12-Nights Great Barrier Reef and the Red Centre from $16,840

Swain Destinations

OFFER ID 1587835

Aussie City Lights and Starry Nights
Beginning in beautiful Port Douglas, with a stay at the Thala Beach Nature Reserve, find yourself surrounded by 145 acres of gorgeous wilderness with the Great Barrier Reef a mere stone's throw away. Journey on to marvel at the magnificent Uluru, a sight sure to overwhelm all of your senses as you begin to understand why it's so treasured by the local cultures. Then head down to Adelaide, where it's time where it's time to explore Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula. Your travels conclude in the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne, with a guided walk through the city's electrifying lanes and arcades and an evening at Phillip Island with a Ranger-led experience to view the little penguins.

Your Itinerary Includes:

Round trip airport transfers
3 nights at Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Great Barrier Reef experience
Daintree Rainforest experience
1 night Carins
Cairns Aquarium experience
2 nights Uluru
Uluru sunrise experience
"A Night at Field of Light" experience
3 nights Adelaide
Kangaroo Island Experience
Fleurieu Food, Wine, Wildlife experience
3 nights Melbourne
Phillip Island experience
Lanes and Arcades walking tour
Meals: 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

12 nights from $16,840 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

Swain Destinations: Aussie City Lights and Starry Nights

Day 1 Welcome to Port Douglas
Welcome to Australia! Upon arrival into Cairns you will be transferred by private vehicle to Thala Beach Nature Reserve.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve
On a private peninsula surrounded by stretches of white beaches and dense rainforest teeming with life is Thala Beach Nature Reserve, which is located between Cairns and Port Douglas. The eco-friendly resort is spread out across 145 acres of protected natural area, ensuring that guests experience the unique and untouched ecosystem while conserving its fragile inhabitants. Beaches are quiet and clean, lined by ancient rainforests and mangroves while dolphins leap from the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. High grounds are home to tropical birds and butterflies, and at night, the Milky Way is visible from the resorts observatory. Suites and bungalows are scattered across the grounds and hidden away in manicured gardens, offering privacy, comfort and luxury. Sleep near the beach with calming ocean views or nestled in the jungle surrounded by the sounds of the forest. The main lodge, set among the eucalyptus, is home to the modern Australian restaurant, a free-form pool with hidden grottos and waterfalls and a relaxing massage studio.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Day 2 Great Barrier Reef Experience
The adventure starts with an early departure from Port Douglas Marina. Sit back and relax on the beautiful yacht and set sail to the Coral Cays of Mackay or Undine Reefs. You will enjoy an authentic sailing experience, following the coastline and views of the Daintree mountains. Once at the protected sites at the Coral Cays, nature activities will include snorkeling over the pristine coral reef with a qualified marine biologist offering reef interpretation on a guided snorkel tour. A glass bottom boat coral viewing tour is also on offer. Premium reef sites showcase abundant marine life, including encounters with turtles and an amazing display of giant clam gardens, beautiful corals and a wide variety of fish. Exploring the white sands of the coral cays will relax the mind. Soak up the sun, peace and tranquility and swim in turquoise clear waters. Small numbers of guests ensure personal interactive communication with experience guides.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Meals: B, L

Day 3 Daintree Rainforest Experience
Enjoy a tour over the top of the Daintree Rainforest to the very edge of the 'Outback' to observe the native wildlife. The ecosystems experienced are from the Lowland Wet Tropics of the coastal strip through the upper forests and out to the very edge of the wonderful Eucalypt Savannah Outback. Odyssey Bound is able to take you into the wilderness of Cape York with a unique look at local culture and history. It offers an insight into the many creatures generally unseen. Early departures allow many encounters with creatures that would otherwise be missed. Traveling off the beaten track in areas not visited by the mainstream, this safari is ideal for people that simply seek to explore a little more than the normal day tours. Wear comfortable closed toe shoes as you may be walking on uneven terrain at times, and bring that camera.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Meals: B

Day 4 Cairns Aquarium Night Experience
Today you will be transferred from Thala Beach Nature Reserve to your accommodation in Cairns by private vehicle.

Night at the Aquarium
As the sun goes down on the Great Barrier Reef, a whole new world awakens. Corals glow, colorful reef fish seek shelter and predators begin their night hunt. At the same time, coastal forests stir with life, as reptiles, amphibians and insects emerge from their burrows to seek out food in the safety of the shadows. The ‘Night at the Aquarium' guided tour gives you a glimpse into the unique world of the region's nocturnal creatures and their behaviors as they move about it in the darkness. Your evening experience includes excusive after-hours entry to Cairns Aquarium, and a 90 minute guided twilight tour through 10 tropical ecosystems. Complete the evening at Dundee's restaurant with a perfectly matched 2 course dinner while you enjoy a stunning sea life backdrop. Your evening experience includes excusive after-hours entry to Cairns Aquarium, a 90 minute guided twilight tour through 10 tropical ecosystems and a 2-course dinner at Dundee's Restaurant.

Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns
Meals: B, L, D

Day 5 Travel to Uluru
Ahead of your flight you will be transferred to Cairns Airport by private vehicle. Upon arrival into Uluru you will be transferred to your accommodation.

Uluru and Sunset Tour
Departing your accommodation at Yulara resort, today's excursion 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. You will return to your accommodations at Yulara Resort.

Sails in the Desert Hotel
In the heart of Australia's Red Centre, Sails in the Desert hotel beautifully contrasts Uluru's raw natural beauty with a decidedly luxurious outback holiday experience. Soaring white sails crown the Sails in the Desert hotel, shading 228 luxury five-star rooms and suites. In a destination where one of the world's oldest cultures still thrives, the mystery, color and wisdom of the local Anangu people is interwoven into every facet of Sails in the Desert's modern design. More than luxury accommodation, Sails in the Desert hotel is a destination of exploration and indulgence.

Sails In The Desert
Meals: B, L

Day 6 Kata Tijuta Sunrise Tour and A Night at Field of Light
Kata Tijuta Sunrise 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.

A Night at Field of Light
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.

Sails In The Desert
Meals: B, D

Day 7 Travel to Adelaide
Ahead of your flight you will be transferred to Uluru Airport by private vehicle. Upon arrival into Adelaide you will be transferred to your accommodation by private vehicle.

Mayfair Hotel
The Mayfair Hotel is located right in the heart of the city at the corner of King William and Hindley Streets in the heritage-listed, beautifully renovated Colonial Mutual Life building. Complemented by a stunning "jewel box" addition that beautifully complements the "Romanesque-style" building, the Mayfair Hotel is the gateway that links the recently refurbished Rundle Mall and Adelaide's exciting new Riverbank Entertainment Precinct. Offering luxurious accommodations, contemporary dining and premium hotel facilities, the Mayfair Hotel also showcases the very best of South Australia, including innovative food and wine and high-quality, locally made products and furnishings. The hotel is just a short walk from the Art Gallery of South Australia and a drive of just a few minutes from Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide Oval and Parliament House, and Adelaide Airport is 4 miles away. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a restaurant, cafe and lounge bar, and all rooms offer stylish decor and a 55-inch flat-screen TVs. Guests may also enjoy an on-site fitness center.

Mayfair Hotel
Meals: B

Day 8 Kangaroo Island Adventure
This full-day tour starts with a flight from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island. Meet the guide on arrival who will be on-hand through the day to introduce you to the lifestyle, culture and wildlife of this large and diverse Island. Today you will get an introduction to Island life - where things take time. Where drivers wave as they go by - or even stop you for a chat. Have a 'cuppa' with home-made refreshments and perhaps walk down a country track through tall Eucalyptus trees where koalas snooze overhead.

Mayfair Hotel
Meals: B, L

Day 9 Fleurieu Food, Wine, and Wildlife
The Fleurieu has the land, the produce, the wildlife and its people living in harmony - the aboriginal Kauna people enjoyed the unspoiled habitat in ancient times. The rolling vine-covered hills in the McLaren Vale region feed over 60 small, very individual wineries. The vineyards snake down to the tumbling surf on the coast, where sea creatures such as whales and penguins thrive. The area enjoys a Mediterranean type climate influenced by the St. Vincent's Gulf only 4 miles away.

Mayfair Hotel
Meals: B, L

Day 10 Travel to Melbourne
Ahead of your flight to Melbourne you will be transferred to Melbourne Airport by private vehicle. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation via private vehicle.

Park Hyatt Melbourne
The regal Park Hyatt Melbourne sits at the top of Collins Street, which is a stylish boulevard full of ornate Victorian architecture, high end shops and art galleries. Just across the street from the grand St. Patrick's Cathedral and the manicured Fitzroy Gardens, the hotel is an awe-inspiring combination of old-world and modern design. Winding staircases, Italian marble and towering pillars inspire opulence from the moment you step into the Park Hyatt's lobby. Each guest room is impeccably decorated with Madrona paneled walls, plush furniture and deep marble baths. The sophisticated art deco touches continue throughout the rest of the property. The edgeless lap pool glimmers in a room encased in golden light and stone pillars, and the day spa offers decadent treatments for ultimate relaxation. Park Hyatt perfectly captures the atmosphere of Melbourne and provides a great starting point to explore the rest of the city.

Park Hyatt Melbourne
Meals: B

Day 11 Phillip Island Ranger Adventure
This is the ultimate way to experience the beauty and nature of Phillip Island. The tour is uniquely tailored to the passions and interests of the guests offering an insight into island life away from the crowds of the major attractions. During your adventure, come face-to-face with Australia's most iconic of marsupials at the Koala Conservation Centre. Explore tree-top boardwalks to see koalas up close in their natural habitat. Wander extensive trails through Australian bushland, home to many animals including wallabies, echidnas and bats. Look out to Seal Rocks - the ocean home of Australia's largest fur seal colony and feel the power of the treacherous Bass Strait waters with views of the rocky coastline.

Park Hyatt Melbourne
Meals: B, D

Day 12 Lanes and Arcades Walking Tour
Have you ever been to a city and wondered what all the fuss was about? Or wasted time trying to find that cool local café you were told of, then ended up missing everything? Melbourne's arcades and laneways hide many of these answers. Join this indulgent morning walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets, and become orientated in the life of the city that locals love. Discover local designers and specialty retailers that often are only found in the city. Some of the quirkiest cafes, independent designers, street art, architecture, and historical tales are found in these walkways, there is something for everyone, locals and visitors alike.

Park Hyatt Melbourne
Meals: B, L

Day 13 Depart Melbourne
Ahead of your flight you will be transferred to Melbourne airport by private vehicle. We hope you enjoyed your visit to Australia!

Meals: B

Featured Destinations

Oak Beach

Uluru

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

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.

Adelaide

Adelaide

This elegant city is known for its colonial stone architecture, expansive parklands, lively festivals and incredible sense of space. Explore the museums and libraries of North Terrace, dine on dedicated 'eat streets' or picnic in gardens that sprawl over almost half the city. Go bike riding in Botanic Park or row past rose gardens in Rymill Park. Swim with dolphins or learn to sail in Glenelg or fish from the jetty in Henley. Just beyond the city centre you'll find the picturesque Adelaide Hills and the world-class wineries of the Barossa Valley.

Five ways to immerse yourself in Adelaide:

1. Hit the eat streets

Sample everything from Asian fusion to Argentine cuisine in the exotic, bustling foodhalls of Chinatown. Embrace the alfresco ambience of Rundle Street in Adelaide's East End or live it up in one of the city's many elegant wine bars and fashionable restaurants. Enjoy a beach sunset with your meal in the coastal suburbs of Glenelg and Henley Beach or wind down with a wine at the National Wine Centre. If you're a fresh food addict, Adelaide Central Markets offer premium produce from growers across the state.

2. Feel green and serene in Adelaide's parks

Hire paddleboats and bikes in Elder Park or row past formal rose gardens in Rymill Park. Picnic in the local's beloved Botanic Park or cycle from the hills to the coast in River Torrens Linear Park. For serious tranquility, head to the classic Japanese oasis of Adelaide-Himjei Garden. Adelaide's 29 parks take up almost half of the city, and come with walking trails, quiet spaces and sporting fields for everything from football to archery.

3. Head for the coast

Swim with dolphins or learn to sail in Glenelg, which bustles with sidewalk cafes, alfresco dining and summer entertainment. In the beach suburb of Henley, you can fish from the jetty or go on a culinary world tour at the ethnic food stores and eateries. Explore the museums, markets and historic harbour of Port Adelaide, the city's maritime heart. Or see heritage buildings and colourful summer sideshows in family-friendly Semaphore. Further along the spectacular Le Fevre Peninsula, you can swim on protected beaches and walk one of the state's few heritage-listed jetties at Largs Bay.

4. Soak up Aboriginal and European heritage

Do a cultural tour of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens with traditional custodians the Kaurna people. You'll learn how native plants have been used for sustenance, shelter, ceremonies and medicines for thousands of years. Browse the world's largest collection of Aboriginal antiquities at the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the South Australian Museum and visit Tandanya, the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. Adelaide also has a proud European heritage for you to explore -in the museums and libraries of North Terrace, in Adelaide Town Hall and in Port Adelaide, the state's first declared heritage area.

5. Escape to the hills

Drive to the Adelaide Hills, where the picturesque farmlands and charming villages have inspired many generations of artists. Stay in Bavarian-inspired chalets and browse the bakeries, craft shops and galleries of Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German village. Visit The Cedars, once the gracious old home and studio of famous landscape artists Sir Hans Heysen. Then hit the markets of Lobethal, a fairytale town which celebrates Christmas with metres and metres of colourful lights.

Cairns

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

05/01/2025 - 05/31/2025

from $17,190 per person

06/01/2025 - 08/31/2025

from $17,300 per person

09/01/2025 - 09/30/2025

from $17,065 per person

10/01/2025 - 10/31/2025

from $17,385 per person

11/01/2025 - 11/30/2025

from $17,275 per person

03/01/2026 - 03/31/2026

from $16,840 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $16,840 per person

Length

12 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Prices are per person, twin/double share in USD. All highlighted savings are reflected in the price. Price does not include airfare unless otherwise stated. Travel may be limited to certain days of the week. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Pricing may increase over Holiday and special event periods and may not be reflected in price grid. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Prices are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. CST #2012413-20 See our full Terms and Conditions.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1587835

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