The Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge across the water under a pink sunset sky

10 Days

Australia East Coast

Sydney • Blue Mountains • Gold Coast • Cairns • Great Barrier Reef cruise.

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The holiday

What to expect

Ten days down the east coast of Australia, from the harbour city to the reef. Sydney gives you the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach, with a day in the Blue Mountains; the Gold Coast brings surf beaches and theme parks; and from Cairns you head out to the Great Barrier Reef and up through the rainforest to Kuranda.

It is a natural fit for families, with koalas and kangaroos at the wildlife parks and non-swimmers well looked after on the reef, where glass-bottom boats and semi-submersibles show the coral. Short domestic flights link the three stops. We can add Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, Brisbane, or a stay in the Whitsundays. Indian food is easy to find, especially in Sydney, and vegetarian meals can be requested on the reef cruise.

Australia

Itinerary

Day by day

A suggested plan. Days can be added, dropped or swapped around your dates and interests.

Day
1
Arrive in Sydney
Land in Sydney and transfer to your hotel. In the evening, walk around Circular Quay for your first view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
Day
2
Sydney city tour and harbour cruise
Take a guided tour inside the Sydney Opera House, then see The Rocks, Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Bondi Beach. In the afternoon, cruise the harbour past the Harbour Bridge and the bays of the eastern suburbs.
Day
3
Blue Mountains day trip
Drive about two hours west, stopping at Featherdale Wildlife Park to meet koalas and kangaroos. See the Three Sisters from Echo Point in Katoomba and ride the railway, cable car and skyway at Scenic World.
Day
4
Fly to the Gold Coast
Take the flight of about an hour and a half to the Gold Coast. Spend the afternoon on the beach at Surfers Paradise, and go up to the SkyPoint observation deck for the view along the coast.
Day
5
A Gold Coast theme park
A full day at Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World or Dreamworld, whichever suits your family best.
Day
6
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and a free afternoon
Visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for its koalas and free-flying lorikeets. The afternoon is free for the beach or a second theme park.
Day
7
Fly to Cairns
Fly north to Cairns, a little over two hours. Spend the evening along the Esplanade and its swimming lagoon.
Day
8
Great Barrier Reef cruise
A full day on the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Snorkel over the coral, or stay dry in a glass-bottom boat or semi-submersible, with lunch on board.
Day
9
Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail
Ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway up through the rainforest and past waterfalls to the village of Kuranda. Return by the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, gliding just above the tree canopy.
Day
10
Depart from Cairns
Transfer to Cairns Airport for your flight home, connecting through Sydney, Brisbane or Singapore.

What's included

9 nights in hotels in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Cairns, with daily breakfast
Airport transfers, and domestic flights from Sydney to the Gold Coast and on to Cairns
Sydney city tour with a guided Opera House tour and a harbour cruise
Blue Mountains day trip with Featherdale Wildlife Park and Scenic World
One Gold Coast theme park ticket and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary entry
Great Barrier Reef cruise with lunch, and the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail
Australia visitor visa assistance