Australia – Different Animals and Nature

Kangaroos, snakes, spiders, dingoes, sharks, 1000s of bird species. Tropical rainforests in the north and arid plains in the south and west. Blue Mountains in the east and the world’s largest living organism The Great Barrier Reef. The nature lover can find everything here. The big cities attract with as diverse a range of dishes as there are nationalities in the country. Shopping and nightlife are no other big city in the world after when you want to explore the urban life. A journey through Australia is a journey with many faces and many memories. Short for AUS by abbreviationfinder, Australia is the biggest country in the continent of Oceania, according to countryaah.

Australia - Different Animals and Nature

Australia – 34 days

Day 1 Departure

Departure from Sweden.

Day 2 Arrival Sydney

Upon arrival in Sydney, you will be met by our local partner who will give you further information about your trip and take you to your hotel for check-in.

Day 3 Sydney, city tour

After breakfast you will be picked up for a half day city tour of Sydney with visits to the Seaforth viewpoint, Manly Beach, and The Rocks district in the morning. Lunch is taken during a cruise in Syndey Harbor and in the afternoon you pass through neighborhoods such as Paddington, Garden Island and Bondi Beach. Of course you also have time for a stop at the opera house. The afternoon on its own. Few metropolises have such a mix of bathing life and metropolitan pulse as Sydney. The city, which is the country’s most populous, has an interesting mix of architecture with elements of both Victorian and ultramodernist buildings. The question is whether any other individual building has been exposed as much around the world as the opera house in Darling Harbor. In Circular Quay at Sydney Harbor, boats, tourists, locals, land and sea meet. On both beach grills and in restaurants, well-marinated barbeque is prepared, and in restaurants with the designation BYO (bring your own), it is possible to bring your own bottle of wine or something else to drink. Close to the city are also some of the country’s hottest beaches, such as Bondi Beach. If you wish, we can book tickets for the Sydney Opera during the evening.

Day 4 Blue Mountains

You will be picked up at your hotel for a full day trip to the Blue Mountains. The National Park is located about 1 hour west of Sydney and is covered by Eucalyptus Forest. That they are not called “the green mountains” is due to the fact that the oil in the eucalyptus trees evaporates, giving the mountain sides a bluish shimmer, while the sun causes the oil to evaporate in a bluish haze. On a guided tour of the area, you are almost guaranteed to experience some of the wildlife here, including wild spiders. The area was originally called Cameron Hills. There is a rich wildlife here, the animal that is perhaps nowadays most associated with the Blue Mountains is the Lyar Bird. It is a bird that walks and scratches the ground with its feet to attract the females, and then plays its somewhat strange song: Lyar Bird can imitate up to 20 other birds and sounds. Examples are the Laughing Bird, The cockatoos and also chainsaws and camera shutters. The most famous peaks in the Blue Mountains are called the three sisters. There are three almost identical formations that stand next to each other on a mountaintop and they have given rise to many Aboriginal tales.

Day 5 Sydney

The day on its own. A visit to the opera house is mandatory, even a walk in the Rocks – the area where the first settlers settled. One should also see Darling Harbor and a boat trip in the harbor, either with any of the ferries that ply the harbor or a water taxi. Sydney has a 90 km long coastline and along it are inviting beaches in a row. Take a bus to the well-known Bondi Beach, or take the ferry to Manly if you want a little more space around the beach towels. A bit north of Sydney is the Hunter Valley. The valley is the oldest wine district in Australia and some of the best wines in the world are produced here. There are about twenty wineries in the area and most of them welcome you to a taste or three.

Day 6 Sydney – Melbourne

Transfer to the airport for further travel to Melbourne. On arrival you will be met for a transfer to your hotel. Melbourne is a vibrant and multicultural city with a wide range of attractions, great shopping and restaurants with cuisine from all corners of the world. Melbourne is also one of Australia’s cultural capitals and has an almost inexhaustible range of theaters, opera, ballet and museums. For tennis fans, the annual Australian Open is held the last two weeks of January and is something of a real folk festival and experience to be a part of!

Day 7 Melbourne

The day on its own. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and Australia’s second largest city with more than 3 million inhabitants. It is the center of fashion, culture, sports and industry and is today a lively city. Melbourne is considered the largest Greek city outside of Greece. In Chinatown, there is a large colony of relatives in direct descent after the first Chinese gold diggers who came here to seek happiness in the 19th century. In the evening, a visit to the Fitzroy district with a large selection of high-class restaurants and bars is recommended.

Day 8 – 9 Melbourne – Mornington

After breakfast you pick up your rental car and start your journey along the south coast of Australia. Both days on their own.

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Day 10 Mornington – Apollo Bay (300 km)

In the morning, take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff and continue your journey along the Great Ocean Road (GOR).
GOR is considered by many to be one of the world’s most beautiful coastal roads and stretches between Torquay in the east and Warrnambool in the west. The road was built after the First World War by returning soldiers and is counted with its many miles as one of the world’s largest war monuments. The construction of the road did not only mean the opportunity for work and return to a normal life for the war-torn soldiers. In recent years, the road has also contributed to making the southern coastline one of Australia’s most visited areas. Rarely has the phrase “the journey is the goal” felt as appropriate as along this road. The destination for the day is the small port town of Apollo Bay.

Day 11 Apollo Bay – Port Fairy (190 km)

During the day you travel on from Apollo Bay via Port Campbell, Peterborough and Warrnambool along the GOR to Port Fairy. Feel free to take a detour to visit Otway National Park and Cape Otway, add about 90 minutes to your driving time between Apollo Bay and Port Fairy. On the long voyages to and from England during the 19th century and early 20th century, it was the stretch along the tough south coast of Australia that was considered one of the worst part of the voyage. Many ships sank along the coast and what is now Port Campbell National Park. The most famous ship was the Loch Ard, which sank in 1878 and claimed the lives of 52 people. The, without a doubt, most spectacular landmark along the coast and also the most photographed is the Twelve Apostle. These free-standing stone pillars have eroded over the years and today there are only eight left standing above the waterline.

Day 12 Port Fairy – Mt Gambier (200 km)

Departure from Port Fairy towards Portland. In Portland, take the Henty Highway north toward Heywood. In Heywood, then turn left and rejoin Princes Highway, via Dartmoor to Mt. Gambian. An alternative route is to, after leaving Portland, travel through Mt. Richmond National Park, Discovery Bay Coastal Park, via Lake Bung Bung and to Nelson. In Nelson, you can visit Margaret Rose Caves. After visiting the caves, continue to Mt. Gambian. Portland was founded a year earlier than Port Fairy, in 1834 and is thus the oldest permanent residence in Victoria. In the southwest you will find the impressive scenery at Cape Nelson, so-called blowholes and the petrified forest Cape Bridgewater. MT. Gambier is located southeast of Adelaide on the slopes of an extinct volcano. Mt. Gambier is mainly known for two things, The Blue Lake and the cave located in the center of town. As a result, the city is known as “Blue Lake City” or “the city around the cave”. The lake is known for changing color from winter gray to intense blue in November each year. It is still blue until the end of March.

Day 13 Mt Gambier – Kangaroo Island

In the morning you continue to Cape Jervis and the ferry crossing to Kangaroo Island. The island is a must for every nature lover. Nowhere else can you experience Australia’s wildlife in its natural habitat and get as close to it as on Kangaroo Island. There are lots of wildlife such as kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, possums, porcupines, penguins, pelicans and rare cockatoos. The highlight will undoubtedly be Seal Bay. Here you can walk unhindered among sea lions on the beach and in other parts of the island you can see the little penguins at dusk.

Day 14 – 15 Kangaroo Island

For two full days you explore the island on your own. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island. About the size of Gotland, 155 km long and 55 km wide. The island has 4,200 permanent residents. One third are national parks and nature reserves. The interior of the island is sandy and overgrown with heather moors and eucalyptus forests. Through the rolling landscape, straight red-colored gravel roads intersect. The 450 km long coast is dramatic with bays, caves and rugged rust-colored cliffs and headlands sculpted by wind and sea. Nowhere else can you come in contact with so many animals in such a small area. The wildlife is amazing. Kangaroo Island is like an Australian variant of Noah’s ark.

Day 16 Kangaroo Island – Barossa Valley

In the morning you return by ferry to Cape Jervis and then continue towards the Barossa Valley in Australia’s wine district. Barossa Valley is known for its traditional arts such as crafts and music, but above all for its wine and vineyards. Here you can visit both small and large vineyards while you get an insight into the history and culture of the place.

Day 17 Barossa Valley

Explore the region on your own or book a guided tour. When we talk about Australian wines, it is mostly the Barossa Valley that is in focus, not only for its own excellent locations and wines, except that this is where most of the major players are most active, and then usually with large harvests of cheap grapes from the large irrigated region of Riverland. In fact, as much as 30% of South Australia’s vineyard area in the Riverland is adjacent to the Murray River.

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Day 18 Barossa Valley – Clare Valley

After an early breakfast, it’s off to Clare Valley. The entire stretch from Auburn via the towns of Lasingham, Watervale, Penwortham, Sevenhill and up to the town of Clare is lined with vineyards. In Auburn we recommend a stop at the Grosset winery which makes a fantastic Grosset Polish Hill Riesling. Between Penwortham and Sevenhill, we recommend a detour out into the countryside to Paulett Wines, whose Paulett Antonina Polish Hill River Riesling is usually among the best from Australia. If you continue towards Clare, you can, for example, stop by Tim Adams, who in Sweden is perhaps best known for his Riesling and Semillon. A bit beyond the town of Clare you will find Jim Barry Wines, whose wine The Armagh is considered one of Australia’s best wines on Shiraz

Day 19 Clare Valley

You continue to explore the wine district on your own. Feel free to book a guided wine tour with your hotel.

Day 20 Clare Valley – Adelaide

In the morning you start the 3 hour long drive back to Adelaide where you arrive in the afternoon. You return your rental car in the city center and then go to your hotel for check-in.

Day 21 Adelaide

You have all day to explore the city. Despite its size, Adelaide is perceived as something of a charming small town, and not least due to all the outdoor cafes and restaurants as well as the people who are friendly and helpful. The town is beautifully situated on both sides of the idyllic River Torrens. A stone’s throw away are elongated sandy beaches and the picturesque coastal town of Glenelg.

Day 22 Adelaide – Alice Springs

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up for a transfer to the airport for further travel to central Australia and Alice Springs. In the afternoon you will join a guided tour. You visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which via air and helicopter provides medical assistance to those who live scattered on the huge cattle farms. The School of the Air provides radio education to children and young people in an area larger than many of the world’s countries – the world’s largest classroom.

Day 23 Alice Springs – Uluru (Ayers Rock)

After a very early breakfast, your bus departs for the five-hour journey through “the outback” to Uluru where you arrive for lunch. Here awaits the sacred mountain Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. With its symphony of colors, we promise you will be touched! You end the day with “Sounds Of Silence Dinner”. This tour is an evening tour with a fantastic dinner included near Uluru. Here you first experience the sunset, then a fantastic 3-course dinner with wine and experiences is served and you enjoy this fantastic area under a starry sky.

Day 24 Uluru (Ayers Rock)

You will be picked up very early at the hotel for the big highlight of the day – sunrise over Uluru. After sunrise, it is possible to climb the cliff, or walk along the foot of the cliff. Uluru is especially known for changing color at sunrise and sunset. In the middle of the day, when it is warmest, you relax in the hotel. In the afternoon you will be picked up for an excursion to Kata Tjuta and Walpa Gorge where you will learn about unusual rock formations and the wildlife in the area. The day then ends as it began with beautiful views of the sunset over Uluru.

Day 25 Uluru (Ayers Rock) – Bamurru Plains

In the morning, your flight departs from Uluru via Alice Springs to Darwin where you will be met by representatives from your lodge. You change to a small propeller plane for further travel out into the wilderness to Bamurru Plains which is incredibly spectacular on the edge of Mary River’s flooded plains, near the coast and Kakadu National Park. There is a clear safari character over Bamurru Plains, but the safari feeling has been given a clear Australian outback feeling. That the lodge is luxurious can not be denied. The beds are stunning with their wonderful freshly ironed sheets. The bathroom has a wonderful atmosphere and the kitchen has been praised in all the world’s gourmet magazines and the service is very personal, accommodating and intimate.

Day 26 – 27 Bamurru Plains

The days are free to experience the area. The activities are focused on the surrounding nature. Sail on the river, follow a local guide or fish for delicious Barramundi and other exotic fish both in the rivers and in the sea. The possibilities are endless and you can spice up the nature experiences with wonderful relaxation on the large open terrace over a glass of cold white wine. Or jump in the pool before you sit down at the table and enjoy another fantastic gourmet dinner.

Day 28 Bamurru Plains – Darwin

Fly back to Darwin where the rest of the day is spent. You can, for example, visit the Museum of Arts & Sciences and get an insight into how the cyclone “Tracy” totally changed the city’s appearance on Christmas Eve 1974. In Darwin you spend much of the day outdoors, and today there is the opportunity to experience the city’s atmosphere. If you are interested in buying Aboriginal art, you can do it here in Darwin, where you have a large selection.

Day 29 Darwin – Port Douglas

Early departure to the east coast. On arrival you will be met for a transfer to your hotel located on the beach in Port Douglas just north of Cairns. Port Douglas was formerly a small fishing village but has today grown into one of the largest tourist towns in northern Queensland. This is largely due to the proximity to the large barrier reef, the rainforest and the wonderful climate that prevails all year round. There are many great restaurants, shops, first class hotels and historic buildings from Queensland. Port Douglas is a great base for exploring the surrounding area. From here you can go on day trips out to the reef, go on a 4WD safari or take a ride on the sugar train “Bally Hooley”. You should also not miss a visit to the award-winning “Rainforest Habitat”, where you get a unique insight into what it is like to live in the rainforest environment.

Day 30 Great Barrier Reef

The world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef, is without a doubt the main attraction in the state of Queensland and one of the most visited in all of Australia. There are more than 1,500 fish species in all the colors of the rainbow, 350 different types of corals and a variety of other animal species such as sea turtles, whales and sharks. You spend a whole day at sea on board a catamaran that takes you to the sandbank Michaelmas Cay which is located on the reef. Spend the day swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling or why not take a test dive (for a fee). Tropical buffet lunch included.

Day 31 Kuranda Rail & Sky Rail

A full day trip to Kuranda, an idyllic little community 25 kilometers northwest of Cairns. The village is located a bit up in the mountains and you get here with the historic Kuranda train and back with Skyrail which takes you over the treetops with a fantastic view of the rainforest.

Day 32 Port Douglas

All day on your own. We recommend a morning walk along the “4 mile” beach into Port Douglas. Early in the morning many are out and power walks before breakfast. The rest of the day is as made to relax by the pool but of course there are additional exciting activities for those who wish.

Day 33 – 34 Port Douglas – Sydney / Return

The morning on its own. At lunch you will be picked up for a transfer to the airport and your flight back to Sydney for further travel to Europe.

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