22 Day East Coast Explorer

Great Ocean Road & the Twelve Apostles

The first full day offers one of Australia’s most celebrated drives. Clients can self-drive or join a small group tour along the National Heritage-listed Great Ocean Road, passing Anglesea, stopping for morning tea at some of southern Australia’s most beautiful beaches, and continuing through ancient rainforest to the dramatic limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park.

Along the way there are chances to spot Australian wildlife in the wild – koalas in the Great Otway National Park, kangaroos on open grasslands, and birdlife along the coastal scrub. The surf beaches at Bells Beach and beyond are impressive even from the car park.

Trade tip: The self-drive option works well for clients who want flexibility, but the guided small group tour is the better fit for most international travellers – it handles the logistics and the guide adds real value at stops along the way. This is a full day out, so clients should be briefed on timings. It’s one of those days that sells itself from the first photograph.

Melbourne at Leisure with Optional Touring

Two free days in Melbourne with a strong menu of optional experiences. This is where the itinerary flexes to suit different client interests.

Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Departs around 9:00am via scenic route through the north-eastern suburbs. Stops include Coldstream Hills Winery, Medhurst Winery (established 1999, 35 acres under vine), Domaine Chandon for premium sparkling wines, lunch at Yering Station in the Wine Bar Restaurant with tasting in the original 1859 winery, and a final visit to De Bortoli Winery at Dixons Creek. Returns around 6:30pm.

Mornington Peninsula Tour: Departs around 9:00am. Visits include Yabby Lake at Tuerong (established 1998, 120 acres under vine), Crittenden Estate Vineyard (established 1984), and Quealy Vineyard at Balnarring. Lunch at the charming Merricks General Store, dating back to the early 1920s. Post-lunch options include Mornington Peninsula Chocolates at Flinders, Red Hill Cheese at Main Ridge, or alternative vineyard visits to Stonier Wines or Ten Minutes by Tractor.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon: A one-hour balloon flight over Melbourne at sunrise, traversing the city with views of sparkling skyscrapers and the Yarra River below.

Sovereign Hill & Phillip Island: A combined day visiting the Ballarat Wildlife Park (hand-feed kangaroos, photo with a koala at own expense), then on to Sovereign Hill with Gold Museum and Red Hill Mine Tour. Travel to Phillip Island for the giant surf at Woolamai Beach, the Australian fur seal colony at the Nobbies, and the famous Penguin Parade to witness the world’s smallest penguins.

Trade tip: Melbourne optional touring is where you can really tailor this itinerary to different markets. Wine-focused clients gravitate to the Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula. Families and clients from Asian markets often prefer the wildlife and Penguin Parade combination. The balloon flight is a standout for honeymooners. We can mix and match across both free days.

Fly Melbourne to Sydney

Private transfer to Melbourne Airport for the flight to Sydney. On arrival, clients are met and transferred by private vehicle to their hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. Sydney accommodation is for three nights.

Trade tip: The Melbourne to Sydney flight is roughly 90 minutes. We typically book a morning departure so clients have the afternoon free to explore the harbour foreshore, Circular Quay, or the Rocks area on foot. Accommodation is arranged in central Sydney with easy access to the major sights.

Sydney City Tour with Bondi Beach

A morning guided tour covering Sydney’s highlights. The route includes a walking tour of the historic Rocks area, the Sydney Opera House, Conservatorium of Music, Hyde Park, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Parliament House, the Art Gallery of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Town Hall, Sydney Tower, Darling Harbour, and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for the classic photo opportunity of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House together.

The tour continues through the Royal Australian Naval Base at Garden Island, Kings Cross and the eastern suburbs, a stop at iconic Bondi Beach, historic Paddington, and Chinatown.

The afternoon is free. An optional Sydney Bridge Climb can be arranged for clients wanting that bucket-list experience.

Trade tip: The morning city tour gives clients a solid orientation of Sydney. The Bridge Climb is popular across all markets but particularly strong with UK, US, and Chinese travellers. Book well in advance during peak season. For clients who prefer something less adventurous, a harbour cruise or afternoon at leisure in the Rocks works nicely.

Blue Mountains & Australian Wildlife Day Trip

A full-day trip from Sydney to the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park – over one million hectares of dramatic cliffs, deep canyons, rainforest, and wildlife. Clients visit the famous Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point, with the option to ride the Scenic Railway, Cableway, or Skyway at Scenic World.

The day includes a stop at Leura Village for lunch, a wildlife park visit to see koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and dingoes up close, and a visit to Homebush – venue of the 2000 Olympic Games. From there, clients can take an optional river cruise along the Parramatta River to Darling Harbour or Circular Quay, or transfer by coach straight back to the hotel.

Trade tip: The Blue Mountains day trip is a must for most international visitors and it delivers. The Scenic Railway descent is a genuine thrill. The river cruise option back to the city is a relaxing end to a busy day and we’d recommend it where schedules allow. The wildlife park component rounds out the day well for clients who haven’t had close encounters with Australian animals yet.

Fly to the Whitsunday Islands

Private transfer to Sydney Airport for the three-hour flight to Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands. On arrival, clients transfer to the Whitsunday Apartments Hamilton Island for three nights.

The apartments are located on the resort side of Hamilton Island overlooking Catseye Beach. Spacious one-bedroom ocean-facing apartments with a lagoon-style pool and spa set in tropical gardens. Attractions, restaurants, bars, tours, and facilities are all accessible by island shuttle bus, hired golf buggy, or a comfortable walk.

Trade tip: Hamilton Island is the gateway to the Whitsundays and a destination in its own right. The transition from Sydney’s urban pace to tropical island life is a highlight clients consistently mention. Golf buggies are the main mode of transport on-island and most clients love them. We can arrange upgrades to different room categories or alternative Whitsunday accommodation on request.

Hamilton Island at Leisure

Two free days on Hamilton Island. Clients can fill these any way they like – sailing trips, snorkelling excursions to the outer reef, scenic flights over Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach, beach time at Catseye, hiking trails, spa treatments, or simply unwinding by the pool.

Trade tip: The scenic helicopter or seaplane flight over Heart Reef and Whitehaven Beach is one of those signature Australian moments. Worth suggesting at the quoting stage. A day trip to Whitehaven Beach itself is equally popular. These two days are deliberately unstructured to give clients breathing space in a 22-day itinerary – resist the urge to fill every hour.

Fly to Cairns

Transfer by resort shuttle to Hamilton Island Airport for the flight to Cairns. On arrival, clients are transferred directly to the Riley by Crystalbrook – a five-star luxury hotel in Cairns with pool and full facilities. Accommodation for two nights.

Trade tip: The Riley is a strong property for this level of itinerary. Well located in Cairns and genuinely luxurious. It serves as a comfortable base before and after the live-aboard reef experience. Clients should be briefed that the live-aboard section begins on Day 13, so they have a full day to explore Cairns first.

Kuranda Scenic Train & Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

A full-day experience combining two iconic Cairns attractions. Clients board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for the journey to Kuranda, gliding over the canopy of World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest. Two stations en route offer the chance to alight and walk through the rainforest to spectacular lookouts or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Centre.

In Kuranda village, there’s time to explore the Heritage Markets with their colourful arts and crafts. Optional visits to Birdworld, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, or Kuranda Koala Gardens are available at own expense.

The return journey is aboard the world-famous Kuranda Scenic Railway, winding through hand-hewn tunnels, across bridges, and around curves with views over gorges and waterfalls.

Trade tip: We recommend Skyrail up and train down as the preferred direction – the Skyrail gives the best first impression of the rainforest canopy and the train ride is a relaxing way to finish the day. The Kuranda markets are enjoyable but clients don’t need more than a couple of hours up there. This day is perfect preparation for the reef adventure that follows.

Three Days on the Great Barrier Reef

This is the adventure centrepiece of the itinerary. Clients are collected from their hotel and taken to Cairns wharf to board a premium Scubapro dive boat for three days and two nights on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

The live-aboard visits 19 exceptional dive sites across four outer reefs – Flynn, Thetford, Milln, and Pellowe Reefs. Clients can participate in up to 11 dives including two night dives, or snorkel across all sites. Marine life includes giant clams, sea turtles, stingrays, reef sharks, tropical fish, and spectacular coral formations. Night dives reveal an entirely different world of nocturnal reef life.

Day 13: Depart Cairns at 7:00am with light breakfast on board. First dive before lunch, followed by two afternoon dives and a night dive. All meals provided.

Day 14: Early morning dive, breakfast, then dives throughout the day with a night dive in the evening. All meals included.

Day 15: Sunrise dive, breakfast, two morning dives finishing by noon, then lunch and return to Cairns by 4:00pm. Complimentary transfer back to the Riley by Crystalbrook for two further nights.

The dive boats feature air-conditioned twin or double cabins, spacious decks, WiFi, and catered meals. Small passenger numbers ensure close crew-to-guest ratios. All dive and snorkelling equipment is included – wetsuits, dive computers, torches, corrective lens masks if needed. Dive insurance and a guided orientation dive for those who haven’t dived recently are also included.

Trade tip: This component is what sets this itinerary apart from a standard east coast tour. It’s genuine outer reef diving, not a day trip from a pontoon. Clients need to be comfortable in the water but don’t need to be advanced divers – the guided orientation on dive one is thorough. For non-divers, the snorkelling across these sites is world-class in its own right. Brief clients that accommodation on the boat is comfortable but compact. This is an adventure, not a luxury cruise.

Free Day in Cairns

A well-placed rest day after the reef. Clients have a range of optional activities: an Aboriginal Dreamtime walk at Tjapukai to explore the world’s oldest living culture, bungy jumping, white-water rafting on the Barron River, exploring the northern or southern beaches, or heading up to the Daintree for a taste of the rainforest ahead of the full-day tour to follow.

Trade tip: Most clients will be happily tired after three days on the reef, so don’t over-schedule this day. A lazy morning by the pool at the Riley followed by an afternoon activity works well. The Tjapukai cultural experience is particularly worthwhile for clients interested in Indigenous Australian culture and often gets overlooked in itinerary planning.

Full Day Cape Tribulation & Daintree Tour

A full-day guided tour exploring the rainforest and landscapes of Daintree and Cape Tribulation National Parks. Collection from accommodation from 7:00am. The day takes in one of Australia’s great scenic highways and covers an extraordinary amount of ground.

Morning tea at Mossman Gorge Centre, followed by a shuttle to the gorge itself and a guided walk through the world’s oldest rainforest on the boardwalk. Then a Daintree River cruise to understand the intricate ecosystem – keep an eye out for the elusive saltwater crocodile. BBQ lunch in the Noah Valley rainforest, an area renowned for its primitive flowering plants.

The afternoon brings Cape Tribulation Beach for a walk along the beach or boardwalk, a stop at the Daintree Ice Cream Company for exotic fruit ice cream (four flavours, gluten-free and dairy-free options available), and Alexandra Lookout for a spectacular view over the Daintree River Estuary, Snapper Island, and the Coral Sea beyond.

Trade tip: Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef – one of the only places on earth where two World Heritage-listed environments exist side by side. The crocodile-spotting on the Daintree River cruise is a genuine highlight and works across all markets. The Daintree Ice Cream Company is one of those unexpected stops that clients always mention afterwards. GPS-activated audio commentary supplements the driver-guide’s local knowledge throughout.

Fly to the Gold Coast

Private transfer to Cairns Airport for the flight to the Gold Coast. On arrival, clients are transferred to the QT Gold Coast for three nights. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Trade tip: The QT Gold Coast has a distinctive personality – it’s a design-led property with a bit of flair. Great location for exploring the Gold Coast’s beaches, dining, and nightlife. Clients transitioning from tropical Cairns to the Gold Coast will notice the change of pace immediately.

Gold Coast Hinterland – Mount Tamborine Tour

A half-day tour to Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast hinterland. Clients experience forest trails accessible only by 4WD, a guided rainforest walk to a waterfall, morning tea, wine tasting, and time to explore the “Gallery Walk” arts and craft district. The guide demonstrates boomerang throwing, which is always more entertaining than it sounds. On the return, clients can be dropped at selected theme parks or shopping centres if they wish.

Inclusions: hotel pick-up and return, morning tea, tour commentary, guided rainforest walks, boomerang throwing lessons, and national park fees.

Trade tip: The Tamborine Mountain half-day tour shows clients there’s more to the Gold Coast than the beach strip. It’s a manageable length after the pace of the previous weeks and the hinterland scenery genuinely surprises. The boomerang throwing is a bit of fun that photographs well. The theme park drop-off option on return is handy for families.

Free Day on the Gold Coast

A full free day with plenty to choose from. Theme parks including Wet’n’Wild, Movie World, and Sea World are all accessible. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers native wildlife encounters. The beaches here are some of the best in Australia – broad, clean, and backed by a long stretch of surf. Dining options range from beachfront casual to excellent restaurants in Burleigh Heads and beyond.

Trade tip: This is the wind-down day of the itinerary. After 19 days of touring, many clients will be content with a beach day. For families, one of the theme parks is usually non-negotiable. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a less commercial alternative to the bigger parks and ideal for clients who haven’t had their fill of Australian wildlife. We can pre-book any of these options.

Depart Gold Coast / Brisbane

Day 21: Depending on flight schedules, clients are transferred by private vehicle from their Gold Coast hotel to either Gold Coast Airport or Brisbane Airport. The drive to Brisbane Airport is a little over one hour.

Day 22: For clients departing from Brisbane on Day 22, a private transfer from the Gold Coast hotel to Brisbane Airport is arranged for their flight home.

Trade tip: Flight availability often dictates whether clients depart from Gold Coast Airport (OOL) or Brisbane (BNE). Brisbane has more international connections. We can arrange the transfer to either airport and adjust the final night if needed. For clients with time, an extra night in Brisbane’s South Bank precinct makes a relaxed final stop. This itinerary also connects seamlessly with our New Zealand touring product through our subsidiary New Zealand and Beyond Holidays – a natural extension for clients wanting to see both countries.