Australia Escorted Tours
Australia escorted tours are the best way to explore the dynamic landscapes, ranging from the red deserts of the Outback and the colourful Great Barrier Reef to the cosmopolitan cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Finding & Loading Tours
- 8 Nights - Cairns to Gold Coast
- Tour Only from £2,315
Explore the picturesque coastline that stretches from Cairns to the Gold Coast with a guided tour that takes you from the iconic Great Barrier Reef and Hamilton Island to Fraser Island, before finishing off with a visit to the sunny Gold Coast.
- 9 Nights - Perth to Fremantle
- Tour Only from £2,395
This fabulous journey takes you to iconic Wave Rock and the gold-rush ghost-towns en route to bustling Kalgoorlie. Esperance and Cape Le Grand National Park offer magnificent coastal scenery and expansive heathlands. View the stunning Stirling Ranges, take the Valley of the Giants tree-top walk, then indulge your palate at Margaret River, walk Busselton Jetty and relax in seaside Fremantle.
- 9 Nights - Adelaide to Alice Springs
- Tour Only from £2,730
This journey takes you into the very heart of Australia. The ancient and awe-inspiring Flinders Ranges and Kings Canyon provide a dramatic introduction to the rugged landscapes of the continent’s interior – and the jewels in its crown, magnificent Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Close encounters with local people add an enriching layer to your outback experience.
New Zealand and Australian Explorer
- 14 Nights - Auckland to Cairns
- Tour Only from £2,750
Discover the beauty of Australia and New Zealand on a journey that takes you across vibrant, diverse landscapes and picture-perfect scenery, as well as iconic sights from Auckland to Cairns.
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- 11 Nights - Cairns to Sydney
- Tour Only from £2,885
Explore the epic Eastern Australian coastline on a journey that takes you from the lush, reef-lined shores of Cairns to spectacular Sydney. Discover the array of coral and marine life that awaits you at the Great Barrier Reef, before cruising down to the Whitsundays and Fraser Island. You’ll also experience genuine Australian hospitality and farming life at Langmorn Station before soaking in the sights and sounds of the Gold Coast.
- 10 Nights - Uluru to Darwin
- Tour Only from £3,090
Experience quintessential Northern Territory landscapes on a thrilling road-trip from Uluru to Darwin. The grandeur of Uluru is unforgettable, and the opportunity to learn about the traditions of the local Indigenous people adds depth to your encounter. Travelling the Stuart Highway, you’ll witness the transition from desert reds to the rocky escarpments and lush greens of the tropical north.
Tasmania's Footsteps and Trails
- 6 Nights - Launceston (TAS) to Hobart (TAS)
- Tour Only from £3,360
Enjoy a rare encounter with the culture, heritage and epic landscapes of Tasmania, from Victorian Launceston to the historic harbour town of Hobart, including an epic hike with the palawa people.
- 14 Nights - Perth and Back
- Tour Only from £3,525
Explore vibrant cosmopolitan Perth before travelling inland to iconic Kalgoorlie, then watch in awe as the landscape transitions on your approach to the southern coast, where you’ll discover white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and ancient forests. Seaside Fremantle and Margaret River’s renowned food and wine culture await you before you head north to meet the wild dolphins at Monkey Mia.
- 14 Nights - Adelaide to Darwin
- Tour Only from £3,762
Discover the legendary Australian outback on a fascinating northbound journey from Adelaide, through the Red Centre and onto tropical Darwin in the Top End. The stunning beauty of Australia’s vast and varied landscapes including the rugged Flinders Ranges, ancient Uluru and Kata Tjuta and the lush wetlands of Kakadu National Park will provide memories to last a lifetime.
- 10 Nights - Broome to Darwin
- Tour Only from £3,790
Begin your magnificent Kimberley experience with a spectacular sunset over Broome’s Cable Beach, then enter a magical world of rich waterways, plunging gorges, stunning rock formations and prolific wildlife. Meet local Indigenous artists and tour the world’s principal source of rare pink diamonds.
Discover Australia
The list of things to see in Australia is endless, which means that a tour is the best way to explore this vast country. Almost 90% of the country’s population live in a city, which is not surprising considering that Australia’s cities are modern and vibrant with a youthful, diverse culture.
Sydney is a dazzling showstopper with famous attractions and world-class beaches, Melbourne is the food haven of Australia, Canberra showcases an array of cultural treasures, Brisbane is an upcoming subtropical paradise and Adelaide is the gateway to world-renowned wine regions. Australia’s cities boast a number of spectacular events every year including Melbourne’s Food and Wine Festival, Perth’s International Arts Festival which attracts more than 500,000 people each year and Sydney’s Mardi Gras, a two-week festival and Australia’s largest LGBTQ celebration featuring the world-famous Mardi Gras parade.
Australia’s dramatic landscape includes lush rainforests which stretch from Far North Queensland to far-south Tasmania, crimson rock formations including the famous Ayers Rock, stunning beaches with crystal-clear waters and vast national parks. Each of these awe-inspiring landscapes houses a wealth of wildlife including kangaroos, crocodiles, wombats, wallabies, platypus and dingoes as well as 700 Australian bird species. Hiking through the bushland or vising one of the many National Parks is a great way to experience some of Australia’s best wildlife.
The country’s vast coastline, with its pristine islands and deserted shores also inhabits its share of extraordinary creatures, particularly along the outstanding coral reefs. Snorkelling or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef is the best way to see the countless species of fish including clownfish as well as sea turtles, manta rays and even whitetip reef sharks.
The culinary scene in Australia is brilliant, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney. From posh restaurants serving gastronomy delights cooked up by world class chefs to little alleyway café’s dedicated to brunching; the streets of Oz are full of variety. Cairns is known for its fantastic seafood and the Blue Mountain region is the best place to snack on a tasty meat pie from a small-town bakery. Let’s not forget the infamous Aussie barbeque which usually consists of juicy burgers, steaks, fresh seafood and plenty of beer. Many tourist hotspots including beaches and parks often host public barbeques and it is common for hotel’s or hostels to have a barbeque night.
Highlights of Australia
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Melbourne
Melbourne is a city noted for sport and food. A pedestrian walkway from the city centre, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) seats over 90,000 and is home to summer cricket test matches and winter Australian football matches. The adjacent Rod Laver tennis arena is home to the January Australian Open tennis international. The roadways of Albert Park in the southern suburbs are taken over by the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in March.
Melbourne’s compact city centre is encircled by a free classic tram service. Within are excellent shops, art treasures such as the National Gallery of Victoria, and a range of restaurants reflecting Melbourne’s cosmopolitan identity. The famous laneways connecting major streets reinforce Melbourne coffee culture. In summer the Victoria market, easily reached by the extensive tram network, offers al-fresco dining on worldwide food specialities.
The scenic Yarra river flows through the centre of Melbourne, with upstream the Yarra valley being home to some of Australia’s best wineries. The Great Ocean Road day trip along the Victoria coast west of Melbourne highlights the Twelve Apostles, tall limestone sea stacks once connected to the shore. A shorter trip to Philip Island, south of Melbourne, is a must to see the ‘Penguin Parade’ where thousands of Little Penguins make their way ashore at sunset from a day at sea.
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Sydney
Sydney is famous for its twin attractions of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House set in a backdrop of the majestic harbour.
From the ferry, rail and bus interchange at Circular Quay it is a short walk to the Opera House on the harbourside. Guided visits are available, and those visiting the interval bar during a performance have one of the best views in the world overlooking the harbour and the Bridge.
Walking in the other direction from Circular Quay leads to the historic Rocks district in the shadow of the Bridge, with numerous eclectic shops and eating places to explore. For the adventurous a guided climb up the steps to the top of the Bridge is available. In the summer months a large cruise ship visiting Sydney will dock close to the Bridge.
A good way to see the sights of the harbour is a day ferry ticket exploring the various routes from Circular Quay. Another option is the ferry to Manly, passing the Opera House on its way to Manly and its famous beach on the Pacific Ocean. A combined ferry and entrance ticket is available for Taronga Zoo, home to Australia’s unique and unusual wildlife.
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is often the venue of the final cricket Test Match between England and Australia, and is also used for rugby union international and rugby league matches.
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Adelaide
Australia’s fifth largest city and the South Australia capital, Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate and is noted for its relaxed lifestyle. With large open spaces and parkland, particularly around the River Torrens, Adelaide has the feel of a large town. Some 10% of its residents originate from the UK.
Adelaide has renowned museums and is noted for the annual Adelaide Festival of international arts. The Adelaide Oval is one of international cricket’s most scenic venues.
Two of Australia’s famous long distance trains visit Adelaide. The Ghan travels between Adelaide and Darwin, traversing the ‘Red Centre’ through the outback. The Indian Pacific calls at Adelaide on its cross-continent route between Perth and Sydney. A shorter journey from Adelaide is the day trip north of the city to the Barossa and well-known vineyards in the region.
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Perth
Closer to Bali than Sydney, Perth on Australia’s west coast is the sunniest Australian state capital, with its western suburbs offering soft-sand beaches on the Indian Ocean. Perth’s waterfront on the Swan river is overlooked by the huge scenic Kings Park.
Perth’s recent wealth has been aided by the growth of mineral mining in Western Australia, with new buildings rising and small bars and restaurants appearing together with a flourishing cultural identity. Air travel from Perth is the norm, but a more leisurely route is the Indian Pacific luxury train which crosses the mighty Nullarbor (null arbor = no trees) Plain to Adelaide and on to Sydney, taking almost three days.
South west of Perth, reached by rail or by river cruise down the Swan River, the historic port of Fremantle is visited by large cruise ships in the summer months. The old port has kept its colonial character, and its maritime museum is well worth a visit, as is the famous Little Creatures Brewery and tap bar.
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Brisbane
The capital of Queensland state, Brisbane is connected by the Brisbane River to the coast in Moreton Bay between Australia’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast resorts. Within the city, the free ferry along the river gives a city overview and sight of the unusual Story Bridge over the river.
Brisbane has a growing bar and restaurant scene. A local delicacy is the Moreton Bay Bug or slipper lobster. More than 17,000 works are housed at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art. The Gabba cricket ground has been the location of a number of England cricketing failures.
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Cairns
The laidback city of Cairns in Queensland is considered the gateway to Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef and is best enjoyed outdoors. The small city has an infectious holiday vibe with an array of bars, restaurants, cafes and bustling multicultural markets. In fact, no trip to Cairns is complete without visiting Rusty’s Market with its seasonal tropical fruits, veggies and herbs, farm-fresh honey and delightful curries. The magnificent Esplanade Lagoon is the perfect place to relax or take a day trip to Daintree Rainforest; the oldest tropical rainforest in the world.
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Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains World Heritage area boasts stunning natural scenery with over one million hectares (3861 square miles) of tall forests, steep sandstone cliffs, tranquil canyons and crashing waterfalls. The abundance of eucalyptus trees gives off a fine mist of oil which creates a distinctive blue haze over the mountainous region – giving this remarkable place its name. There are numerous hiking trails within the Blue Mountain region as well as cliff-top lookouts which are perfect for getting a panoramic view of the awe-inspiring natural beauty. Adventure seekers can even go rock climbing or abseiling.
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Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and Australia’s greatest spectacle. The fascinating reef contains extraordinary marine life, over 3,000 individual reef systems and hundreds of pristine tropical islands with unspoiled beaches. Snorkel, swim or dive amongst the spectacularly marine life including reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and countless colourful fish, visit the Heart Reef & Whitehaven Beach or sail along the reef. Whichever way you choose to experience the Great Barrier Reef - it will be truly unforgettable.
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Alice Springs
Alice Springs is the gateway to numerous must-see attractions in the region and offers tremendous natural beauty, botanic gardens and historic buildings. Surrounded by red dirt and stunning mountain ranges, the city is the perfect place to visit when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Australia’s buzzing cities. Perhaps explore the brilliant art scene or visit the Alice Springs Desert Park which houses hundreds of central Australian animal and plant species.
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Ayers Rock – Uluru
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock is the world's second largest monolith and one of Australia’s best-known natural landmarks. This ancient crimson monolith is a sacred site to the Aboriginal Australians and features paintings and markings of their ancestors. Tourists climb Ayer’s Rock each year despite being strongly urged not to as it is for spiritual, cultural and environment reasons. As of 2019, it will be illegal to climb the rock but don’t worry, the views are best from below anyway. A tour of Uluru is the best way to immerse yourself in the rich history and fascinating culture.
Australia Tour Offers
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Outback Australia - The Colour of Red (CRUA)
4 nights Uluru to Alice Springs
From £1606ppSave up to 10% on selected departures. T&Cs apply.
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Kakadu's Ancient Secrets
4 nights Darwin and Back
From £1921ppSave up to 10% on selected departures. T&Cs apply.
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Outback Adventure
14 nights Adelaide to Darwin
From £3762ppSave up to 10% on selected departures. T&Cs apply.
