Melbourne & Sydney Sample Itinerary Day 1 Virgin Australia Flight VA24 Depart Los Angeles 9.10pm Day 2 Today you will be in transit on the flights, as you cross the International Date Line. The total flight time is 15 hours. Day 3 Arrive Melbourne 6.00am On arrival at Melbourne Airport, clear Customs & Immigration before making your way to the transfer point to meet a shuttle for your transfer to your Melbourne Accommodation. Ibis Little Bourke Street One Standard Room – 2 Adults Three nights’ accommodation With location, service, and affordability, this Ibis Melbourne Little Bourke Street Hotel checks all the boxes. Situated in the entertainment and central business district, the property is set on Bourke Street, a major shopping destination and popular tourist stop. Near the hotel are attractions such as the Royal Arcade, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Crown Casino. The hotel is also easily accessible to the airport transfer service and the Southern Cross Train Station. The renovated Ibis Melbourne Little Bourke Street Hotel is a value-for-money accommodation in the heart of the city. Day 4 Great Ocean Road Today, join your coach to commence a full day tour to the Great Ocean Road. View the popular coastal township of Lorne, a surfer's haven, and see many fern filled gullies and river inlets on your journey. Stop for lunch at Apollo Bay (own expense). Travel the length of the Great Ocean Road passing towering limestone cliffs, sweeping white beaches and stunning forest scenery. Witness a fabulous spectacle of massive natural erosion. View the amazing Twelve Apostles - limestone stacks rising dramatically from the Southern Ocean and visit the Information Centre. Walk along the boardwalk enjoying the scenery from various viewing platforms. See Loch Ard Gorge and be swept away by the romantic and tragic story of love and lives lost aboard the Loch Ard. Explore Port Campbell National Park and discover the tragic history of over 50 ships wrecked along the rugged coastline. Continue beyond Port Campbell to the remnants of London Bridge before commencing the return journey to Melbourne. Day 5 Today is free to explore Melbourne at your leisure - or perhaps look at adding the sightseeing options available. See the Fairy Penguins at Phillip Island, discover the hidden laneways or go wine tasting in the Yarra Valley. Day 6 Make your way to Melbourne Airport for your onward Virgin Australia flight to Sydney. Virgin Australia Flight VA845 Depart Melbourne 1.00pm Arrive Sydney 2.25pm On arrival, make your way to the shuttle transfer point for your transfer to your hotel where you will spend three nights. Cambridge Hotel Sydney One Premium Room – 2 adults Three nights’ accommodation Cambridge Hotel Sydney boasts convenience and comfort. Its large modern rooms and suites feature great comfort and amenities like cable TV, tea/coffee making facilities, over-sized mirrors, and ensuite bathrooms. Some rooms have a balcony and luxurious bathtub. A delicious buffet breakfast is served at Café 212 on Riley daily. Other restaurants and bars are also just a short walk away. The hotel is only a half-hour walk from vibrant Oxford Street and a five-minute walk from Central Station. Whether it’s entertainment, nightlife, shopping, or sports that you are after, the Cambridge Hotel Sydney won't disappoint. Day 7 Your morning is free to explore the city at your leisure. This afternoon, tour through the historic Rocks area and take in views of the Opera House, Hyde Park, St Mary's Cathedral, Parliament House and the Art Gallery. Stop at Mrs Macquarie's Chair for magnificent views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Visit The Gap to enjoy the stunning views then stop at the world famous Bondi Beach. Re-join the coach for the return journey to Sydney traveling through Paddington and the exclusive Day 8 A full day to explore Sydney at your leisure. Learn how to surf on Bondi Beach or climb Sydney Harbour Bridge. Take a tour of the Sydney Opera House or perhaps a walking tour of the historic Rocks District. Day 9 May your way to Sydney Airport for your return flight back to Los Angeles with Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia flight VA1 Depart Sydney 9.50am Arrive Los Angeles 6.30am Flight times are only “suggested” and may vary based on travel date and availability. Please use these as a guide only. Suggested Melbourne Sightseeing Lanes & Arcades Walking Tour from $76pp Stroll through Melbourne’s charming small streets and covered walkways to discover its hidden secrets. Ideal for your first day, the tour offers an insider’s view more current than a guidebook. Uncover local designers and specialty stores. A little history and attention to the amazing architecture will inspire you on this fascinating walking tour. With a small group and a knowledgeable local guide, discover places that you would otherwise never find and get to know and love Melbourne like a local. Other laneway foodie walks are available too. Option with lunch also available (4 hours). Yarra Valley Wine Experience from $104pp Take in some of Victoria’s best wineries in the beautiful Yarra Valley, only one hour’s drive from Melbourne. Expert guides create a social, entertaining and educational day out! Learn how to swirl, sniff, slurp and then sip at cellar door tasting at four premium wineries including a private tour of Domaine Chandon. Kick back and relax over lunch and a glass of wine at one of the most stylish venues in the Yarra Valley, Balgownie Estate. This small group tour offers a personalized insight into the Yarra Valley wine region. Penguins, Koalas & Wildlife from $206pp Hand feed kangaroos and wallabies, visit historic Churchill Island and the Koala Conservation Centre before arriving at Phillip Island to watch as hundreds of little penguins make their way across the beach. Koalas & Kangaroos in the Wild from $192pp Experience Australia’s wild animals, on the grasslands and in gum-tree forests, with an experienced Wildlife Guide. Walk through natural bushland to meet wild koalas that have been part of a research population for 10 years. Learn about each one’s history and social life from a Koala Researcher and help create koala habitat. Walk quietly amongst a wild kangaroo mob. Getting close is thrilling, and takes teamwork and guidance - your Wildlife Guide will be watching their body language closely. Look out for cockatoos, kookaburras, echidnas, parrots, emus and wallabies who share the bush with the kangaroos and koalas. Colonial Tramcar Dinner from $76pp A delightful innovative approach to dining in the first traveling Tramcar Restaurants in the world. As the glossy, burgundy trams cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, diners enjoy a seasonal menu, quality Australian wines or a selection of beverages from a fully stocked bar. Lunch option also available. Melbourne Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight from $365pp Transfer to the departure site where you may help with the launch, or stand back and take pictures. Then away you go, drifting gently over the city of Melbourne in a beautiful balloon. Your flight will last for approximately one hour. After making the final landing and packing up the balloon, head back to the Pullman on the Park for a full buffet champagne breakfast. Suggested Sydney Sightseeing Captain Cook Hop On Hop Off Cruise from $34pp The Hop On Hop Off Cruise is the essential introduction to Sydney Harbour and a great way to see the sights. Experience the harbor highway and destinations as you explore the city on rocket ferries that depart every 45 minutes. Disembark at one of nine stops that include Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, Shark Island and Manly. A three day Sydney Harbour Pass is also available. Taronga Zoo from $103pp One of Sydney’s most famous attractions, the award winning Taronga Zoo is home to over 4,000 animals, including Australian native wildlife, as well as rare and endangered exotic animals. Overlooking the magnificent Sydney Harbour, Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes from the city by ferry. Open 365 days a year, admission includes daily Zoo Keeper talks and shows, and access to the Sky Safari, Sydney’s only cable car. For the ultimate experience, stay in the Zoo overnight on the Roar & Snore package. Bridgeclimb Sydney from $253pp See Sydney at its best – take the climb of your life on the Sydney Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb Sydney. With Climb leaders as your guide, you will suit-up in their specially designed outdoor gear and ascend. From its fascinating underbelly to its summit, 439ft above the Harbour, the Bridge is the pride of Sydney. From dawn until dusk, the view from the top is always different. Climbs are available at dawn (limited departures), during the day, twilight or night. There are three climbs available; BridgeClimb, BridgeClimb Express and BridgeClimb Sampler. Cruise Like a Local from $228pp Cruise Sydney Harbour aboard a 52-foot motor yacht. Pass by the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House before dropping anchor in a secluded cove for a barbecue. Swim, fish or just relax on this small group experience! Tasting in the Hunter – A Wine Lovers Adventure from $212pp Depart Sydney for a private morning tea at a wildlife park en route to the Hunter Valley Wine Region. On arrival, enjoy an exclusive small group wine and cheese pairing at a boutique winery, wine tastings and a fabulous gourmet lunch experience. This is a small group wine tasting experience at its very best. Blue Mountains High Country Eco Tour from $202pp Head north across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Featherdale Wildlife Park. Get up close and personal with kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and wombats before the park opens to the general public.