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Speak with an experienced advisor
Swain Destinations
OFFER ID 1340655
All Over Australia and New Zealand
See the best of what Australia and New Zealand have to offer in this comprehensive tour that takes you All Over Australia and New Zealand. Get in touch with nature in New Zealand. From small towns to stunning valleys, adventure tours and relaxing days, there is a lot of diversity to discover in this cultural country. Cruise off to the Great Barrier Reef, watch the sun rise and set in Uluru and act like an Aussie in some of the country's world class cities. There's no shortage of activities on this action packed 16 night journey.
Your Itinerary Includes:
18 nights from $15,195 per person
Swain Destinations: All Over Australia and New Zealand
Day 1 Welcome to Auckland
Begin your time in Auckland with a private tour of the city combined with a transfer from Auckland Airport. You will be met on arrival for your transfer and half day introduction tour of Auckland before being taken to your accommodation.
Tamaki Makaurau, the Maori name for Auckland (meaning a city of 100 lovers), is aptly named with visitors experiencing first-hand why locals love this beautiful, geographically and culturally diverse city. Enjoy an extraordinary first impression of New Zealand and optimize your time on your first day in Auckland. The Auckland Private Tour will take in selected historical and cultural sites of significance, cityscapes, harbor views and coastlines, views of ancient volcanic peaks, and parks with unique flora and fauna in New Zealand's largest city.
The Grand By Skycity
Day 2 Travel to Rotorua via Waitomo
Your driver will collect you in Auckland and then head south, where suburban scenery gradually gives way to the farmlands of South Auckland. The Waikato River will accompany you for much of your journey through the green countryside. Travel via the city of Hamilton as well as through rich Waikato farmland, before arriving at Waitomo.
Below the hilly green pastures of the Waitomo region is a subterranean limestone landscape of caves, sinkholes and underground rivers. Arrive at Waitomo Caves and discover the ancient underground labyrinth and marvel at the limestone formations. You will join a group tour that descends into the caves, to experience the wonder of a unique boat trip through the starry wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto.
After lunch, continue to travel south, driving over the bush clad Mamaku Ranges to Rotorua where you will be set down at your accommodation.
On The Point - Lake Rotorua
Meals: B, L
Day 3 Rotorua City Supreme Tour
Travel to the Agrodome, a unique New Zealand Farm show where you will be introduced to the 19 breeds of sheep that are farmed extensively throughout the country. A demonstration of sheep shearing and wool handling will follow along with the amazing working farm dogs - live on stage and then outdoors over a typical New Zealand sheep-trial course. A short drive then takes you to Rainbow Springs, a great showcase of New Zealand flora, fauna, and magnificent Rainbow and Brown trout. Here, you will have an opportunity to see the endangered Kiwi and be part of an ongoing conservation campaign to help save this iconic bird. Take a fully guided behind the scenes Kiwi encounter tour, before heading off to drive through the Government Gardens and adjacent lake district.
There is time for lunch at a local café, or you may decide to try the authentic Maori hangi meal at the next stop, Te Puia. Set in the beautiful Whakarewarewa geothermal valley which is alive with boiling mud, steaming hot pools and the fantastic Pohutu and Prince of Wales Feathers geysers. At around 4pm, you will head back to your accommodation.
On The Point - Lake Rotorua
Meals: B, L
Day 4 Travel to Queenstown
Takeoff to Queenstown on the next stage of your adventure.
Azur Lodge
Meals: B
Day 5 Milford Sound Tour
The early morning departure from Queenstown begins with the lakeside drive to the south of Queenstown, which unfolds into the lush green of Southland's alpine farming country before heading for the unforgettable drama of Fiordland's scenery. After refreshments on the shores of New Zealand's second largest lake, Te Anau, the scenery en route to Milford Sound unveils astonishing beauty at every bend and ample opportunity for pictures.
Azur Lodge
Meals: B, L
Day 6 Dart River Wilderness Safari
Transfer from Queenstown by coach to Glenorchy and the mouth of the Dart River to board the 18-foot specially prepared jet boat. The Wilderness Safari takes you on a spectacular 90-minute jet-boat journey through the Dart's ever-changing braided river system where you'll be surrounded by snow-covered peaks, hidden valleys and waterfalls.
The tour includes an easy guided 30-minute bush walk at Rockburn at Paradise where your knowledgeable guide will enliven your walk with an informative and entertaining commentary about the native forest, the unique flora and fauna, as well as the fascinating Maori and colonial history of the area. Rejoin the jetboat for the 45-minute ride back to Glenorchy where you will board the coach for the 1 hour transfer back to Queenstown.
Azur Lodge
Meals: B
Day 7 Travel to Christchurch via Mount Cook
Your driver-guide will collect you from your Queenstown hotel to embark on your privately guided drive. The tour begins with a scenic drive through the spectacularly rugged Kawarau gorge where the mighty Kawarau River follows the road through precipitous bluffs and rock-strewn hillsides. Pass through Cromwell, in the true heart of the Central Otago wine and fruit-growing region - a quick stop at one of the local fruit stalls is a must. Traveling along the shores of Lake Dunstan into the Lindis country, one gets a sense of just how remote and sparsely populated the area is. Past Omarama, the first of two large alpine-fed lakes appears into view with Mount Cook, or Aoraki as it is known to the local Maori, forming an impressive backdrop.
Stop at the Hermitage Hotel, Mount Cook with time for lunch at your own expense, and optional activities such as scenic flights (additional cost and weather dependent). The journey then continues through the Mackenzie Country and down onto the fertile Canterbury Plains. On arrival into Christchurch, the Garden City and New Zealand's second largest city, enjoy a brief orientation tour of the city center before being dropped at your city accommodations.
The George
Meals: B, L
Day 8 Christchurch City Garden Tour
Explore the garden city and the surrounding areas of Christchurch with a small group of guests in a deluxe mini-coach. Departing from your hotel, the tour heads through Christchurch and by the city's center. Next, the tour heads towards the Port Hills, which overlook Christchurch, and offer stunning views of the city, Canterbury Plains, Lyttleton Harbour and the distant Southern Alps. After dropping into Lyttleton Harbour, you will have time explore a private garden that has been growing since 1865 and includes a variety of exotic trees, shrub rhododendrons, camellias and a good variety of New Zealand native plants. Head over the crater rim to another private garden that is 15 years old; the garden has a strong New Zealand theme and a largely formal layout. Within the evergreen structure of totara hedges, there are many native New Zealand plants and hybrids of exotic varieties raised in this country. The tour then heads back towards Christchurch city, stopping for a relaxing lunch, then a visit to the botanical gardens. Here you will see exotic trees that are some of the largest, the tallest or the oldest of their kind in New Zealand. You will see spectacular color, intriguing sculptures and memorial plantings that celebrate local and international history.
The George
Meals: B
Day 9 Travel to Sydney
Takeoff to Sydney and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
Shangri-La, Sydney
Meals: B
Day 10 Essential Sydney Tour
Your host greets you in the lobby of your hotel. A private Mercedes van then drives through the historic ‘Rocks' area with stories of Australia's wild colonial past. Your guide will point out Sydney's best downtown shopping places and restaurants on the way to Barangaroo, the hot, new place for wining and dining.
Next, visit the most famous building of the late 20th century, the Sydney Opera House. Join your Opera House guide and begin a group tour of this iconic building.
Drive historic Macquarie Street past State Parliament, the ‘Rum Hospital', World Heritage listed Hyde Park Barracks, the Great Synagogue and St Mary's Cathedral. Enjoy a short stroll in The Royal Botanical Gardens. Hopefully you'll spot a cockatoo or three between taking pictures of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
Wind through fashionable Paddington and Woollahra, featuring century old terrace houses, art galleries and boutiques. Reach the coast and be swept away by famous Bondi Beach. Promenade the boardwalk and explore the shops before your waterside lunch.
See the famous Macquarie Lighthouse and spectacular Sydney Heads before driving back to Rose Bay and taking a picture rich ferry service to Circular Quay past Sydney's most exclusive homes. Alternatively, your guide will drive you back to your hotel via Double Bay Village and Kings Cross. Either way, you'll definitely know the Sydney essentials.
Shangri-La, Sydney
Meals: B, L
Day 11 BridgeClimb Summit - Day Climb & Sydney At Leisure
BridgeClimb is a 3.5 hour guided journey to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It takes you along the outer arch of the bridge on catwalks and ladders all the way to the summit, 400 feet above Sydney Harbour. In climb groups of up to 14 people, you'll be led by a professional BridgeClimb leader on an adventure of the world's most recognizable bridge. The steady incline to the summit leaves you free to focus your attention on your Sydney experience, with opportunities to witness 360-degree views of Sydney, including east to the Sydney Opera House, west to the Blue Mountains and the Harbour city surrounds. When you reach the top you will have a sense of achievement that you will remember forever - you've conquered an Australian icon recognized the world over! The professional Climb Leaders will take pictures of you on the climb and at the end you will receive a commemorative Climber Certificate, a complimentary Climber Cap and group photograph, with all climbers in the group receiving an identical photo.
It is no surprise that when the British first arrived in Sydney they named the area Botany Bay. Even today, with a population of over 4 million people and a reputation for fun rather than flora, one is still surrounded by bush land in this bustling city. Native Waratah wind their way through the historic Rocks area, palm trees frame long stretches of pristine beach, and Eucalyptus embrace the endless and beckoning bays of Sydney Harbour.
It is Sydney's man-made wonders, however, that draw most visitors. The Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are the most photographed icons on the continent. Choose a Seaplane Safari experience and enjoy a bird's eye view of the Opera House's signature sails. See the Harbour Bridge up close and personal by climbing the metal monolith to enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the glittering vista below with BridgeClimb as you climb to the top. Whether it is an early morning visit to the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, or your very first surfing lesson on Bondi Beach, in this vibrant metropolis you will find no lack of energetic escapes and dynamic distractions.
There are many ways to enjoy the harbor: on a small luxury motor cruiser or sailing yacht, or ferries that take you to Taronga Park Zoo or Manly and the harbor suburbs. Take the Darling Harbour Rocket that connects Circular Quay to Darling Harbour where there are many restaurants and attractions such as The Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife World, The IMAX Theater and the Naval Museum. For a more leisurely afternoon, take a walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens and Hyde Park, or learn about Australia's National Gemstone, the Opal, at Altmann; Cherny or The National Opal Collection, right in the heart of the city on Pitt Street.
Shangri-La, Sydney
Meals: B
Day 12 Travel to Ayers Rock & A Night at Field of Light
Takeoff to Ayers Rock and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
A night at Field of Light combines the award-winning 'Sounds of Silence' buffet BBQ dinner under the outback sky with the once-in-a-lifetime Field of Light art installation. With magnificent views of Uluru at sunset, a special three-course bush tucker menu, premium selection of Australian wines & beers, fascinating star talk and a self-guided walk through the Field of Light art installation, your 'A Night at Field of Light' experience is complete.
Your evening begins with a convenient hotel pick-up and transfer to the remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru. As the sun sets on the horizon to the music of a lone didgeridoo, enjoy gourmet canapés and chilled sparkling wine. As darkness falls and the colored lights of the 50,000 glass spheres gently come to life, join your table of fellow travelers for an exceptional three-course menu infused with bush tucker flavors. As the night ignites with countless stars, settle back and listen to the resident star talker decode the southern night sky.
The host will provide insights to the art installation that awaits you, before you're invited to immerse yourself in the Field of Light, its pathways glistening softly with rhythms of colored light, beckoning you to explore. Take a lasting look back at Field of Light from the dune top viewing area before boarding the return transfer to Yulara Resort.
Sails In The Desert
Meals: B, D
Day 13 Kata Tjuta Sunrise Tour & Uluru and Sunset Tour
Revel in the early morning serenity of a truly spiritual place as the sunrise colors change on Kata Tjuta. Enjoy an outback picnic breakfast. Learn about this diverse environment while walking between the mighty conglomerate rock walls and into Walpa Gorge. Hear how the many domes that make up Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Take time to listen to the wind (Walpa) far above and view the scale of the rock walls that surround you. The spirituality of this amazing location embraces everyone who ventures here.
Later you will travel through the landscape to the entrance of Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. From this point, it is only a matter of minutes before the spectre of Uluru rises from the sand dunes to demonstrate its enormity and presence - the first stop allows you a photographic opportunity of this amazing icon. With Uluru looming in front, walk with your guide to a place of tranquility at the base. The closer you wander, the more you surrender to the realization of the sheer size of this monolith. Driving around the base, immerse yourself in the area. Stops are made for a short walk into Mutitjulu Waterhole. There, you will visit rock-art sites and the local waterhole with your guide to learn of Uluru's significance to the Anangu (local Aboriginal people). As you continue the drive around the rest of the base, experience the Mala walk before adjourning to the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku viewing area where you will observe a sunset from a different perspective over Uluru with Kata Tjuta in the distance. Enjoy sparkling wine and light refreshments.
Sails In The Desert
Meals: B
Day 14 Travel to Cairns
Takeoff to Cairns and continue on the next stage of your adventure.
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Day 15 Reef and Rainforest Helicopter Flight
This awe-inspiring flight combines sights of both the Reef and Rainforest - an opportunity to witness the only place in the world where two world heritage-listed sites meet. Departing over Port Douglas and 4 Mile Beach, first enjoy sights offered on the 30 Minute Rainforest Scenic over the town of Mossman and Mossman Gorge, followed by the Daintree River mouth, Cape Kimberley and past Snapper Island with views of Cow Bay and Cape Tribulation. The flight concludes with breathtaking views of Low Isles and sights of the Great Barrier Reef.
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Meals: B
Day 16 Daintree Dreaming - Traditional Aboriginal Fishing with Ngadiku Walk
Experience the region's rich Aboriginal history and culture on this exclusive journey from coast to rainforest.
Travel along one of Australia's most scenic coastal drives as you head north of Port Douglas to Cooya Beach (Kuku Kuku). This special place is a traditional fishing ground of the Kuku Yalanji people and has three diverse ecosystems - beaches, mangroves and coastal reefs. Join a member of the Kubirri Warra clan on their daily journey through these ecosystems to spear and gather food for their family. You will be introduced to their traditional fishing and gathering techniques that have been passed down through generations and are still used today by their people.
Next, travel to the Mossman Gorge Centre for lunch in their café before joining the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk that will be conducted by a local indigenous guide. Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) means stories and legends from a long time ago in local Kuku Yalanji language. You are greeted with a traditional smoking ceremony conducted by the Aboriginal people with a specialized cultural knowledge to welcome people to their land. During the 90-minute guided walk your experienced indigenous guide demonstrates traditional plant use, identifies bush food and traditions like making bush soaps & ochre paint. The walk meanders through stunning rainforest while your guide provides an enchanting narrative of the Rainforest and the Kuku Yalanji's special relationship with this unique environment. Return to the vehicle for your transfer back to your accommodation after a unique day of cultural discovery.
Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Meals: B, L
Day 17 Depart Cairns
Ahead of your flight, you will be transferred from your accommodations to the Cairns Airport.
Meals: B
Melbourne
Melbourne is a maze of hidden laneways, opulent bars, exclusive restaurants and off-the-beaten-track boutiques. Here you can soak up culture, hit the sporting grounds, taste the dynamic food and wine scene, dance til dawn or wander the parks and leafy boulevards. Visit Federation Square, the city's landmark cultural space, and enjoy a sunset beer on the St Kilda promenade. Shop till you drop on funky Brunswick Street or upmarket Chapel Street. Wander Southbank's cafes, bistros and bars and get a world tour of cuisines in Carlton, Richmond and Fitzroy. Take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens and cheer with a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Five Must-Have Melbourne Experiences:
1. Shop till you drop
Bag a bargain at the Rose Street Artist's Market and browse the funky boutiques on Brunswick Street. Buy designer labels such as Akira Isogawa and Zimmerman on Chapel Street in Prahran or in the historic Melbourne General Post Office, which covers an entire city block. For everything from fashion to furnishings at fantastic value, visit Bridge Road in Richmond. Melbourne is a shopper's haven, offering eclectic boutiques, high-end fashion, funky homeware stores and European style piazzas in the city's arcades and hidden laneways.
2. Bar hop and dance till dawn
Sip a cocktail in a converted sea container in Chinatown, enjoy a sunset beer in a St Kilda pub or listen to cabaret in lush retro surroundings in jazz bars in the city. Linger over exquisite tapas and exotic wine in a Little Collins Street bar and mingle in a pink parlour with fake grass in Bourke Street. You can party from dusk in the bars of Brunswick Street. Or dance till dawn in bars in the city's lantern-lit laneways, secret apart from the spill of coloured light under heavy brass doors.
3. Get into the gourmet goodness
Let the aroma of good coffee waft over you in Melbourne's gothic European laneways. The city is famous for its coffee and old-world café culture but there's so much more to explore. Once you've downed a 'short black' or taken an afternoon aperitif, try tea in a nineteenth-century hotel or salivate over your silver spoon in acclaimed restaurants like Nobu, Botanical and Becco. Pick up fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood at the Queen Victoria Market on a Saturday, known for its bustling crowds and buskers. Try out the restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars in Southbank or Federation Square. Make your way around Melbourne's multicultural cosmos of cuisines: Carlton for Italian classics, Richmond for budget-friendly Vietnamese and Fitzroy for Spanish tapas.
4. Fill up on culture
See a performance by the Australian Ballet, which is based here in Australia's cultural capital. Or enjoy a dazzling musical at the Princess Theatre. Browse the Southern Hemisphere's best collection of international art at the National Gallery of Victoria. Or visit the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square, a landmark cultural 'space' for Melbournians. Challenge yourself with the creative collections in the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank. To learn more about Melbourne's Aboriginal cultural heritage, see contemporary and dreamtime art or take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens.
5. Go sports mad
Cheer for an Australian Rules Football game with a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over winter. Go cricket mad in summer, when the city hosts the Ashes and one day internationals. Or join the huge crowds watching the Australian Tennis Open at Melbourne Park. Rev heads head to Melbourne in March for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Albert Park. And whether you are a racing fan or just a casual punter, you won't want to miss the Melbourne Cup - the world's richest horse race on the first Tuesday in November.
The world's largest monolith, located 280 mi/450 km southwest of Alice Springs, is a truly stunning sight, especially at sunset when its burnt-orange glow seems to set the desert on fire. Called Uluru by the Aborigines, the sandstone rock is huge (1,140 ft/350 m high, 9 mi/13 km around) and reddish brown most of the time, taking its color from iron oxide, or rust. Its presence is made more powerful by the mostly barren plain that surrounds it and disappears into the horizon. In 1985, ownership of the rock was returned to its traditional owners. It is rarely referred to as Ayers Rock anymore.
Considered sacred by the Aborigines for thousands of years, the rock is now part of the expansive Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, one of the country's biggest tourist attractions. The park includes the Olgas/Kata Tjuta, a cluster of 36 giant domelike rock formations about 20 mi/35 km west. If you want to visit both, plan to spend at least one night. You'll want to see Uluru at both sunset and sunrise. The Olgas are equally magnificent at both times of day. (But be prepared to jockey for position at either place; tour buses disgorge hundreds of visitors laden with binoculars, cameras and video equipment.)
Start your visit to the park with a stop at the cultural center. Run by the Anangu (a local Aboriginal clan), the center is a wonderful introduction to the unusual rock formations and to the people who lived in their harsh shadows for centuries. Aboriginal artwork and artifacts are on display. You can also see re-enactments of life in the bush and watch informative videos. Most visitors explore the rock as part of a tour led by park rangers, Anangu guides or private tour companies. But you can also pick up a printed walking guide at the cultural center and set off on your own.
Only one trail leads to the top of the rock, and it's fairly steep—those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, asthma, fear of heights or the like should remain earthbound. The Anangu prefer you walk around—not on—the rock because of its spiritual importance. If you do decide to climb it, allow two to three hours and take along a snack and plenty of water. The view from the top is spectacular, but hiking around the base is more educational and less strenuous. We suggest taking one or more of the shorter walks that pass water holes and rock paintings, allowing you to observe the rock's many faces at a leisurely pace. (Walking around the entire base of the rock takes about three hours.)
Allow at least an afternoon to visit the Olgas/Kata Tjuta. A frequent debate among visitors is whether the Olgas outshine the rock. It's a close call—the Olgas are taller, reaching 1,790 ft/545 m at the highest point. Made of conglomerate (pebbles and boulders cemented together by mud and sand), they are off-limits to climbers, but you can explore some of the valleys and chasms between the rocks.
Most visitors fly to Uluru or drive from Alice Springs. About the only place to stay in the area is the Ayers Rock Resort, or Yulara, whose five hotels and a campground can accommodate visitors in all price ranges. Longitude 131 is a magnificent safari camp with 15 luxury tents. Dozens of tours leave from Ayers Rock Resort, including sunrise camel rides around the rock, sunset champagne dinners in the desert, Aboriginal culture tours and stargazing. You can also rent a car there and explore on your own.
Because of the excessive heat in summer, the best time to visit is April-November (winter in Australia). Always take along plenty of drinking water. If you are flying to the Outback, we suggest going overland one way from Alice Springs (four to five hours) but flying the other way—the desert drive is scenic, but it can be tedious the second time around. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru.
Sydney
Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.
Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:
1. Explore the historic Rocks
Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.
2. Hit the world-famous harbour
Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.
3. Visit Manly on the ferry
Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.
4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington
Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.
5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee
Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.