Bucket List Australia

Say g’day to the vibrant city of Sydney, known for iconic landmarks, a dazzling harbor and beaches so famous they have their own TV shows (we’re looking at you, Bondi Beach). Get the lay of the land on a city sights tour showing off the Opera House, Harbor Bridge, Bondi Beach, the headlands into Sydney Harbor and The Rocks area.  After getting comfortable in your hotel, join your Travel Director and group for a Welcome Dinner to kick off your bucket list Australia tour.

Excitement will be at an all-time high today with iconic optionals to choose from. Nature-lovers will be tempted by a day tour of the Blue Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site oasis of sandstone cliffs, rainforests, eucalyptus bushland and cascading waterfalls. See the Three Sisters, a towering rock formation significant to the local Aboriginal community or ride the world’s steepest passenger railway down to the valley floor at Scenic World. You could choose to take on the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb, rising to the summit, 134 meters above Sydney Harbor.

Make even more of your bucket list Australia a reality with your pick of Optional Experiences. Embrace the beach lifestyle with a surfing lesson at the iconic Bondi Beach, getting the hang of paddling, catching waves and standing! Or take to the water on a Sydney Harbor Cruise gliding past the white peaks of the Opera House and under the Sydney Harbor Bridge. If you’d rather stay on dry land, join The Rocks Pub Tour. Between watering holes, your guide will take you through the alleys and cobbled streets as they share the gossip and stories of convicts and locals of Australia's first European settlement.

Jet off from Sydney to the rusty red home of Uluru. Be wowed by your first glimpses of the desert on a guided base walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole. Get up close to the ancient Aboriginal Rock Art and hear stories passed down through generations for thousands of years. Then it’s time for a classic sundowner as you kick back with sparkling wine or beer and while Uluru is lit up in brilliant red and orange. You could choose to end the day with mouth-watering BBQ dinner plus salads and a tasty dessert. Your feast is even paired with a star talk as you gaze into the vast night sky. Sydney-Ayers Rock flight included.

See Uluru your way today. Soar above the majestic rock by helicopter or plane. Or join a Guide for an outback walk to the Valley of the Winds getting the back story of the geology, history and culture of Kata Tjuta’s rock domes. You can also choose to walk around the full base of Uluru seeing sacred sites and Aboriginal rock art. See a different side of Kata Tjuta at sunset as the rock domes change color moment to moment with the setting sun. And don’t miss your chance to dine under the stars at the Sounds of Silence Dinner.

It’s a big day today as you wind down your time in Yulara before flying to Cairns. Take advantage of an easy morning to sleep in or enjoy lounging poolside. In Cairns, surrounded by the ancient Daintree Rainforest and the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, it’s the perfect jumping off point for your next round of adventures. Ayers Rock-Cairns flight included.

See the best attractions in Cairns on an orientation tour along the Esplanade. Spot the site of the night markets where you'll have your pick of over 70 open-air stalls of local specialties and the Reef Terminal where the boats set off for the Great Barrier Reef. Breathe in the fresh sea air from the beachfront boardwalk and crystal-clear saltwater swimming lagoon, no doubt calling you back for a relaxing swim.

Sand, sea and sunshine awaits as you set sail by catamaran to one of the seven wonders of the natural world on a Great Barrier Reef tour. Visit Moore Reef’s crystal-clear waters joining marine biologists, dive instructors and lifeguards. The world’s largest coral reef system, the reef is home to parrotfish, green turtles and clown fish in colorful coral. You can also pull on your snorkeling equipment to be blown away at this underwater oasis. If staying dry is more your thing, step aboard a spectacular glass bottom boat and underwater observatory for a front-seat to all the oceanic action. Feeling adventurous? Take your day to the next level with an optional scuba dive, Seawalker Helmet Dive or scenic helicopter flight above the picturesque reef.

It’s our final day together - and we’ve saved one of the best destinations for last! You might choose to visit the “Village in the Rainforest,” Kuranda. Journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, relaxing as this heritage train winds its way up the mountain framed by rainforest and waterfalls, before exploring the markets and stores at the top. The ride back down on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is just as thrilling, passing green landscapes, mountains, oceans and Barron Falls. Food fanatics will want to join a boutique food and wine experience tasting some of the best of the Atherton Tablelands. Or get to know the local wildlife with Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Wetlands cruise through the Melaleuca wetlands gasping at huge crocodiles and the world’s most venomous snakes. Join your group for dinner at Ochre Restaurant, where you’ll watch the boats come in over the Harbor Lights’ boardwalk and enjoy Australian cuisine.

It’s been a grand journey of bucket list experiences in Australia. But all good things must come to an end -- even down under. After breakfast, say a fond farewell to your travel mates.