9 Days, 7 Nights
$$$$$
Great Barrier Reef & Sydney Vacation
Photo: Great Barrier Reef (Tourism Tropical North Queensland)
Booking Code: BQ-710261
Great Barrier Reef & Sydney Vacation
Day 1: International Flight to Cairns (via Nadi, Fiji)
Days 2 to 6: Cairns
Days 6 to 9: Sydney
Day 9: International Flight from Sydney
Photo Credits: Cairns Marina (Tourism Australia), Great Barrier Reef (Tourism Australia), Sydney Opera House, Millaa Millaa Falls (Tourism Australia), Bondi Icebergs Pool (Tourism Australia)
What’s included in your 9 Day Great Barrier Reef & Sydney Vacation
4-Star Accommodation
Cairns (4 Nights), Sydney (3)
Flights
International – Los Angeles to Cairns (via Nadi, Fiji), Sydney to Los Angeles (via Nadi)
Australia Domestic – Cairns to Sydney
Transfers
Shuttle – Cairns Airport to Accommodation (Return), Sydney Airport to Accommodation
Day Tours
Sydney – Sydney Opera House Tour & Fine Dining, Hop-On Hop-Off Harbor Cruise 1 Day Pass
All Taxes and
Fuel Levies
(Except where noted)
Itinerary is
flexible
And can be tailored to suit your needs
VISA ISSUANCE
REQUIRED (NOT
INCLUDED)
Your Itinerary Details
DAY 1
International Flight, Los Angeles to Cairns (via Nadi, Fiji)
DAYS 2 – 6
Cairns – Reef, Rainforest and Tropical North Queensland
Cairns Marina. Photo Credit: Tourism Australia
Day 3 – Great Barrier Reef
Today you’ll cruise out to the Outer Great Barrier Reef aboard a luxury vessel, spending up to five hours exploring two exclusive reef locations. Snorkel through vibrant coral gardens teeming with tropical fish, with all equipment provided and expert crew on hand to guide first-timers and experienced snorkelers alike. A hot lunch is served onboard, along with a complimentary glass of wine on the return cruise as you relax and reflect on a day spent in one of the world’s most extraordinary natural wonders.
Day 4 – Cairns Waterfalls & Rainforest
Head inland to the Atherton Tablelands and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area for a full day immersed in ancient rainforest scenery. Discover a string of spectacular waterfalls and crater lakes, including a stop at the postcard-famous Millaa Millaa Falls, a swim at volcanic Lake Eacham, and a visit to the towering, centuries-old Curtain Fig Tree. Keep an eye out for platypus in the wild at Peterson Creek, and take in sweeping views over Queensland’s highest peaks from Crawfords Lookout. A relaxed lunch stop along the way rounds out a day dedicated to the region’s natural beauty.
Day 5 – Free Day in Cairns
Enjoy a day at your own pace to explore more of what Cairns and its surrounds have to offer. Many travelers use this day to visit the mountain village of Kuranda, reachable by the scenic Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, where you can browse local markets, art galleries, and wildlife parks nestled in the rainforest canopy. Alternatively, simply unwind by the Cairns Esplanade lagoon or explore the city’s boutique shops and waterfront restaurants.
Photo Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Cairns Marina. Photo Credit: Tourism Australia
Photo Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland
About Australia Visits Cairns
Sydney Harbour. Photo Credit: Tourism Australia
Sydney Opera House. Photo Credit: Tourism Australia
DAYS 6 – 9
Sydney – Australia’s Iconic Harbor City
Sydney Harbour. Photo Credit: Tourism Australia
Day 7 – Sydney Opera House & Harbor Exploration
Step inside one of the world’s most recognizable buildings on a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, uncovering its architectural story, colorful history, and iconic sails up close. Afterward, enjoy a specially curated Tour & Dine lunch at Midden by Mark Olive, showcasing contemporary Australian cuisine built around native ingredients and Indigenous storytelling, all with spectacular harbour views as your backdrop.
Later, make the most of your Hop-On Hop-Off Sydney Harbour Explorer 1-Day Pass, hopping between iconic harbour destinations including Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, and Manly at your own pace, with onboard commentary bringing the sights to life along the way.
Day 8 – Free Day in Sydney
Spend your final full day exploring Sydney on your own terms. Wander the historic laneways of The Rocks, take a ferry to Bondi or Manly Beach, browse the galleries of the Museum of Contemporary Art, or venture out to the Blue Mountains for dramatic valley views and the famous Three Sisters lookout. However you choose to spend it, Sydney’s mix of culture, coastline, and cosmopolitan energy offers something for every traveler.
Sydney Opera House. Photo Credit: Tourism Australia
DAY 9
International Flight from Sydney
At the end of your stay in Sydney, it’s time to head to the airport for your flight to the USA via Nadi, Fiji. Wrap up your Australian adventure with a transfer to Sydney Airport for your international flight home, crossing back over the International Date Line and arriving home the same day you departed. So, buckle up for departure, in-flight entertainment, and the excitement of gaining a bonus day as you touch down in the USA. Bon voyage!
Answers to your FAQs
To see all our most frequently asked questions, check out our full FAQ page.
OUR PROMISE
Whatever you want your custom vacation to Australia to include, we’ll create something fully unique for you — and only you.
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