City & Bush
Walk, cycle and surf in Sydney’s great outdoors before meeting kangaroos and koalas in the nearby Southern Highlands.
This holiday to Australia perfectly combines outback, reef and rainforest with Sydney’s familiar skyline, bringing together the country’s great highlights with a twist: walk across ancient desert lands, experience the world’s oldest continually growing rainforest after dark, and swim from your island beach straight onto the reef.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Walk Uluru-Kata Tjuta
Embark on a 5 day guided walk to experience sacred Aboriginal lands alongside those who know them intimately.
Daintree Discovery
Explore the Daintree by kayak, trail and river snorkel, then discover its nocturnal side on a guided walk in search of crocodiles and ringtail possums.
Reefside
Escape to an island on the Great Barrier Reef – seek out your own private beach and swim straight onto this living wonder.
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Day 1
Arrive Sydney (Shangri La)
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Day 2
Sydney (Shangri La)
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Day 3
Sydney (Shangri La)
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Day 4
Sydney - Uluru (Camp or Lodge Accommodation)
Fly from Sydney to Uluru
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Day 5 - 7
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Walk (Camp or Lodge Accommodation)
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Day 8
Uluru - Cairns - Daintree Rainforest (Silky Oaks Lodge)
Fly to Cairns - Collect hire car
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Day 9 - 10
Daintree Rainforest (Silky Oaks Lodge)
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Day 11
Daintree Rainforest - Cairns - Lizard Island (Lizard Island Resort)
Drive to Cairns - fly to Lizard Island
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Days 12 - 14
Lizard Island (Lizard Island Resort)
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Day 15
Lizard Island - Cairns
Fly back to Cairns - onward travels
Day 1
Arrive Sydney (Shangri La)
Arrive in Sydney and transfer to your centrally located accommodation.
Day 2
Sydney (Shangri La)
Spend a day at leisure exploring Sydney. Choose from a raft of experiences – explore on foot, by bike or view the iconic skyline from the water. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge, see a performance at the opera house or learn to surf on Sydney’s Bondi beach.
Day 3
Sydney (Shangri La)
Venture out of the city for a memorable day amidst the Southern Highlands, in the company of knowledgeable wildlife guides – spot birdlife, kangaroo, koala and platypus.
Day 4
Sydney - Uluru (Camp or Lodge Accommodation)
Leave the buzz of Sydney behind and head for the silence of the desert where you will be met to begin your 4 day walk of this extraordinary National Park. After a traditional Anangu Welcome and a guided briefing at Yulara, the journey begins at Kata Tjuṯa’s Valley of the Winds, where two lookouts reveal vast views of red earth, ancient rock formations and sacred sites. Overnight with dinner under the stars.
Day 5 - 7
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Walk (Camp or Lodge Accommodation)
Watch sunrise over Kata Tjuṯa, walk through dune country and desert trails, and rest in comfort at two beautifully designed camps. Approach Uluṟu through woodlands and sand plains, learning from Anangu Elders and walking storied tracks such as Liru and Lungkata. Evenings bring shared meals, storytelling and time to relax.
Day 8
Uluru - Cairns - Daintree Rainforest (Silky Oaks Lodge)
After a slow morning and final sunrise, return to Yulara and transfer to the airport for flights to Cairns. Collect your hire car and drive north along the Captain Cook Highway to the Daintree Rainforest. One of the most scenic roads in Australia this route offers glorious views of the Coral Sea with the coastline on one side and the rainforest and mountains on the other.
Day 9 - 10
Daintree Rainforest (Silky Oaks Lodge)
Spend two days trekking, kayaking and river snorkelling in the Daintree National Park. Dating back 135 million years these rainforests have a unique ecosystem and are home to a wealth of wildlife including the elusive and prehistoric cassowary. One afternoon you will join a guided nocturnal walk to uncover the forest’s hidden life, from possums and bandicoots to rare nocturnal birds and insects.
Day 11
Daintree Rainforest - Cairns - Lizard Island (Lizard Island Resort)
Drive south back to cairns for your short flight onto Lizard Island and the Great Barrier Reef.
Days 12 - 14
Lizard Island (Lizard Island Resort)
Spend three days relaxing and exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Go diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing or explore the island by motorised dinghy, finding your own private beach for the day.
Day 15
Lizard Island - Cairns
Depart Lizard Island and fly back to Cairns for onward travel.
More Details
Australia's Most Iconic Residents
Wildlife Encounters
Australia’s unique wildlife is synonymous with the country. The Southern Highlands, located just a 90-minute drive south of Sydney, are home to the Great Western Wildlife Corridor and a landscape of pristine bushland and private farmland. Join passionate, knowledgeable guides in search of birdlife, kangaroo, koala and platypus before a wholesome country-style dinner. Then it’s time to head out for further night-time explorations in search of timid nocturnal species, including possum and the tawny frogmouth.
Beyond the monolith
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Walk
The five-day Uluru-Kata Tjuta Walk, developed in close consultation with Anangu Traditional Owners, offers an extraordinary experience beyond the iconic Uluru. Stay inside the World-Heritage listed National Park in eco lodges and camps and journey 54 kilometres on foot between Kata Tjuta and Uluru, celebrating culture, landscape, and connection in an outback world that few have walked before. More than just a scenic journey, this walk is an immersion into Aboriginal Australia, with its 65,000 years of history and diverse clans and dialects, representing the oldest continuous living culture on Earth. Guided by Anangu custodians, you’ll hear ancestral stories and gain an unparalleled connection to the land.
Island Escapes
The Great Barrier Reef
Queensland’s most famous landmark is the Great Barrier Reef, stretching for over 2,500 kilometres along Australia’s east coast. Rather than staying on mainland Australia and travelling out to the reef, stay on Lizard Island – the only resort located literally on the reef. Spend days kayaking, snorkelling, diving, paddleboarding, hiking, fishing or lazing with a picnic on one of the many hidden coves.
How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
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By walking ancient desert trails with the Anangu people and camping within this protected landscape, you support conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, the care for culturally-sacred land and the reversal of biodiversity decline. Every step honours Country and sustains the land, its species and its living cultural heritage.
All waste water at Silky Oaks Lodge is sent to the property’s own waste water management plant where it is processed through a sand filter system and re-used for irrigation of the properties forest surrounds.
Guests at Lizard Island are encouraged to take a tour of the Lizard Island Research Station with whom the hotel words closely. A world-leader in coral reef education and research, a visit offers the chance to speak to marine staff who live and work on the reef, learning about the challenges, advances and breakthroughs in reef conservation.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
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A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling and accommodation choices. In this itinerary we suggest a mixture of luxury lodges and mid range accommodation.
Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From $14,035 Per person
When to travel
Australia in January
In the north, tropical rain brings hot and humid conditions, which can make access difficult. In the south, days are generally hot and sunny. Australians have their summer holidays, so it is a busy time, with numerous festivals and sporting events.
Australia in February
The warmest month for much of the country. Australians go back to work, easing pressure on accommodation. A great time to enjoy the beaches of southern Australia or Tasmania.
Australia in March
Early autumn brings harvest time in Australia’s vineyards, so an ideal time to sample and learn about the excellent wines on offer. Tropical humid weather and cyclones persist in the north, but outside of Easter, it can be a quieter experience in the south.
Australia in April
Autumn colours start to appear around Melbourne and Adelaide, making it a beautiful time to be there. April is one of the best times to visit anywhere in the south.
Australia in May
In the north, temperatures decrease and humidity drops. Roads open up after the tropical rains, making transport easier. It is an ideal time to explore Ningaloo Reef, with the opportunity to swim with whale sharks, rays and humpback whales.
Australia in June
The dry season starts in Northern Australia, meaning it is the perfect time to use the sunny days and warm temperatures to explore. In the south, it is cooler and can be a good time for hiking.
Australia in July
Snow falls on the southern ski resorts, and the inland regions of the south are ideally explored at this time. The Great Barrier Reef has much gentler tidal currents, making for clearer and easier snorkelling conditions.
Australia in August
Australians head to the north for some winter sun, meaning it can be a busy time. It’s also a great time to explore the outback before the weather turns too hot and wet.
Australia in September
The first signs of spring present themselves best in Western Australia, as a vibrant mix of wildflowers sprinkle the landscape. Flower festivals are held across the country.
Australia in October
Not recommended to go to the north, as humidity peaks before the rains arrive. Everywhere else, the weather is pleasantly warm. An ideal time for camping, relaxing at vineyards, or hiking and wildlife viewing.
Australia in November
In the north, beaches start to close due to the ‘stingers’ – jellyfish in the shallow waters. High winds start to pick up in the reef islands along the coast. The Melbourne Cup is a horse race that ‘stops the nation’, definitely worth experiencing.
Australia in December
Temperatures ramp up as the holidays near for locals. Barbeques are sparking up, ready to celebrate Christmas Aussie style – on a beach. Admire the spectacle that is the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with the fabulous Sydney Harbour backdrop, on Boxing Day.
Holiday Inspiration
Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
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