Australia 13-Day Tours and Trips

I had the best two weeks of my life on the Best of Australia trip. Getting to see most of the East Coast of Australia and doing some iconic activities was amazing. Our CEO made the trip even better with his local knowledge and ability to be flexible to make our trip even better!

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.

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.

It was a fantastic trip!! I enjoyed the company of the other solo travelers and our guide, the city experiences in Melbourne and Sidney and of course the natural and cultural experiences of the Outback. I also had a lot of fun snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.

It was a well planned trip. I enjoyed the small group size and was very impressed with the CEO's passion about the culture and indigenous people really added to my enjoyment of the trip. We were given useful information about free time, and how to proceed through various airport check ins. The handouts were an excellent supplement to the information, providing valuable information about indigenous cultures, local restaurants, and other suggestions.

The trip was excellent. While weather caused some cancellations and detours, the CEO handled it all very well and the group was quite flexible. While the itinerary was jam packed, it seemed right as I got to see and experience much of the surroundings .