Travel Experience Checklist: Australia
The Best of Sydney, Melbourne and Beyond
You can now explore Australia with our new tours. Find out what you can experience in Sydney, Melbourne and beyond, whatever your travel style.
Nature & Adventure
- Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Snorkel or dive in, visit the underwater observatory, cruise in a semi-sub, or just relax on the sundeck on our Highlights of Australia tour.
- On the same tour, you’ll also ascend Mount Alexandra on a 4-wheel drive car tour and pause for a panoramic view of a Wet Tropics World Heritage Area merging with the azure colours of the Coral Sea. Then go beyond Cape Tribulation along seven kilometres of the Bloomfield Track to pristine Emmagen Creek. You'll even have time for a refreshing rainforest swim.
- Eaglehawk Lookout is a remote lookout point where you’ll be able to get views of the famous Three Sisters rocky landmark. The Govetts Leap lookout nearby is one of the most famous lookouts in Australia and provides sweeping views down the valley to the Grose Wilderness, all on our Heritage and Grand Pacific tour.
- Spend an afternoon walking the forest in the Otway Ranges, capped off by a visit to the ancient rock formations of the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge on our Discover Australia tour.
- On our East Coast Beaches and Bays tour, try quad biking or sandboarding at Stockton Beach Sand Dunes or horseback riding through the bush or surf from Anna Bay. Or drive to Byron Bay, home to sweeping surf beaches, lush rainforests, and new-age retreats. Walk the Cape Byron Walking Track to its trademark lighthouse or kayak with dolphins.
Wine
- Hunter Valley is north of Sydney and one of Australia's major wine regions dating back to the early 1800s. At the Cellar Door winery, enjoy a picnic of charcuterie and a bottle of handpicked wine while on our Mountains, Beaches and Wine tour.
- Red wine lovers rejoice! Uncork the historic Barossa region by discovering boutique wineries and sampling the region’s signature hearty Shiraz on our Scenic Australia tour.
- Stop to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine at the delightful Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah and enjoy the sweeping views of Sydney on our Heritage and Grand Pacific tour.
Wildlife
- On our Ocean to Hinterland tour, perch yourself beside a secluded gully in Lamington National Park, home to millions of ancient glow worms illuminating the cliff face like a blanket of twinkling stars. Then grab a torch and keep your eyes peeled for other nocturnal dwellers such as pademelons, possums, and bandicoots.
- In Brisbane, explore the world’s largest koala sanctuary, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and see platypuses up close, also on our Ocean to Hinterland tour.
- Motor along Moreton Bay in a glass bottom boat where you can see the marine life beneath the surface on our Essential Australia tour.
- Visit Phillip Island to see the Penguin Parade. Along a boardwalk viewing platform you will see the little penguins come ashore, as they hurry off to find their burrows on our Discover Australia tour.
- Kangaroo Island is a haven to some 250 species of birds of Australian wildlife, which exists in its natural habitat. Keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, and reptiles on our Scenic Australia tour. Then, at Seal Bay Conservation Park, take an escorted walk along the beach among the sea lions as they bask on the beach.
City Sights
- Tour the historic Rocks area and learn about Australia’s early convict history, then see the Central Business District (CBD) and Macquarie Street for magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as part of our Highlights of Australia tour.
- You’ll also step inside the Sydney Opera House to discover the insider secrets and stories of its artists and performances. Explore the building and learn about one of the most iconic buildings in Sydney.
- Tour the glittering high-rise buildings of The Gold Coast, a modern city built around superb beaches and home to the renowned “Surfer’s Paradise.” Dive into the lively nightlife nearby, international theme parks, and designer boutiques. Experience the opulent Palazzo Versace, all on our Ocean to Hinterland tour.
- See the best of Melbourne, Victoria’s capital city while shopping, eating and seeing interesting art while on our Essential Australia tour.
- Brisbane is the sunny, sophisticated capital city of Queensland and the gateway to many famous attractions. Combine art and outdoor adventure, where the South Bank's cultural institutions and restaurants meet the Riverside gardens and a lagoon on our East Coast Beaches and Bays tour.
- Explore Canberra for a closer look at Australian culture and history as well as superb monuments and galleries surrounded by parklands and native bushland. Visit Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia and Questacon, all on our Heritage and Grand Pacific tour.
Learn more about what you could be experiencing in Australia with our Australia tours. Plus, use the hashtag #DreamsCanTravel on Instagram to share your travel memories with us!