Australia Explorer with Indian meals
Tour code AKSR0093. Luxury Tours. 8 days, 7 cities.
Sydney (2 nights), Canberra (2 nights), Melbourne (3 nights), Melbourne
Starts in Sydney. Ends at Melbourne.
Dates on request.
About This Tour
Eight days in Australia with Indian meals along the way, covering Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. You start with a day in the Blue Mountains with the Scenic World rides, then take a Sydney city tour before driving to Canberra for a full day around the capital's landmarks.
In Melbourne you travel the Great Ocean Road for a full day, tour the city and watch the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island. Daily breakfast, private transfers and a driver guide are included, and the pace gives you time to enjoy each city without rushing.
This Australia tour is an eight day, seven night trip through Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, with the Blue Mountains, the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island along the way. Daily breakfast is at the hotel, lunches and Indian dinners are included as listed in the day plan, and Indian vegetarian, Jain and Swaminarayan meals are available as per group requirements. You stay in three-star hotels, with private airport transfers and a professional driver cum guide.
You arrive in Sydney for a short tour briefing and dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant. Day two is a full day in the Blue Mountains, with Katoomba village, the Three Sisters, Echo Point and the Scenic World railway, cable car and Skyway over the eucalyptus forest. The next morning you join a Sydney city orientation tour, then drive to Canberra.
In Canberra you take in the view from Mount Ainslie Lookout and see New Parliament House, subject to availability, the Royal Australian Mint and the Australian National University. The drive to Melbourne stops in the town of Albury along the way.
From Melbourne you spend a full day on the Great Ocean Road, with the Twelve Apostles, the Shipwreck Coast and Port Campbell National Park. The next day brings a Melbourne city tour and Phillip Island with the Penguin Parade, before your transfer to the airport on day eight. The longest drives are Sydney to Canberra and Canberra to Melbourne, and both end with a hot Indian dinner.
Highlights
- Blue Mountains tour
- Great Ocean Road tour
- Vegetarian and Jain meals
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Sydney
Sydney
Arrive in Sydney and complete immigration and customs formalities. Meet your driver at the arrivals hall and proceed with a private transfer to your Sydney hotel. Standard hotel check-in begins from 3:00 PM. The rest of the day is free to relax after your journey. In the evening, attend a short tour briefing followed by dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant.
Hotel: Ibis Sydney or Similar
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Blue Mountains tour
Sydney, Blue Mountains, Sydney
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic full-day excursion to the Blue Mountains. Travel through Katoomba village and visit the famous Three Sisters rock formation. Experience Scenic World, including the thrilling inclined railway, cable car, and Skyway offering breathtaking views of the eucalyptus forests and valleys. Later, visit Echo Point and learn about the natural beauty and Aboriginal heritage of the region.
Hotel: Ibis Sydney or Similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Sydney City tour & transfer to Canberra
Sydney, Canberra
After breakfast, check out and proceed for a guided Sydney city orientation tour covering key landmarks and popular attractions. After lunch, continue your journey to Canberra, Australia’s capital city. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening with hot Indian dinner.
Hotel: Ibis Budget Canberra or Similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Full Day Canberra City tour
Canberra
After breakfast, begin your Canberra sightseeing tour with Mount Ainslie Lookout, offering panoramic views of the city. Continue to important landmarks including New Parliament House, subject to availability, the Royal Australian Mint, and the Australian National University. Learn about Australia’s political, cultural, and academic significance before returning to your hotel.
Hotel: Ibis Budget Canberra or Similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Canberra to Melbourne
Canberra, Albury, Melbourne
After breakfast, check out from your Canberra hotel and begin your scenic drive to Melbourne. En route, stop at Albury to stretch and explore this charming town. Continue onward to Melbourne. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy a hot Indian dinner.
Hotel: St. Kilda Oaks or Similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Great Ocean Road tour
Melbourne, Great Ocean Road, Melbourne
After breakfast, set out on one of Australia’s most spectacular coastal drives, the Great Ocean Road. Admire the dramatic limestone formations of the Twelve Apostles, enjoy views of the Shipwreck Coast, and explore the scenic landscapes around Port Campbell National Park. Return to Melbourne for overnight stay.
Hotel: St. Kilda Oaks or Similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Melbourne City tour with Phillip Island
Melbourne, Phillip Island, Melbourne
After breakfast, set out on a guided Melbourne city tour covering the major attractions of the city. Your professional driver cum guide leads the way in an air-conditioned vehicle, and lunch is included along the way.
Later in the day, leave the city behind and continue to Phillip Island. Here you watch the Penguin Parade, the last sightseeing stop of the tour and one of its highlights. Today also includes a hot Indian dinner, with vegetarian and Jain meals available as per group requirements. Return to Melbourne for your third and final night at the hotel before the airport transfer on day eight.
Hotel: St. Kilda Oaks or Similar
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Depart Melbourne
Melbourne
After breakfast, check out from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Your Australia Explorer tour ends with wonderful memories of Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Blue Mountains, Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island.
Meals: Breakfast
What is included
Hotels and stays
- 2 Nights accommodation in Sydney at a 3 Star hotel (Ibis Sydney or similar)
- 2 Nights accommodation in Canberra at a 3 Star hotel (Ibis Budget Canberra or similar)
- 3 Nights accommodation in Melbourne at a 3Star hotel (St. Kilda Oaks or similar)
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Option to upgrade to 4Star hotels (additional cost applicable)
Meals
- Lunches and Indian dinners as mentioned in the itinerary
- Vegetarian & Jain meals available (as per group requirements)
Coach and ground transport
- All airport transfers on a private basis
- All intercity transfers and sightseeing in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional driver cum guide services
- All internal travel and transportation as per itinerary
Sightseeing and entry fees
- Blue Mountains excursion with Scenic World rides
- Melbourne city tour with major attractions
Other
- Sydney city orientation tour
- Canberra city tour including key landmarks
- Great Ocean Road full-day tour
- Phillip Island tour with Penguin Parade
What is not included
Hotels and stays
- Early check-in / late check-out charges at hotels
Meals
- Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
Flights and visa
- International airfare (to/from Australia)
- Australia visa charges
- Any increase in airfare, taxes, fuel surcharge, or exchange rate fluctuations
- Flight delays or cancellations
Travel insurance
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Tips and gratuities
- Tips, porterage, and gratuities
Personal expenses
- Any personal expenses such as:
- Laundry
- Telephone calls
- Shopping
- Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
- Anything not specifically mentioned under “Inclusions”
Optional tours
- Any optional tours or activities not mentioned in inclusions
Other
- Mini bar usage
- Any cost arising due to:
- Weather conditions
- Natural calamities
- Political situations
- Force majeure circumstances
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Australia?
If you travel on a US passport, you need an Australian ETA, an electronic travel authority approved before you fly. Indian passport holders, including green card holders, need an Australian visitor visa. Visa charges are not part of the tour price. Contact us and we will guide you on what each person in your family needs and how early to start.
Are the meals vegetarian?
Yes. Breakfast is at the hotel every day. Lunches and Indian dinners are included as listed in the day plan, which shows breakfast, lunch and dinner from Day 2 to Day 7, and the first evening ends with dinner at an Indian restaurant near your Sydney hotel. Vegetarian and Jain meals are arranged around the group's needs, so tell us what your family eats when you book. Drinks with meals are extra.
What kind of hotels are used, and what is not included?
Hotels are 3 star: Ibis Sydney, Ibis Budget Canberra and St. Kilda Oaks in Melbourne, or similar, with an option to upgrade to 4 star hotels at extra cost. The price does not include international airfare, visa charges, travel insurance, drinks, tips and porterage, optional tours, early check-in and late check-out, or costs from flight delays and weather.
How much time do we spend in each city?
Two nights in Sydney, two in Canberra and three in Melbourne. Sydney includes a full day in the Blue Mountains with the Scenic World rides. Canberra gets a full city day. The drive from Canberra to Melbourne is long, with a stop in Albury to stretch your legs. From Melbourne you do the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade.
Who guides the tour, and how do we get around?
A professional driver who also works as your guide. Airport transfers are private, and every intercity journey and sightseeing day is in an air-conditioned vehicle. No domestic flights are needed, because Sydney to Canberra to Melbourne is all by road. That keeps the trip simple, with no extra airport check-ins and no extra baggage limits to manage.
When does this tour run, and what is the weather like?
Dates are on request right now. Seasons in Australia are the opposite of the US, and Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne are at their most comfortable from about October to April. Canberra nights can be cold, and Phillip Island gets windy after sunset in any month, so pack a warm jacket. Call or WhatsApp us at 888-881-5755 for the next departure.
Need to know
- Meals on arrival and departure days depend on flight times. If your flight lands early in the morning or leaves late in the evening, Akshar Travels will arrange the meals for that day
- If a sight is closed on the day it is scheduled, we will replace it with a comparable sight on the same tour
- Hotel check-in is usually 3:00 pm and check-out is usually 12:00 noon. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and may carry a charge
- Baggage on domestic and internal flights follows the airline's own policy and weight limits, which are often lower than on your international flight. Please pack to the lowest allowance on your tour. Excess baggage fees are charged by the airline and paid by the guest
Cancellation policy
- 50 days or more before departure: 30%
- 21 to 49 days before departure: 50%
- 20 days or less before departure: 100%