Grand Tour of Australia with Singapore pre-tour stopover

In Singapore you will stay at the Peninsula Excelsior Hotel or similar. The Peninsula Excelsior Hotel is within easy reach of exciting landmarks such as Resorts World Sentosa casino and Universal Studios theme park. Bedrooms have spectacular views of the Esplanade, the Singapore River, the business district skyline and the tranquil greenery of Fort Canning Hill. In-room facilities include a safe, cable TV, hairdryer, coffee- and tea-making facilities, mini-bar, telephone and a high-speed broadband connection. Hotel facilities include a laundry service, gym, two swimming pools, coffee House, two lounges, Chinese and Indian restaurants plus a tour & sightseeing desk.

Perth - Travelodge Perth

Darwin - Travelodge Mirambeena Resort

Kakadu National Park - Gagudju

Crocodile Inn

Katherine - All Seasons Katherine Hotel

Alice Springs - Aurora Alice Springs Hotel

Ayers Rock - Outback Pioneer Hotel

Cairns - Cairns Queenslander Hotel

Sydney - Travelodge Wynward

Canberra - Mercure Hotel

Melbourne - Travel Inn

Warrnambool - Country Comfort

Warrnambool Hotel or similar

Barossa - Novotel Barossa Valley Resort

Adelaide - Grand Chifley Adelaide

All accommodation is comfortable medium grade with restaurant and bar. Rooms have private facilities, TV, tea and coffee-making facilities and air-conditioning. Most hotels also have a swimming pool.

Day 1: UK/ Singapore

Transfer to the airport where you will depart on your scheduled flight to Singapore.

Days 2 - 5: Singapore

Arrive in Singapore for your four night stay

This stopover gives you the chance to see all that Singapore has to offer. Known as the ‘Garden City’, Singapore offers a fascinating insight into the dignity of the old colonial days, mixed with fast developing and futuristic commercial enterprise. It is famous for its shops and bazaars, all with duty free prices. The city itself is compact, explore the narrow streets, quiet squares or the frenzied activity in the harbour area. Singapore is a mix of cultures, including Indian, Chinese and Malay, and the architecture, with its array of mosques, temples and synagogues, reflects that. Make sure you visit Little India and Chinatown and of course no visit to Singapore would be complete without tea at Raffles Hotel.

Day 6: Singapore / Perth, Australia

Depart on your scheduled flight to Australia. You will spend the next 4 nights in Perth.

Days 7 - 9: Perth

Experience has shown us that our clients appreciate the opportunity to relax and rest after their flight, so we have allowed plenty of time for this and also to explore the delightful surroundings of Perth.

Perth is the ideal first stop for our Australian extravaganza. This beautiful city, with its neighbouring port of Fremantle, is one of the most envied locations in the world in which to live. The golden beaches, superb restaurants, lush green parks, stunning broad expanses of the Swan River and lovely warm climate give the visitor a fine introduction to the relaxed, contented lifestyle of modern-day Australia.

A half-day sightseeing tour is included during your stay. There are also fascinating optional tours available including a cruise on the Swan River in Fremantle.

Day 10: Darwin

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Darwin. On arrival you will be taken on an introductory city tour prior to arriving at the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 11: Kakadu National Park

Leave Darwin and drive to Kakadu National Park and experience its wealth of flora and fauna. See the waterbirds and crocodiles in their natural habitat on our included cruise on the famous Yellow Waters Lagoon. You will visit the National Park Headquarters and Nourlangie Rock. We have also included a 'Jumping Crocodile Cruise' on the Adelaide River, to witness giant crocodiles leaping from the water. The Adelaide River is also good for spotting an array of wildlife including magpie, geese, brolgas, kites and kingfishers. The river bank often has wild pig or buffalos darting through the tall grass. Overnight stay.

Day 12: Katherine

Leaving Kakadu National Park you will drive to Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park. Here we have included a cruise through Katherine Gorge. You will learn about the extensive plant and wildlife and see the ancient rocks and caves decorated with Aboriginal rock paintings. Overnight stay.

Day 13: Darwin

Return to Darwin for an overnight stay.

Day 14: Alice Springs

Morning transfer for your flight to Alice Springs. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel for a two night stay. A half day sightseeing tour is included, showing you the Flying Doctor Base, the Old Telegraph Station and the famous School of the Air (when open).

Day 15: Alice Springs

Alice Springs is situated amid a vast area of natural springs and shimmering red desert. You can join an optional excursion into the spectacular MacDonnell Range of mountains to see the Standley Chasm. There will also be an opportunity to take a dawn balloon flight over the outback (weather permitting).

Day 16: Ayers Rock

Travel through the heart of Australia, stopping en route at a camel farm, where you may take a camel ride if you wish, before arriving at Ayers Rock. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the nearby hotel. During the afternoon an excursion will be made to the mysterious Olgas and we include a visit to the rock at sunset.

Day 17: Cairns

Up early to visit Ayers Rock for sunrise. There will also be a tour of the base to see the caves and Aboriginal rock paintings. Afternoon flight to Cairns, Accommodation here is for four nights.

Day 18: Cairns

Today we include a trip by catamaran to the outer Great Barrier Reef with lunch included. The Great Barrier Reef is variously described as the world’s largest living thing, the eighth wonder of the world and the marine equivalent of Ayers Rock. It is a stupendous 1,400 mile wonderland of breathtakingly beautiful coral and colourful marine life, studded with unspoilt tropical islands.

Our journey takes us right to the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Go snorkelling amidst the marine life and colourful corals, visit an underwater observatory, take a cruise in a semi-submersible submarine, or even just relax on the sundeck with a drink - the choice is yours.

Meals: Lunch

Days 19 - 20: Cairns

Now that you are halfway through your tour it’s time to relax and soak up some sunshine. Cairns enjoys an idyllic location, sandwiched between the deep blue ocean and lush green tropical forests. There are plenty of excursion possibilities. The most popular is a visit to the Atherton Tablelands, featuring a ride on the Kuranda Railway which is widely regarded as one of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys. The track burrows through 15 tunnels and traverses 40 bridges as it clings to the rock face along a narrow coastal strip.

Day 21: Sydney

Early morning flight to Sydney with a city sightseeing tour included. Four nights’ accommodation has been arranged.

Sydney is Australia’s biggest and most exciting city. We include a half day sightseeing tour, featuring Bondi Beach, Hyde Park, Darling Harbour and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

Days 22 - 24: Sydney

Optional excursions include a drive to the Blue Mountains and Wildlife Park, a harbour cruise and a tour of Sydney by night.

Day 25: Canberra

We leave Sydney by coach for the drive to Canberra. Your included city sightseeing tour features the government buildings and the Prime Minister’s Lodge. En route you will stop at a sheep station for a sheep shearing demonstration including BBQ lunch. An overnight stop in Canberra has been arranged.

Meals: Lunch

Day 26: Melbourne

Morning visit to the Australian War Memorial Museum. Drive to Melbourne for a three night stay and an included city sightseeing tour this afternoon.

Colonial style buildings, beautiful parks, wealthy garden suburbs, wide boulevards and trams make Melbourne the most European of Australia’s cities. On our included sightseeing tour you will see Captain Cook’s cottage and the old gaol where Ned Kelly was held prisoner.

Day 27: Melbourne

Free in Melbourne for individual sightseeing and shopping. Optional afternoon visit to Philip Island for the remarkable Penguin Parade.

Days 28 - 29: Warrnambool

Depart Melbourne to start your journey along one of the most spectacular coastal routes in the world, the Great Ocean Road, and see the Twelve Apostles, the Arch and many other fantastic rock formations. You will enter Port Campbell National Park renowned for its ragged and spectacular coastal landscape. Continue to Warrnambool for an overnight stay.

Day 30: Barossa Valley

Complete your journey along the Great Ocean Road today. You will then drive to the Barossa Valley via Mount Gambier. On arrival transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 31: Adelaide

This morning you will have an included sightseeing tour of the Barossa Valley, famous for its wines. A visit to the famous Jacobs Creek visitors centre for wine tasting and lunch is included today. Continue to Adelaide for a two night stay. Enjoy an included sightseeing tour of Adelaide this afternoon.

Meals: Lunch

Day 32: Adelaide

Today is at leisure to explore the city at your own pace or do some last minute shopping.

Day 33: Adelaide

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 34: UK

Arrival in the UK.