Today Uluru beckons, but first Yulara (the gateway resort to Ayres Rock) for lunch. Then It's off to the breathtaking Uluru in the afternoon for a guided tour, and a glass of bubbles as the glow of sunset morphs through 50 shades of red. Tonight hone your Aussie BBQ skills and cook your own steak (or veggie burger). Welcome to the outback, mate.
Included today:
-Visit Mount Conner
-Uluru sunset drinks & snacks
-National Park entry
Meals:
-Dinner
Start your day with a big bowl of 'oh my god' thanks to a breathtaking sunrise back at Uluru. Follow in the footsteps of the traditional owners of this sacred World Heritage site with a full base walk, where you can escape the crowds and check out hidden waterholes. Keep watch for wedge-tailed eagles, spinifex hopping mice and thorny devils. Or splurge on a Harley ride or scenic flight and soar over the rock. Later, join an optional meditative dot painting class in the Aboriginal Art Markets and give yourself a free astrology lesson, stargazing at the endless Southern night sky.
Included today:
-Sunrise over Uluru
-National Park entry
-Uluru base walks
-Anangu Visitor centre
-Guided walk by your Topdeck Crew
Meals:
-Breakfast
Optional activities:
-Scenic flights
-Camel ride in the outback
-Skydiving
-Sounds of Silence
-Guided astrology tour
Anti-McDonald's and anti-anything mass produced (but pro juice bars, beer gardens and beards), Byron is all about the small town vibes. On your free day here, hit the shops, test out those newly acquired surfing skills, paddle a sea kayak, skydive, or watch whales breach from the Lighthouse in winter. Pretty sweet, huh?
Meals:
- Breakfast
Optional activities:
-Dolphin kayaking
-Skydiving
-Surf lesson
Leave the blissful buzz of Byron behind you as we head to BrisVegas (aka Brisbane). But first, we're headed to the famous Surfers Paradise. Don't let its namesake fool you - there are no late-night wedding chapels in the sunshine state capital. Just a whole lot of fun.
Included today:
-Visit Surfers Paradise
-Walking tour of Brisbane
Meals:
-Breakfast
Wake up. Rub eyes. Embark on an excursion out amongst the Western MacDonnell Ranges. Our stops include the peaceful Simpsons Gap and the impressive Standley Chasm. It's back to Alice Springs to grab a late lunch and explore the town centre. This afternoon, have a wander and check out our options. There are local Aboriginal art galleries to check out, the Desert Park Gardens to explore and the Reptile Centre to get creeped out in. Book in the optional late afternoon Kangaroo Sanctuary tour for sunset.
Included today:
-Visit Standley Chasm
-Visit Simpsons Gap
Meals:
-Breakfast
Today we'll fly from the Red Centre and dry climate of Alice Springs into the tropical surrounds of Cairns to meet your new crew. After dinner and getting to know some of your new trip buddies, the night is yours to explore.
Included today:
-Internal flight
-Airport transfers
Meals:
-Breakfast
After breakfast, meet some more happy Topdeckers and take a walk around town. The afternoon is all yours to play with. Ramp up the adventure with this afternoon's optionals. You could be paddling the rapids of the Baron River. There's hot air ballooning, horse riding and bungy jumping...or just kick back with a coconut. This place has plenty to keep you busy.
Included today:
-Cairns walking tour
Meals:
-Breakfast
Optional activities:
-Whitewater rafting
-Skydiving
-Bungy jumping
Who could pass up the chance to see The Great Barrier Reef? Today you'll have the chance to set out on one of Australia's most legendary day trips. Pop on a snorkel and dive in (there's optional scuba diving too) to see sea turtles and zillions of types of tropical fish. There's a tasty buffet lunch included. Back in Cairns, check out the nightlife after dark.
Meals:
- Breakfast
Optional activities:
-Great Barrier Reef day trip
-Whitewater rafting
-Skydiving
-Bungy jumping
Hard as it will be to leave, our time in Cairns has come to an end. Today we head south to explore the natural and wildlife wonders of Magnetic Island. Keep your eyes peeled for the rare and endangered cassowary bird on our morning drive, and then it's a quick ferry trip before you have the afternoon to explore this amazing piece of paradise. Discover secluded beaches and national park walking trails, or just laze by the pool with a cocktail. We won't judge.
Included today:
-Magnetic Island Hopper Pass
-Private tour of the local wildlife park
Meals:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Get stuck into a private tour of the local wildlife park, where you can kiss a baby crocodile, smooch a blue tongue lizard and even cuddle a koala (koala cuddle and photo optional). Grab yourself a mango smoothie before a visit to the biggest Mango of them all. Feeling like you need more air in your hair? Leave the bus and board your own private yacht for our overnight sailing trip in the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. Normally a toy for the rich and famous, today the yacht is all yours to learn the ropes while sailing in paradise. More of a land-lover? Take the diva option and let the crew do the work whilst you feast, swim and snorkel.
Please note: We ask that you pack a small overnight bag to take onboard with you as space on the overnight sailing is limited. Pack items like swimmers, beach towel, chargers, hat, sunscreen, camera, jacket, toiletries, sandals/flip flops and casual clothes for two days.
Included today:
-Overnight sailing in the Whitsunday Islands
-Visit the Big Mango
Meals:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Wake up to pure paradise in one of the many sheltered coves that make up the Whitsundays. Today we'll set sail for golden sandy beaches, snorkel over coral reefs and soak up the sun. A visit to the famous blinding white sands of Whitehaven Beach and a local snorkel reef will also be an option if the weather behaves (fingers crossed!). If you're a budding captain, you can even help set the sails and take the helm whilst further exploring the islands. Later this afternoon, set course for our return to land where we'll spend the night in Airlie Beach. Read: pool, shower, dinner, dancing - all in that order!
Included today:
-Whitsunday sailing
-Visit Whitehaven Beach
-Snorkelling
Get out of the hammock and follow in the footsteps of Captain Cook as we head south to our farm stay: Myella Farm.
Included today:
-Whip cracking & lassoing
Meals:
-Breakfast
-Dinner
Embrace your inner jackaroo and prepare yourself for an adventure-packed afternoon of horse riding and motor biking (optional) and cow milking. Or go walkabout to find that right spot for the perfect outback sunset. Enjoy a hearty home cooked farm style dinner before you take to whip cracking and lassoing.
Included today:
-Farm sunset
Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Optional activities:
-Horse riding
-Motorbike lesson
Wake up and smell the coffee. Kick off your day with a farm breakfast before we stop off at the iconic Bundaberg rum distillery for a tour and tasting sesh in the heart of sugar cane country. Later, we'll catch a ferry bound for the UNESCO World Heritage listed Fraser Island. This place is the world's largest sand island, with the longest beach in Queensland - all 75 miles (120km) of it.
Meals:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Fraser is literally one huge pile of sand - as if someone dropped the Sahara Desert into the Pacific Ocean and scattered it with dingoes and rainforests. Four-wheel-drive along the beach highway to mingle with the Pinnacles Coloured Sands (considered a place of good luck for the Indigenous Butchulla women), Eli Creek and the Maheno Shipwreck before hitting the crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie and its famous smooth silica sand.
Included today:
-Full-day Fraser Island 4WD experience
-Visit Lake McKenzie
-Visit Central Station
-Visit Pinnacles Coloured Sands
-Visit the Maheno Shipwreck
-Visit Eli Creek
Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Optional activities:
-Scenic flights from the beach
Our morning travels will take us to Noosa, where we'll have a wander around the national park (ten points if you spot a koala!), then it's onwards to the dormant volcanoes of the Glasshouse Mountains before we reach the cosmopolitan charm of Brisbane. Here we'll wrap up the trip, but with nightlife like this there's always time to have one last hurrah with your trip mates.
Included today:
-Brisbane city walking tour
Meals:
- Breakfast
We leave Brisbane behind and make a stop at the Gold Coast and famous Surfers Paradise beach before setting a course for some serious surf vibes in Byron. Here you can burn incense, sip chai, become a yoga teacher and win cash for being a Cheeky Monkey all in one day.
Included today:
-Visit Surfers Paradise
Meals:
- Breakfast
Anti-McDonald's and anti-anything mass produced (but pro juice bars, beer gardens and beards), Byron's got that small-town vibe down. Hit the shops, or opt in to paddle a sea kayak with the dolphins, take a surfing lesson or watch whales breach from the lighthouse in winter. This is the town where peace and tranquillity go to relax. You should too. Or jump out of a plane (optional). Byron doesn't care as long as you're happy.
Included today:
-Byron Bay highlights
Meals:
- Breakfast
Optional activities:
-Dolphin kayaking
-Skydiving
-Surf lessons
Let the wave chasing begin as we cruise down the coast to the surfing mecca of Crescent Head. Grab a choc dip frozen banana at the Big Banana then we reach the beach.
Included today:
-Visit the Big Banana
Meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Wrap up your Australian adventure with a final surf lesson, then it's onwards to the beachside hustle and bustle of Sydney, where we say our goodbyes. It might be the end of this trip, but there is plenty more Oz out there and plenty more Topdeck trips to pick from.
Included today:
-Surf lesson
Meals:
- Breakfast
