Family Holiday Australia

Sydney

Today is at leisure and while in Sydney we would suggest the following optional activities:
• Take the Ultimate Sydney tour including a half day city sights and afternoon cruise on Sydney Harbour
• Visit an outback working sheep and cattle station by air
• Visit the Sydney Aquarium
• Take a surfing lesson at Bondi or Manly Beach and learn to catch the waves
• Shop at Darling Harbour, the Queen Victoria Building and the Rocks District
• Visit the Sydney Opera House for dinner and a performance
• Learn about Australia’s natural history at the fascinating Australian Museum.
• Visit the spectacular Powerhouse Museum at Darling Harbour
• Enjoy Australian and international art exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art
• For history lovers enjoy a guided walking tour of the historic Rocks area
• Learn about Sydney’s early colonial days with a visit to the fascinating Museum of Sydney and the Hyde Park Barracks
• Visit Government House (tours available on request) and the historic houses of Elizabeth Bay and Vaucluse House
• Stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens
• Enjoy a day excursion to the Hunter Valley wine region 
• Take a day tour to the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains by car or by helicopter

Overnight: Quay Grand Suites   

Sydney

Further day at leisure to enjoy Sydney.

Overnight: Quay Grand Suites

Sydney to Heron Island via Brisbane and Gladstone

You will be met at your accommodation by your private car and driver and transferred to Sydney Domestic Airport for your onward flight.

Sydney to Gladstone via Brisbane

Upon arrival at Gladstone Airport board your helicopter for your scenic flight to Heron Island.

Heron Island is a true coral island, right on the Great Barrier Reef, 72km off the coast of Gladstone.
The Island is a National Park in a Maritime Marine Park and is generally acknowledged as offering the best diving, snorkelling and submarine viewing facilities on the Reef. It is surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches on which turtles nest between October and April.

Overnight: Heron Island Resort

Heron Island

Today is at leisure and while at Heron Island there are many complimentary activities available:
• Interpretative reef walks
• Island ecology walks
• Birdlife walks
• Turtle nesting tours (peak nesting time only)
• Wildlife presentations
• Beach picnic hampers
• Snorkelling lessons in swimming pool
• Tennis (night and day)
• Research station walks
• Reef Creature interpretive workshops
• Movies under the stars

In addition there are activities offered at an additional cost:
• Snorkelling excursion to the reef edge
• Heron Kids Junior Ranger Program
• Semi-submersible coral viewing cruises
• Glass bottom boat surf ski tours
• Scuba diving (including courses)
• Night and adventure dives
• Fishing excursions
• Sunset wine and cheese cruises
• Wine and cheese tastings
• Scenic helicopter flights
• Therapeutic massage

Overnight: Heron Island Resort

Heron Island

Further day at leisure for independent sightseeing and activities.

Overnight: Heron Island Resort

Heron Island to Cairns via Gladstone

You will be met at your accommodation by a representative of the resort and transferred to the airstrip for your onward helicopter flight.

Upon arrival at Gladstone Airport proceed to the Qantas check in desk for your onward flight.

Fly Gladstone to Cairns.

Upon arrival at Cairns Domestic Airport you will be met by your private car and driver and transferred to your accommodation in Port Douglas (approximately a 1 hour journey).
  
Picturesque Port Douglas is the hub of the Reef and Rainforest Coast and attracts visitors for its old fashioned charm, wide tree-lined streets and superb holiday attractions. From Port Douglas the Great Barrier Reef is just 15 km off-shore. There are over 1,000 islands in the Great Barrier Reef and the best are accessible from mainland Tropical North Queensland. Some have diverse vegetation including rainforest and are encircled by coral reefs.

Overnight: Sea Temple Resort and Spa

Port Douglas to the Daintree National Park and return

This morning you will be met at your accommodation for your private tour into the Daintree Rainforest and up to Cape Tribulation and its surrounding areas.

You will travel along the very scenic Captain Cook Highway to the magnificent Daintree River. Here you will board your privately chartered vessel for an early morning cruise where you will have the opportunity to spot crocodiles in the wild. A beautiful home-prepared morning tea is served on board.

Next you will head north to the heights of the Alexander Range, overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. Past banana and tea plantations, then on to Cape Tribulation.  Walk along the beach and through the rainforest to the Cape itself. 

From here you will enter the Bloomfield Track, as you climb the Donovan and Cowie ranges traversing jungle clad creeks, through spectacular rainforest with ocean views all the way. 

The next stop is on the banks of the Woobadda River, where you will have lunch.  Enjoy a swim in the clear waters while lunch is being prepared.  From here it is on to the Bloomfield River and the Bloomfield Falls. The falls are just a short walk from the vehicle and flow all year round.

On your return you will stop at a deserted beach for a walk, a visit to The Daintree Ice-cream Company then finally to the beautiful Mossman Gorge.

Upon completion of your tour, you will be transferred to your accommodation.

Overnight: Sea Temple Resort and Spa

Port Douglas to Cairns and return

This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your guide and driver for a private tour including Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, Skyrail and Kuranda.

You will travel northwards to the Aboriginal Culture Park where you will experience the rich cultural dance and skills of the Aboriginal Australians.  Here you will have time to experience the other Tjapukai attractions such as the history theatre and craft demonstrations or try your hand at boomerang and spear throwing. 

After a delightful lunch you will make your way to Skyrail, the world's most beautiful rainforest experience. Your gondola trip takes you above the canopy of this world heritage national park with stops along the way to visit Red Peak. A walk down to the forest floor is recommended where boardwalks enable you to view the fern covered forest floor.

Upon arrival at Kuranda you will be met by your guide and escorted to the village. The village has a lot to offer with its famous market, boutique stores and arts & crafts. You will have an hour of free time to discover the charm of this quaint village.

After returning to the vehicle, you will visit the mighty Barron Falls lookout before continuing on to your accommodation via the beautiful northern beaches.

Overnight: Sea Temple Resort and Spa

Port Douglas to Ayers Rock via Cairns

You will be met at your accommodation by your private car and driver and transferred to Cairns Domestic Airport for your onward flight (approximately a 1 hour journey).
 
Fly Ayers Rock to Cairns

Upon arrival at Ayers Rock Airport you will be met by your private car and driver and transferred to your accommodation.

Australia’s world famous Uluru (Ayers Rock) is 3.6km long and towers to 348m high from the surrounding desert. Watch The Rock change colour as the sun sets turning it to a series of deeper and darker reds before it fades into grey. The area is of deep cultural significance to the Aboriginal People who gave the name Uluru to the Rock and the National Park, which surrounds it. Yulara is the village that services the area and contains hotels, visitors centre and a variety of shops.

This afternoon you will be met at your accommodation by your private guide and driver for an afternoon tour of the Olgas. 
 
Travel north through the desert plains for the short journey to The Olgas – known to the Aboriginal people as ‘Kata Tjuta’.  You will be amazed by the sheer size and grandeur of these 36 massive forms of conglomerate red rock.  Walk through the Valley of the Winds, explore the unusually shaped formations and enjoy the view from the lookout.  View the striking colour changes that can occur on Uluru (Ayers Rock) during sunset while enjoying a glass of champagne, before returning your accommodation.

Overnight: Sails in the Desert

Ayers Rock

You will be met at your accommodation by your private car and driver for a sunrise visit and base tour of Uluru (Ayers Rock). Walk to Mutitjula Waterhole and visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre before returning to your accommodation.

In the evening you will be met at your accommodation 45 minutes prior to sunset and transferred by coach into the desert where the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo will welcome you.  Enjoy a barbecue dinner, which will include kangaroo, emu, chicken and barramundi, all accompanied by salads, vegetables and Australian wine.  After dessert you will be introduced to the stars, planets and constellations by an astronomer. 

Enjoy stargazing and a glass of port before your return transfer to your accommodation.

Overnight: Sails in the Desert

Ayers Rock to Adelaide via Alice Springs

You will be met at your accommodation by your private car and driver and transferred to Ayers Rock Airport for your onward flight.

Fly Ayers Rock to Adelaide via Alice

Upon arrival at Adelaide Domestic Airport you will be met by your private car and driver and transferred to your accommodation.

Overnight: Hyatt Regency

Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your private car and driver and transferred to Adelaide Airport for your onward flight.
 
Fly Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

Upon arrival at Kingscote Airport you will be met by a representative from Lifetime Private Retreats and transferred to your accommodation.

LifeTime Private Retreats offers secluded, beautiful havens on Australia’s undiscovered natural sanctuary - Kangaroo Island. These individual private retreats are set in the acreage of natural gardens giving guests their own private sanctuaries. The retreats have beach or sea views with complete privacy and seclusion.

Overnight: Lifetime Private Retreats, Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island

This morning you will be met at your accommodation by your private guide and vehicle for your full day tour of Kangaroo Island.

Your day will commence with a visit to the Redgum Forest along the Cygnet River Valley, viewing koalas sleeping in the forks of the trees. After travelling through some of the best wool-producing areas on the Island you will arrive at a conservation park on the north coast. Here you will walk through the habitat of Kangaroo Island kangaroos, tammar wallabies and the endangered glossy black cockatoo.  After enjoying a delicious seafood barbeque lunch served with fine South Australian wines you will head to a colony of Australian Sealions. At Seal Bay Conservation Park, walk with your guide among sealions on a beautiful sandy beach.

Later in the afternoon visit Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park and D'Estrees Bay - where ospreys nest, and kangaroos come out late in the day to feed.  Upon conclusion of the tour you will be transferred to your accommodation.

Overnight: Lifetime Private Retreats, Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island to Adelaide

You will be met at your accommodation by your private car and driver and transferred to Kingscote Airport for your onward flight to Adelaide.

Upon arrival at Adelaide Airport transfer to the international terminal for your return flight.