Must-see Australia: Cultural Gems and Natural Wonders
About the Trip
February 20–March 8, 2025 | 17 Days
Say G’day to this 17-day adventure through Australia’s cultural gems and natural wonders. Stroll through the charming laneways of Melbourne and experience the enchanting Penguin Parade at Phillip Island. Visit the ancient rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta for magical sunrises and an unforgettable Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner. Soak up the tropical charms of Cairns and explore the Great Barrier Reef. Discover the highlights of Sydney including Bondi and Manley Beaches, the Blue Mountains and the historic Rocks area. Finish your exciting journey with a tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House. From unique wildlife to gourmet dining, this tour promises a perfect blend of luxury, adventure and cultural immersion.
Member Exclusive Benefits
We reward all our CAA Members on our Extraordinary Explorations® tours.
- Plaza Premium Lounge pass†
- 50 CAA Dollars®^
- 25% savings on CAA Travel Insurance◊
Extraordinary Experience
CAA has curated an exceptional experience unique to your tour. Details of this experience are listed below:
Wintjiri Wiru Gourmet Dinner & Desert Drone Show
Witness the Mala story brought to life through groundbreaking technology and Indigenous flavours at the unforgettable Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner. Your desert experience begins with a stroll along an elevated walkway until you reach the open-air theatre. You’ll be greeted with cocktails and a gourmet picnic dinner that fuse native ingredients with modern culinary techniques. With the ancient rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta as a backdrop, you’ll watch mesmerized as more than 1,100 choreographed drones light up the desert night sky and tell the story of the ancient Anangu culture. It’s a never-before-seen hybrid of modern technology and ancient traditions that will stay with you forever.
Package Includes:
- Airfare from Toronto or Winnipeg to Melbourne and return from Sydney to Toronto or Winnipeg
- Domestic flights within Australia
- 4-night stay in first-class accommodation in Melbourne
- 2-night stay in moderate-class accommodation in Uluru
- 3-night stay in first-class accommodation in Cairns
- 5-night stay in first-class accommodation in Sydney
- 14 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 8 dinners and 2 tastings
- Land transportation via first-class motorcoach
- All bridge, ferry and road tolls
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour director throughout
- Prepaid gratuities
- Destination transfers
- CAA Host
Must-see Australia: Cultural Gems and Natural Wonders
Activity Level: Active. Say g’day to a 17-day Australian adventure and experience the best of Down Under including Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and the Blue Mountains.
Day 1
Depart Toronto or Winnipeg for your 2-day flight to Melbourne.
Day 2
Crossing International Date Line.
Day 3
Melbourne – Arrive and meet your Australian tour manager. Check in to your hotel and relax until your welcome dinner. (D)
Day 4
Melbourne – Enjoy a guided walking tour of Melbourne. (B/L)
Day 5
Melbourne – Ride a historic steam train, visit the Phillip Island Koala Conservation Centre and the Nobbies Centre. Enjoy dinner before watching the famous Fairy Penguin Parade. (B/D)
Day 6
Melbourne – Take a chocolate-making class at the Yarra Valley Chocolatier and Ice Creamery, then visit a local winery for a tasting and lunch. (B/T/L)
Day 7
Uluru – Fly to Uluru to see the world-famous monolith. Visit the Mutijulu Waterhole, then watch the sunset over Uluru with a glass of sparkling wine. (B/T/D)
Day 8
Uluru – Experience a Sunrise Viewing at Uluru then explore Kata Tjuta. Your Extraordinary Experience is a Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner and drone show. (B/D)
Day 9
Cairns – Visit the Rainforestation Nature Park and ride the Skyrail Cable Car to see Barron Falls. (B/D)
Day 10
Cairns – Explore the Great Barrier Reef via catamaran with a buffet lunch. (B/L)
Day 11
Cairns – Enjoy the day at leisure. (B)
Day 12
Sydney – Fly from Cairns to Sydney. Enjoy free time until dinner. (B/D)
Day 13
Sydney – Tour the city’s highlights including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. Enjoy a Harbour Dinner Cruise this evening. (B/D)
Day 14
Sydney – Visit Featherdale Wildlife Park and Blue Mountains National Park. (B/L)
Day 15
Sydney – Enjoy a 3-hour cruise on the Riverboat Postman, with morning tea and lunch. (B/L)
Day 16
Sydney – Take a walking tour of the historical Rocks area. Visit Manly Beach and tour the Sydney Opera House. Farewell dinner this evening. (B/D)
Day 17
Transfer to Sydney airport for your flight back to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner | T - Tasting
Terms & Conditions
*All CAA Member prices are per person, based on single occupancy, in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated and are subject to change without prior notice until final payment is paid. All prices are correct at press time and apply to new bookings only, based on availability at time of booking. To receive CAA Member-exclusive benefits, there must be one valid CAA Member travelling per booking. Non-members booking Extraordinary Explorations will not receive Member-exclusive benefits
†Plaza Premium Lounge is based on one voucher per person and applies to departures from Canadian airports where applicable. Subject to availability.
^CAA Dollars awarded per adult Member. To earn and redeem CAA Dollars, you must be a current CAA Member in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). CAA Dollars will be credited at time of departure. For more information on CAA Dollars, please visit www.caasco.com/caadollars.
◊CAA Travel Insurance, an Orion Travel Insurance product, is underwritten by Echelon Insurance. Twenty-five percent (25%) Member savings is made up of a ten percent (10%) Member savings as well as a promotional fifteen percent (15%) savings when you purchase an Extraordinary Explorations tour through CAA Travel, applies to CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by membership expiry date). This promotional offer is valid until December 31, 2025. Ten percent (10%) Member savings applies to Members in good standing of all other CAA clubs. Savings apply to the total premium excluding applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Visitors to Canada Insurance is limited to promotional savings. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire may be required to purchase travel insurance.
Extraordinary Explorations vacations are organized and booked by CAA Travel (South Central Ontario) Inc. and CAA Manitoba (“CAA Travel”) on behalf of CAA Club Group (o/a CAA South Central Ontario and CAA Manitoba). In the event of an increase in any of the cost factors, CAA Travel reserves the right to increase the price whereby the provisions of the Travel Industry Act shall prevail. CAA Extraordinary Explorations packages are 100% non-refundable at final payment. CAA Travel service fee for cancellation prior to final payment varies by program. For full payment terms and conditions, please ask your CAA Travel Consultant. CAA Travel reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements (minimum number of participants) or circumstances beyond its control. Additional fees for checked luggage or other incidentals may be incurred and vary according to itinerary and airline. Air schedules with some tours are not available at press time and may include several connections or forced overnight at passenger’s expense. CAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation and emergency travel and emergency medical insurance at the time of booking.
Please note: Participants must be able to embark and disembark cruise ships and coaches without assistance as well as have a good level of mobility for walking tours in destinations where stairs and traditional cobblestone streets can be challenging. International transportation vehicles and facilities may not meet accessibility standards.
Flight
IncludedTour Itinerary
Day 1 & 2
Depart Toronto or Winnipeg for your 2-day flight to Melbourne.
Day 3
Melbourne
Arrive and meet your trip’s Australian tour manager. Transfer to your hotel for early check in and enjoy free time until you meet at the Melbourne Sky Deck for a 360-degree city view and your welcome dinner. (D)
Day 4
Melbourne
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast before your guided walking tour of the Laneways and Arcades of Melbourne. Wander through the city’s signature lanes and arcades filled with quirky cafes, independent designers and interesting architecture as you learn about the history of Melbourne. Lunch is included at the end of the tour, with the remainder of your day free to explore the city’s museums and galleries. (B/L)
Day 5
Melbourne
This morning you’ll travel to the Dandenong Ranges for a one-way train ride through the lush mountainside on the historic “Puffing Billy” steam train. Next, visit the Phillip Island Koala Conservation Centre for a walk along the elevated boardwalk to see koalas sleeping and eating amongst the trees. Head to the Western side of the island where the cliffside Nobbies Centre offers breathtaking views of the landscape and educational exhibits. Enjoy dinner in the township of Cowes before your final stop at the Phillip Island Penguin Parade Visitor Centre for the evening Penguin Parade, a unique spectacle whereby Fairy Penguins come ashore every day at dusk and waddle up the beach in groups. (B/D)
Day 6
Melbourne
Your tour today takes you east to the Yarra Valley. Take a chocolate-making class at the Yarra Valley Chocolatier and Ice Creamery and enjoy your creation with a cup of tea or coffee. Lunch today is at a local family-run winery, situated in one of the most stunning wine regions in Australia. Enjoy a wine tasting followed by lunch with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards. Return to Melbourne with the remainder of the day at leisure. (B/T/L)
Day 7
Uluru
Transfer to Melbourne Airport for your flight to Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock). Check in to your hotel before taking a tour around the world-famous monolith, rising 348 metres from the desert floor and measuring 9.4-kilometres in diameter. Visit the Mutijulu Waterhole, the site of the dramatic creation story about the deadly battle between Kuniya (the python woman) and Liru (the poisonous brown snake man). Finish the day taking in the stunning sunset over Uluru while enjoying a glass of sparkling wine and some canapes before dinner this evening. (B/T/D)
Day 8
Uluru
Depart early to experience a Sunrise Viewing and watch as the contrasting colours of Uluru change during sunrise. After breakfast, travel by coach to explore Kata Tjuta, known as “the place of many domes”. Return to the Ayers Rock Resort with time to yourself before this evening’s Extraordinary Experience, the very special Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner. Take your seat in the open-air desert theatre set at the top of a dune and sip welcome cocktails infused with native ingredients while taking in the incredible views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Savour your gourmet dinner hamper where native ingredients are combined with modern culinary techniques. As darkness falls, witness the Mala story brought to life with stunning choreographed drones, lasers and projections that light up the desert sky in a modern, artistic expression of an ancient Anangu story. (B/D)
Day 9
Cairns
Check out of your hotel and transfer to Uluru Airport for your flight to Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. From Cairns Airport travel to the small village of Kuranda and arrive at Rainforestation Nature Park. Witness the Pamagirri Aboriginal dancers perform in the rainforest amphitheatre, then experience a Dreamtime Walk to learn about Aboriginal culture and try your hand at boomerang throwing. In Kuranda, board the Skyrail Cable Car for the journey above the rainforest to see the magnificent Barron Falls. Transfer to your accommodation and enjoy dinner at a local Australian BBQ restaurant. (B/D)
Day 10
Cairns
Experience a full day exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Begin aboard a modern air-conditioned catamaran as you sail to Green Island with a few hours to explore. Next, head to the Great Barrier Reef for a delicious buffet lunch followed by an afternoon feeding fish, viewing coral and snorkelling the Outer Reef Pontoon. Return to Cairns late afternoon with your evening at leisure. (B/L)
Day 11
Cairns
At full day at leisure to relax and enjoy the local tropical surroundings. (B)
Day 12
Sydney
Transfer to the airport for your flight from Cairns to Sydney, then arrive at your hotel with the afternoon at leisure until dinner. (B/D)
Day 13
Sydney
Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Sydney’s highlights including Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, which offers some of the best views of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Later this morning arrive in Bondi Beach for some free time to wander the shops and cafés. The remainder of your day is free before meeting up in the evening for a Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise to take in the incredible harbour views. (B/D)
Day 14
Sydney
Discover the beauty of the Blue Mountains today, starting at Featherdale Wildlife Park. Continue to Blue Mountains National Park to explore the wonders of this World Heritage Listed rainforest at Scenic World. Here you’ll ride the Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest incline railway, the Scenic Flyway, the steepest aerial cable car in Australia, and the Scenic Skyway cable car, suspended 270 metres above ancient ravines and dazzling waterfalls. Return to Sydney in the late afternoon with your evening at leisure. (B/L)
Day 15
Sydney
This morning travel across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and head north to the bushland regions filled with National Parks and colonial-era riverside communities. Take a relaxing 3-hour cruise on the Riverboat Postman, which delivered mail and essentials to river-access-only settlements over a century ago. Enjoy morning tea and a delicious lunch as you watch the passing scenery of ancient sandstone landscapes. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (B/L)
Day 16
Sydney
Start your day at the historical Rocks neighbourhood for a walking tour. Hop on a ferry across Sydney Harbour to the beachside suburb of Manly, then return for a special tour of the Sydney Opera House to learn about this iconic building, home to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and considered a wonder of the modern world. Enjoy your farewell dinner this evening. (B/D)
Day 17
Transfer from your hotel to Sydney airport for your flight back to Toronto or Winnipeg. (B)
B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner | T - Tasting