The Ghan Red Center And Top End
Kangaroo Island, "The Ghan", Red Centre, Top End, Barrier Reef & Sydney from $6,999 per person including international flights
For a great Aussie welcome, head straight for Adelaide, a beautiful city renowned for its warm and friendly people, art, culture and wine. From Adelaide it's just a quick hop to Kangaroo Island, an exciting wilderness vacation destination and home to Australia's largest koala colony. A legendary journey on a legendary train to the red center and on to the top end. At Uluru learn of the Aboriginal dreamtime and witness arguably Australia's best sunset. In Darwin venture to Kakadu national park, its scenery and wildlife are spectacular. For an unforgettable look at one of the world's most amazing natural wonders, explore Cairns and the famous Great Barrier Reef – you don't even have to get wet! Round off your vacation in Sydney, one of the world's most vibrant cities, where you can go to the beach, the ballet at the Opera House and 5-star restaurants, all in one day.
Round-trip International Economy airfare from Los Angeles
Internal Australia flights
3 nights Adelaide in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
2 full days/1 night Kangaroo Island including 2 full days touring including lunch
Round trip transportation from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island by coach and Regional Express flights to/from Kingscote
1 night Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs, red service daynighter seat for 3 star or gold service twin cabin for 4/5 star
1 night Alice Springs in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
2 nights Ayers Rock in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
1 night Ghan train from Alice Springs to Darwin, red service daynighter seat for 3 star or gold service twin cabin for 4/5 star
3 nights Darwin in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
3 nights Port Douglas in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
3 nights Sydney in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
Airport transfers in a seat in coach basis
** Sightseeing options and packages are available **
Day 3 - Arrive Adelaide
The state's capital, is beautifully positioned on the Torrens River with stunning beaches to the west and the lush Adelaide Hills to the east. Adelaide offers café-lined streets, leafy parklands and a colorful calendar of festivals and special events. Spend time exploring the city's distinctive architecture and be sure to visit the Adelaide Casino to see what was once the Central Railway Terminal. Visit the colorful Central Market, excellent Immigration Museum and take a tram to explore the beach resort of Glenelg, only 20 minutes from the city.
Day 4 - Adelaide
Explore Adelaide at your leisure or consider adding one of our boutique tour options, see our e-brochure or speak with an Aspire expert.
Day 5 - Kangaroo Island
Join your tour at the Regional Express counter at Adelaide Domestic Airport, and board your flight to Kangaroo Island. Upon arrival, an Exceptional Kangaroo Island vehicle will pick you up from the airport to commence a full day KI Adventure Island Life 4WD tour. Stroll through a eucalypt forest spotting koalas snoozing overhead. Travel through some of the Island's best farming country to the North Coast. Visit the habitat of the world's rarest cockatoo and seek out wallabies and kangaroos in the wild. Enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch in a bush setting, accompanied by South Australian wines, beer or soft drinks. After lunch, visit Seal Bay where you can walk amongst the Australian Sea Lions with your guide on a beautiful sandy beach, and learn about their unique breeding biology. The afternoon is spent exploring more of the south east region of the island before departing on the return flight to Adelaide. Overnight stay Kangaroo island.
Flinders Chase National Park provides a breeding habitat for the rare Cape Barren Goose and is also home to a wide variety of wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, possums, goannas, echidnas, koalas, platypus and a myriad of bird species. Visit Remarkable Rocks, huge natural granite sculptures, Admirals Arch a spectacular coastal grotto and a New Zealand fur seal colony before enjoying an elegant picnic lunch in the bush. In the afternoon sample more of Kangaroo Island, before being set down at Kingscote Airport for the return flight to Adelaide. Tour concludes at approximately 7.05pm at Adelaide Airport.
Days 7 - 8 - Ghan Train from Adelaide to Alice Springs
Transfer by shuttle service to the train station for your overnight train journey into the heart of the Australian outback.
A legendary journey on a legendary train. The Ghan is internationally recognized as one of the world's most famous long distance luxury trains. Named after the Afghan camel drivers who did so much to open up the heart of Australia last century, this magnificent train is of great historical significance to the nation.
Its 1555 kilometer journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs takes 22 hours. And it's truly a legendary experience to watch the vast Australian Outback unfold as you journey to the centre.
Day 9 - Alice Springs to Ayers Rock
An early start this morning as you depart from your hotel bound for Ayers Rock. This coach ride takes about four and a half hours and truly gives you a great appreciation of the Australian Outback. You arrive in Ayers Rock in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel.
Uluru (Ayers Rock), in the heart of the Red Centre, has a desert climate - mostly dry, with brilliant blue skies all year. It is a World Heritage Area, managed jointly by the Aboriginal traditional owners and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency. You will spend two nights at the centrally located Ayers Rock Resort. The resort is a short stroll to the Resorts' numerous lookouts, where you can view what is arguably Australia's best sunset, with the spectacular play of colors across the face of Uluru and the surrounding desert.
Day 10 - Ayers Rock
Consider adding one of our tour options, see our e-brochure or speak with an Aspire expert.
Day 11 - 12 - Ghan Train from Alice Springs to Darwin
Make your way to the airport for your flight from Ayers Rock to Alice Springs. On arrival, make your way to the train station for the overnight Ghan Train to Darwin.
Join the Ghan Train for a legendary journey. The Ghan is internationally recognized as one of the world's most famous long distance trains. Named after the Afghan camel drivers who did so much to open up the heart of Australia last century, this magnificent train is of great historical significance to the nation. The journey from Alice Springs to Darwin takes 24 hours - so relax and watch the vast Australian Outback unfold as you journey from the desert of the 'Red Centre' to the tropical 'Top End'.
On arrival into Darwin, there is a coach transfer service to Darwin city. Darwin is a vibrant, tropical capital city perched on a deepwater port, offering a blend of cosmopolitan and city pleasures. It also acts as a gateway to key Top End natural and cultural attractions. Darwin sits on a harbor twice the size of Sydney harbor and overlooks the Arafura Sea, offering an array of waterfront delights including superb dining, cruising, or wreck-diving.
This afternoon is at your leisure to explore Darwin, a very diverse community of about 80,000 people. Many interesting cultural museums and activities abound in and around the city to keep you busy.
Days 13 - 14 - Darwin
Explore Darwin at your leisure or consider adding one of our boutique tour options, see our e-brochure or speak with an Aspire expert.
Day 15 - Fly Darwin to Cairns, transfer to Port Douglas
Fly to tropical North Queensland. Cairns is the colorful capital of Tropical North Queensland and the major gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The city is a gateway to an amazing selection of touring options encompassing the Reef, the Outback and the Rainforest. Take the Skyrail gondola to the market town of Kuranda and return to Cairns via the Kuranda scenic railway through lush rainforest. A visit to the Tjupukai Aboriginal Park is a must to learn of the local Aboriginal tribes and culture. An hour north of Cairns brings you to Port Douglas, the closest town to the Great Barrier Reef with Rainforest clad mountains sweeping down to sparkling sandy beaches.
Days 16 - 17 - Port Douglas
Explore Port Douglas at your leisure or consider adding one of our boutique tour options, see our e-brochure or speak with an Aspire expert.
Day 18 - Fly Cairns - Sydney
Blessed with a temperate climate, Sydney is Australia's favorite city with the world's most beautiful harbor. The harbor provides a playground for jet boating, sailing, swimming, harbor scenic flights, dining, fishing, climbing the harbor bridge and sightseeing at the Opera House. Take a stroll through The Rocks, the site of the first European settlement. Don't miss The Rocks markets held every Saturday & Sunday. Be entertained with great street theatre and music while you browse for Australian arts & crafts. Circular Quay is the gateway to the harbor and the starting point for most of Sydney's harbor cruises and passenger ferries. Familiarize yourself with the harbor by taking one of the many cruises on offer or jump on a passenger ferry to Taronga Zoo or Manly beach. Sydney's shopping is second to none with its endless selection of boutiques, markets and malls. Unique Australian specialty shops reside at The Rocks and Darling harbor's Shopping Centre and a visit to the Queen Victoria Building in the city center is a must. Dining out at one of the many fabulous harbor side restaurants is a must. Fresh produce, great views, inspiring chefs and a multicultural flavor turn a meal into a gastronomic delight.
Days 19 - 20 - Sydney
Explore Sydney at your leisure or consider adding one of our boutique tour options, see our e-brochure or speak with an Aspire expert.
Day 21 - Depart Sydney for US
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* Starting from prices are per person based on double occupancy departures from Los Angeles. Add-on fares are available from other cities. Certain black out dates apply on the accommodation and tour value add offers - check with your Aspire consultant. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels are subject to availability. All prices reflect a discount for purchases made by cash/wire transfer/check, please see terms and conditions for credit card payments. There are no discounts for payment made by credit cards. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply.