This tour is the ultimate overview of Australia: a classic 2-week luxury journey that includes daily private touring with Australia's most expert private guides, and accommodation in the country's most desirable hotels and resorts.

Visit Australia's great cities, learn about Aboriginal and Outback culture in the Red Centre, pamper yourself during a spa getaway in the Daintree Rainforest, and relax in the picture-perfect Whitsunday Islands at the luxurious Hayman resort.

Melbourne

• Tour the lively city of Melbourne and view native wildlife on Phillip Island.

• Spend a day driving along the Great Ocean Road — one of the world's most scenic drives, or go wine tasting in the Yarra Valley.

Ayers Rock and the Red Centre

• Continue to Australia's interior and enjoy several days surrounded by vast blue skies and red desert earth. Learn about Aboriginal bushtucker cuisine and legends of the Dreamtime.

• Dine under the desert night sky as an astronomer points out the southern constellations, and a didjeridoo musician plays in the background.

• View the Outback's three greet monoliths: Ayers Rock, the Olgas, and Mt. Connor.

• Take a 4WD safari and discover t salt lakes'remnants of ancient inland oceans, spot kangaroos, and experience Australia's rugged outback.

• Enjoy a special three-course dinner prepared by the station cook at Curtin Springs cattle station.

Daintree Rainforest and Hayman Island Resort

• Fly to Tropical North Queensland for several days at Silky Oaks Lodge, indulging in spa treatments and rainforest walks.

• Continue to Hayman, one of Australia's premier island resorts, for days at leisure.

• Optional activities are numerous: Sail the Whitsunday Islands, take a seaplane excursion to the Great Barrier Reef, play tennis, and lounge by the pools or on the beach.

• Enjoy the resort's outstanding restaurants.

Itinerary Overview

Day 01	Arrive Melbourne Arrival transfer to Park Hyatt Melbourne for 3 nights. Half-day private city tour: Federation Square and National Gallery of Victoria, Queen Victoria Market, Royal Botanic Gardens, and Southgate.
Day 02	Melbourne & Phillip Island Morning at leisure to visit Cooks Cottage, Little Italy, or local gardens and shopping districts. Depart mid-day for winery in Westernport Bay. Continue to Phillip Island. Walk through nature and wetlands preserves to see koalas, wallabies, and birdlife. Watch the penguins come ashore at sunset, then return to Melbourne this evening. (B,D)
Day 03	Excursion to Great Ocean Road or Yarra Valley Full-day private excursion along the Great Ocean Road or tour of vineyards in Yarra Valley. (B,L)
Day 04	Melbourne - Uluru (Ayers Rock) Transfer and flight to Sails in the Desert for 2 nights. Afternoon private touring to Olgas and Dunes. Sounds of Silence dinner. (B,D)
Day 05	Uluru & Mt. Connor Morning picnic breakfast and base tour around Ayers Rock. Full day private 4WD Outback Safari to Mt. Connor. (B,D)
Day 06	Uluru (Ayers Rock) - Daintree Rainforest Transfer and flight to Cairns. Arrival transfer north to Cape Tribulation and Daintree Rainforest for 2 nights at Silky Oaks Lodge & Spa. Dinner at lodge. (B,D)
Day 07	Daintree Rainforest Morning private rainforest tour. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy resort. Day-long snorkeling excursions to the Great Barrier Reef are available, upon request. Dinner at lodge. (B,D)
Day 08	Daintree - Cairns - Hayman Transfer and flight to Hamilton Island for boat launch to Hayman Resort for 4 nights. (B)
Days 09, 10, 11	Hayman Resort At leisure at resort. Optional activities include sailing, tennis, swimming, and seaplane excursions to the Great Barrier Reef. (B)
Day 12	Hayman - Sydney Launch and flight to Sydney for 3 nights at the Four Seasons Sydney. This afternoon take a private tour of the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Gardens. (B)
Day 13	Sydney Morning private city touring including the historic Rocks historic district, Maquarie Street, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and its Aboriginal Yiribana Gallery. Lunch at Doyle's at Watson's Bay -- a Sydney institution. Afternoon at leisure. (B,L)
Day 14	Sydney Private drive along the harbor shores to Woolloomooloo, Double Bay, Vaucluse, Bondi Beach, Woollahra and Paddington. Visit Sydney's leading galleries, antique shops, food and craft markets, and yacht harbors along the way. Afternoon at leisure. Coffee Cruises or private sailing on harbor can be arranged, if desired. (B,L)
Day 15	Depart Sydney At leisure until airport transfer. (B)

Accommodation

Melbourne	Park Hyatt Melbourne
Ayers Rock	Sails in the Desert
Daintree Rainforest	Silky Oaks Lodge
Whitsunday Islands	Hayman Resort
Sydney	Four Seasons Sydney

Cost

Per Person Cost (double occupancy): $9,680
* Costs does not include international or internal flights.

To request the complete itinerary for the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary, please contact an Artisans of Leisure travel expert.