Australia Vacation Deal | Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays & Brisbane

11 Days Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays & Brisbane

This deal has expired, please contact About Australia directly to get a firm quote based on current prices for your preferred travel dates.

To Book: 888-359-2877 (M-F, 8:30am-5pm CT USA)

Booking Code: ST-TA190

Travel Agency Reviews

Cindy Guillett Beytin

A--MAZ--ING!

Wow, we booked this trip through About Australia knowing it would probably be our only time to go there. They chose the BEST highlights, arranged EVERYTHING, and it was fantastic! I don't think it could have been better. In Melbourne (Melbin) we did an excellent 3 hour foodie walking tour, rode the free tram everywhere, loved the Market, stayed a an apartment, visited an animal park AND experienced the Penguin Project! In Cairns (Cans) we went to the Great Barrier Reef and in wet suits(...)

Read More...

(...) (at 62 yrs old) snorkeled for an amazing experience not to be missed. We stayed in a hotel walking distance to the water. In Sydney, we used our 2 day Harbor boat pass to explore SO much (Darling Harbor, Manly, the Opera House,...) We also had an apartment near everything, ate great meals, and loved Sydney.
For us, the flights over and back were SO much better in Premium Economy that we thought they'd be. Definitely worth the little extra money. I am just go grateful to Chris & About Australia for this terrific, life-changing trip!

Carol Palo

Such a well rounded first class adventure

Virgin Australia made the lengthy flight enjoyable.The hotel, Breakfree, was in the heart of town, spacious clean comfortable room and front desk staff bent over backwards to assist us with all kinds of requests. The tours were informative and fun. We had time to do a few things on our own, like having dinner at the top of Sydney tower our last night. On the Blue Mountain tour, we even had an impromptu chance to spot an emu in a large field and wound up feeding him apples from our hands. I(...)

Read More...

(...) feel for a five day stay in Sydney, we had a great variety of quality adventures. I'm recommending you to everyone and hope I can return again. I would be happy to also give you more detailed input on the whole trip if you like. I have photos I'll send soon.

John & Jeanne Koch

Beautiful country and wonderful people

Jeanne and I highly recommend a trip to Australia and to use About Australia for your arrangements! Everything they recommended we tried to fit into our schedule and it was well worth it. We especially loved Cairns and snorkeling on the Barrier Reef and hope to go back again at some point to spend more time there. One day on the water was not enough!
All of our flight arrangements made by About Australia were good except our return flight from Sydney to San Francisco. Qantas changed the(...)

Read More...

(...) seating (could not sleep) we had paid extra for but returned our money. And US Customs took forever and we barely made our flight with only an 1-1/2 hr layover but our bags did not. they didn't make it to us until the next day! This two issues, neither of which were About Australia's fault did not deter from a great vacation "down under"! So don't delay....make your plans!

Melissa Salerno

Wow! An Unforgettable Trip

Koda and her company were a dream to work with. Everything was easy to understand and tailored to meet our needs. This was our first time using a tour type package and agent and I was glad we did. Our trip was planned out beautifully for us. Everything was streamlined, easy, fun and friendly with top notch impeccable services, tours and hotels. We had a great balance of scheduled tours and time to self discover. I would highly recommend and will use in the future!

Trip Details

When you dream about your next vacation, do you imagine relaxing on a long stretch of beach? Do you want to see world-famous sights of natural beauty? The east coast of Australia is where your next beachfront getaway resides.

Head to the heart of the Great Barrier Reef where an archipelago of green islands with smooth, white sands are surrounded by clear blue waters.

Experience the diversity of Australia’s paradise in the relaxed resort town of Airlie Beach, Daydream Island, where the Great Barrier Reef is right outside your door, and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Brisbane.

With breathtaking islands and iconic cities to explore, this package takes you to the best of Australia’s tropical delights!

Photo: Tourism Australia

Begin your vacation with an international flight on Virgin Australia, on the sleek and safe Boeing 777. Settle into your seat and relax with the peace of mind knowing you’re flying with one of the world’s top 20 airlines. After an inflight dinner it’s lights out, and before you know it you’ll wake up in Australia.

Gold Coast

Arrive in Brisbane, where you’ll take a transfer to the Gold Coast. Sun-kissed beaches and boundless waves are at the forefront of the Gold Coast, known as Australia’s endless playground.

You’ll spend three nights in a spacious 4-star apartment-style hotel, just one block away from the beach in Surfers Paradise. You’ll find plenty of sand to roll out a beach towel, pop up some shade, slow the pace and just chill.

Ready to meet some exciting locals?

The day after your arrival on the Gold Coast you’ll take a trip to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a heritage-listed sanctuary home to one of the world’s largest collections of native Australian wildlife!

Getting up close and personal with wildlife doesn’t get more intimate than this. Featuring over 1,500 animals and dozens of entertaining, immersive shows, you’ll need a whole day to explore the sanctuary.

• Cuddle up with a koala for a photo opt – the only souvenir you’ll need!
• Hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies.
• Marvel at the dozens of rainbow lorikeets as they rest on your shoulder.
• Meet an array of Australia’s reptiles.
• Feel the stunning white coat of Marrok, a pure white alpine dingo and star of the Sanctuary.

In your free-time, you’ll experience the quintessential Australian lifestyle of the Gold Coast. Kick the day off with a beachside yoga session or sunrise stroll, get salty with a morning surf, or explore the lush national parks surrounding the Gold Coast. By night the vibrant entertainment scene welcomes the party-loving set, cocktails in hand, at lounges, laid-back music venues and rooftop bars.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach. Photo: Tourism Australia

After your days in the Gold Coast you’ll head to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays. Nestled further north along the coast of Queensland, Airlie Beach sits directly across the Whitsunday Islands. These islands are where local Australians play, sailing across the calm, turquoise waters and exploring the secluded beaches of these island wonders.

You’ll spend two nights in a gorgeous 4-star accommodation set right next to the ocean. Spend your days relaxing by the sparkling pool, taking in the endless views of the blue ocean, or wander along the Airlie Beach boardwalk. If you set your eyes far along the horizon you can catch a glimpse of sailboats and yachts setting out to the Whitsundays.

Now it’s your turn to explore the Whitsundays.

Daydream Island

Daydream Island

After your stay in Airlie Beach, you’ll board a ferry to Daydream Island. Known as the jewel of the Whitsundays, this mile-long island is the perfect base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and other Whitsunday islands.

You’ll stay two nights at a recently refurbished 4-star resort, perfectly capturing the serenity of this island paradise. The endless views of the turquoise ocean surround this idyllic island, edged with coral beaches home to friendly wallabies.

• Experience an educational talk while watching divers navigate the onsite Living Reef, home to a range of thriving marine life, and narrate their journey.
• Enter the Living Reef and take a splash with baby rays, followed by a talk and tour of the Underwater Observatory.
• Take a chance to get close and personal with some of the Living Reef residents, including colorful fish, baby reef sharks and sea stars.
• Join Marine Biologists as they take you through the restricted areas of the lagoon for a hands on exclusive look at the Living Reef with time to experience the brand new Touch Tanks.

With an array of activities on offer across the island, you can experience the luxury of diving into a snorkeling adventure or exploring the island and surrounding Great Barrier Reef by helicopter, sail boat or jet ski. Don’t miss your chance to spend a day at famous Whitehaven Beach, renowned for its pristine white sands. Take an optional day trip to Whitehaven Beach from Daydream Island and enjoy a wonderful beach day on one of the world’s top rated beaches.

Brisbane

Kayaking in Brisbane. Photo: Brisbane Marketing

Once the sun sets on your last day on Daydream Island, you’ll head to your final destination: Brisbane. As the capital of Australia’s tropical state of Queensland, Brisbane perfectly captures Australia’s urban culture and love of outdoor adventures.

Spend 2 nights in a sleek and stylish 4-star accommodation in the heart of city. This upscale, apartment-style hotel offers the comforts of home with the excitement of Brisbane’s iconic destinations nearby. A mecca of designer shops and boutiques at the Queen Street Mall is only minutes away, and the nearby riverside precincts along Eagle Street and South Bank offer exceptional waterfront dining overlooking the Brisbane River.

Take a free day to explore all Brisbane has to offer. From museums and art galleries to expansive parklands and exceptional riverside dining, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

• Relax at Streets Beach, Brisbane’s inner city beach in the South Bank district. The sparkling man-made lagoon surrounded by white sandy beaches set against Brisbane’s towering skyscrapers is an incredible sight to behold.
• Try kayaking on the river or catch the City Hopper Ferry to various riverside attractions including the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum.
• Explore the Brisbane Botanical Gardens and Roma Street Parklands for wide, open greenery with grassy areas to enjoy a picnic, walking tracks and native wildlife.
• Join a whale watching cruise to see migrating humpback whales between the months of June and October.

As the sun sets on your last days in Brisbane, you’ll dream of when you can come back.

The best part? You didn’t have to stress out about your trip by planning a single thing. Putting together all the moving parts of a trip to the other side of the world can be overwhelming. From booking flights and hotels to communicating with shuttle services and tours, making sure everything goes smoothly can be a full-job.

As experts in Australian travel, we put trips like these together all day. From the moment you speak to our Destination Specialists to your plane touching down back home after your vacation, we’ll make sure every aspect of your trip goes smoothly. Let’s begin your Australia vacation today!

*Terms & Conditions:

About Australia is proud to be an ARC Accredited Agency, part of the most select group of dedicated professionals in the U.S. travel industry recognized as having met stringent financial, personnel, and security requirements. About Australia’s ARC # 45581863

View Full Website