Highlights of Australia
Highlights of Australia
$5460
Highlights of Australia
12 Days Starting in Melbourne, Australia and ending in Sydney, Australia
Visiting: Arrive In Melbourne, Australia, Melbourne, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Uluru, Cairns, Cairns. Excursion To The Outer Great Barrier Reef, Sydney
Tour operator:
Tour code:
3350-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Stunning natural attractions, vibrant cities, remote regions, and friendly people…this is Australia, and on this Australia tour, you’ll experience all of this and more. Start in Melbourne, end in Sydney, and overnight along the way in Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Cairns. No vacation to Australia is complete without seeing the incomparable Great Barrier Reef. On this Australia tour, you’ll take a catamaran cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef and have the chance to snorkel, take a semi-submersible watercraft tour, or attend a presentation by a marine biologist. With the radiant colors and fish swimming by you, it is nothing short of spectacular! But that’s not all. You’ll also witness the spectacular geological wonders of Uluru, the iconic monolith and symbol of the Outback, and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), with its red rocks and 36 brilliant domes. Tour the base of Uluru with its caves and Aboriginal paintings and enjoy a champagne toast while watching Uluru change colors at sunset--an amazing sight indeed! Also visit some of Australia’s most famous cities. In Sydney, cruise along the world-famous Sydney Harbour. In Melbourne, enjoy guided sightseeing of the city’s landmarks. In Melbourne, Cairns, and Sydney, you’ll also enjoy plenty of free time to explore and discover on your own. From the remote Outback to the tropical Great Barrier Reef, this Australia tour—designed for value-minded, savvy travel lover—is a dream vacation!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Melbourne,Australia
Location: Arrive In Melbourne, Australia
Welcome to Australia! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. A pre-night is not required for early check-in.
Day 2: Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning begins with a welcome briefing to meet fellow passengers and your Tour Director. Then, enjoy a city sightseeing tour which includes landmarks such as Flinders St. Station, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the botanic gardens, and the Shrine of Remembrance. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
Day 3: Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
Meals Included: Breakfast
A full free day to explore more of Melbourne on your own. Consider an optional day tour to the scenic Great Ocean Road to see the soaring limestone pillars of the “Twelve Apostles,” chiseled over 10 to 20 million years above the ocean. Perhaps the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is more your speed.
Day 4: Melbourne,Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Location: Melbourne, Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, fly to the heart of the Outback.
Day 5: Uluru
Location: Uluru
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a tour at the base of Uluru, the extraordinary monolith whose circumference is studded with caves decorated with Aboriginal paintings. Later, travel to a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 36 brilliant domes. Tonight, visit the Sunset Strip, where you will enjoy a champagne toast while experiencing one of the world’s greatest spectacles--Uluru at sunset.
Day 6: Uluru,Cairns
Location: Uluru, Cairns
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, fly to Cairns, “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.” NOTE: Due to this remote location and limited flights, you may be booked on a connecting flight from Uluru to Cairns. Arrival in Cairns may be late in the evening. Luggage restrictions may apply to this flight. Please speak to your Tour Director for full details.
Day 7: Cairns. Excursion To The Outer Great Barrier Reef
Location: Cairns. Excursion To The Outer Great Barrier Reef
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
The world’s largest coral reef, made up of over 3,000 individual reefs and over 1,250 miles long, is one of our planet’s most amazing natural wonders. Board a catamaran cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Experience this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance. Choose to snorkel, take a glass-bottom-boat tour, view the reef from an underwater observatory, and watch a fish feeding. Return to Cairns, where your evening is at leisure.
Day 8: Cairns
Location: Cairns
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is yours to relax and explore. Set amid lush rainforests, soaring peaks, and the ocean, Cairns is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. Explore its many attractions, including a scenic railway, which runs to the picturesque market town of Kuranda and a cable car that glides over Australia’s World-Heritage-listed tropical rainforest canopy. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
Day 9: Cairns,Sydney
Location: Cairns, Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast
Board your flight to Sydney, Australia’s largest city. Tonight, you may wish to enjoy dinner at a waterfront restaurant.
Day 10: Sydney
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sydney boasts one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, home to the instantly recognizable Sydney Harbour Bridge and the world-famous architectural wonder--the Sydney Opera House. Go inside the Opera House, one of the most well-known buildings in the world, and learn about the history, architectural design and be awed by the acoustics. Later, your sightseeing tour will take you through the heart of Sydney. End the day with a cruise along Sydney Harbour for uninterrupted views of the city skyline.
Day 11: Sydney
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. You may wish to wander the cobblestone streets of the Rocks district, explore vibrant Darling Harbour, or climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge. Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you make the most of this exciting city. Tonight, join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a festive farewell dinner.
Day 12: Sydney
Location: Sydney
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends this morning. You may also choose to extend your time in Sydney and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase.
What's Included
-
Accommodation
Stay at Citadines on Bourke, Mercure Alice Springs, Outback Pioneer Hotel & Lodge, Park Regis City Quays, and Mercure Sydney Wynyard.
-
Meals
Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, and 1 farewell dinner.
-
City Sightseeing Tour
Enjoy a city sightseeing tour in Melbourne including landmarks such as Flinders St. Station, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the botanic gardens, and the Shrine of Remembrance.
-
Great Barrier Reef Excursion
Board a catamaran cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef with options to snorkel, take a glass-bottom-boat tour, view the reef from an underwater observatory, and watch a fish feeding.
-
Sydney Harbour Cruise
End the day with a cruise along Sydney Harbour for uninterrupted views of the city skyline.
-
Tour Director and Local Guides
Expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides ensure that your health and safety is our top priority.
-
Small Group Discoveries
Cosmos offers Small-Group Discoveries on select South Pacific dates, limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure.
-
UNESCO Sites
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and Wet Tropics of Queensland.
What's Not Included
-
Pre-Night Accommodation
A pre-night is not required for early check-in.
-
Additional Sightseeing and Activities
Optional day tours to the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, and other additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining are not included.
-
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and other items of a personal nature are not included.
-
International Flights
International flights to and from Australia are not included.
-
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended.
-
Luggage Restrictions
Luggage restrictions may apply to flights within the tour.
Please speak to your Tour Director for full details.
Meals
11 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Small Group
Each Cosmos Africa safari tour is limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Cosmos escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Safari Guide/Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery African safari vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
UNESCO Sites
Great Barrier Reef|Sydney Opera House|Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park|Wet Tropics of Queensland
Accommodation
Melbourne:Citadines on BourkeUluru:Outback Pioneer Hotel & LodgeCairns:Park Regis City QuaysSydney:Novotel Sydney City Centre
Check out our Q&As
-
What kind of activities can I expect during the tour in Melbourne?
In Melbourne, you will have a city sightseeing tour that includes landmarks such as Flinders St. Station, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the botanic gardens, and the Shrine of Remembrance. You will also have free time to explore on your own, with suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining provided by your Tour Director.
-
What will I experience at Uluru?
At Uluru, you will enjoy a tour at the base of the extraordinary monolith, which is decorated with Aboriginal paintings. You will also visit a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and experience a champagne toast while watching the sunset at the Sunset Strip.
-
What can I do during the free day in Cairns?
During your free day in Cairns, you can relax and explore the city, which is set amid lush rainforests, soaring peaks, and the ocean. Attractions include a scenic railway to the picturesque market town of Kuranda and a cable car that glides over Australia’s World-Heritage-listed tropical rainforest canopy. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
-
What is included in the Great Barrier Reef excursion?
The Great Barrier Reef excursion includes a catamaran cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, where you can choose to snorkel, take a glass-bottom-boat tour, view the reef from an underwater observatory, and watch a fish feeding. You will return to Cairns in the evening.
-
What are the highlights of the Sydney tour?
In Sydney, you will visit the Sydney Opera House and learn about its history and architectural design. You will also have a sightseeing tour through the heart of Sydney and end the day with a cruise along Sydney Harbour for uninterrupted views of the city skyline.
-
What kind of wildlife might I see during the journey from Alice Springs to Uluru?
During the journey from Alice Springs to Uluru, you may see red kangaroos, dingoes, camels, and feral horses known as 'Brumbies.'
-
What are the accommodation options during the tour?
The tour includes stays at Citadines on Bourke in Melbourne, Mercure Alice Springs, Outback Pioneer Hotel & Lodge, Park Regis City Quays in Cairns, and Mercure Sydney Wynyard. These hotels offer various amenities such as fitness centers, swimming pools, restaurants, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
-
What meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes breakfast daily, one lunch, and one farewell dinner.
-
Is there a small group option available for this tour?
Yes, Cosmos offers Small-Group Discoveries on select South Pacific dates, limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. These tours include all the features of a traditional Cosmos escorted tour, with extra space between travelers and a focus on health and safety.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Tuesday - Saturday
Apr 08, 2025 - Apr 19, 2025Tuesday - Saturday
Sep 23, 2025 - Oct 04, 2025Tuesday - Saturday
Oct 14, 2025 - Oct 25, 2025Tuesday - Saturday
Nov 04, 2025 - Nov 15, 2025Tuesday - Saturday
Nov 25, 2025 - Dec 06, 2025Tuesday - Saturday
Feb 03, 2026 - Feb 14, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Feb 24, 2026 - Mar 07, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Mar 17, 2026 - Mar 28, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Apr 07, 2026 - Apr 18, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Apr 28, 2026 - May 09, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Sep 22, 2026 - Oct 03, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Oct 13, 2026 - Oct 24, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Nov 03, 2026 - Nov 14, 2026Tuesday - Saturday
Nov 24, 2026 - Dec 05, 2026Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.