AUSTRALIA • Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, and spot kangaroos and koalas in wildlife reserves. • Learn about Aboriginal culture in the Daintree Rainforest and at sacred Uluru. • Explore Sydney and Melbourne—two of Australia’s most exciting cities—on private tours.
DAYS 3–4 I SYDNEY/WOLGAN VALLEY Travel west into the Greater Blue Mountains Area, a UNESCO World Heritage–listed wilderness of high cliffs and slot canyons, thick eucalyptus forests, and waterfalls. Settle into your private villa at a resort located within a 7,000-acre wildlife reserve, and explore the valley through a variety of activities. Set out on a wildlife drive to spot wallabies and wombats, join a field guide for a bushwalk, or go horseback riding in the surrounding eucalyptus forests. Learn how the reserve has been restored to its natural state after decades of agricultural use, and take part a conservation project such as planting trees or surveying wildlife. One&Only Wolgan Valley | Meals: 2B, 2L, 2D DAYS 1–2 I SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Arrive in Sydney and transfer to your hotel in the historic Rocks district. Set off on a guided tour of the Rocks, from the handsomely restored buildings along the waterfront to the back alleys and pubs once frequented by the convicts who were shipped to this faraway land. Next, head to the world-renowned Sydney Opera House for a private tour. Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney | Meals: 1B, 2L
DAY 5 I CAIRNS/PORT DOUGLAS Fly to Cairns on the coast of North Queensland, and transfer to your stunning timber bungalow tucked into the jungle canopy, just steps from the lodge's private beach on the Coral Sea. During a free afternoon, take a dip in rock pools, stroll the beach, or spot birds on a nature walk with a lodge guide. Thala Beach Nature Reserve | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D
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DAY 6 I GREAT BARRIER REEF Rise early for a full-day excursion by sailing yacht to the outer reef of the Great Barrier Reef. Skim across turquoise seas to the coral cays and snorkel the reefs with a marine biologist, keeping an eye out for for giant clams, sea turtles, and all manner of corals and tropical fish. Get another perspective on this rich marine world from a glass-bottomed boat, and enjoy time to relax on empty white sand beaches. Thala Beach Nature Reserve | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAY 7 I DAINTREE RAINFOREST Encounter the rich cultural heritage of the Kuku Yalanji people today. In the company of guides from this ancient Aboriginal group, explore mangroves and mudflats to learn about traditional fishing and foraging practices. Learn how the Kuku Yalanji use plants and minerals to make everything from soap and medicine to paint. In sacred Mossman Gorge, take part in a traditional ceremony, and go on an interpretive walk into the Daintree Rainforest, hearing from your guides about the history of their people and their spiritual connection to this land. Thala Beach Nature Reserve | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D
Clockwise from above: Koalas, Australia’s beloved marsupials, make their home in eucalyptus trees and subsist on its leaves; the Yarra River meanders past Melbourne’s stately city center; Palm trees line a white sand beach in Port Douglas, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
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