CLASSIC AUSTRALIA – SYDNEY, ROCK AND REEF

Check in to your luxury hotel in the historic Rocks district, with panoramic views of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thanks to your hotel’s central location, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in the city’s dynamic food scene, outstanding architecture, legendary beaches and laidback outdoor lifestyle.

You could take leisurely walks around Circular Quay past the Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens, before stopping to snap some photos from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. The adventurous may wish to climb to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge, whilst all will enjoy an afternoon sailing around the harbour, dropping anchor now and then to swim, fish or kayak. Other experiences include taking a seaplane flight up to the remote Ku-Ring-Gai National Park for a delicious lunch at the Cottage Point Inn Restaurant, before re-boarding your aircraft for a scenic return to Sydney Harbour over the Bridge and Opera House.

Dedicate at least one day to exploring the treasures just beyond Sydney’s boundaries. In less than two hours you could be uncovering the ancient Aboriginal sites and unique rock formations of the Blue Mountains, or enjoying wine tastings in the vineyards of the Hunter Valley.

Stay: Five nights at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney

The next portion of your journey takes you deep into the Australian Outback to reach the vast desert, mountain ranges and gorges of the Red Centre. Here you’ll be able to get your first glimpse of Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), a huge sandstone rock formation rising some 350 meters from the surrounding desert plains. Australia’s most recognisable natural icon and a World Heritage Site, Uluru is sacred to the Aboriginal people of the area along with nearby Kata Tjuta – a group of large rock domes dating back 500 million years. Enjoy a sunset or sunrise tour to Uluru.

During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to take walking tours led by traditional landowners who will teach you about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and Aboriginal Dreamtime stories. The area is also home to an abundance of waterholes, rock caves and ancient rock art.

Stay: Two nights in at Desert Gardens Hotel in a Deluxe room, including breakfast.

Return to Sydney for a night before your morning connection to Hamilton Island.

Stay: One night at the Rydges Hotel, Sydney Airport

Now it’s time to discover one of the most revered marine sites on the planet – the Great Barrier Reef. Your base is Hamilton Island, one of the 74 tropical islands that make up the Whitsundays. Mostly car-free, Hamilton Island has all the restaurants, entertainment, amenities and activities of a full-on resort – combined with warm waters and ready access to the colorful undersea world of the Great Barrier Reef. Countless hours can be spent snorkelling and diving alongside tropical fish, manta rays and turtles, but you can also take a boat out to one of the most famous beaches in the country – Whitehaven beach.

Stay: Five nights at Reef View hotel, Coral Sea View room, including breakfast