydney today as you board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional Australian experience. We know you will enjoy your 14-day vacation and we hope you will return soon to discover even more highlights of this incredible continent.