Best of Australia Vacation - Sydney & Cairns

April 15th - 27th, 2025*

5-nights in Sydney, 5-nights in Cairns and Daily Breakfast - $2,295

International air is separate - see below

*April 15th will be our departure, hotel stay begins April 17th

This will be our 5th visit to the "Land Down Under" and we're doing it right. Come join us as we explore this wonderful country and take in the best tours. This is the Australia trip you've been waiting for - with a fun group of singles to the 2 most interesting places in the country without a whole lot of moving around.  With this trip we will be spending 5-nights in Sydney, then 5-nights in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

SYDNEY

We start off in Sydney where, over the course of 5 days, we'll have a chance to visit the top beaches and attractions. You will fall in love with this cosmopolitan city.  Surrounded by water, beautiful beaches and scenic parks everywhere you turn, it's beautiful. We'll start off with a nice city tour to visit the highlights of Sydney -  the Opera House & Harbour Bridge; see the shopping heart of the city; visit Sydney's trendy district of Oxford Street; travel through elegant Paddington with its terrace houses before arriving at the Pacific Ocean to see the superb coast cliff walk. We'll travel on to famous Bondi Beach, visit the beachfront promenade, enjoy a coffee or cool drink (at own cost) and see bronzed Aussie lifesavers & Sydney's best panoramic view.  We'll return to Sydney via Double Bay, Kings Cross & city centre.

There are an abundance of tours in Sydney that we offer at group rates icluding the Sydney Bridge Climb, a wonderful bike tour, jet boating, opera house tour and a harbor sailing cruise. There is so much to do in Sydney, this is not even scratching the surface! 

The bike tour is one of the highlights and a great way to see Sydney. Check out my video!

The other optional tour highlight is to the famous Blue Mountains. This fantastic Ecotour makes our way to the Great Dividing Range of Australia. It is here we leave the ‘average’ Blue Mountains tourist behind & enter the National Park to unlock a piece of Australia you would never have known existed.  We visit an ancient Aboriginal site & outstanding lookouts; examine rock formations & the unusual plants & wildlife that abound the area. From the quaint little village of Leura we skirt around Cliff Drive to Katoomba where you will find yourself looking out over the magnificent Jamieson Valley (Australia’s Grand Canyon) & the Three Sisters. We enjoy a delicious barbeque lunch including a selection of fine Australian wines with a cheese platter under the canopy of the Australian bush. Before returning to Sydney we drop into a hidden valley where we roam the area, seeking out the many kangaroos that graze in the wild (conditions permitting). Reluctantly we leave the National Park passing through the Olympic 2000 site, arriving at your hotel around 5.30pm.

 

CAIRNS

No Australia trip is complete without spending some time at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, which is Cairns. Again, we'll bestaying at the Novotel Oasis, a 4-star hotel right in the heart of Cairns walking distance to the Esplanade where all the shops and restaurants are. We'll have snorkel and scuba trips set up as well as some more adventure tours.  Of course the diving is the best in the world, which I can vouch for. Unbelievable soft and hard corral and extremely clear turquoise water.  We will typically get quite a few divers on this trip, and you won't be disappointed. We'll take our divers and snorkelers to the most spectacular sites for the maximum number of hours on the outer Great Barrier Reef. In one day you will visit two magnificent sites where you will explore vast coral gardens, walls drop-offs, caverns and isolated pinnacles with an array of colorful marine life.

If you want the ultimate in rafting, you want an unforgettable day on the Tully River. The Tully is Australia¹s most famous one-day whitewater rafting experience. It¹s the North¹s guaranteed tropical white water, white-knuckle adventure.  On our Tully River full day trip, rafters can tackle over  45 extraordinary rapids. The magnificent waterfalls that cascade down the gorge walls through World Heritage Jurassic era rainforest provide an unforgettable backdrop.  November is an excellent time to raft, and the rapids are up to Grade 4.  Lots of excitement.  A person looking for a good, exciting time will absolutely love it.

We'll take another optional tour aboard the luxury "Ocean Spirit", a 105-foot sailing vessel - the largest of her kind in the world.  We'll take a sail/ cruise in the Great Barrier Reef to Michaelmas Cay, known as the Isle of the Birds, a year-round home to thousands of sea birds of some 14 different species. It is a spectacular coral reef that thrives in the ideal conditions of clear, shallow, sunlit water, and is home to a variety of marine life including giant clams and brilliant fish. Because Michaelmas Cay is a National Park, the fish are so tame you can feed them from the beach and birds know they are safe to wander among you with their chicks.  Divers will be able to put on some tanks and enjoy a very nice dive today as well. On our last trip, this was one of the most enjoyable days.     

Another tour that's set up is an Aboriginal Culture, Sky Rail and Rainforest tour. This breathtaking journey, on one of the world's most scenic train routes, will take us through hand-hewn tunnels and across bridges with amazing views. Stop at Barron Gorge to view the Falls before arriving at beautiful Kuranda Station. We'll have some time to explore the "Village in the Rainforest". Explore the markets or visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and colorful Birdworld. We'll get on the Skyrail and enjoy the world's most beautiful rainforest experience. Glide over the Rainforest canopy and take advantage of the two stops en-route to a walk through the rainforest.

What else?  Well, of course along our journey you will have opportunities to see plenty of koala bears and kangaroo.

 

INCLUDES:

  • All ground transportation
  • 10-nights accommodations (double occ.)
  • Daily Breakfast
  • Domestic air from Sydney to Cairns

 DOES NOT INCLUDE:

  • Optional tours
  • International air

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:$1,025

OUR GROUP AIR: You are welcome to book your own international air. Arriving in Sydney and departing from Cairns

15 Apr 2025 QF0012 Los Angeles International (LAX) 15Apr25 22:30 B Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) 06:35 1 Economy Qantas Airways

27 Apr 2025 QF1893 Cairns International (CNS) 27Apr25 15:35 2 Brisbane (BNE)17:45 D Economy OPERATED BY ALLIANCE AIRLINES

27 Apr 2025 QF0015 Brisbane (BNE) 27Apr25 22:00 I Los Angeles International (LAX) 18:25 B Economy Qantas Airways
INTERNATIONAL AIR: $1,375

AIR FROM SYDNEY TO CAIRNS (included in cost)
22 APR 2025 VA1419 SYD-CNS SYDNEY 1240 22 APR 2025 to CAIRNS 1555

Click here to see tentative itinerary with tours and approximate cost of tours (disregard past dates)

        See photos of our last Australia trip

HOTELS:

Sydney: Sydney Harbour Hotel 4-1/2 star hotel right in the most exciting area of Sydney!  Awesome hotel! Check out the rooftop pool!
Tripadvisor review


This picture was taken from the rooftop! It's the best locatoin you can ask for! Discover unparalleled convenience at Sydney Harbour Hotel, perfectly located in the heart of Sydney’s dynamic city centre. Positioned at 55 George Street in The Rocks district, our hotel provides guests with a comfortable stay and breathtaking views of the renowned Sydney Harbour.

This central hub offers seamless access to Sydney’s most iconic attractions. The Sydney Opera House and the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge, along with the Overseas Passenger Terminal are just a leisurely stroll away, while Circular Quay, a pivotal transportation hub, is conveniently close, ensuring guests effortless connectivity to ferries, trains, and buses for an easy exploration of the city and its surroundings.Immerse yourself in the rich history and cultural tapestry of The Rocks neighbourhood, characterized by cobblestone streets, historic edifices, lively markets, and an array of dining and entertainment options. From the prime vantage point of Sydney Harbour Hotel guests can soak in the charm and vivacity of Sydney while enjoying captivating views of the harbor and its iconic landmarks.

 

 

Cairns: Novotel Oasis 4-1/2 star hotel right in the heart of things. Walking distance to everything!
Tripadvisor Reviews #4 out of 69 hotels!

Beautiful tropical surrounds and modern contemporary style is waiting for you at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort. Each of the resorts 314 rooms feature a private terrace or balcony facing either the lagoon swimming pool, lush tropical gardens or Cairns city. The city location is ideal with easy access to the award winning Esplanade and Cairns attractions.

All rooms and suites at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort have individual balconies, air conditioning, mini bars, television and tea and coffee making facilities. The resort style rooms are bright and spacious with light furniture and fabrics in keeping with the tropical environment.

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