Australia
Sydney, Hamilton Island, Kangaroo Island, Rottnest Island
Day 1: Fly to Sydney, Australia. The flight is long, so make yourself comfortable,
Day 2: Arrive in Sydney, get something to eat and then try to get some sleep.
Day 3: It’s a full day in Sydney as you see the most famous sites of Australia’s most famous city and wonderful harbor. First, get a closer look at the bridge (also known as the Coat Hanger). You can simply walk across it, or, for an extra fee, you can walk on the very top of the structure with safety equipment. Next, take a close look at the architectural wonder—the Opera House. Stay the night in this majestic city before heading off to see more exciting sites in the morning.
Day 4: Take a two-and-a-half hour flight to the exquisite Hamilton Island. One unique feature of the island is that there are no cars, so rent a golf carts for your island tour. After checking in, head on over to the Wild Life Park for a chance to see wombats, feed cockatoos, and even cuddle a koala! This may be your only chance to ever hold the cute marsupials, so make sure not to miss this opportunity. After a day of fun interaction with the island’s diverse wildlife, retire to your hotel.
Day 5: Grab you swim suit and maybe the motion sickness medicine for a boat cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. Depending on conditions, the sea can be rough, but don't let that stop you from taking this amazing trip. The boat will take you to a platform in the middle of the ocean where you can jump off of for snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, and a quick ride on a submersible. The reef here is pristine, and the submersible is a great way to see it for those who don't swim. The boat swerves an amazing buffet lunch, but don't to eat too much before heading back to Hamilton Island because the the afternoon ride back can often be even rougher.
Day 6: After breakfast, fly to the southern coast city of Adelaide. Tomorrow is a big day so get to your hotel and have an early dinner.
Day 7: Get up before dawn for a bus ride and then a ferry to Kangaroo Island, one of the best spots for seeing and interacting with wildlife in Australia. Get your rental car, but watch out because kangaroos and wallabies here roam freely (and are thus sometimes hit by cars). First drive to Remarkable Rocks a formation that have been rounded by nature into unique and stunning shapes through erosion. Kids, especially will love climbing around the formations. At nearby Admirals Arch, you can see fur seals lounging around and at Seal Bay you can get close to a colony of sea lions. Finally, return to Kingscote (where you first landed on Kangaroo Island) where in the evening, guides take visitors to get a look at the famous Little Blue (Fairy) Penguins, which are the smallest penguins in the world at barely over a foot tall. After a full day, you shouldn't have any trouble getting to sleep.
Day 8: In the morning, take the ferry and bus back to Adelaide and then head to the airport for your flight to the west coast city of Perth. After arriving, take a taxi to the ferry dock for the short trip to Rottnest Island, where you’ll stay for the night.
Day 9: Rottnest Island is car free, so the best way to tour this unique island is to rent a bike. The Island’s most famous feature is that it is the home of the little-known marsupial called the quokka. Quokkas are very common on the island (around 10,000 live there) and are not as shy as most wildlife. They are roughly the size of a house cat and very docile. Dutch sailors who first landed the island thought the quokkas were giant rats, and so named the island “Rat’s Nest Island.” A circumnavigation of the island is 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) and there is a lot of great scenery and some nice beaches. After your bike ride, take the ferry back to the mainland and head to the airport for your night flight back home.
Day 1: Fly to Sydney, Australia. The flight is long, so make yourself comfortable,
Day 2: Arrive in Sydney, get something to eat and then try to get some sleep.
Day 3: It’s a full day in Sydney as you see the most famous sites of Australia’s most famous city and wonderful harbor. First, get a closer look at the bridge (also known as the Coat Hanger). You can simply walk across it, or, for an extra fee, you can walk on the very top of the structure with safety equipment. Next, take a close look at the architectural wonder—the Opera House. Stay the night in this majestic city before heading off to see more exciting sites in the morning.
Day 4: Take a two-and-a-half hour flight to the exquisite Hamilton Island. One unique feature of the island is that there are no cars, so rent a golf carts for your island tour. After checking in, head on over to the Wild Life Park for a chance to see wombats, feed cockatoos, and even cuddle a koala! This may be your only chance to ever hold the cute marsupials, so make sure not to miss this opportunity. After a day of fun interaction with the island’s diverse wildlife, retire to your hotel.
Day 5: Grab you swim suit and maybe the motion sickness medicine for a boat cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. Depending on conditions, the sea can be rough, but don't let that stop you from taking this amazing trip. The boat will take you to a platform in the middle of the ocean where you can jump off of for snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, and a quick ride on a submersible. The reef here is pristine, and the submersible is a great way to see it for those who don't swim. The boat swerves an amazing buffet lunch, but don't to eat too much before heading back to Hamilton Island because the the afternoon ride back can often be even rougher.
Day 6: After breakfast, fly to the southern coast city of Adelaide. Tomorrow is a big day so get to your hotel and have an early dinner.
Day 7: Get up before dawn for a bus ride and then a ferry to Kangaroo Island, one of the best spots for seeing and interacting with wildlife in Australia. Get your rental car, but watch out because kangaroos and wallabies here roam freely (and are thus sometimes hit by cars). First drive to Remarkable Rocks a formation that have been rounded by nature into unique and stunning shapes through erosion. Kids, especially will love climbing around the formations. At nearby Admirals Arch, you can see fur seals lounging around and at Seal Bay you can get close to a colony of sea lions. Finally, return to Kingscote (where you first landed on Kangaroo Island) where in the evening, guides take visitors to get a look at the famous Little Blue (Fairy) Penguins, which are the smallest penguins in the world at barely over a foot tall. After a full day, you shouldn't have any trouble getting to sleep.
Day 8: In the morning, take the ferry and bus back to Adelaide and then head to the airport for your flight to the west coast city of Perth. After arriving, take a taxi to the ferry dock for the short trip to Rottnest Island, where you’ll stay for the night.
Day 9: Rottnest Island is car free, so the best way to tour this unique island is to rent a bike. The Island’s most famous feature is that it is the home of the little-known marsupial called the quokka. Quokkas are very common on the island (around 10,000 live there) and are not as shy as most wildlife. They are roughly the size of a house cat and very docile. Dutch sailors who first landed the island thought the quokkas were giant rats, and so named the island “Rat’s Nest Island.” A circumnavigation of the island is 25 kilometers (about 16 miles) and there is a lot of great scenery and some nice beaches. After your bike ride, take the ferry back to the mainland and head to the airport for your night flight back home.