Travel Kuoni

Australia's Icons

A triple whammy of Sydney, Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef on this 10 night adventure and culture trip.

This clever itinerary goes to show you don’t need weeks on end to visit Australia. Start with a city break in Sydney before flying to the enigmatic Uluru and then to tropical Port Douglas, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.

Multi-centre
10 nights
Sydney, Uluru, Port Douglas
Adventure, Culture
Nov - Mar

Itinerary overview

Days 1-2

Split up your journey Down Under with a few days in sultry and sophisticated Singapore. Check out...

Day 3

Fly to Sydney on an overnight flight.

Days 1-4

You’ve got three full days to get to know Sydney. A harbour cruise might be your first to-do, ori...

Days 5-6

You’ll fly to Uluru today, a three-and-a-half-hour flight northwest, arriving in plenty of time t...

Days 7-11

A two-and-a-half-hour flight brings you back to the coast to Cairns today, where you’ll pick up a...

Extend your holiday

Head all the way south to riverside Melbourne, Victoria's largest city. Soak up the arts scene, t...

Days 1-2

Singapore

Split up your journey Down Under with a few days in sultry and sophisticated Singapore. Check out its gardens, street food scene and sensational shopping before heading back to the airport.

Day 3

Overnight flight

Fly to Sydney on an overnight flight.

Days 1-4

Sydney

You’ve got three full days to get to know Sydney. A harbour cruise might be your first to-do, orientating yourself with the city and getting a terrific view of the iconic Sydney Opera House. You could take a backstage tour, or, if you’re feeling more daring (or want something exhilarating to shake off your jetlag), try a bridge climb or join the surfers for a lesson on Bondi Beach. You’ve got enough time in Sydney to explore the best city highlights and the surrounding area. Perhaps you’ll answer the call of the Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley?

Sydney Dinner Cruise
Sydney & New South Wales

Take in one of the world’s most famous city skylines from the harbour on this evening dinner cruise. Take in the views of the lights reflecting on the water as you sit down to a three-course meal with regionally source ingredients and wines.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Time: 6pm to 9pm
• Departure days vary
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

The Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney

This one-hour guided tour is perfect if you’re curious about what really happens inside Australia’s most recognisable building and want an accessible, story-rich look behind the scenes. You’ll meet your guide at the Welcome Centre on the Lower Concourse before stepping beneath the sails to explore the theatres and foyers that host more than 1,800 performances each year. 

Along the way, your guide shares insider stories about the artists who perform here, the moments that shaped the building’s history, and the bold vision of architect Jørn Utzon, whose design came to life despite extraordinary challenges. You’ll also be able to visit areas usually closed to the public, offering rare angles for photographs and a fresh sense of how the building works from the inside out. 

• One hour
• Daily departures 
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Blue Mountains Deluxe Day Tour
Sydney & New South Wales

The Blue Mountains is a real journey into the heart of a unique World Heritage Region. The first stop is Calmsley Hill, a working farm based attraction involved in animal rehabilitation offering fabulous bush surrounds located near the heart of Sydney. Arrive early to get up close to a range of native and farmyard animals including Kangaroos and Koalas while enjoying a light morning tea.

Departing from Calmsley Hill, head to the Blue Mountains. Visit one of a range of stunning outlooks of the Jamison Valley with beautiful vistas, where possible away from the crowds. Continue on to Eaglehawk Lookout for views of the famous Three Sisters and to learn of the legends behind this famous rock formation. You'll make your way to Blackheath where you can enjoy a two-course lunch at the Hydro Majestic. After lunch, spend the afternoon visiting a selection of scenic lookouts. The view from Govett's Leap is one of the most famous lookouts in Australia. Here the magnificent waterfall drops a whopping 180m to the base of the cliff. You will then continue on to more breathtaking lookout points and, if there's time you will have the chance to explore the charming village of Leura before beginning your journey back.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 7am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Bridge Climb Summit - Day Climb
Sydney

The Summit BridgeClimb is an iconic Sydney experience for those with a head for heights and a penchant for great views. You’ll get geared up and listen to a briefing from your expert Climb Leader before following the Opera House side of the upper arch to the bridge’s 134-metre-high apex. Then it’s time to soak in those 360-degree harbour and city skyline vistas before heading back down the west side of the arch and returning to Climb Base.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Timings vary
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
All climbers must be at least 1.2 metres tall and 8 years old.

Sydney Secrets Seaplane
Sydney

Soar over Sydney’s famous coastline in a helicopter, heading north to Palm Beach of Home and Away fame. You’ll return over the waterways of Pittwater for a final circuit over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House before landing at the Seaplane Terminal in Rose Bay.

• Duration: 30 minutes
• Start time: 10.15am
• Wednesday to Sunday departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour
Sydney

This behind-the-scenes experience is ideal if you want to see what happens beyond the footlights and step into the working world of one of the planet’s most famous performance venues. You’ll begin at Stage Door, the same entrance used by artists and crews, before following your guide through backstage corridors, rehearsal spaces, and hidden technical areas that shape every production.

You’ll stand in the orchestra pit, wander through spots where props are stored and costumes are prepped, and walk paths used by countless performers over the decades. The tour ends in the Green Room, the private hub for cast and crew, where you’ll sit down to breakfast and get a sense of the building’s day-to-day heartbeat. It’s a rare chance to explore the Opera House from the inside out and see the details most visitors never glimpse.

• Duration: 2½ hours
• Daily departures 
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Sydney Harbour Experience
Sydney

You’ll board a Captain Cook Cruises vessel for a Harbour Experience cruise to catch some incredible views. Over 90 minutes, you’ll hear anecdotes and stories that bring the history and culture of Sydney alive.

• Duration: 1½ hours
• Start time: Midday or 1.30pm
• Wednesday to Sunday departures 
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Bondi Local Tour & Surf Experience
Sydney

Discover the joys of surfing on famous Bondi Beach. Learn how to safely get out and up onto your first wave, with plenty of hands-on help. Your instructor will provide lots of feedback and specific instruction, helping you to surf at your best possible pace. Once you’ve built up your confidence and technique, hit the surf and have fun! This half-day experience also includes a tour of Bondi with your instructor, with a visit to a surf life-saving club and a casual beachside lunch.

• Duration: 4 hours
• Start time: 10am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Days 5-6

Uluru

You’ll fly to Uluru today, a three-and-a-half-hour flight northwest, arriving in plenty of time to spend a magical evening at the Fields of Lights. Fifty thousand lights illuminate the desert in a colourful spectacle with Uluru in silhouette after nightfall. Sunrise at Uluru is an equally enchanting time to explore the base of the rock or the intriguing rock domes of Kata Tjuta. Come evening, there are a few tempting options, from a memorable dining experience under the night sky - Sounds of Silence, hosted by a resident astronomer - or Tali Wiru, a fine dining experience on a private dune.

A Night at Field of Light
Australia

Savour canapés and sparkling wine as the sun slowly sets over Uluru, with the sound of the didgeridoo setting the scene. Watch the coloured lights of 50,000 glass spheres illuminate the vast night sky while enjoying a three-course bushtucker-inspired buffet menu. Learn about the background and significance of the installation before following illuminated paths through the field.

• Duration: 4½ hours
• Start time: varies
• Departure days vary
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Uluru Sunset with BBQ Dinner
Uluru & The Red Centre

This early evening experience combines a sunset visit to Uluru with an outdoor barbecue dinner and guided stargazing. You’ll travel by coach, watch the colours change on Uluru as the sun goes down, enjoy a relaxed meal inside the national park, and finish the night under a sky full of stars.

You leave Ayers Rock Resort in the early evening, rolling through wide-open desert as the heat eases and the light starts to fade. By the time you arrive at the sunset viewing area, there’s a definite sense of anticipation. You’re free to wander and choose your spot.

As the sun drops, Uluru begins its colour shift, moving through deep reds, burnt orange and dusky purples. The changes happen minute by minute, and it’s one of those rare moments where the crowd naturally falls quiet. A glass of sparkling wine adds to the atmosphere. Dinner is a relaxed barbecue with grilled favourites, fresh salads and dessert with Uluru still looming in the background.

Once dinner is finished, the sky takes over. With almost no light pollution, the stars appear in striking clarity. Your guide points out constellations visible only in the southern hemisphere and shares Aboriginal stories connected to the night sky. 

• Duration: 3½ hours 
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner
Uluru & The Red Centre

Spend an atmospheric evening dining beneath a sky full of lights. Wintjiri Wiru is a cultural experience at the Ayers Rock Resort. This immersive event begins on a platform for sunset with a cocktail with views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Once seated in the amphitheatre, guests are treated to a gourmet hamper celebrating native ingredients, paired perfectly with their choice of Australian wine or beer. As the sun sets and darkness falls, guests are treated to a spectacular display of drones, lights, traditional music, and Pitjantjatjara language, which come together to bring to life the Mala story under the desert sky. As the Anangu people are the custodians of the land, they hold the Mala story from Kaltukatjara to Uluru. To share this story with guests, drones, light, and sound create an immersive storytelling experience.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Timings vary
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Uluru Tour and Sunset
Uluru & The Red Centre

Join a guide on a small group tour vehicle to explore the significance of Uluru – the most profound and culturally important monolith in Australia. Get to know Uluru's culture, geology, and environment as you stroll through Mutitjulu Waterhole, explore the Mala Walk, and visit rock art sites. Your guide will explain the significance of Uluru to the Anangu people and the local aboriginal community. Afterwards, head to the Talinguru Nyakunytjaku viewing area to witness an uninterrupted sunset over Uluru with Kata Tjuta in the distance, sipping on chilled sparkling wine.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Timings vary
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Sunrise and Breakfast at Kata Tjuta
Uluru & The Red Centre

Experience the serene beauty of Kata Tjuta during the early morning hours. As the sun rises, witness the iconic Central Australian landmark's changing colours. Enjoy a picnic breakfast while taking in the magnificent view. Walking through Walpa Gorge, you will learn about the diverse environment and how the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. Take a moment to listen to the sound of the wind above and appreciate the scale of the rock walls surrounding you.

• Duration: 5 hours
• Timings vary
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round 
• Group experience

Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta
Uluru & The Red Centre

Wake up early to visit Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, the Uluru sunrise viewing area. Witness the sun's first rays lighting the desert with hot tea or coffee. You’ll then visit the 36 domes of Kata Tjuta, enjoying panoramic views of the southern side of Kata Tjuta at a dune viewing platform before arriving at Walpa Gorge. Take time to explore the gorge and its unusual conglomerate rock formations. The 1.3km walking trail through Walpa Gorge follows the natural creek between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.

• Duration: 5½ hours
• Start time: 4.45am
• Departs daily
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Days 7-11

Port Douglas

A two-and-a-half-hour flight brings you back to the coast to Cairns today, where you’ll pick up a hire car or transfer to Port Douglas, around an hour’s drive north. This upmarket coastal village is your springboard to both the Great Barrier Reef (the outer reef is less an hour offshore) and the ancient Daintree Rainforest.

Sailaway Sunset Sail
Australia

Board your Sailaway vessel at Port Douglas Marina and set off on a sunset sail cruise along the Port Douglas coastline on board a first class sailing catamaran. Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a tropical sunset over the Coral Sea with spectacular mountain views, and enjoy a complimentary welcome drink alongside a selection of canapés.

• Duration: 1½ hours
• Start time 4.30pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise Snorkelling
Australia

Board Quicksilver’s 45-metre high-speed catamaran on a full-day cruise to Agincourt Reef on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Explore the reef from a semi-submersible, an underwater observatory or snorkel and dive. This cruise is ideal for those keen to do lots of activities and for those wanting to add a wonderful airborne perspective, helicopter transfers are also available (at a supplement).

Departs from Port Douglas.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 9am
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Ngana Julaymba Dungay
Tropical North Queensland

From Port Douglas, head off on this personalised and engaging small group tour to spend the day with a local Aboriginal guide. Visit a number of culturally significant areas and learn about the amazing relationships that the Kuku Yalanji have with their land. Walk through the rainforest and coastal habitats to learn about the environment, different foods and medicines utilised from nature, sample some bush tucker and try traditional Aboriginal hunting practices. Complete the adventure with time to enjoy lunch and cool off in a freshwater stream.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 8am
• Departs Monday to Saturday
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Cruise to Great Barrier Reef - Snorkeller
Australia

Travel in comfort on board Calypso – a custom-designed motorised catamaran, complete with day bed-style seating and spacious decks, to 3 different Outer Barrier Reef sites that showcase the reef’s colourful marine life just a few metres below the surface. There’ll be the opportunity to listen to interpretive reef talks and enjoy guided snorkel tours.

• Duration: full day
• Start time: 8.20am
• Daily departures from Port Douglas
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Extend your holiday

Melbourne

Head all the way south to riverside Melbourne, Victoria's largest city. Soak up the arts scene, the coffee-shop culture and the cool charm that it has in spades.

Personalise your trip

Get in touch with one of our travel experts and we'll help plan your perfect holiday.

Call our Australia experts on

0800 047 3516

Available until 5pm

Call our Australia experts on

0800 047 3516

Available until 5pm

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