Highlights of Australia

Travelsphere’s Highlights of Australia is a 21-night escorted tour stretching from Melbourne’s city streets to Brisbane’s waterfront, taking in a broad sweep of the continent’s contrasts. You begin with Melbourne’s laneways, Niki de Saint Phalle-like sculptures in Fitzroy Gardens, and the Grand Prix Circuit before flying to Sydney to tour Bondi Beach and climb or admire the harbour views for yourself.

The heart of the trip is a three-night stretch in the Red Centre, where you’ll witness the shifting light on Uluru, see Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr, and take a cruise to spot wild crocodiles at Yellow Water Lagoon. Later you swing north to Kakadu National Park’s wetlands and limestone cliffs, then to Cairns for a day on the Great Barrier Reef aboard a catamaran or from a semi-submersible underwater observatory.

After some free time in Cairns, the trip finishes in Brisbane with its river ferries and the chance to visit North Stradbroke Island, known locally as Straddie, with a laid-back day rounded off by an Aussie barbecue. The pace alternates between sightseeing and genuine leisure, giving time to drink in the variety and scale of Australia without hurrying on to the next highlight.