Speak with an experienced advisor
Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1515103
Tailor Made Australia: Uluru, Lizard Island & Beyond
Travel with your private party on this Luxury Tailor Made Journey, departing when you choose and with expert local guides leading the way; you can even customize the itinerary to your interests.
Immerse yourself in an epic Australian adventure as you experience the insider's Melbourne and Sydney, marvel at the Outback's monolithic wonder of Uluru, encounter iconic Australian animal species and bask for two nights in the Daintree Rainforest. Also explore the Great Barrier Reef from your own island hideaway, and take in the Great Ocean Road's stunning vistas.
11 nights from $26,290 per person
Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made Australia: Uluru, Lizard Island & Beyond
Day 1 Melbourne, Australia
Upon arrival into Melbourne, you are met by an A&K representative and transferred to your luxurious hotel, with your room pre-registered by A&K for immediate check-in. Later, embark on a private walking tour of the city. Explore Melbourne’s labyrinth of arcades and alleyways lined with edgy art galleries, trendy cafes and funky boutiques, pausing to tour the iconic Gothic Bank and Block Arcade. Enjoy the option to hop on one of Melbourne's iconic and much-loved trams for a ride with locals. After your city tour, enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Travel southwest from Melbourne to experience one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives. The Great Ocean Road stretches along the southern coast of Victoria, spanning charming towns, huge cliffs, roaring seas, tranquil coves, magnificent waterfalls and secluded beaches. After a sumptuous lunch of local seafood and regional produce in the popular holiday village of Apollo Bay, emerge on the dramatic Shipwreck Coast near the iconic Twelve Apostles, the scenic highlight of the day, and view this formation of giant limestone columns rising dramatically from the sea. Return to Melbourne and spend the evening at leisure.
Fly to Uluru, where you settle into your luxurious tented accommodations on the edge of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Later, take a sunset tour of mythical Uluru (Ayers Rock), pausing for refreshments as the warm glow of the setting sun washes over the vast face of this red monolith.
Today, enjoy a guided tour of Walpa Gorge, learning how eons of weathering and continental upheaval have shaped this landscape. After breakfast, enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Later in the evening, savor a Sundowner at the western face of Uluru, watching as the sun slowly sets. Cap off your Uluru experience with the Field of Light, a unique art installation that harnesses the beauty of an Uluru sunset. Marvel as the installation’s 50,000 frosted-glass spheres bloom in the ebbing twilight, mirroring the brilliant starlit sky as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland. Enjoy a special dinner under the night sky, returning to the Dune House for cocktails.
This morning, visit the Mutitjulu Waterhole and learn about its cave paintings. After breakfast and time at leisure, fly to Cairns and transfer to your luxurious retreat in Queensland's Daintree Rainforest, situated on the banks of the Mossman River. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight at your lodge, savor a dining experience that combines local ingredients with the nation’s finest premium produce in a refreshing and contemporary Australian menu.
Set out on a full day of exploring Daintree Rainforest, beginning with a stroll on the Jindalba boardwalk as your guide points out the incredible variety of plants, animals and eco systems unique to this area. Next, stop at Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef. Take a walk along this magical beach to view the unique eco system. Enjoy lunch in the heart of the rainforest before visiting the Janbal Gallery located in Mossman township. Here, learn ancient aboriginal Dreamtime stories, local history and how these are shared through their art. Return to the lodge for dinner.
This morning, visit the Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, which you explore privately with a park ranger, enjoying access to the koala and wallaby enclosures as well as the opportunity to hold a koala in your arms, on an A&K-exclusive experience. Continue to Cairns and board your flight to Lizard Island, your own tropical oasis in the Coral Sea. Secluded and beautiful, Lizard Island is true paradise. With 24 powdery-white beaches and 40 luxurious suites, it is the most northern resort in tropical Queensland and is located directly on the Great Barrier Reef. Spend the next three luxurious days doing as much — or as little — as you choose.
Explore your island paradise with optional activities such as windsurfing, sailboarding, snorkeling and fishing.
Savor your last day on the island as you view the reefs from the comfort of a glass-bottomed boat or try out that one last hammock you have yet to explore.
Transfer to Cairns and connect with your flight to Sydney. Check in to your luxurious hotel ideally situated right on Sydney Harbour in the city's historic Rocks area. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.
This morning, meet your local A&K guide for a walking tour. Your first stop today is the historic Rocks precinct, the birthplace of Sydney. Listen as your guider shares the history, stories and cultural character of this area. Explore the convict-built cottages, pubs and the very first church in Australia. Continue to the Sydney Opera House. More than just a pretty picture, the Opera House is a true masterpiece of late modern architecture. Feel the grandeur of the Opera House’s soaring “sails,” taking in the groups of locals that congregate to relax on the welcoming steps of the quayside. Next, embark on a shared-basis long lunch cruise of Sydney Harbour. Your captain and host guides the way as you take in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and other sights nestled among the harbor’s myriad of coves and bays.
This morning after breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your international departure.
Just 20 minutes north of Port Douglas, Daintree is just waiting to be explored.
People come from far and wide to journey through Daintree's ever-changing tropical
landscape. White sandy beaches lined with palms, waving cane fields and jungle
clad misty mountains are all at your fingertips. The forests of Daintree are
home to an amazing array of plants, animals and insects. Keep your eyes peeled
for wildlife lurking at every turn, birds flying above, butterflies floating
in the air. The rainforest was added to the World Heritage List in1988 due in
part because it contains such significant habitats for conservation of biological
diversity.
Activities include hiking trails, scenic look outs, camping, picnic tables
and swimming. It is possible to take a privately owned vessel up the Daintree
river, but the river is infested with crocodiles.
Accommodations in Daintree range from rural cabins, farmstays, bed and breakfasts
and world renown spa resorts.
In the Daintree Village, you can catch a glimpse into Australia's colorful
past and experience the laid back atmosphere.
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.
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.
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.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.