Australia highlights with Sydney New Year’s Eve 2023

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Sydney
• 3 nights Red Centre
• 5 nights Port Douglas

Day 1: London to Sydney

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights 

Day 2: Arrive Sydney

On arrival in Sydney, you will be met at the airport and take a shared transfer into the city. If you aren’t too tired, why not head straight to Circular Quay, to get your first views of Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, brightly lit in the warm Australian evening.

Included: Shared transfers, 4* hotel

Days 3 & 4: Sydney 

You’ve got two days to enjoy Sydney and to help you on your way we’ve included an iVenture Sydney card, which allows you access many of the main sights in the city. As well as entry to the Opera House, Wildlife Sydney and the Aquarium, this pass also gives you access to some brilliant tours – fancy learning about Bondi’s beautiful beaches and coastal living or taking a walking tour of the historic Rocks neighbourhood? Both covered! You can also go jetboating on the harbour, take the hop-on-hop-off bus out to the Blue Mountains, join a bike tour through Manly or take advantage of a 2-hour board and wetsuit hire to try your hand at surfing. This is the best way to enjoy this incredible city and experience things you might never have thought of!

We've included a illi-Langi The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming tour. This 90 minute tour takes you for a leisurely walkabout with an Aboriginal guide in The Rocks in Sydney. It's the perfect way to explore this area and gives you the opportunity to discover how the ancient Aboriginal DreamTime is still alive within the modern Sydney landscape. You'll learn about the billion-year-old harbour, marine environment, sandstone strata, waterways, flora and fauna and how it shapes Aboriginal thought and behaviour.

Your third night in Sydney is New Year’s Eve and you are in the perfect spot to celebrate! We’ve included an evening at the Opera House, starting with a magnificent pre-performance dinner overlooking Sydney Harbour, before taking your seats for a performance. You can choose between a production of La Boheme or the Opera Gala, a concert of some of Opera’s most impressive arias, and during the interval you can enjoy the 9pm fireworks over the bridge before the second half.

After the show, you’ll have tickets to the Opera House’s exclusive Midnight Party, held in the Northern Foyers of the Opera House. Including drinks, canapés and entertainment, you’ll of course also have great vantage point for the famous New Year’s Fireworks, being some of the first people in the world to ring in the new year.

Dress up to the nines and make this your most glamorous New Year’s Eve ever!

Included: 3* hotel, iVenture card (valid 72 hours), Midnight Party with dinner and performance             

Day 5: Fly to Ayers Rock

Today you’ll take a scheduled transfer back to Sydney Airport in time for your flight to Ayers Rock. On arrival there, you will be taken straight to your hotel and check in for three nights.

Included: Flights, transfers, 4* hotel       

Day 6: Sounds of Silence

Your day is free today and we’d recommend you spend this time learning about Aboriginal culture in the Red Centre, as well as in the country as a whole. You can join a dot painting workshop, which will show you the traditional art of this area – if you want to add this activity, just ask! This evening, you’ll enjoy an iconic Red Centre experience – the ‘Sounds of Silence’ dinner, an enjoyable way to catch the sunset over Uluru whilst enjoying a delicious Australian meal. Enjoy canapes as you watch the skies change colour, then you can feast on a barbeque buffet after sundown. Round off the evening with a glass in hand and a spot of stargazing – simply perfect.

Included: 4* hotel, Sounds of Silence dinner        

Day 7: Uluru & Kata Tjuta

Wake before dawn today and head out towards Uluru to watch the sunrise over the iconic rock. Departing in the dark, as you drive towards Uluru, the vast rock will rise out of the sand dunes in the quiet morning light. Your guide will take you to a very special location to watch the sunrise, before enjoying a delicious outback breakfast. You will visit Mutijulu Waterhole on the Kuniya Walk and learn the Creation stories of Liru (poisonous snake) and Kuniya (python). After this short walk, you will drive around the base of Uluru and hear the story of the Mala people before returning to the hotel to spend the rest of your morning at leisure.

This afternoon, you’ll head out to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to visit a unique area where unique flora and fauna thrive: Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Here, your guide will teach you about the diverse environment, as well as the significance this region has to the Aboriginals. Learn about the 36 domes that make up Kata Tjuta – how they have been created over millions of years and really drink in the spirituality of this amazing location. This tour will finish in the early evening leaving you plenty of time to enjoy dinner and perhaps go stargazing on your final night in the Red Centre.

Included: 4* hotel, sunrise tour, Kata Tjuta tour               

Day 8: Fly to Cairns

Today you’ll leave the Red Centre and head to Queensland for some beach time! You’ll be transferred back to the airport for your flight to Cairns, where, on arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Port Douglas where you will check in for five nights.

Included: Transfers, flights, 3* hotel

Day 9: Day trip to Great Barrier Reef  

We’ve included a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef so why don’t you take this opportunity to go and explore the world’s largest coral reef. Your day includes morning and afternoon tea, a tropical buffet lunch and all snorkelling equipment. During the trip home, it may be possible to see dolphins and whales.

Included: Snorkelling tour, 3* hotel          

Day 10: Daintree Rainforest

Today is a free day, how about exploring the Daintree Rainforest, this is a World Heritage Listed area and contains an enormous amount of rare plants and animals. With a mix of golden beaches, walking trails, crocodile spotting you will soon have your day filled up. If you have time there is also the opportunity to further explore and go visit Cape Tribulation and the Mossman River.

Included: 3* hotel

Days 11 & 12: Port Douglas

You’ve now got two free days to enjoy Port Douglas. It’s a relaxed beach town with a stunning stretch of sand known as Four Mile Beach. Stretch out with a good book and reminisce over the last two weeks of discovering beautiful Australia.       

Included: 3* hotel                           

Day 13: Depart Port Douglas

Your time in Australia has come to an end – this morning you will be picked up and taken back to Cairns in time for your flight back to the UK.           

Included: Transfers, international flights            

Day 14: Arrive UK