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Arrive in the culturally rich and artistic city of Melbourne and explore the neighbouring wildlife hotspot Phillip Island, before taking a day to journey west along the famous Great Ocean Road. Fly north to Cairns, the tropical city where rainforest meets sea, set amongst World Heritage areas. Explore the vibrant Great Barrier Reef, lush Daintree Rainforest and crystal waters of Cape Tribulation. Journey back south to experience the electricity of Australia's largest city, Sydney, and spend a day inland in the breathtaking Blue Mountains wilderness region.

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Flexible Touring

This suggested tour costs from AUD$4,670 per person (twin share, low season)

Starts in Melbourne, finishes in Sydney

10 days/9 nights

Hotel 4 star

 Customisable? YES

 Viewed 30 times in the last 7 days

price pp from
AUD$4,670
twin share/double
Tour full itinerary
ITINERARY
East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 1
Arrive into Melbourne

Melbourne is the coastal capital of the state of Victoria. At the city's centre is the modern Federation Square development, with shopping, bars, and restaurants by the Yarra River. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and indigenous art. As the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has a hidden gem around every corner - Rich history, bustling laneways, rooftop bars, and world-class restaurants are just the beginning!

Private transfer Melbourne Airport to your accommodation

On arrival, you will be met by a private driver outside customs exit and delivered to your Melbourne accommodation.

Your accommodation: Vibe Hotel Melbourne

Discover the changing and unchanging face of Melbourne’s streetscape with a stay in the heart of the CBD. Vibe Hotel Melbourne dominates the intersection of Melbourne’s iconic Flinders and Queen Streets and allows guests to lose themselves in the city’s famed laneways and historic arcades – all of which are in striking distance from the hotel.

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 2
Explore Melbourne

Melbourne is the cool, artsy capital of the state of Victoria. Renowned for its laneway art, cafes, bars, restaurants and museums, there is no shortage of things to do, see, eat and drink. Grab a coffee in Degraves Street, see the murals on Hosier Lane or Blender Lane, pop over to St Kilda and stroll along the promenade or visit one of the many museums. For a spot of retail therapy, catch the 86 or 96 tram from the CBD to the bohemian Brunswick Street shopping district for an eclectic mix of second hand vintage and high-end boutique stores. On the opposite side of the city, the Docklands open-air entertainment precinct boasts a myriad of public artwork, family fun activities such as glow in the dark mini golf, and a variety of dining options lining the marina. Get there easily on the free City Circle tram, or wander over the Bourke Street footbridge. To make the most of your time in Melbourne, we recommend taking a city tour to get true local insight into this vibrant city.

Phillip Island and Moonlit Sanctuary Tour with Oceania Tours & Safaris

Your tour will commence with a visit to Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park where you are guaranteed plenty of close encounters with an array of Australian native animals like kangaroos, wombats and echidnas. Next, you will head to Phillip Island where time/season permitting, you will take to Woolamai Surf Beach to catch a glimpse of the awesome waves and die-hard surfers. Following this, you then travel over to the dramatic west coast of the island. At the Nobbies, you will stroll along the boardwalk to experience the waves crashing along this dramatic coastline and perhaps spot a few seals and some penguin nests. Finally, your Phillip Island tour is not complete without its black tie gala event: the Penguin Parade. You will firstly head to the Visitor Centre to shop and have a coffee. Included is the penguin plus viewing which allows you to view the penguins on a separate platform to one side of the beach, it’s a more intimate viewing enabling you a better view of little penguins waddling ashore, decked out in their tuxedos as they hurry off to find their burrows.

Phillip Island

Phillip Island is just 90 minutes from Melbourne. It is home to white-sand beaches, captivating coastlines, fun family activities, and world-class events, such as the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. See Little Penguins return to their burrows on sunset, watch inquisitive seals play at sea, go in search of whales, and be in awe of natural scenery on a coastal walk. You can also visit Phillip Island Chocolate Factory and taste delicious chocolate treats and even make your own chocolate creation on the spot.

Your accommodation: Vibe Hotel Melbourne

Discover the changing and unchanging face of Melbourne’s streetscape with a stay in the heart of the CBD. Vibe Hotel Melbourne dominates the intersection of Melbourne’s iconic Flinders and Queen Streets and allows guests to lose themselves in the city’s famed laneways and historic arcades – all of which are in striking distance from the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 3
Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is an iconic, must-do route that stretches along the south-eastern coast of Victoria, from famed surf capital Torquay, westward across to Allansford, just before the regional city Warrnambool. The Great Ocean Road tourist drive covers 243 kilometres of National Heritage listed area which hosts an abundance of awe-inspiring natural landscapes including the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge just to name a few. The road is also shouldered by the Great Otway National Park where you can explore rainforest walks, treetop walkways, waterfalls towering over fern-fringed pools and dramatic cliffs sheltering secluded beaches. Kennett River also hosts a rare opportunity to see koalas living in large numbers in their natural habitat, and is well worth the stop.

Great Ocean Road Day Tour with Oceania Tours

Experience this majestic coastal drive in style with this small group and enjoy time to relax and fully appreciate the wonders of this world-famous touring route. Stay on the lookout for some very special animals including whales, dolphins, echidnas and bandicoots, you’ll also be taken to the best hiding spots for koalas and kangaroos in the wild. The first stop will be at Apollo Bay, a tranquil seaside town which is most noteworthy for its setting among the soft rolling hills. It offers a great selection of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy some lunch (not included). Following this, you will enjoy a walk in the forest in the Otway Ranges. Cap the day off with a visit to the famous 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.

Your accommodation: Vibe Hotel Melbourne

Discover the changing and unchanging face of Melbourne’s streetscape with a stay in the heart of the CBD. Vibe Hotel Melbourne dominates the intersection of Melbourne’s iconic Flinders and Queen Streets and allows guests to lose themselves in the city’s famed laneways and historic arcades – all of which are in striking distance from the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 4
Private transfer from accommodation to Melbourne Airport

You will be picked up from your Melbourne accommodation and taken to the Melbourne Airport.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Domestic Flight - Melbourne to Cairns

This cost for this flight is additional to your tour, we can book this flight for you.

Cairns

Cairns was settled by Europeans in 1876 who arrived in search of gold. Modern-day Cairns is now seen as the city "where the rainforest meets the reef" as it is the gateway to both the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef for the many tourists that pass through each year.
The main tourist centre in town is along the Esplanade, which has a swimming lagoon, bustling weekend markets, and plenty of great food options.

Private transfer Cairns Airport to your accommodation

On arrival, you will be met by a private driver outside baggage carousel and delivered to your Cairns accommodation.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Spirit of Cairns Dinner Cruise

Cap off a perfect day in paradise with an unforgettable Cairns dinner cruise—step aboard a luxurious sailing catamaran and glide along the tranquil waters of Trinity Inlet. As the tropical port city transforms from day to night, soak in the serene ambiance, breathtaking views, and soothing sounds of this enchanting coastal haven.

Your accommodation: Pacific Hotel Cairns

Located on the Esplanade overlooking Trinity Harbour, Pacific Hotel Cairns offers stunning views from private balconies and easy access to the nearby Reef Fleet Terminal, shopping precinct and Esplanade Lagoon.
Meals included: Breakfast

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 5
Reef Cruise, Snorkel and Helicopter Flight with Down Under Cruise & Dive

Cruise onboard luxury superyacht, Evolution, to the Outer Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Over 4 and a half hours of reef time, you will visit two exclusive reef sites, providing plenty of time to snorkel, relax and sunbathe on one of Evolution's three spacious deck levels.
Snorkel or join a Semi-Submersible tour with live commentary from a marine expert or take advantage of Evolution’s extensive lounging areas to simply relax or soak up some tropical sun. Your day includes a delicious freshly cooked Aussie BBQ lunch consisting of fish, steak, a variety of salads and tasty ocean prawns. On the return trip to Cairns, you will board a helicopter, where your highly skilled pilot will share their local knowledge of the region while on the lookout for Turtles, Dolphins, Manta Rays, large schools of pelagic fish and even majestic Humpback Whales (Jul-Sep).

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, a World Heritage listed reef system comprising over 3000 individual reefs. This hugely biodiverse ecosystem is home to an abundance of marine life, coral cays and tropical islands surrounded by sun-drenched golden beaches. It has become one of the most highly sought after tourist destinations in the world, so there is no shortage of activities available to help you explore the stunning area, including snorkelling, diving, scenic flights, cruises and whale watching voyages. The Great Barrier Reef is usually accessed via the main ports of Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays and the tropical city of Cairns, although the coast of Far North Queensland harbours many other beautiful towns that provide tours to the reef.

Your accommodation: Pacific Hotel Cairns

Located on the Esplanade overlooking Trinity Harbour, Pacific Hotel Cairns offers stunning views from private balconies and easy access to the nearby Reef Fleet Terminal, shopping precinct and Esplanade Lagoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 6
Premium Daintree & Cape Tribulation Day Tour

This premium full-day tour includes the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, Mossman Gorge, and Port Douglas. It takes in the best bits of lush tropical rainforest, cascading rivers, and the iconic Cape Tribulation beach, the only place on earth where two natural World Heritage-listed sites, the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest, exist side by side. This tour is great value and also includes a Daintree River Cruise, morning tea, and a quality restaurant lunch. You’ll travel with a small group in a comfortable air-conditioned, late model vehicle, with free WIFI onboard.

Daintree

The world's oldest rainforest by an impressive 10 million years, surviving cataclysmic events that wiped out the dinosaurs, the Daintree exudes ancient energy to those who visit. The traditional custodians of the area, the Kuku Yulanji, have been living in complete harmony with their environment for 50,000 years.  Encompassing approximately 1200 square kilometres stretching from the Daintree River to the sea's edge, north to Cooktown and west to the Great Divide, this World Heritage-listed area is the single largest block of tropical rainforest in Australia. With creeping vines, emerald tree canopies and winding rivers below, there are memorable experiences to be gained for all. One of the most well-known natural features of the Daintree is Mossman Gorge, promising breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife and lush rainforest steeped in history and legends that have been passed down generations. Whether you are seeking luxury, immersive cultural experiences, or something more adventurous, the Daintree has it all.

Your accommodation: Pacific Hotel Cairns

Located on the Esplanade overlooking Trinity Harbour, Pacific Hotel Cairns offers stunning views from private balconies and easy access to the nearby Reef Fleet Terminal, shopping precinct and Esplanade Lagoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 7
Private transfer from accommodation to Cairns Airport

You will be picked up from your Cairns accommodation and taken to the Cairns Airport.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Domestic Flight - Cairns to Sydney

This cost for this flight is additional to your tour, we can book this flight for you.

Private transfer Sydney Airport to your accommodation

On arrival, you will be met by a private driver outside baggage carousel and delivered to your Sydney accommodation.

Sydney

Sydney is Australia's largest city and the vibrant capital of New South Wales. The city was founded in 1788 with the arrival of the first fleet of convicts and soldiers, although the area has been inhabited by indigenous Australian ancestors who came to Australia between 15,000 and 45,000 years ago. Today, Sydney is a major international capital of culture and business, and also a key tourist destination recognised across the globe. Most famed for the unique Sydney Opera House, the city is also known for its beautiful surrounding beaches and as a gateway to popular sightseeing regions such as the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney - suggested activity

Located on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney stands as Australia's oldest scientific institution and one of the earliest botanic gardens in the Southern Hemisphere. Positioned on the historic site of first contact between the Eora and Europeans, this lush garden is nestled between Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, offering breathtaking views over Sydney Harbour.
The garden is home to thousands of plant species and a diverse array of wildlife, including vibrant birds, fruit bats, and water dragons. Visitors can explore various themed areas, such as the Cadi Jam Ora: First Encounters Garden, which shares the story of the Gadigal people through indigenous plants and interpretive displays. Another highlight is The Calyx, a cutting-edge horticultural display center that hosts ever-changing exhibitions focused on botany and environmental awareness.
For those seeking relaxation, the garden’s café and restaurant offer delightful dining experiences with stunning vistas, providing the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploration.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITY - Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise with Cruise Sydney

Step aboard a modern 78ft cruiser to begin your stunning Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise. Designed with luxury and superb comfort in mind and with plenty of room on board, expansive main, upper, and sun decks offer 360-degree views of all the harbour’s iconic attractions as you sail past. The Sydney Harbour is photogenic at any time, but sunset is particularly special, and once the sun goes down, the gleaming cityscape comes alive in glittering lights. This dinner cruise allows you the opportunity to experience the harbour from both beautiful perspectives.
This dinner experience is a long, lavish affair, with generous meals showcasing locally sourced and regionally influenced delicacies, paired with an expansive collection of beers, wine, soft drinks, tea, or coffee.

Your accommodation: Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour

Zen is a state of mind, and you’ll find yours at Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour. This property offers guests a new side to Sydney, one that celebrates an eclectic blend of hole-in-the-wall restaurants and world-class sites in close proximity.
Meals included: Breakfast

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 8
Panoramic Sydney Sights Tour and Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise

Visit the historic Rocks area and hear of early convict history. Marvel at 18th century sandstone architecture such as NSW Parliament House, Rum Hospital, Hyde Park Barracks and St Mary’s Cathedral. Head to Mrs. Macquaries Point, to enjoy magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Continue through Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, home to the rich and famous. Travelling along the coves and shores of one of the world's most impressive harbours, You will pass through areas such as Kings Cross, Double Bay, and Rose Bay before arriving at Watsons Bay. Here, you will have the option of a short coastal walk with views of the South Pacific Ocean and the entrance to Sydney Harbour.
Visit the Bondi beachfront promenade, put your toes in the sand, enjoy a coffee or cool drink (at your own cost). See bronzed Aussie lifesavers and surfers riding the waves of Bondi. Continue on to Tamarama and Bronte beaches before returning to the city via Centennial Park and Paddington, a trendy district with its elegant terrace houses and boutique shops along Oxford Street. Finishing in Darling Harbour, you will board your Sydney Harbour lunch cruise. Enjoy a buffet-style Aussie BBQ lunch onboard including salad and vegetables - and all this with great views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Barangaroo - suggested activity

One of Sydney’s most recent and ambitious renewal projects, Barangaroo belies very little of its former life as an industrial container terminal. Weaving along the water’s edge, the precinct is bursting with incredible eateries, parklands, exciting shopping, cultural experiences, and the six-star Crown Hotel. Coming from Walsh Bay, begin your exploration by dipping into Barangaroo Reserve.
This large landscaped green space provides beautiful vantage points, lovely lawns, and the purpose-built Cutaway event space. Not to be missed is the important audio-visual artwork Wellama, which welcomes visitors to Gadigal country, and the multimedia Indigenous experience Ngangamay, embedded in the sandstone and accessed via a downloadable app, that honours Barangaroo, the powerful Aboriginal woman after whom the precinct is named.

Your accommodation: Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour

Zen is a state of mind, and you’ll find yours at Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour. This property offers guests a new side to Sydney, one that celebrates an eclectic blend of hole-in-the-wall restaurants and world-class sites in close proximity.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 9
Blue Mountains Deluxe Day Tour, including lunch, with AEA Luxury Tours

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of seven national parks that make up the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. This wonderland of sandstone outcrops, deep ravines and hazy blue eucalypt forests boasts luxury retreats and stunning views. This guided day tour will take you off the beaten track to visit remote lookout locations and discuss the history, flora, and fauna of this magnificent region.

Blue Mountains

The World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains is a wilderness area showcasing ancient rock formations, vast canyons and waterfalls plummeting into valleys below. The breathtaking views over the region stretch to the hazy blue horizon, while the historic village towns nestled amongst the rainforest are dotted with tea rooms, cellar doors and breweries hosted by local producers. There is no shortage of adventure in the Blue Mountains with the rugged sandstone escarpments, underground caves and deep canyons providing the perfect playground for rock climbing, abseiling, canyoning and more. Of course, relaxation is also on the cards with a number of resorts, boutique guesthouses and day spas throughout.

Your accommodation: Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour

Zen is a state of mind, and you’ll find yours at Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour. This property offers guests a new side to Sydney, one that celebrates an eclectic blend of hole-in-the-wall restaurants and world-class sites in close proximity.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

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East Coast Top Icons Tour - Day 10
Private transfer from accommodation to Sydney Airport

You will be picked up from your Sydney accommodation and taken to the Sydney Airport.

Farewell from Australia

Farewell Australia today. If there is more of Australia or New Zealand you would like to explore, talk to your sales consult about planning your next stop!

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East Coast Top Icons Tour
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