Highlights
- Stay in 5-star hotels, lodges, and camps and enjoy private tours and transfers
- Connect with Aboriginal culture in Sydney with a bush food and art tour
- Spend five days exploring the diverse natural landscapes of Kangaroo Island
- Swim with whale sharks at the UNESCO-listed Ningaloo Reef
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Sydney, Sunset Dinner Cruise | Sydney |
| Day 2 | Cottage Point Inn Fly & Dine, Twilight BridgeClimb | Sydney |
| Day 3 | Urban Aboriginal Cultural Tour, Free Time in Sydney | Sydney |
| Day 4 | Full-Day Australian Cooking Experience | Sydney |
| Day 5 | Fly to Kangaroo Island via Adelaide | Kangaroo Island |
| Day 6 | Kangaroo Island in Style: Bushwalk & Seal Bay | Kangaroo Island |
| Day 7 | Kangaroo Island in Style: Wildlife Park & Remarkable Rocks | Kangaroo Island |
| Day 8 | Free Day on Kangaroo Island: Hiking, Spa Time & Koalas | Kangaroo Island |
| Day 9 | Fly to Perth & the Wild West Coast | Perth |
| Day 10 | Morning Coffee Culture & Art Tour, Fly to Exmouth | Ningaloo |
| Day 11 | Swim with Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef | Ningaloo |
| Day 12 | Full-Day Coral Bay Marine Safari | Ningaloo |
| Day 13 | Fly to Perth, Evening Eat & Drink Walking Tour | Perth |
| Day 14 | Depart Perth |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sydney, Sunset Dinner Cruise
G'day and welcome to stunning Sydney! With a dazzling natural harbor, epic beaches, a world-class restaurant and bar scene, excellent live music and theater, and an unquenchable thirst for fun, you'll never get bored in this city. A private driver will transfer you from the airport to your 5-star hotel, the luxurious Capella Sydney. The contemporary hotel sits within a heritage sandstone building, and within, you'll find curated artwork, sophisticated furnishings, and intriguing objet d'art.
Life in Sydney revolves around the expansive, blue harbor, so soak in the views from your room, then venture down to the port. Step aboard a 52-foot (16 m) motor yacht and enjoy a four-hour private dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour where you'll watch day turn to night and feast on a delicious Australian barbecue dinner paired with wine or beer. Your captain and host will share the rich history of the city as you pass by famous landmarks, and you can even go swimming, fishing, or kayaking if you wish.
Day 2: Cottage Point Inn Fly & Dine, Twilight BridgeClimb
Today starts as you board a private 20-minute scenic flight destined for the award-winning Cottage Point Inn. This beautiful waterfront restaurant sits in the heart of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and is renowned for its exceptional modern Australian cuisine. The friendly staff will greet you with a warm welcome and great Australian wines. After your laid-back and leisurely three-course lunch, board the seaplane for your return to the city. Circuit above the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House before landing at Rose Bay.
Return to your hotel and refresh ahead of this evening's thrilling adventure. As dusk hits, you'll ascend the summit of the world's largest steel arch, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. With a twilight BridgeClimb, you'll experience spectacular 360-degree views as you walk across catwalks, ascend ladders, and celebrate from the top of the famous "coathanger," which reaches 439 feet (134 m) above sea level. Return to the ground and seek out dinner at one of Australia's top restaurants like Quay, Aria, or Bennelong.
Day 3: Urban Aboriginal Cultural Tour, Free Time in Sydney
Today you'll learn about the world's oldest living civilization on a five-hour Aboriginal culture and history tour, led by a respected member of the Bundjalung Nation. Start at the Royal Botanic Garden, a green oasis in the city. Here, you'll meet your private guide, who will welcome you with a traditional Welcome To Country ceremony. After, you'll walk through the park, tasting bush food and learning about people and plants associated with these gardens, which are the oldest in Australia.
Then, say goodbye to your guide and continue toward Sydney's beautiful eastern beaches to an Aboriginal art gallery. Here you'll see works from some of the most remote Indigenous communities in Australia. Finally, pause for a late seafood lunch by the beach before returning to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend however you wish—continue your city sightseeing at your own pace, or head back to the hotel to spend a luxurious afternoon taking advantage of the Cappella Sydney's world-class spa.
Day 4: Full-Day Australian Cooking Experience
Today's full-day private cooking experience begins with a journey across the famous bridge to reach the Northern Beaches. En route to a beautiful Sydney home, you'll pause at a local produce market to collect fruit, vegetables, meats, and seafood for today's cooking class. Then it's time to lace up your apron and join professional chef Andy Newton in the kitchen. Together you'll prepare a special modern Australian lunch. In between courses, you're invited to stretch your legs with a short walk through the native Australian bushland to the picturesque waterfront.
After a leisurely afternoon of cooking, eating, and living the life of a real Sydneysider, you'll return to your accommodation in the city center.
Day 5: Fly to Kangaroo Island via Adelaide
Today your final destination is the gorgeous Kangaroo Island, a place sometimes called "Australia's Galápagos" due to its incredible wildlife and landscapes. A private driver will transfer you to Sydney Airport for your one-stop flight to the island, via Adelaide. You'll reach Southern Ocean Lodge by early afternoon, a resort celebrated around the world as a pioneer in experiential luxury. Enjoy welcome drinks on arrival and a late lunch, then settle into your deluxe room.
This afternoon you could get your bearings on the landscape with a guided Coastal Clifftop Walk. Stare out to sea, knowing the next stop on the horizon is Antarctica, and listen as your passionate guide shares insights into the native ecology as you wander. Later, journey out to a bushland sanctuary near the lodge for Southern Sundowners. An architecturally designed viewing platform sets the stage for sunset, which you'll enjoy with a drink in hand, waiting patiently as local wildlife venture out at dusk to graze.
Day 6: Kangaroo Island in Style: Bushwalk & Seal Bay
Over the next two days, you'll explore Kangaroo Island's most famous sights, landscapes, and wildlife experiences with a private guide. More than a third of the island's total area comprises protected wildlife reserves, and hopefully, you'll see the small wallabies almost extinct on the mainland and a kangaroo found only on this aptly named island.
Start today with a guided bushwalk, where you'll learn about the fauna and flora of the island. Break for lunch at a private bush camp to enjoy a delicious meal featuring King George whiting (local sea fish), fresh salads, and fine South Australian wines. Tour Seal Bay Conservation Park to see Australian sea lions on a beautiful sandy beach. Watch pups nursing or playing in the surf, see old bulls with scars of territorial disputes, and learn about their unique breeding biology. In the late afternoon, you'll return to your accommodation for another special sunset and evening.
Day 7: Kangaroo Island in Style: Wildlife Park & Remarkable Rocks
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Enjoy an immersive breakfast in this bush this morning before meeting your private guide for another full day of sightseeing. Today you'll travel through the island's northwest and visit Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, an important private wildlife reserve. Learn about the programs for protecting endangered mammals, fire ecology, and feed local kangaroos before taking a break to enjoy an elegant picnic surrounded by nature.
After lunch, travel into Flinders Chase National Park and explore the massive shapes of Remarkable Rocks, a natural sculpture perched impossibly on top of a dome of granite emerging from the ocean. Evidence of the power of the Southern Ocean swell continues at Admirals Arch, a coastal grotto that provides shelter for a large colony of long-nosed fur seals who swim effortlessly through the crashing waves.
Day 8: Free Day on Kangaroo Island: Hiking, Spa Time & Koalas
Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the lodge, sampling local goodies like free-range eggs, Ligurian honey from the island's hives, smoked salmon, cured meats, and lodge-made pastries. There's no need to rush—it might be your final full day on Kangaroo Island, but today operates at your pace. Keen nature enthusiasts might like to trek the Signature Remarkable Hike, an 8-mile (13 km) hike from the Remarkable Rocks along the ruggedly beautiful coast to Cape Younghusband, taking in a spectacular section of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.
For something more low-key, you could join a gentle guided hike, borrow electric bikes, indulge in a spa treatment, or curl up with a good book and a drink from the help-yourself bar. Sit down for an early dinner at the lodge's restaurant and dine with a magnificent sunset view. After you could venture to Hanson Bay Sanctuary to experience the sights and sounds of Kangaroo Island after dark. Koalas are at their most active in the evening, and you'll encounter kangaroos, wallabies, and possums up close.
Day 9: Fly to Perth & the Wild West Coast
After a slow morning and final breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to Kangaroo Island. A private transfer will take you back to the airport for your one-stop flight to Perth, via Adelaide again. Western Australia is famous for long days of sunshine and diverse landscapes and climates. On arrival in the capital, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your 5-star boutique hotel, COMO The Treasury. The contemporary award-winning hotel is set within a Victorian-era building in Perth's revitalized historic heart. Use the rest of today to explore the laid-back lifestyle of this sun-drenched city.
Start at the famous Kings Park and Botanic Garden, one of the largest inner-city parks in the world, where you can take in panoramic views of the city skyline. Immerse yourself in culture at the Perth Cultural Centre or the Art Gallery of Western Australia, where you can admire a diverse collection of contemporary and Indigenous artworks. Or head to picturesque Cottesloe Beach, where golden sands and crystal-clear waters lie a stone's throw from the CBD. This is one of the best places to watch the sun set into the ocean.
Day 10: Morning Coffee Culture & Art Tour, Fly to Exmouth
Kickstart your day with a caffeine-fueled adventure. This lively two-hour private tour blends Perth's coffee culture with art and history. Wander down Wolf Lane to see the best street art and murals, then explore the city's art, sculpture, and architecture. Your guide will share quirky tales from Perth's past as you pass by Cathedral Square, the old General Post Office, the Land Titles Office, and Treasury Buildings. Uncover hidden gems in Hibernian Place, Stirling Gardens, and Government House, and traverse the old theater district, home to His Majesty's Theatre and the Cultural Centre.
After, return to the airport for a two-hour flight north to the small town of Exmouth on Western Australia's northwest cape. This charming coastal town is the gateway to the world's most breathtaking landscapes, including Ningaloo Marine Park, with its coral reefs, colorful fish, and migratory whale sharks. On arrival, take a private transfer to the luxurious and remote, beachfront safari camp, Sal Salis. Nestled in the dunes of Western Australia's Cape Range National Park, this wild and luxurious campsite steps in tune with nature. Settle into your luxury tent and slow down for the evening.
Day 11: Swim with Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef
If you've been dreaming of an up-close encounter with a majestic whale shark or the chance to swim beside a giant humpback whale, then you've come to the right place. The Ningaloo Reef is a biodiversity hotspot, rich in aquatic life. You never know what you'll find from one day to the next on this UNESCO-listed wonder. Today you'll have the chance to swim alongside whale sharks—ocean giants that can grow up to 59 feet (18 m) long. They congregate around Ningaloo Reef between April and July. Otherwise, you can catch humpback whales from August to October.
Afterward, you'll return to Sal Salis, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. While away the hours in your tent-front hammock, book a guided walk through the neighboring Mandu Mangu Gorge or fit in an afternoon kayaking or snorkeling excursion. As evening falls, savor fresh seafood and Western Australian wines at the lantern-lit lodge restaurant, or opt for a private dinner hamper to experience a beachfront picnic while the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.
Day 12: Full-Day Coral Bay Marine Safari
Coral Bay is as idyllic as the name suggests. From its white-sandy beach, you're just steps from the world's largest fringing reef—the UNESCO-listed Ningaloo Reef. Today you'll join a small group eco-tour and snorkel experience to dive beneath the turquoise waters. Your glass-bottomed boat will pass over stunning coral reefs before stopping so you can snorkel at two sites. You'll see hundreds of types of reef fish and exciting aquatic life, such as reef sharks, turtles, giant clams, and octopuses. Best of all, you'll likely swim with the awe-inspiring manta ray.
Don't forget to bring a towel, hat, swimwear, and warm layers. After your full-day excursion above the reef, return to your luxury campsite and relax with the sound of lapping waves and nature nearby.
Day 13: Fly to Perth, Evening Eat & Drink Walking Tour
This morning you'll catch a two-hour flight from Exmouth back to Perth. On arrival, a private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your 5-star hotel, COMO The Treasury, once again. Settle into your deluxe room and use the afternoon to explore Perth as you wish or shop for last-minute souvenirs for friends and family back home.
It's your final night in Australia, so make the most of it with a private after-dark tour. You'll meet a food-obsessed local who knows the coolest spots and where the locals like to hang out. Over three hours, you'll slowly explore Perth's buzzing bar and restaurant scene, stopping at three unique venues to sip and savor the city. From heritage buildings and laneways to out-of-the-way watering holes, you'll gain a true taste of the city while snacking on history, street art, and the local bar scene.
Day 14: Depart Perth
Your grand two-week adventure in Australia comes to an end today. At the appropriate time, your private driver will pick you up at your beautiful hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight home or onward. Safe travels!
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