Sunday, January 22, 2023 - Thursday, February 9, 2023
Australia,
International,
Australia
18-days of hiking, sightseeing and cultural adventures. Australia is diverse, vast, sometimes cosmopolitan and sometimes so remote you'll wonder if there's anyone else on the continent with you! It is one of the world's most dreamed-of destinations. This once-in-a-lifetime, Australian walkabout takes us from the Tasman and Coral Seas to the Indian Ocean, and includes a visit to the famed Great Barrier Reef, a stop in the heart of the Outback to watch the spectacular sunsets and sunrises of the iconic and sacred Uluru (Ayers Rock), where we will also Australia's Aboriginal culture up close. Australia is a land of icons and our trip does not lack for them! On this journey we will visit: Sydney, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, home to Sydney Harbour National Park, famous surf beaches, colorful neighborhoods and perhaps the southern hemisphere's most recognizable structure, the Sydney Opera House. Blue Mountains World Heritage Area: scenic trails through deep canyons, panoramic views from cliff-top lookouts, unique flora and fauna. Perth, the world's most remote city and the nearby Margaret River and Southern Forests region: small farms and vineyards, long stretches of sparsely populated coastline, National Parks and picturesque country towns. Alice Springs, Uluru and the surrounding Outback: unique geological features, ancient rock-art sites and the heartland of Australia's indigenous culture. Cairns and the tropical north: Daintree Rainforest World Heritage Area; Cape Tribulation; the islands, lagoons and undersea life of the Great Barrier Reef. Most days of the tour you can choose to join either a short or long group hike. The shorter hikes, rated easy-moderate, will typically be 3-4 hours in duration, a distance of 6-8 miles, with no climbs greater than 1,000 feet. The longer hikes, rated moderate-vigorous, will be 4-6 hours in duration, a distance of 10-12 miles, with no climbs greater than 2,000 feet. There is much to unpack and experience on this trip. We will keep a steady pace of transfers that allows us to see as much as we can in our 18-day span. You will want to to travel light for this one!
