2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Great Sights of Australia (PG)

12 Day Tour from Brisbane to Sydney

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Laugh and the kookaburras laugh with you. Cry and the kookaburras still laugh. That’s the beauty of a journey to happy-go-lucky Australia where sunny days are accentuated by its even sunnier inhabitants. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats are among the many locals eager to greet you on this breezy tour of Australia. With visits to four wondrous waterfront cities, you’ll easily see why the world gushes about the land Down Under. Go behind the scenes at Brisbane’s Australia Zoo, snorkel above the dazzling coral at the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns and devour the panoramic scenery and a delicious lunch at the iconic Sydney Opera House. With two days in eclectic Melbourne, you can also gobble up all the goodies this hipster city and surrounding areas have to offer. Perhaps take in the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island or chill with a nice chardonnay at a Yarra Valley winery. This 12-day tour shows you all the Great Sights of Australia!

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus South Pacific vacations are limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery South Pacific vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word); to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

Great Sights of Australia map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 3 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Welcome to Brisbane, The Capital of Queensland! Your hotel room is available for immediate check-in. A pre-night is not required for early check-in. Please schedule flights to arrive by 4pm in order to attend this evening’s welcome briefing and dinner.

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Day 2 BRISBANE. EXCURSION TO THE AUSTRALIA ZOO

Koalas, Crocs, and Roos, Oh My! Enjoy an orientation tour of Brisbane, including the historical buildings and modern high-rises. Learn about the city’s convict past along with its modern cosmopolitan culture. Afterward, travel to the Australia Zoo, “Home of the Crocodile Hunter” where you’ll see some of Australia’s famous wildlife. You can hand-feed kangaroos, pet a dingo, see the amazing saltwater crocodiles, and more. Return to Brisbane where the evening is at leisure.

LOCAL FAVORITE
CONSERVATION HEROES Go behind-the-scenes for a look at Australia Zoo’s Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Wildlife Hospital. Founded by Steve and Terri Irwin, it is home to amazing work being done by an extraordinary team of veterinarians. All proceeds from your included visit directly benefit the hospital to help provide specialized care to wildlife. Whether it’s a kangaroo hit by a car, a flying fox entangled in a fence, or a sea turtle that has ingested plastic, the team at the Wildlife Hospital is dedicated to returning them back in to the wild.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 BRISBANE

Brilliant Brisbane A full day to explore more of vibrant Brisbane.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE with a ride on the Wheel of Brisbane, a large Ferris wheel overlooking the city. Maybe just relax at Streets Beach, Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach, or enjoy a stroll on the city’s pedestrian street, Queen Street Mall, full of shops and restaurants. Enjoy free time with optional excursions available on your MyGlobus site. Your Tour Director and your GlobusGO mobile app have all the tips and guidance to enjoy your free time.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE For those wanting a little more activity, consider a visit to Tangalooma Island for an optional swim and snorkel excursions among the local shipwrecks.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 BRISBANE–CAIRNS

Diving In Depart Brisbane for Cairns, “Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.” Upon arrival enjoy an orientation tour of Cairns followed by a visit to the Cairns Aquarium. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SEA STUDIES Touted as Australia’s newest aquarium, the Cairns Aquarium won’t disappoint. Journey through the waterways from freshwater rivers flowing through the rainforest, into the mangroves and finally into the depths of the Great Barrier Reef. Discover 71 different exhibits showcasing this regions extremely rare and unique species. Enjoy animal presentations, habitat talks, and daily shark feeds. It will be a great introduction for your experience on the Reef tomorrow.

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Breakfast Breakfast
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Day 5 CAIRNS. EXCURSION TO THE OUTER GREAT BARRIER REEF

Below the Surface Prepare for the experience of a lifetime when you board a catamaran and cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Explore this underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of dazzling hues. Return to Cairns late this afternoon. Your evening is at leisure.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
BUCKET LIST. CHECK! The only living structure on Earth that can be seen from space, the Great Barrier Reef is a masterpiece of Mother Nature. Comprising over 3,000 individual reefs and spanning over 135,135 miles (350,000 square kilometres), your day at the Reef will be one to remember. After your scenic catamaran cruise, the day is yours to explore the Reef how you like. Choose to snorkel amongst a kaleidoscope of fish and coral, take a semi-submersible watercraft tour, attend an informative presentation by a marine biologist, or just relax and enjoy the serenity of your surroundings.

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Day 6 CAIRNS

Aussie Adventures Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore more of Cairns.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE You may wish to take a ride on one of the world’s most beautiful railway journeys to Kuranda, soar high on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, stroll Cairns’ famous Esplanade home to shops and art galleries, or just sit back and relax at your resort’s pool. Options are available throughout your tour at MyGlobus. Your Tour Director and your GlobusGO mobile app have all the tips and guidance to enjoy your free time.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 CAIRNS–MELBOURNE

Cosmopolitan Cool Touch down today in one of Australia’s most well-known cities. Melbourne is home to a diverse culture, world-class shopping, art galleries, museums, coffee shops, vibrant street art, hidden laneways and more. Along with its beaches, parks, amazing restaurants, and near-flawless weather, it’s the perfect place to visit year-round. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation tour before arriving at your hotel.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 MELBOURNE

Explore More in Melbourne Free time today to explore more of this vibrant city.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in Melbourne with a trip to the top of the Melbourne Skydeck for amazing views of the city below. You may also choose to venture to the breathtaking Yarra Valley, one of Australia’s premier wine regions. Other options include a full-day trip to the Great Ocean Road to see fantastic scenery and the “Twelve Apostles,” or choose to venture to Phillip Island for the famous Penguin Parade. This and more options are available throughout your tour at MyGlobus. Your Tour Director and your GlobusGO mobile app have all the tips and guidance to enjoy your free time.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 MELBOURNE–SYDNEY

Spectacular Sydney Fly to Sydney, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE with free time in Sydney, home to first-class restaurants, grand shopping arcades, and top tourist attractions. This evening, why not enjoy dinner at a waterside restaurant?

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 SYDNEY

Surf, Sky & Sips On your morning sightseeing tour, travel to the famous Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s Botanic Gardens. The sandstone rock chair was carved by convicts in 1810 and is said to be where Mrs Macquaire would sit and watch the ships from Great Britain sail into the harbor. Next, visit the famous Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEM Go inside the Sydney Opera House, one of the most well-known buildings in the world. You’ll enjoy a private guided tour, hear untold stories, be amazed at the acoustics, and learn how this amazing hall was built. Afterward, sit below the sails and enjoy a panoramic lunch at one of the Opera House’s restaurants where you’ll enjoy great photo opportunities and sweeping views of the harbor and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE with an optional excursion to see the city from a different view from atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. Enjoy amazing views of the harbor and city skyline below from this unique perspective. In the evening, you might want to walk in the footsteps of Australia’s early settlers on the Rocks Pub Tour. This and more options are available throughout your tour at MyGlobus. Your Tour Director and your GlobusGO mobile app have all the tips and guidance to enjoy your free time.

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Breakfast Breakfast
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Day 11 SYDNEY

Sights & Bites in Sydney Another day for you to explore Sydney. Tonight, join your Tour Director and travel companions for a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE You may wish to visit the elegant Queen Victoria Building with its three levels of fashion, jewellery, and gifts. Other options including visiting the Art Gallery of New South Wales, strolling through the Royal Botanic Garden, or enjoying delicious Asian food at one of the restaurants in Spice Alley. Your Tour Director and your GlobusGO mobile app have all the tips and guidance to enjoy your free time.

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Breakfast Breakfast
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Day 12 SYDNEY

Until We Meet Again! Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. You may also choose to extend your time in Sydney and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JULIET HUDSON

Escorting tours for more than 15 years

Passionate about sharing the best of what Australia and New Zealand has to offer and ensuring that each of our guests experience the trip of a lifetime is why I love being a Tour Director. I enjoy finding ways to showcase and immerse our guests in the destinations we visit, bringing the itinerary to life, and adding special touches with "meet the locals" experiences, morning "power walks," "local wine tastings," and "where to eat" menu boards. I love sharing my destination knowledge and helping guests, with beaming smiles on their faces, make wonderful holiday memories.

Tour Director - JULIET HUDSON

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.