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Urban, Outback & Reef Adventure

Melbourne, Lizard Island, Mt Mulligan & Sydney

12 Days

From  $14,499 per person

Itinerary unavailable 20 Jan - 7 Mar, 2025.

Description
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Australia’s most iconic destinations, starting in Melbourne, the vibrant cultural capital. Wander through its labyrinthine laneways, discovering quirky cafés, hidden bars, and captivating street art. Immerse yourself in the city’s sophisticated foodie scene and experience its lively nightlife, filled with events and exhibitions. Venture along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road, where stunning coastal views and wildlife encounters await.
 

Soar over the Great Barrier Reef to the luxurious Lizard Island, Australia’s northernmost island resort. With 24 pristine beaches and elegant accommodations, this all-inclusive retreat offers unparalleled access to vibrant coral reefs, including the famous Cod Hole. Dive, snorkel, or try big game fishing, then unwind with private beach picnics, gourmet dining, and indulgent spa treatments. Don’t miss a tour of the Lizard Island Research Station to learn about coral reef conservation.
 

Continue your adventure to Mt Mulligan Lodge, a secluded escape in North Queensland’s rugged outback. Set on a vast cattle station, this luxurious retreat offers privacy, breathtaking views, and a taste of rustic elegance. Explore the area’s rich history with 4WD safaris to historic gold mines, ATV adventures, and guided nature walks.
 

Conclude your journey in Sydney, where iconic attractions and stunning beaches await. Enjoy VIP backstage access at the Sydney Opera House, sailing Sydney Harbour, and exploring its many bays. This adventure offers a perfect blend of urban excitement, natural beauty, and luxurious relaxation.

Package Includes

  • 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 7 dinners (Day 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 )

  • Private Transfer Melbourne International Airport (Tullamarine) to City Hotel

  • 3 Nights at Park Hyatt Melbourne - King Bed Room Includes Full Breakfast

  • Hidden Secrets Tours - Half Day Private Lanes & Arcades Tour

  • Private Tour:  Evening Melbourne After Dark

  • Private Tour: Full Day Ultimate Great Ocean Road

  • Private Transfer Melbourne City Hotel to Domestic Airport (Tullamarine)

  • Lizard Island - Cairns to Lizard Island - Scheduled Scenic Air Transfer

  • 3 Nights at Lizard Island - Gardenview Room Includes All Meals, Beverages & Non Motorised Water Sports

  • Lizard Island - Lizard Island to Cairns - Scheduled Scenic Air Transfer

  • Mt Mulligan Lodge - Cairns to Mt. Mulligan Lodge - Private Helicopter Transfer

  • 3 Nights at Mt Mulligan Lodge - Outback Retreat Includes All Meals, Beverages & Activities

  • Mt Mulligan Lodge - Mt. Mulligan Lodge to Cairns - Scheduled Helicopter Transfer

  • Private Transfer Sydney Domestic Airport to Sydney City Hotel

  • 3 Nights at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney - Deluxe Full Harbour King Room Includes Full Breakfast

  • Morning Private Sydney City Luxury Diamond

  • Sydney Opera House - Morning Backstage Tour

  • Harbour Days Sailing Experience - One Day Interlude

  • Private Transfer Sydney City Hotel to Sydney International Airport

  • Government Goods and Services Tax of 10% (GST)

  • Travel Wallet

 

Cost Excludes

  • Supplier surcharges when date/time of service required occurs on a public holiday or outside of standard hours

  • Both international and internal Australian flights (unless otherwise specified)

  • Optional tours and services

  • Meals other than those specified above

  • Beverages

  • Gratuities

  • Items of a personal nature (e.g. telephone calls, mini bar, laundry, etc.)

  • Travel insurance (cancellations, loss of deposits, delays, etc.)

 

Important Notes

  • All itinerary components are subject to change without notice

  • All inclusions are subject to availability at the time of booking

  • The itinerary is subject to the operation of individual touring components.  Certain tours may need to be alternated

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive Melbourne, Australia You will be met and transferred to your hotel by private driver. The rest of the day is free to explore. There is a lot to love about Melbourne/Narrm - just ask the locals. This sophisticated world city in the south-east corner of mainland Australia inspires a deep passion in those who live there. Ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities, Melbourne is famous for its vibrant energy, restaurants, fashion boutiques, café filled laneways, cool bars, unbeatable galleries, spacious parks and village-like inner suburbs, each with its own special character. Melbourne is less than 200 years old and never sits still. Modern, cutting-edge designs add to the fascinating mix of heritage architecture and ensure the skyline is constantly changing. Accommodation: King Bed Room inc. breakfast, Park Hyatt - 3 nights

Day 2: Melbourne: Half Day Private Lanes & Arcades Tour | Evening Melbourne After Dark Ever been to a city and wondered what the fuss was about or missed cool spots? Enjoy a 3-hour walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets and get a feel for the city locals love. Discover local designers, specialty retailers, quirky cafes, independent designers, street art, and historical tales. See over 30 stores on this casual stroll and revisit your favorites in the afternoon. Enjoy a one-course lunch with a glass of local wine or beer. At the tour's end, head to your accommodation. This 5-hour tour lets you discover Melbourne under lights, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Marvel at heritage buildings, soak up the Yarra River ambiance, and explore laneways with wine bars, clubs, and cuisine. Enjoy Melbourne's evening mood on foot, dine at a hot spot or in 'Little Italy' with pasta and local wine. Experience bohemian Fitzroy's live music, finish with a cocktail at a hidden bar, or relax with coffee and dessert.

Day 3: Melbourne | Great Ocean Road w/treturn via helicopter This 8-9 hour tour showcases the best of the Great Ocean Road from both the ground and air. Travel along the 243 km coastal road, marveling at cliffs, seas, coves, waterfalls, and beaches. Visit Bells Beach, seaside villages like Lorne, and see koalas at Kennett River. Enjoy local produce in Apollo Bay, then drive through forests to view The Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Take a private 75-minute helicopter ride back to Melbourne, admiring the stunning views. The tour includes transfers to and from your Melbourne accommodation.

Day 4: Melbourne - Lizard Island (via Cairns) Today you will be transferred to the airport. Upon arrival in Cairns you will join a scenic air transfer to Lizard Island. Flying over the Great Barrier Reef will be an absolute highlight. Lizard Island is a ruggedly beautiful island on the northern Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland. Lizard boasts 24 pristine beaches that range from white sand to rocky escarpments, and easy access to some of the best diving in the Great Barrier Reef. It is also the base for coral reef research with the very important Lizard Island Research Station located on the island - of which tours are conducted twice a week for resort guests. Your stay includes: All meals including picnic hampers for private beach outing, non-alcoholic beverages, a selection of alcoholic beverages and in-room mini bar, use of non motorized water sports, motorized dinghies and EMC (Environmental Management Charge). Accommodation: Lizard Island Resort - Gardenview Room - 3 nights

Day 5: Lizard Island | Free day to explore The only property located on a 1,013 hectare National Park, and the northern most resort on the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef, the property offers seclusion and natural privacy that you will cherish. The property presents elegant, yet understated accommodation in a variety of room types, featuring either a tropical garden setting or sea views over Anchor Bay or Sunset Beach. Some Villas feature their own private plunge pool.

Day 6: Lizard Island | Free day to explore

Day 7: Lizard Island to Mt Mulligan Lodge (via Cairns) Northwest of Cairns, Mount Mulligan boasts an 10 mile ridge, ten times larger than Uluru. This heritage site features rugged terrain and a boutique lodge on a 28,000-hectare cattle station. Guests experience North Queensland's back-country spirit through daily station operations. The Lodge is eco-friendly, using solar power and sustainable design. The luxurious retreats blend contemporary style with raw charm, featuring timber cladding, verandahs, and earthy-toned interiors. Ensuite bathrooms offer luxury with stone tiles and bronze fittings. Private decks include outdoor baths with stunning outback views. The property also offers glamping tents with views of the Mount Mulligan escarpment. No TVs or Wi-Fi in retreats. This morning you will be transferred to the air strip for your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival you will be transferred by helicopter to Mt Mulligan with breathtaking views of the spectacular outback landscape. Your stay includes: Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, selected wines, beers and soft drinks, daily activities, exclusive use of private ATV Accommodation: Outback Retreat for 3 nights

Day 8: Mt Mulligan Enjoy a range of included touring.

Day 9: Mt Mulligan Enjoy included touring arrangements

Day 10: Mt Mulligan - Sydney (via Cairns) Return by helicopter to Cairns and connect with a flight to Sydney. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Soak up Sydney’s (Warrane) gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Cruise under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24/7 fun. Accommodation: Full Harbour King Room incl. breakfast, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney - 3 nights

Day 11: Private Sydney City Tour This 4-hour morning tour explores Australia's largest city, Sydney. Visit The Rocks and the Central Business District to learn about colonial history and modern skyscrapers. See Macquarie Street, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, and enjoy views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Travel around Sydney Harbour's southern shores for breathtaking views. Stop at Watsons Bay and The Gap for panoramic views. Visit Bondi Beach and stroll along the promenade. Return via Tamarama and Bronte beaches, Centennial Park, Paddington, Darlinghurst, China Town, Darling Harbour, and Barangaroo. Drive past Walsh Bay and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Transfer to your Sydney accommodation. Here are some 'optional' activities we can add for this afternoon. Tour descriptions below. Summit @ Twilight Bridge Climb Private Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour Private Wild Australia @ Taronga Zoo with Zoo Keeper

Day 12: Sydney | Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour & Sailing Sydney Harbour This early morning 2.5 hour tour grants you unprecedented VIP backstage access to the Sydney Opera House. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the real life dramas behind this celebrated performing arts centre. Your guide will raise the curtain on what really goes on beyond the spotlight, revealing industry secrets that you will not hear anywhere else. You will walk in the footsteps of legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Pavarotti, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cate Blanchett, Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Foo Fighters. You might even get to stand on the world-famous Concert Hall stage, take up the conductors’ baton in the orchestra pit or get a sneak peek inside the stars’ dressing rooms. At the conclusion of your tour, enjoy breakfast and then make your own way to your Sydney accommodation. Meet your sailing yacht at Aquarium Pontoon for the 5-hour One Day Interlude Cruise. Start with a cruise up Darling Harbour, passing under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. See the Sydney Opera House, Farm Cove, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, and Fort Denison. Sail past wealthy suburbs like Darling Point, Point Piper, and Vaucluse, and view Clarke and Shark Islands. Pass Watsons Bay and Lady Bay. Cross the Harbour Heads and enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean. Anchor in a peaceful bay, relax, fish, and enjoy lunch. Sail back to Darling Harbour or Rushcutter’s Bay, spotting famous residents like Nicole Kidman. Disembark at Darling Harbour. Note: The Sydney Opera House Tour includes up to 300 steps. Flat, enclosed rubber soled shoes must be worn. While on a tour, all bags larger than an A4 size will need to be cloaked. A complimentary, secure cloaking facility is available near the tour desk.

Optional activities day 11

Optional activities for Day 11 afternoon, additional cost

The closest experience you can have with our Australian wildlife led by those who know them best – the Zoo keepers. Learn as you see, touch and feed the animals during this activity-packed two-hour journey through the Zoo. An experience to remember - venture into the wilderness of the Australian bush, enter the underground burrow of the shy and reclusive wombat and explore the mysteries of the platypus in this introduction to Australia’s unusual wildlife. Your keeper will explain the special adaptations that enable these animals to live in harmony with the Australian environment. Includes: Zoo Admission, 2 hour walking tour with a zoo keeper, behind the scenes access and Koala Encounter.

Your 3 hour tour commences with a comprehensive briefing and safety demonstration, before you are led by one of BridgeClimb’s Climb Leaders, on a guided journey (including preparation and briefing), to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The tour takes you along the top arch of the Bridge on catwalks and ladders all the way to the summit, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour. The steady incline to the summit leaves you free to focus your attention on the surroundings, with the opportunity to witness 360-degree views of Sydney including east to the Sydney Opera House, west to the Blue Mountains and the Harbour City surrounds. Upon conclusion receive a photograph of your group, a personalised commemorative climbing tour certificate and cap.

Walk with your First Nations guide on a 1 hour tour through the Royal Botanic Gardens to learn more about Indigenous bush foods and how these foods were used traditionally and adapted to the modern plate and palate. You’ll journey through the Cadi Jam Ora garden and learn about some of the hottest bush foods on the market right now, all while tasting some goodies for yourself! At the completion of your tour, make your own way to your Sydney accommodation.

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