Australia rewards travelers willing to cover real distance: Sydney's harbour energy, the otherworldly red of the Outback, and the living reef just off the Queensland coast are three completely different countries packed into one. This itinerary doesn't try to rush all of it — it picks the three icons worth the long flight and gives each one proper time.
Best suited to travelers who want the bucket-list sights (Opera House, Uluru, Great Barrier Reef) without a packed-bus-tour pace.
Land in Sydney and settle in with a harbour cruise past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, a coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee, and a free evening to explore The Rocks and Darling Harbour.
Fly to Ayers Rock for sunset and sunrise viewing of Uluru, a guided walk around its base learning Anangu culture and Dreamtime stories, and a night under some of the clearest stargazing skies in the world.
Fly to Cairns for a full-day reef cruise with snorkelling or diving over the world's largest coral reef system, followed by a relaxed evening in the Cairns Esplanade.
Transfer to Cairns airport for your international departure.