12-Nights An Australian Expedition from $16,380

Swain Destinations

OFFER ID 1708125

This is Australia for travelers who prefer the road less traveled. Sydney's spectacular coastline is only the beginning. Venture into Arnhem Land, sleep beneath the stars in remote wilderness, snorkel the living Great Barrier Reef, and wander one of the world's oldest rainforests. Wild in places, refined in others, this is Australia well beyond the expected.

Your Itinerary Includes:

12 nights from $16,380 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

Day 1 Welcome to Sydney
Sydney, at last. Step into one of the most beautiful natural harbor cities in the world. You will be greeted at the airport and privately transferred to he Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, with sweeping views across the city skyline, sparkling harbor, and the unmistakable sails of the Sydney Opera House. Nestled at the edge of the historic The Rocks district and overlooking Circular Quay, your stay places you within easy reach of Sydney's most iconic experiences. Wander beneath the Harbour Bridge, watch the harbor come alive at golden hour, or toast your arrival with a glass of Australian Shiraz or cool-climate Chardonnay overlooking the water.

Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney

Day 2 Bondi Coastal Discovery & Beach Lifestyle Experience
Coffee in hand, follow the cliff-top Coastal Walk toward Bondi as waves crash against Sydney's sandstone coastline below. Along the way, your guide brings the landscape to life, pointing out the marine habitats just offshore and, during migration season, the humpback whales passing close to shore.

At Bondi, cool off with a swim in the famous Icebergs ocean pool before lingering over lunch overlooking the Pacific. The afternoon is yours to wander barefoot along the beach, browse local galleries and surf boutiques, or simply settle into the laid-back rhythm that has made Bondi one of Australia's most iconic beach neighborhoods.

Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
Meals: B, L

Day 3 Sydney Harbour Brunch Cruise & Afternoon At Leisure
Set out on a leisurely morning cruise across Sydney Harbour, gliding past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, elegant waterfront homes, secluded beaches, and quiet coves tucked into the national park. Enjoy a brunch of fresh seafood, pastries, and Australian sparkling wine as the city reveals itself from the water.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Browse boutiques in The Rocks, linger over a long lunch on the harbor, or simply soak in more of Sydney before tomorrow's change of scenery.

Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney
Meals: B

Day 4 Sydney to Darwin
Trade Sydney's harbor for the Top End's raw, tropical energy. Darwin is Australia's most remote capital and the gateway to Kakadu. From Mindil Beach Casino Resort, watch the sunset melt into the Timor Sea.

Mindil Beach Casino Resort
Meals: B

Day 5 Darwin to Kakadu
Beyond Darwin, the road leads into a very different Australia, where wetlands, waterfalls, and ancient sandstone escarpments shape the days ahead. A morning cruise on Corroboree Billabong reveals saltwater crocodiles basking along the banks while jabiru and magpie geese move overhead.

Continue deeper into the park, passing White Lily Billabong before arriving at Maguk. A short walk through monsoon forest leads to Barramundi Falls, where you can swim or snorkel in the clear plunge pool beneath the cascade, surrounded by towering sandstone walls.

As the day winds down, climb to Nawurlandja Lookout for sweeping views across Anbangbang Billabong to the Arnhem Land escarpment, its sandstone cliffs glowing in the late afternoon light. Tonight, you'll stay in Jabiru, deep within Kakadu National Park.

Anbinik Kakadu Resort
Meals: B, L, D

Day 6 Kakadu to the Cobourg Peninsula
Crossing the East Alligator River at Cahill's Crossing marks a genuine threshold. Beyond it lies Arnhem Land, a region few travelers have the opportunity to experience. At Gunbalanya, visit the Injalak Arts Centre before joining an Aboriginal guide to explore the remarkable rock art galleries of Injalak Hill. Ancient x-ray paintings and Dreamtime stories offer a deeper understanding of a culture that has endured here for tens of thousands of years.

From there, continue north across the remote Cobourg Peninsula, crossing creeks and passing through landscapes that feel increasingly untouched. By late afternoon, arrive at your secluded safari camp overlooking Port Essington. As the sun sinks below the horizon, settle in with drinks and nibbles before your first night glamping in one of Australia's most remote corners.

Cobourg Coastal Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 7 Cobourg Marine Park
The day begins with birdsong and a cooked breakfast before heading out onto the water. Cobourg Marine Park is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life, from six of the world's seven marine turtle species to manta rays, dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, and an abundance of fish.

A stop at the Victoria Settlement places history against the wilderness. Established before Darwin as a British military outpost, it survived just eleven years before being abandoned. The stone ruins still stand along the shores of Port Essington, a quiet reminder of life on this remote frontier.

The return to camp is unhurried, with time to fish and watch the coastline drift by. The afternoon is yours to explore nearby beaches and creeks or simply settle into a hammock overlooking the water. This evening, enjoy a seafood dinner featuring the day's fresh catch.

Cobourg Coastal Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 8 Cobourg By Land
Today, explore the eastern side of the park by 4WD, where freshwater paperbark swamps and billabongs sit just a hundred yards from the ocean, part of one of the world's most significant wetland ecosystems. Along the northern beaches, keep an eye out for turtle nesting sites, shells scattered across the sand, and, at low tide, exposed coral reefs and rock pools teeming with marine life.

After lunch, try your hand at catching mud crabs using traditional Aboriginal methods before visiting the park's Cultural and Information Centre. Return to camp for another evening surrounded by the quiet of the Cobourg Peninsula.

Cobourg Coastal Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 9 Return to Darwin
Leave Cobourg behind and travel back through Arnhem Land. Crossing into Kakadu once again, the landscape shifts from coastal wilderness to ancient escarpments and expansive floodplains.

At Ubirr, walk among some of Kakadu's most celebrated Aboriginal rock art before climbing to the lookout for one last view across the wetlands and stone country to the Arnhem Land escarpment beyond.

The journey back to Darwin includes a final stop at Mamukala, where, in the right season, thousands of magpie geese gather, offering one last reminder of the remarkable diversity of Australia's Top End.

Mindil Beach Casino Resort
Meals: B, L

Day 10 Off to Queensland
A flight east trades the Top End's red earth and wetlands for Queensland's Coral Sea coast. Thala Beach Nature Reserve sits on a secluded headland above Port Douglas, where dense rainforest meets stretches of white sand and the Great Barrier Reef lies just offshore. The next chapter unfolds at the meeting point of reef and rainforest.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Meals: B, D

Day 11 Outer Reef Coral Cays Sail
With the Daintree ranges fading behind you, your yacht sails out toward the Coral Cays of the Great Barrier Reef. Giant clam gardens, sea turtles, vibrant coral, and water so clear you can see the reef from the deck make it easy to understand why this is one of the world's great marine environments.

A marine biologist leads the guided snorkel, bringing the reef's remarkable diversity into focus. If you'd rather stay dry, a glass-bottom boat offers a different perspective on the same underwater world. Between adventures, the white sand cays invite you to do very little at all.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Meals: B, L, D

Day 12 Daintree Rainforest & Thala at Leisure
An early start reveals a quieter side of Daintree. With your private guide, venture beyond the usual routes as the landscape shifts from lush rainforest to upland forest and, eventually, the open eucalypt savannah at the edge of Cape York. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but these lesser-visited corners often reward those willing to venture a little farther.

Spend the rest of the day at Thala Beach Nature Reserve. Join a guided nature walk, explore the coconut plantation, or, after sunset, gather beneath a canopy of southern stars at the reserve's outdoor observatory.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Meals: B, D

Day 13 Depart Queensland
From the sandstone shores of Sydney to the remote wilderness of Arnhem Land and the meeting of reef and rainforest in Tropical North Queensland, this has been an Australian expedition in every sense. Today, you begin your journey home, with memories of a country that rewards those willing to venture a little farther.

Meals: B

Featured Destinations

Thala Beach

Cobourg

Kakadu

Darwin

Darwin

Soak up Darwin's balmy weather and the melting pot of food and cultures in the city's many outdoor festivals and markets. Then explore the region's dramatic history - from World War II air raids to Cyclone Tracey - in the museums and galleries. Sail Darwin harbour at sunset, cruise next to crocodiles and bushwalk through monsoon forest. Swim in the crystal-clear waterholes of Litchfield National Park and visit the colourful communities of the Tiwi Islands. This vibrant, tropical capital has a youthful energy you'll find hard to resist.

Five ways to discover Darwin and its surrounds:

1. At festivals, markets and on the harbour In Darwin, the action happens outside - in markets, parks, by the beach or on boats. You can join the locals with a crate and a plate of sizzling satay at The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets from May to October. Or watch them build boats out of beer or soft drink cans at the annual Darwin Beer Can Regatta in July. At the Deckchair Cinema from April to November you can watch movies under a canopy of stars with a drink from the bar and a picnic dinner. Soak up Darwin's tropical weather with a harbourside dinner at Cullen Bay Marina or a sunset harbour cruise complete with a history lesson.

2. With wildlife and in tropical parklands

Cycle past orchids and bromeliads and traditional Aboriginal plants in George Brown Botanic Gardens. Swim, have a sunset barbecue and explore sacred Aboriginal sites at Casuarina Coastal Reserve. In Berry Springs Nature Park, you can spot birds in monsoon forest and fish in the crystal clear swimming holes. Get up close to fish, birds-of-prey, nocturnal animals and reptiles in the Territory Wildlife Park, a 45-minute drive from Darwin. Have a close crocodile encounter at Crocodylus Park, the Darwin Crocodile Farm or on a crocodile cruise along Darwin's coastal fringe and rivers.

3. Hot on the heels of history

Learn more about Darwin's rich Aboriginal heritage in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Here you can also relive the tragic Cyclone Tracy which hit Darwin on Christmas Eve in 1974. See the Chinese Temple it nearly destroyed in Litchfield Street. Darwin endured 64 Japanese air raids in World War II, and you can watch dramatic footage of the bombings and visit the bunker where Top End defense strategy was planned at East Point Military Museum. See original B52 bomber planes at the Aviation Heritage Centre and a network of walking trails leading to World War II oil tunnels around the Wharf Precinct. In Myilly Point Historical Precinct you can see some of the few surviving cottages designed by architect B.C.G Burnett in the colonial style popular before World War II.

4. Under the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park

Make time for a day trip to the waterfalls and plunge pools, wildlife and birdlife, ranges and rainforest of Litchfield National Park, a one-and-a-half hour drive from Darwin. Swim in the crystal-clear swimming hole at the base of Florence Falls and bush-walk through monsoon rain-forest to Walker Creek. Picnic next to roosting fruit bats at Wangi Falls and see sweeping valley views at Tolmer Falls. Take a wildlife cruise on the Reynolds River, part of a working cattle station. Explore this Tarzan landscape with traditional Aboriginal owners the Wagait people or peer into a pastoral past in the ruins of Blyth Homestead.

5. On a trip to the Tiwi Islands

Join in the excitement of the Tiwi Islands Grand Football Final, held every March in Nguiu. Browse and buy Tiwi art, distinctive for its strong design, decorative features and vivid colours. Take billy tea and damper tea with Tiwi ladies as they demonstrate traditional weaving and painting. Then watch them perform a traditional dance and a smoking ceremony to clear bad spirits. Catch big barramundi on a fishing tour on the Tiwi coast. You'll find a warm welcome and a lush landscape of rainforest, beaches and rock pools on Melville and Bathurst Islands, together known as the Tiwi Islands. Explore them on a day or overnight tour, traveling a 20-minute flight or two-hour ferry from Darwin.

Sydney

Sydney

Soak up Sydney’s gorgeous harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle and great natural beauty. Kayak under the Sydney Harbour Bridge or wave at the Opera House as you ride a ferry across the harbour to Manly. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach or swim in the calm waters of Coogee. Lose yourself in the cobblestone cul-de-sacs of The Rocks or in the markets, boutiques, cafes and pubs of Paddington. As well as a world-famous harbour and more than 70 sparkling beaches, Sydney offers fabulous food, festivals and 24-7 fun.

Five Sydney Experiences Not to Miss:

1. Explore the historic Rocks

Discover Sydney’s colorful convict history in the harbourside quarter where it all began. Just five minutes from Circular Quay, you can hear stories of hangings and hauntings on a ghost tour, wander the weekend markets or climb the span of the Harbour Bridge. In amongst the maze of sandstone lanes and courtyards, you’ll find historic workman’s cottages and elegant terraces, art galleries, hotels with harbour views and Sydney’s oldest pubs. See people spill out of them onto a party on the cobblestone streets when The Rocks celebrates Australia Day on January 26th, Anzac Day on April 25th and New Years Eve.

2. Hit the world-famous harbour

Sail past the Opera House on a chartered yacht or paddle from Rose Bay in a kayak. Take a scenic cruise from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, past waterfront mansions, national parks and Shark, Clark, Rodd and Goat islands. Tour historic Fort Denison or learn about the life of Sydney’s first inhabitants, the Gadigal people, on an Aboriginal cultural cruise. Watch the harbour glitter from the green parklands of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which curves around its edge. Or take in the view from a waterfront restaurant in Mosman, on the northern side of the bridge, or Watsons Bay at South Head. Walk from Rose Bay to Vaucluse or Cremorne Point to Mosman Bay, on just some of the 16 spectacular routes hugging the harbour foreshore.

3. Visit Manly on the ferry

Travel across Sydney Harbour on a ferry to Manly, which sits between beaches of ocean surf and tranquil inner harbour. Wander through native bushland on the scenic Manly to Spit Bridge walk, learn to scuba-dive at Cabbage Tree Bay or ride a bike to Fairy Bower. Picnic at Shelly Beach on the ocean and sail or kayak from Manly Wharf round the harbour. Hire a scooter and do a round trip of northern beaches such as Narrabeen and Palm Beach. Explore the shops, bars and cafes along the bustling pine tree-lined Corso and dine at world-class restaurants with water views.

4. Enjoy café culture and top shopping in Paddington

Meander through the Saturday markets, browse fashion boutiques on bustling Oxford Street or discover the antique shops and art galleries in upmarket Woollahra. Visit the 1840s Victoria Barracks Army base, open to the public once a week, and see restored Victorian terraces on wide, leafy streets. Ride or roller-blade in huge Centennial Park, then stop for coffee and lunch on Oxford St or in the mini-village of Five Ways. Catch a movie at an art-house cinema or leaf through a novel at midnight in one of the huge bookstores. Crawl between the lively, historic pubs. They hum even more after a game at the nearby stadium or a race day, when girls and guys arrive in their crumpled trackside finery.

5. Walk from Bondi to Coogee

Take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean as you walk the winding, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs between Bondi and Coogee. Swim in the famous Bondi Icebergs rock pool or just watch the swimmers with a sunset cocktail from the restaurant above. See wild waves in Tamarama, nicknamed Glamarama for the beautiful people who lie on its golden sand. From mid-October to November, the stretch from here to Bondi is transformed into an outdoor gallery for the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. You can surf, picnic on the grass or stop for a coffee at family-friendly Bronte. Or swim, snorkel or scuba dive in Clovelly and tranquil Gordon’s Bay. See the graves of poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar and aviator Lawrence Hargrave in Waverley Cemetery, on the edge of the cliffs. Finish your tour in the scenic, backpacker haven of Coogee.

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

07/01/2026 - 08/31/2026

from $16,465 per person

09/01/2026 - 09/30/2026

from $16,380 per person

10/01/2026 - 10/31/2026

from $16,705 per person

11/01/2026 - 12/31/2026

from $16,600 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $16,380 per person

Length

12 Nights

Air City

Call for airfares from your city.

Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Prices are land only, per person, twin/double share in USD. Single supplement applies. All highlighted savings are reflected in the price. Travel may be limited to certain days of the week. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Pricing may increase over Holiday and special event periods and may not be reflected in price grid. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Prices are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. Rates may vary by category and departure date; please inquire for details. Itinerary and map subject to change. Prices are per person, twin/double share in USD. All highlighted savings are reflected in the price. Price does not include airfare unless otherwise stated. Travel may be limited to certain days of the week. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Pricing may increase over Holiday and special event periods and may not be reflected in price grid. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Prices are not guaranteed until full payment is received and processed. CST #2012413-20 See our full Terms and Conditions:

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1708125

Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.

Request More Info!

OVERVIEW SUPPLIERS DESTINATIONS

Vacations Search

Between

And

Escorted Tours Only

Land Only Tours