Cities, Beaches and Wine

11 NIGHTS

PLEASE NOTE: We can help you add, adjust and tailor the itinerary to suit your requirements. Each clients itinerary is different. We work to your budget and take advantage of current specials in the marketplace for your time of travel.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:

3 nights Melbourne
4 nights Hamilton Island
4 nights Sydney
Melbourne City Tour and river cruise
Yarra Valley gourmet food and wine tour
Flight from Melbourne to Hamilton Island
Sunset sail with drinks and nibbles
Whitsundays Island cruise including Whitehaven Beach
Whitsunday Islands reef cruise with snorkeling
Flight from Hamilton Island to Sydney
The Essential Sydney Tour
Sydney Opera House Tour
Sydney Harbour Captains Dinner Cruise
Hunter Valley wine tour
All transfers
Breakfast Daily

ITINERARY OVERVIEW:

Destinations: Melbourne, Hamilton Island, Sydney

Experiences: Scenery, Food and Wine, Relaxation

No. of days: 12 days

Melbourne, one of the world’s most liveable cities known for its combination of fine dining, art galleries, fashion and sports is a great place to start your Australian adventure. Orientate yourself to the city on a city tour and river cruise then spend the afternoon at leisure wandering through Melbourne’s iconic laneways and arcades. Next you’re off to the Yarra Valley for a gourmet food and wine tour before flying to Hamilton Island for your island experience in paradise. Spend your days cruising the beautiful waters enjoying a sunset cruise, snorkeling, swimming and relaxing on the stunning beaches the area is famous for. After your beach break you’re off to Sydney the last leg of your Australian trip. Start with a city tour to learn all about Sydney before touring the iconic Sydney Opera House to learn about its history and unique architectural design. Explore the city before sailing off on a sunset Sydney Harbour dinner cruise. Finish your trip with a visit to the Hunter Valley for a lovely day sipping wine, tasting cheese and eating chocolate before heading back home.

DAY BY DAY:

Day 1: Arrive in Melbourne, and board a transfer to your hotel. Check in to your hotel. The afternoon is at your leisure. Chill out or go exploring the city. (3 nights Melbourne).

Day 2: This morning is Melbourne City Tour with river cruise. View Melbourne architectural splendor including St. Pauls Cathedral and the Princess and Regent Theatres. See the Royal Exhibition Buildings and Federation Square, stroll around Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. View the Fitzroy Gardens, the bustling Queen Victoria Market and Albert Park. Visit the Shrine of Remembrance and Southbank waterfront precinct. On conclusion of your coach tour enjoy a relaxing one hour cruise and take in the sights of Melbourne from the beautiful Yarra River. Spend the afternoon wandering through the iconic Melbourne laneways and arcades, boutiques, cafés.

Day 3: Today you get to visit the wine region of Yarra Valley for a gourmet food and wine tour (small group). Savor food and wine pairings at leading vineyards, including a delicious 2 course lunch at a winery restaurant. Meet wine makers and enjoy cellar door experiences.

Day 4: Leaving Melbourne today, you’re off to paradise. Transfer to Melbourne airport before your flight to Hamilton Island. (4 nights). After arrival enjoy the rest of the day on the beach or activities before a sunset sail and unwind with a glass of bubbles or wine and nibbles as you watch the beautiful sunset over the Whitsunday Islands. There’s still time to enjoy your evening on Hamilton Island.

Day 5: Start your day off with a morning cruise around the Whitsunday Islands and visit famous Whitehaven Beach, includes morning tea. Explore Hamilton Island at your leisure for the rest of the afternoon.

Day 6: Sleep in and have a lazy morning before boarding your half day snorkeling tour to the best inner (fringing) reef in the northern section of the Whitsunday Islands, perfect for snorkeling. You’ll have 2 hours on location for snorkeling and water activities includes afternoon tea.

Day 7: Today you get to explore Hamilton Island at your leisure. There’s plenty to do including water sports, golf, bush walking, tennis, visit WILD LIFE Hamilton Island to see kangaroos and koalas or just relax on the beach.

Day 8: Transfer to Hamilton Island Airport for your flight to Sydney. Transfer to your hotel in Sydney. (4 nights Sydney).

Day 9: You’re off to discover Sydney on your small group tour. In this comprehensive 5-hour tour you will learn all about Sydney, see iconic landmarks, gardens, harbor areas, famous beaches, visit affluent suburbs, and lunch at Australia’s premiere yacht club. This Sydney tour covers all the essentials in one tour.

Day 10: This morning you have a tour of the Sydney Opera House. Learn about the history and unique architectural design. Visit areas off-limits to the public and capture photographs from rare vantage points. This afternoon explore the city at your leisure. Tonight, you get to experience Sydney Harbour on a Captains Dinner Cruise. Enjoy stunning views of Sydney Harbour whilst feasting on a 3 course a la carte dinner. After dinner, enjoy live music and dancing or star gaze from the open deck as the lights of Sydney city twinkle in the background.

Day 11: You’re off on a wine lovers adventure tour today exploring the Hunter Valley. The Hunter Valley is a dynamic and fascinating area that brims with over 150 top class wineries, 65 indulgent restaurants as well as gourmet produce and boutique breweries. Your first visit is to a 5 star Mount View winery, followed by Leogate Estate with a wine and cheese pairing followed by a tour of the onsite winery to learn the wine making process. Enjoy a leisurely lunch followed by a visit to Keith Tulloch Winery where you will finish your tour with a wine and chocolate tasting experience.

Day 12: Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight home!

GET STARTED ON YOUR TRIP TODAY!

TOP ACTIVITIES: Melbourne | Hamilton Island | Sydney

Customized Itinerary

All aspects of this itinerary can be changed to suit your requirements.
The itineraries provided are great introductions to your chosen destination. You can create a travel plan using the itinerary provided or make modifications to destinations, activities and accommodation and create the dream trip you want.
Not every traveler is the same, we get that and so that’s why we recommend making changes to suit your needs. In fact, we insist - we want you to have the best trip.
If you would like any recommendations for dinner or shopping areas please let us know we are happy to help and make bookings for you where necessary.

Visa requirements:

To travel to Australia you will need a US passport valid for at least 6 months and we can process an ETA Visa for free for US Citizens. We will need a copy of your Photo Page of your Passport. Nationalities of any other countries please enquire with your agent to see if you are eligible for a free ETA Visa or if you need to apply for a Visitor Visa.

To travel to New Zealand you will need a US passport valid for at least 6 months and an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. More information on the NZeTA application requirements and process can be found on our FAQ page here.

Travel Insurance:

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment. We will provide a travel insurance quote at the time of booking, and you are free to use our recommended insurance with Travelguard, find your own, or book without insurance.

A product that we can offer is a Cancel For Any Reason policy that will provide you with 80% back in refunds. If the cancellation is for medical reasons there is a 100% refund..

Additional information:

Downunder Journeys services travel requests from the United States and Canada for travel to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands and Tahiti. All pricing on this website is in US Dollars.

All of the sample itineraries on this website do not include airfares as the airfare price changes daily and to ensure you get the best possible price we will work with the best airfares at the time. If you happen to buy your airfare first and then need a package to fit it, we can certainly help with that as well, just let us know.

As an idea for a 2-week vacation to Australia or New Zealand we recommend a budget of around $8,000-10,000 (including economy airfare), this would be for a 4 star and above itinerary, a little cheaper if we did more moderate accommodations.