Best of Australia

12 days
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Small Group Tour
Calling all nature lovers – it doesn’t get much more Australian than this 12-day adventure. Start with visits to Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge before dipping into the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains for a daytrip through some incredible scenery. Then, venture into the heart of Australia and experience the awe of Uluru, Kings Canyon and many mor...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • See all the sites of Sydney – a bustling central city along Australia’s East Coast – like the Opera House, Hyde Park plus a tour around the Harbour with a First Nations guide.
    • Visit the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains seeing the gorgeous scenery of Wentworth Falls and the Three Sisters on foot and from above on the skyway.
    • Discover the ever-changing colours of Uluru, one of Australia’s most spiritually significant sites, as you marvel at the epic sandstone monolith at both sunrise and sunset.
    • Embark on a guided walk through Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas) and short a hike across the famous Kings Canyon plateau.
    • Take a full-day sailing and snorkelling tour of the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas, learning about the underwater ecosystem and the fragility of the environment from professional marine biologists.
    • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Greening Australia. Donations help them tackle Australia’s complex environmental challenges, restoring landscapes at scale – in ways that work for communities, economies and nature.

What's this trip about?

    Calling all nature lovers – it doesn’t get much more Australian than this 12-day adventure. Start with visits to Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge before dipping into the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains for a daytrip through some incredible scenery. Then, venture into the heart of Australia and experience the awe of Uluru, Kings Canyon and many more significant First Nations sites in the Red Centre. Finally, bask in the natural splendour of the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient wonder of Daintree Rainforest – this trip really shows that Australia can do it all.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 15 people
Age range15 to 17 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CitySydney
End CityCairns

Travel Themes

  • High Adventure

Destinations

Attractions

  • Alice Springs
  • Bar
  • Blue Mountains
  • Cairns
  • Daintree
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • Sydney

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 15

Trip includes

    • Sydney - The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour
    • Wentworth Falls - Wentworth Falls Lookout
    • Katoomba - Scenic Skyway
    • Katoomba - Scenic Walkway
    • Katoomba - Three Sisters Walk
    • Katoomba - Echo Point Lookout
    • Katoomba - Scenic Cableway
    • Katoomba - Scenic Railway
    • Sydney – Harbour to Manly return ferry
    • Sydney – Exploration of Manly Beach
    • Tjoritja-West MacDonnell Ranges - Simpsons Gap Guided Aboriginal Cultural Walk
    • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Creek Walk
    • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Light Towers by Night
    • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge Walk
    • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Rim Walk
    • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru Sunset Viewing
    • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole with local Anangu Guide
    • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru Sunrise Viewing
    • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Cultural Centre
    • Kuranda - Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
    • Kuranda - Kuranda Markets
    • Kuranda - Kuranda Village Visit
    • Port Douglas - Leader-lead Orientation Walk
    • Daintree National Park – Solar Whisper Daintree River Wildlife Cruise
    • Daintree National Park - Jindalba circuit track
    • Daintree National Park - Cape Tribulation Lookout & Beach Walk
    • Port Douglas - Full-day Great Barrier Reef tour
    • Mossman Gorge - Ngadiku Dreamtime walk

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Sydney

Welcome to Sydney, Australia – or Warrane, in the language of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Sydney is now located. Your adventure starts today with a welcome meeting at your hotel at 1 pm. After, you’ll head...

Day 2 Blue Mountains / Sydney

This morning, head out on a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains – a land of rugged peaks, waterfalls and dense eucalyptus forest. Stop at Wentworth Falls for grand valley views at Fletchers Lookout. Head to Katoomba and visit Echo Point Lookout...

Day 3 Manly / Sydney

This morning after breakfast, you’ll hop on the public ferry from Sydney Harbour to Manly. Departing regularly from Circular Quay, the ferry cruises past the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House before passing Kirribilli House (the Prime Minister’s official re...

Day 4 Alice Springs

Your included airport transfer will take you from the hotel to Sydney Airport this morning. Fly to Alice Springs (flight not included) or Mparntwe, in the language of the Traditional Owners of the land on which Alice Springs is now located. This is the classic laidbac...

Day 5 West MacDonnell Ranges / Kings Canyon

This morning, you’ll hit the road for Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park (Tjoritja). Keep an eye out for rock wallabies as you take part in a guided walk through the important spiritual site. A First Nations guide will share their insights on the...

Day 6 Kings Canyon / Kata Tjuta / Uluru / Yulara

Spend the morning exploring the rugged landscape of Kings Canyon and enjoy the 3-hour rim walk up and across the famous Kings Canyon plateau, from the sandstone domes of the 'Lost City' to the oasis of the 'Garden of Eden'. You’ll walk across the red rock cliffs that ...

Day 7 Uluru / Yulara (or Alice Springs)

You'll start the day early in one of the best ways imaginable – watching a spectacular sunrise over Uluru. Embark on a short walk across the rust-coloured landscape to a nearby waterhole and marvel at some of the traditional art sites. Your leader will shed light on t...

Day 8 Cairns

The free airport shuttle will take you from the hotel to Yulara Airport today, then you’ll fly to Cairns (flight not included). Cairns is also known as Gimuy, in the language of the Traditional Owners of the land on which Cairns is now located. This is the gateway to ...

Day 9 Kuranda / Port Douglas

This morning after breakfast, soar over the world’s oldest tropical rainforest via the Skyrail that connects Cairns to the picturesque mountain village of Kuranda. You’ll glide along 7.5 km of cableway and admire the ancient landscape from a truly unique perspective. ...

Day 10 Daintree Rainforest / Cape Tribulation / Port Douglas

Today, you’ll visit the ancient Daintree Rainforest. When you arrive, head out on a one-hour crocodile and wildlife spotting boat tour along the Daintree River (Julaymba). On the electric Solar Whisper, you’ll hear the sounds of nature around you as you look out for c...

Day 11 Great Barrier Reef / Port Douglas

This morning, you’ll head out on a fantastic full-day boat tour from Port Douglas. Explore the stunning Coral Cays on the Great Barrier Reef on a sailing boat guided by marine biologists, who will share their passion and knowledge of the reef as you float along the ex...

Day 12 Mossman Gorge / Palm Cove / Cairns

This morning, you’ll head to Mossman Gorge for a fascinating Ngadiku Dreamtime walking tour, led by a local Aboriginal guide. Ngadiku (Nar-di-gul) means stories and legends from a long time ago in the local Kuku Yalanji language and you’ll learn about these stories on...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,930
Price per day$494
Last Updated: 12/20/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
23 Jan 2025
03 Feb 2025
$6,920
06 Feb 2025
17 Feb 2025
$6,228
06 Mar 2025
17 Mar 2025
$6,605
17 Apr 2025
28 Apr 2025
$5,930
15 May 2025
26 May 2025
$5,930
12 Jun 2025
23 Jun 2025
$5,930
26 Jun 2025
07 Jul 2025
$5,930
10 Jul 2025
21 Jul 2025
$6,225
24 Jul 2025
04 Aug 2025
$6,225
07 Aug 2025
18 Aug 2025
$5,930

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (11 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private vehicle,Boat,

Transportation & flights

Private vehicle,Boat
Guides
AUSTRALIA LEADERS All group trips are accompanied by a group leader. In Australia your group leader is often also your driver, taking you from start to finish. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, as well as recommend great local eating venues. They will also introduce you to our local friends along the way. Please be aware they will be juggling many things on your tour and on some days may have less time to spend with you. But they will always be working hard to ensure you and your group have a fantastic time exploring Australia!
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING DOMESTICALLY Travel insurance will help ensure you’re protected in case of any unforeseen changes to your journey – such as flight cancellations or COVID-19 related disruptions. For this reason, we recommend you purchase comprehensive domestic travel insurance for your trip. This may not be something you would have typically done in the past when travelling domestically in Australia, but it does offer you a number of benefits in these dynamic times. While Australians and Australian Permanent Residents travelling within Australia are not required to be covered for hospital care due to being covered by Medicare, a comprehensive domestic travel insurance policy should cover you for expenses resulting from – among other things – COVID-19 related changes, including an outbreak in your destination or on your departure necessitating changes to your travel plans that incur additional costs. Domestic travel insurance plans may also include personal liability, cancellation, curtailment, loss of luggage and personal effects, and other benefits. It is also advisable that domestic travellers have current ambulance cover in the case of emergency evacuation or incidents requiring ambulance transportation. Please be sure to carefully check the policy’s inclusions with your preferred insurer.
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines REMOTE AREA TRAVEL We carry a satellite phone on all our remote/overland trips to be used by our leaders in the event of an emergency and for your safety. Our leaders are all First Aid trained and certified. BEACH SAFETY Rip currents are the leading hazard for all beach users. They can occur at any beach and can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. Rip currents are responsible for around 15,000 beach rescues each year in Australia. To enjoy Australia's beaches safely, take the following simple precautions: - Always swim between the red and yellow flags. These indicate that it is a supervised location where a lifesaving service is currently on duty. - Do not swim at unsupervised locations. - Observe and obey safety signage, which indicates current and typical hazards for that location. - Ask a lifeguard or lifesaver for advice on conditions. They are there to make your experience safer and more enjoyable. - Always swim with a friend – never swim alone. - If you get into trouble, stay calm and signal for help by calling and waving your arm above your head. - Be aware of your own limitations in terms of your physical health and your swimming ability in the given conditions. Never swim while, or after, consuming alcohol.
Age Requirements
15 to 17 years
Additional Information

Finish point

  • The Pacific Hotel
  • 43 Esplanade, Cairns City
  • Cairns City
  • Cairns
  • 4870
  • AUSTRALIA
Trip ID
intrepid-PZKAC

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