Call Us 800.528.9300
Highlights of Australia 2026
12 Day Tour from Melbourne to Sydney
Tour Description:
Stunning natural attractions, vibrant cities, remote regions, and friendly people…this is Australia, and on this Australia tour, you’ll experience all of this and more. Start in Melbourne, end in Sydney, and overnight along the way in Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Cairns. No vacation to Australia is complete without seeing the incomparable Great Barrier Reef. On this Australia tour, you’ll take a catamaran cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef and have the chance to snorkel, take a semi-submersible watercraft tour, or attend a presentation by a marine biologist. With the radiant colors and fish swimming by you, it is nothing short of spectacular! But that’s not all. You’ll also witness the spectacular geological wonders of Uluru, the iconic monolith and symbol of the Outback, and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), with its red rocks and 36 brilliant domes. Tour the base of Uluru with its caves and Aboriginal paintings and enjoy a champagne toast while watching Uluru change colors at sunset--an amazing sight indeed! Also visit some of Australia’s most famous cities. In Sydney, cruise along the world-famous Sydney Harbour. In Melbourne, enjoy guided sightseeing of the city’s landmarks. In Melbourne, Cairns, and Sydney, you’ll also enjoy plenty of free time to explore and discover on your own. From the remote Outback to the tropical Great Barrier Reef, this Australia tour—designed for value-minded, savvy travel lover—is a dream vacation!
Click for larger view.
Dates & Pricing
| Sunday 01 Feb 26 — Saturday 14 Feb 26 | Starting at $3,529 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Sunday 15 Mar 26 — Saturday 28 Mar 26 | Starting at $3,529 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingThe world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!Your Tour Includes:•Guided city sightseeing of Melbourne including admission to the Shrine of Remembrance•Indigenous presentation at Uluru Cultural Center•Base tour and sunset toast at Uluru•Visit to Kata Tjuta overlook•Great Barrier Reef excursion with lunch•Guided city sightseeing of Sydney including admission and tour of the Sydney Opera House•Cruise on Sydney Harbour•Farewell dinner in Sydney•All intra-vacation flights
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1 ARRIVE IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Welcome to Australia! Hotel rooms are available for immediate check-in. A pre-night is not required for early check-in
Day 2 MELBOURNE
This morning begins with a welcome briefing to meet fellow passengers and your Tour Director. Then, enjoy a city sightseeing tour which includes landmarks such as Flinders St. Station, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the botanic gardens, and the Shrine of Remembrance. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 3 MELBOURNE
A full free day to explore more of Melbourne on your own. Consider an optional day tour to the scenic Great Ocean Road to see the soaring limestone pillars of the “Twelve Apostles,” chiseled over 10 to 20 million years above the ocean. Perhaps the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is more your speed. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 4 MELBOURNE–ULURU (AYERS ROCK)
Today, fly to the heart of the Outback. Visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Center and explore the galleries that showcase Anangu (local Aboriginal people) arts and crafts. A special treat awaits you here – meet with local Anangu during an interactive cultural talk. You will be mesmerized by their story-telling art, sense of humor, and perception. Tonight, visit the Sunset Strip, where you will enjoy a champagne toast while experiencing one of the world’s greatest spectacles--Uluru at sunset. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 5 ULURU
Enjoy a tour at the base of Uluru, the extraordinary monolith whose circumference is studded with caves decorated with Aboriginal paintings. Later, travel to a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 36 brilliant domes. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 6 ULURU–CAIRNS
Today, fly to Cairns, “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.” Set amid lush rainforests, soaring peaks, and the ocean, Cairns is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations. (B)
NOTE: Due to this remote location and limited flights, you may be booked on a connecting flight from Uluru to Cairns. Arrival in Cairns may be late in the evening. Luggage restrictions may apply to this flight. Please speak to your Tour Director for full details
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 7 CAIRNS. EXCURSION TO THE OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF
Board a catamaran cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The world’s largest coral reef, made up of over 3,000 individual reefs and over 1,250 miles long, is one of our planet’s most amazing natural wonders. Experience this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance. Choose to snorkel, take a glass-bottom-boat tour, view the reef from an underwater observatory, and watch a fish feeding. Return to Cairns, where your evening is at leisure. (B,L)
BreakfastLunch
BreakfastLunchDay 8 CAIRNS
Today is yours to relax and explore the many attractions of Cairns. Join an optional scenic railway ride, which runs to the picturesque market town of Kuranda, or a cable car that glides over Australia’s World-Heritage-listed tropical rainforest canopy. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for sightseeing, shopping, and dining. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 9 CAIRNS–SYDNEY
Board your flight to Sydney, Australia’s largest city. Tonight, you may wish to enjoy dinner at a waterfront restaurant. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 10 SYDNEY
Sydney boasts one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, home to the instantly recognizable Sydney Harbour Bridge and the world-famous architectural wonder--the Sydney Opera House. Go inside the Opera House, one of the most well-known buildings in the world, and learn about the history, architectural design and be awed by the acoustics. Later, your sightseeing tour will take you through the heart of Sydney. End the day with a cruise along Sydney Harbour for uninterrupted views of the city skyline. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 11 SYDNEY
Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. You may wish to wander the cobblestone streets of the Rocks district, explore vibrant Darling Harbour, or climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge. Your Tour Director will have suggestions to help you make the most of this exciting city. Tonight, join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a festive farewell dinner. (B,D)
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast
DinnerDay 12 SYDNEY
Your vacation ends this morning. You may also choose to extend your time in Sydney and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase. (B)
Accommodations
Accommodations| Melbourne | Uluru | Cairns | Sydney |
Oaks Melbourne on Market
First-Class
First-Class
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
