Spirit of Australia Independent Tour

Spirit of Australia Independent Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 : Depart UK

  Board your overnight flight to Singapore from your preferred airport.

• Day 2-4 : Singapore

  On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for 2 nights stay. The dynamic city state of Singapore is a great place to break your journey with its colourful blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. Stroll along Orchard Road and indulge in Singapore's favourite pastime - shopping. With friendly and welcoming people and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Your transfer will take you back to the airport for an overnight flight to Melbourne.

• Day 5 : Melbourne

  Welcome to Melbourne, you will be met by a driver and join a private transfer to your hotel for 3 nights stay. After checking in the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

• Day 6-7 : Melbourne

  A morning sightseeing tour will introduce you to all the charms of Melbourne. Cross the West Gate Bridge for city views. See Queen Victoria Market, Fitzroy Gardens, the historic shrine of remembrance and stroll along Southbank’s Waterfront Precinct. On your free day you may wish to venture outside of the city and join a small group tour to the iconic, Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s greatest road trips. Alternatively cellar doors are within easy reach or a fun wildlife experience at Penguin Parade on Philip Island, the choice is yours.

• Day 8 : Alice Springs

  You will be transferred from your hotel to Melbourne airport to check in for your flight to Alice Springs. Alice Springs is a remote town in Australia’s Northern Territory, halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, both 1,500km away. Known to the locals as “Alice”, this town embodies the Australian spirit, from the ancient desert it sits upon to its Aboriginal culture.

• Day 9 : Alice Springs

  Today you will embrace the outback with entrance to Desert Park followed by an afternoon guided tour. You’ll see the Telegraph Station, established in 1872 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Visit the School of the Air, which educates children in remote areas by radio, see the Alice Springs Reptile Centre and then view the panorama of the town from the top of Anzac Hill.

• Day 10 : Uluru

  Your journey from Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) will take in the rugged desert landscapes of the region, passing through the beautiful MacDonnell Ranges. While travelling through this remote country, you will be provided with informative commentary. Learn the natural and geological history of the region, the unique Australian desert flora and fauna as well as the traditional customs and beliefs of the local Aboriginals. Relax in your hotel before joining a tour to the Uluru sunset viewing area. Uluru is 348 metres high, however most of its mass is below the ground. Enjoy nibbles and a complimentary glass of wine as the sun sinks over the western horizon and the evening sky brings out the many shades of colour for which Uluru is famous. It is recommended that you photograph Uluru every 5 minutes to really capture the gradual colour changes of the rock.

• Day 11 : Uluru Sacred Sites & Sunset with Dinner

  Early risers will be captured by the dawn colours rising over Uluru. Your tour this afternoon will enter Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park for an afternoon and evening of discovery. Visit the Cultural Centre where you’ll have time to explore the galleries and you may local Aboriginal Artists at work. Travel to the base of Uluru where you will be amazed as your local guide shares the Aboriginal Tjukurpa (creation) stories that breathe life into this giant formation. Feel the spirit of the land as your guide takes you on a walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole, interpreting the meaning of the ancient Rock Art and sacred sites you’ll see along the way. Travel to the Uluru Sunset Viewing Area where you can relax with a sparkling wine or two while you enjoy a famous Uluru sunset. Witness the incredible changing colours as the sun sets below the horizon. After sunset, transfer to the AAT Kings’ exclusive barbecue site to enjoy dinner.

• Day 12 : Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light

  This tour will provide you with the opportunity to view the Field of Light. Your short transfer will provide just enough time for some background commentary on the internationally renowned artist Bruce Monroe. Arriving in complete darkness, in the quiet of pre-dawn, you will be able to enjoy the 50,000 globes of light in the desert, before making your way up the hill to the Field of Light sunrise viewing platform. Once at the platform, guests will be served tea, coffee or hot chocolate. You can enjoy your beverage as the sun starts to creep light throughout the sky and then watch in awe as it rises up in the distance behind Uluru, flooding the landscape, including Kata Tjuta behind you. As the natural light brightens the landscape, the Field of Light will dim for the day. Enjoy some amazing photos from this unique raised location that allows you to view both Kata Tjuta and Uluru in all their natural glory.

• Day 13 : Cairns

  A transfer is included to Ayers Rock airport for your flight to Cairns for 3 nights stay. On arrival in Cairns a transfer is included to your hotel. After checking in, the remainder of your day is at your leisure. The gateway to Queensland’s tropical north, Cairns is a stylish city which is also renowned for its relaxed, tropical climate and laid-back ambience. Explore the foreshore promenade and shop at local markets, eat tropical fruits and seafood. Retreat to your hotel and perhaps make use of the facilities before an exciting day tomorrow.

• Day 14 : Great Barrier Reef Cruise

  You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Port Douglas Marina, where you will board your vessel. Visit Low Isles, an idyllic, unspoilt coral cay island. Low Isles is a historic part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, named by Captain Cook in 1770. In the calm waters of the island’s picturesque lagoon, a host of reef activities await. Discover the mysteries of marine life while snorkelling or glass bottom boat viewing. Take a guided beach walk, a snorkelling tour with a marine biologist, relax on the beach under a thatched umbrella or on the decks of your vessel. Upon arrival at Port Douglas Marina, you will be transferred by coach to your Cairns area accommodation.

• Day 15 : Kuranda Rail & Skyrail

  Your tour commences with a transfer from your hotel to Freshwater Station for check-in. Travel on the historical rail journey to Kuranda in Gold Class, enjoying breathtaking views across the cane fields of Cairns to the tropical rainforest of Kuranda. Upon arrival in Kuranda, you will have free time to explore this fascinating village. The Heritage Markets operate 7 days a week and are full of colourful and interesting arts and crafts. You might also like to visit Birdworld, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary or Kuranda Koala Gardens (own expense). At the scheduled time, board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to return to Cairns. Be amazed as you glide silently over the rainforest canopy, enjoying two stops along the way. There are two stops enroute to explore, including boardwalks and the CSIRO Interpretive Centre. On completion of your tour, you will be transferred to your accommodation.

• Day 16-18 : Sydney

  This morning it is time to leave the sparkling blue seas behind as you transfer to Carins airport for your flight to Sydney. You will be transferred in Sydney to your hotel, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps take a stroll around Darling Harbour or Circular Quay this evening. Sydney has so much to offer its visitors, and we have kept the next 2 days free for you to explore at your leisure. The city is defined by the glistening white sails of the opera house and built around one of the world’s finest harbours, Sydney is a world class city with a bustling nightlife, unparalleled dining and enviable beaches. We recommend you take a scenic ferry ride across the blue waters of the harbour to Manly, a surf town brimming with local restaurants and bars. Partake in an afternoon surf lesson or take a plunge in the rock pools lining the stretch of famed Bondi Beach. Spend some time in preserved colonial district of the Rocks where you’ll find markets selling hand crafted trinkets or perhaps enjoy a walking tour to learn about the first European ships who arrived here and the challenges these settlers faced. From lively food, prestigious museums, dynamic parks and an iconic skyline Sydney promises an unforgettable experience.

• Day 19-20 : Sydney - UK

  After checking out of your hotel you will be transferred to Sydney airport for your return flight. Welcome home with lasting memories from the red sands of the desert, kaleidoscope of colours of the Great Barrier Reef and souvenirs in abundance.