Australia 14-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!

Our trip to Australia with Luxury Gold was an excellent experience, it was a very busy itinerary, but it allowed us to see a lot of what Australia has to offer. The whole schedule was put together exceptionally well, and our Tour Manager was very attentive and looked after us throughout the trip. Our favourite hotel was The Reef Hotel, The Langham was also exceptional. The only part we would change, would be the trip to the Yarra Valley in Melbourne, as the visit to the Chocolate experience was not for us. In hindsight we would rather have spent the day at leisure in Melbourne. Every other aspect of the trip was spot on, we loved it.

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.

New coach. Great driver. Knowledgeable and passionate Guide. Very nice choice of accommodations. Itinerary is filled with as many stops as feasible. Time spent on the Coach was filled w interesting local information, local music, interesting stories and even an appropriate movie. 5*

The itinerary truly covered a wide range of sites and experiences. The guides were knowledgeable, interesting, friendly and caring. The hotels were all 4 and 5 star properties.

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.