- Tour code
AUSADV01
- Start
Melbourne
- End
Cairns
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Comfort
- Trip pace
Easy
- Language
English
Australia is too big to see in one trip, so this route picks four very different corners of it: Melbourne's food and laneways, the red heart of the outback, Sydney's harbor and the reef and rainforest of Far North Queensland.
Start in Melbourne with a guided food walk through the laneways, then fly to the Red Centre for two nights at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The Cultural Centre explains what this land means to the Anangu, its traditional owners, before you walk Uluru's base with a guide, explore the domes of Kata Tjuta and watch the rock change color at sunset.
In Sydney you'll walk The Rocks, go behind the scenes at the Opera House and cruise the harbor at sunset over an Aussie barbecue. The final leg heads to Port Douglas for Mossman Gorge in the Daintree, a catamaran day on the Outer Great Barrier Reef and time with Kuku Yalanji guides at Cooya Beach.
There's free time in every city, and your Soca Islands Host is on hand with ideas for how to fill it.
Why This Journey
Distances in Australia catch most first-time visitors out: Melbourne, Uluru, Sydney and the reef are each a flight apart. This trip puts the internal connections, transfers and timed experiences in order, so twelve days cover the country's best-known landscapes without a single day lost to working out logistics.
It suits travelers who want more than the big sights. Time with Anangu and Kuku Yalanji guides, and the Melbourne food walk, give the trip a sense of place, while free days in Melbourne and Sydney leave room for the Great Ocean Road, Bondi or Manly. Groups are small, from 6 to 16 travelers.
Where You'll Stay
Melbourne (3 nights): Vibe Hotel Melbourne, in the city centre near the laneways. Uluru (2 nights): Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort, in Yulara. Sydney (3 nights): Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks, close to Circular Quay. Port Douglas (3 nights): Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas, steps from Four Mile Beach. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Melbourne (MEL) and out of Cairns (CNS); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Australia's greatest hits: Melbourne laneways, Sydney's harbor and the reef
Walk the base of Uluru, explore Kata Tjuta and toast a desert sunset
Discover the Daintree, Kuku Yalanji culture and the coral of the Great Barrier Reef
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary, including the optional farewell dinner
- Optional activities, including the Great Ocean Road trip
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Arrive in Melbourne whenever suits you; your arrival transfer takes you to the hotel in the city centre.
The rest of the day is free, so rest after your flight or start getting to know the city on foot along the Yarra or through the arcades.
A local food guide leads you through the laneways, showing how waves of migration shaped the way Melbourne eats.
It's a progressive meal across three well-loved spots: an Asian-inspired starter with a glass of wine, an Italian main with another pour, and gelato to finish. The afternoon is yours.
A free day to spend however you like. Book an optional trip along the Great Ocean Road to see its sea cliffs and surf beaches.
Or stay in the city and hunt down street art, small cafés and local shops in the laneways.
Fly into the heart of the outback. At World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, begin at the Cultural Centre to learn about the Anangu, the traditional owners of this land.
Then walk with a guide around the northwest and southern sides of Uluru, hearing the stories connected to the rock.
In the morning, walk among the huge domes of Kata Tjuta, a short drive from Uluru. The afternoon is free to rest out of the heat.
As the day ends, raise a glass of sparkling wine and watch Uluru change color in the fading light.
Rise before dawn to see the Field of Light, an art installation of thousands of glowing stems spread across the desert, as the sun comes up.
Afterward, transfer to the airport and fly to Sydney.
A guide takes you on foot through The Rocks, where Sydney's Aboriginal and colonial histories meet. Next is a private tour inside the Opera House.
In the evening you'll board a sunset harbor cruise with an Australian barbecue dinner as the skyline lights up around you.
A full free day. Catch the ferry to Manly, walk the clifftop coastal trail from Bondi, dig deeper into The Rocks, or try some of the city's best bars.
Fly to Cairns and follow the coast road north to the Daintree, often called the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth and World Heritage-listed.
At Mossman Gorge, Kuku Yalanji guides lead you through the forest and share their traditions, then you'll continue to Port Douglas for three nights.
Spend a full day on a catamaran heading to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel or swim over coral gardens with tropical fish and, with luck, dolphins.
Lunch is served on board, and the evening back in Port Douglas is free.
Enjoy a slow morning around Port Douglas: shops, markets or the beach.
Later, Kuku Yalanji guides welcome you at Cooya Beach to share traditional knowledge of the coast. If you'd like, join the group for an optional farewell dinner.
After breakfast, transfer to Cairns Airport, where the trip ends mid-morning.
Or stay on in Port Douglas and keep exploring; extra nights can be requested.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Vibe Hotel Melbourne
A city hotel at the Flinders Street end of Queen Street, a short walk from Melbourne's laneway cafés, the old arcades and the theatre district, with free CBD trams stopping outside and Southbank across the river.
Some rooms look over the Yarra. Rooms are 25 m² (269 ft²).
Hotel websiteDesert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort
A 218-room hotel set among native gardens at Ayers Rock Resort in Yulara, the base for visits to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with some rooms looking out towards Uluru.
There is an outdoor pool, a grill restaurant and a bistro and bar, and the resort's shuttle links the hotels, the town square and the lookouts.
Rooms are 24 m² (258 ft²).
Hotel websiteRendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks
A hotel in the historic Rocks precinct, a short walk from Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, with the CBD within walking distance.
Breakfast is served in the poolside lounge, and some studios have harbour views or balconies. Rooms are 29 m² (312 ft²).
Hotel websitePeppers Beach Club Port Douglas
A resort a few steps from Four Mile Beach and an easy walk from the shops and restaurants of Macrossan Street in Port Douglas.
Its lagoon pool with sun deck is the centrepiece, and Koko Poolside Bar & Kitchen serves seafood to share and cocktails.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$2,399 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 8, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Melbourne Airport (MEL) and out of Cairns Airport (CNS).
Proposed accommodation is Vibe Hotel Melbourne, Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort, Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks and Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included: into Melbourne (MEL) at the start and out of Cairns (CNS) at the end. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
11 breakfasts (Days 2 to 12), 2 lunches (the Melbourne food walk on Day 2 and on board the reef catamaran on Day 10) and 1 dinner (the Sydney harbor cruise barbecue on Day 7). Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Discover Australia trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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