Australian Highlights

It was perfect blend of city and country. The pace was as advertised and I wouldn't change a thing.

Fabulous trip. The tour guide Christin was funny, informative, and so organized. We saw so much of Australia on this tour.

Sure

yes

Excellent all the way around. Christin our tour director was exceptional. She was attentive to all and very knowledgeable. She made the trip even more exceptional.

Excellent balance of included experiences and time on our own to plan activities. Tour director was very knowledgeable and went out of her way to insure everyone had a great experience!

The itinerary was packed with all kinds of interesting things to do. For the price I honestly thought a couple of more dinners could have been included. The excursions were good but a bit pricey. I liked the trip overall but not enough to say I would visit again. Our tour director was the best I've ever traveled with. She was fantastic with everything. Very organized, highly informed and great entertainment. She definitely needs a raise.

Trip of Lifetime! Beginning on day 1 this trip did not disappoint. Our tour guide was exceptional and made sure everyone felt included and was able to get the most out of the trip. Wonderful balance of scheduled events and plenty of free time for individual exploration. Tour guide very helpful with suggestions for free time. Saw amazing places, wildlife. Hotels and food were first class. As solo traveler, felt safe entire time. First time using this agency but will definitely use again.

It was varied and wonderful

It was a well planned itinerary. It was a good balance between tour time and free time. The chosen hotels were well situated. I would have preferred choosing meals at the group dinners from a full menu. Our tour director , went over and beyond in helping travelers, adding to a very wonderful experience.

since the Alice Springs day was eliminated, another day at Uluru would have been preferred over the extra day in Sydney. Anyone wanting more time in Sydney could add it at the end of the tour. My tour director was the best

Everything was excellent, we truly had a wonderful time and would recommend this tour to others! We would specially like to point out the outstanding tour director that we had.

Melbourne: Transfer from airport was great; the female driver was affable and very informative. Our hotel was wonderful - from the convenient location to the outstanding river view from our room’s large window, to the welcoming, cheerful and competent staff, everything was perfect. I would have dearly loved to experience a “high tea” at The Tea Rooms in the Block Arcade, but we ran out of time. I wouldn’t have missed the 12 Apostles for it, but perhaps it could be an option during the city tour? (Not that I didn’t enjoy the city tour, though!) The Penguin Parade at Phillip Island, and the trip to the 12 Apostles along the Great Ocean Road, were both outstanding and will always be wonderful memories. Uluru: I didn’t want to travel to Australia without visiting Uluru and the Outback. The Trafalgar experience met and exceeded my expectations. The sunset viewings of Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa, both accompanied by tasty “nibblies,” were unforgettable. We loved the Aboriginal art activity and relished the chance to try our own painted creations; the local expert was particularly wonderful. Cairns: Again, the hotel was excellent and perfectly located. Although all our included hotel “brekkies” were fantastic, this one was probably our favorite - the fresh daily smoothies and the juicer machine were stand-outs. We’ll always cherish our excursion to the Daintree Rainforest - the tram ride up, the free time in the charming village of Kuranda, and the scenic train ride down - all were delightful. The Great Barrier Reef activity will never be forgotten; while I’ve seen beautiful fish while snorkeling in the past, the vast variety of fascinating and gorgeous fish at the GBR was truly mind-blowing. The food and the stylish, relaxed vibes at our included supper at Salt House in Cairns were sublime. Sydney: Our hotel was once again perfectly located, and was next-level luxurious; the staff were exceptional. The backstage tour of the Sydney Opera House was fascinating, and our supper on the premises was most enjoyable. The Blue Mountain trip is not to be missed. Catching a performance at the iconic opera house was one of the greatest highlights of our trip - simply transcendent and a must-do if at all possible. The Bridge Climb activity was another huge favorite - it was completely safe, our guide was fantastic, the climb was only mildly strenuous, and the views were other-worldly. Negatives: 1. The size and weight restrictions on luggage were explicitly stated. Particularly given the stern warnings regarding extra fees for noncompliance, we carefully adhered to the guidelines, even though it meant doing laundry in our hotel rooms and rewearing many clothes during the trip, due to the stringent space requirements. It was more than a little disconcerting, subsequently, to see fellow tour members toting enormous, very heavy bags as well as the wheeled carry-ons that had been specifically forbidden, apparently without even the slightest repercussions. We feel that you should either allow for large bags and wheeled carry-ons in the instructions, or enforce the stated restrictions and extra fees. We felt punished for our compliance. 2. We wish more tips would have been included, specifically for bus drivers and local guides. This would have significantly reduced our inconvenience and stress. Travel Guide: was the consummate professional - always prepared, always helpful and thorough, always kind and good-natured. Although I fail to understand her love of Vegemite, I must admit to liking it a bit more each time I tried it. She doggedly worked to resolve any and all problems experienced by anyone under her care. We couldn’t have been any happier with her. Trafalgar: Attention to detail, exclusive access to popular attractions, positive local relationships, thoughtful local experiences, the right mix of activity and down-time, and truly exceptional staff make Trafalgar a shining star in the travel industry. Highly recommended.

This tour encompassed so many parts making up this wonderful country from its modern, architecturally exciting cities of Melbourne and Sydney to its history of the native population, as well as the foreign invasion which totally changed the future. Outside the cities, we became acquainted with the natural wonders and unique animal culture of the country. explored the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, a rainforest older than the Amazon and the Blue Mountains. The food was spectacular, as was our lodging, bus drivers and tour guide . Loved every minute!

I loved all the different places we traveled. The hotels we stayed at were wonderful! The itinerary was amazing and we got to see incredible sights!

Great value and a wonderful tour guide.

The group was a little too large.

The intinerary was thorough and well paced - leaving a wee bit of down time to rest and do some things on our own. Our Tour Director was friendly and knowledgeable - making the journey even more enjoyable. The accomodations were all excellent - especially the hotels in Melbourne and Sydney.

This was a broad overview of some of Australia’s major highlights. I liked that we spent 2-4 nights in each location and didn’t have to pack up and move every night. Our tour director was fantastic!

The group size was a tad large & I'd like maybe another night in Carnes