Sydney and the Australian Outback Grand Voyage
27 Nights Featuring Sydney, Uluru, Brisbane, Cairns, Port Douglas, Christchurch and Wellington
February 6, 2026
Australia is often at the top of travelers’ bucket lists—and for good reason. From the iconic Sydney Opera House to the rugged Australian Outback, the land Down Under features a nonstop lineup of dramatic landscapes and sophisticated cities. On this Enrichment Journey, you will experience the incredible culture, famous icons and pristine natural environments of this fascinating country. In Sydney, you will get up close and personal with baby kangaroos and explore the vibrant atmosphere of Bondi Beach, topped off with an impressive tour inside the extraordinary Opera House. You will stand in awe of Uluru’s monolith, Ayers Rock, during sunrise, listen to Aboriginal stories in the Outback’s “red center,” and marvel as the colors dance off the rock at sunset. Then, board the Celebrity Edge for an unforgettable cruise to Queensland and cosmopolitan Brisbane. Swim in the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef while in the ports of Cairns and Port Douglas. Then, continue your cruise to New Zealand’s most popular destinations. Bask in the breathtaking beauty of the Milford Sound, explore Wellington, Christchurch and more before disembarking in Auckland for your return flight home. On this remarkable Journey, you will enjoy an unforgettable exploration of the best that Australia and New Zealand have to offer.
Infinite Veranda from $12,699 per person
Journey Highlights
Memorable Experiences, Scenic Views, and Exciting Moments
At a Glance
Feed a Kangaroo
At the Featherdale Wildlife Park, you’ll see some of Australia’s famous animals, including crocodile, koala, Tasmanian devil, dingo and wombat. For a truly great interactive experience with the kangaroos, you may wish to purchase some feed and engage in the fun of hand feeding them.
Stay in the Outback at Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
During your stay, you’ll witness the stunning Uluru sunrise as you watch the day’s first light illuminate Uluru in a fantastic array of ever-changing colors.
Visit the Sydney Opera House
Discover the architectural marvel and cultural heart of Sydney, where world-class performances and breathtaking harbor views come together.
Cruise Onboard the Celebrity Edge
During your cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns and bask in the powdery white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Whitsunday Islands.
Day 1 – Arrive Sydney
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel. After check-in, you’ll have time to get settled in before joining your fellow travelers for an exciting welcome dinner. This evening, embark an exclusive vessel just for Enrichment Journey guests and enjoy dinner and a scenic cruise of Sydney Harbor to welcome you to Australia.
Please note that Enrichment Journeys must have a minimum number of guests on this tour to host a private dinner cruise. If the group size is less than required, we will move the welcome dinner to a local restaurant. If you wish to spend more time in Sydney, ask your Personal Vacation Manager about the optional hotel extension—which will add one night to your Sydney hotel stay.
Day 2 – Sydney
Today we will explore the beauty of Sydney. Depart to Featherdale Wildlife Park where your tour manager will introduce you to some of the park’s residents including a native dingo and wombat. Ample free time is provided for you to explore this delightful attraction and view the animals and native fauna at your own pace. For a truly great interactive experience with the kangaroos, you may wish to purchase some feed and engage in the fun of hand feeding them.
Then set off to visit The Gap and Bondi Beach. Located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, the cliff formations of The Gap and golden sands of Bondi Beach attract visitors year-round from all corners of the world. At Bondi, you will have time to stretch your legs, stroll along the esplanade and grab lunch, all the while enjoying the spectacular views. Following your visit to Bondi, we will continue to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, located adjacent to the Botanical Gardens. Here, you will stop for the quintessential photo of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Return to the hotel for the evening at your leisure.
Day 3 – Sydney to Ayers Rock
Check out of the hotel and proceed to the airport for your flight to Ayers Rock. To travel lightly, your larger luggage will be stored at the hotel for your return to Sydney. Just be sure to pack 3 days’ worth of clothes, medication and your walking shoes! Ayers Rock, or Uluru, is one of Australia’s most identifiable icons. The large sandstone rock formation lies in the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park approximately 279 miles southwest from Alice Springs. The Ayers Rock site is considered sacred to the local Aborigines. The rock’s color changes spectacularly with the sunrise and sunset, gradually turning to various shades of red as it fades into or out of the night. Travel to your hotel for lunch and check-in.
Reunite for your walking tour around the base of Uluru. On the tour around the base of the rock, see ancient rock-paintings, water holes and hear stories of Aboriginal legends. Then an evening of beauty awaits you at the Uluru sunset viewing area. Enjoy the scenic landscape as the sun sinks over the western horizon and the evening sky brings out the many shades of color for which Uluru is famous. Following the Uluru sunset viewing experience, you will return to your hotel for an evening at your leisure.
Day 4 – Ayers Rock
After breakfast, depart for a walk of the Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge. These rock formations are to the west of Ayers Rock and stand more than 1600 feet above the plain. The gigantic domes of Kata Tjuta/Mt. Olga, the traditional name meaning “many heads,” are indeed just that and in fact include thirty-six domes! You will be able to walk along the path of the natural creek bed between the red walls of Walpa Gorge.
After, you will travel to the western section of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park where the guide will provide information about the unique and interesting history of the area. Learn of the flora and fauna of the region – some of the plants you will see are so rare that they are only found in and around these rocky formations. Here, you will have a photo stop that will take in the complete vista. Return to the hotel with free time for lunch and relax before a special cultural activity that awaits you this afternoon. Enjoy a group dinner in the hotel this evening as our last night in the outback.
Please note: The Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge walk is about 1 mile each way on an uneven, rocky surface and takes approximately 1 hour to do. Please refer to our physical activity section for more information.
Day 5 – Ayers Rock to Sydney
Rise early to catch the stunning Uluru sunrise and watch the day’s first light illuminate Uluru in a fantastic array of ever-changing colors. Then it’s back to the hotel for breakfast before departing for the airport. Enjoy a takeaway lunch from the resort for the plane ride back to Sydney. Transfer back to your Sydney hotel and check-in, where you’ll be reunited with your luggage stored for safekeeping. Enjoy the evening at your leisure. Perhaps take a stroll through Hyde Park and have dinner at one of the many local restaurants.
Day 6 – Sydney Embarkation
After breakfast in the hotel and check-out, get ready for one of those bucket list items—a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House! Step inside and discover the legendary history and extraordinary secrets of the Opera House on an exclusive tour of this amazing venue and soak in every curve of its ornate architecture. What a way to finish your land Journey through Sydney and the outback! You’ll then be transferred to the cruise terminal where you’ll board the Celebrity Edge for an 22-night cruise to the gems of Australia and New Zealand.
Please note: The Opera House tour includes up to 300 steps with limited elevator access.
Day 7 - 27 – Cruising onboard the Celebrity Edge
Ports of call include Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns (Yorkey's Knob), Port Douglas and Willis Island (Cruising), Australia; and Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds (Cruising), Dunedin, Christchurch, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
Day 28 – Auckland Disembarkation
Enjoy breakfast onboard, then disembark the Celebrity Edge and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
For meals not included in your land programs, all hotels chosen include a restaurant on property where you may relax and enjoy a meal. In addition, your guide is available to make suggestions on nearby dining, shopping or sightseeing.
Celebrity Edge
Celebrity Edge is the first of four sister Edge-class ships and contains many unique features and a modern design unseen on any other ships.
Sails in the Desert Ayers Rock Resort
In the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, Sails in the Desert hotel beautifully contrasts Uluru’s raw natural beauty with a decidedly luxurious outback holiday experience.
Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
Situated in the heart of Sydney, Australia, a five-star hotel is a great destination to connect to while savoring incredible views of downtown and Hyde Park.
Please note this list is preliminary and subject to change. Although we contract for hotels a year or more in advance, unforeseen circumstances do occasionally require a change of hotel. Should it be necessary to change a hotel, one of equal quality or value will be substituted and you will receive confirmed hotel information with your final itinerary.
Special Offer
Limited Time Bonus $200 Gift Card
Journey on Celebrity Cruises with up to $1,100 Onboard Credit OR FREE Tips Exclusively from Us. Valid for select departures. Drinks & Wi-Fi are All Included.
This Journey
5-night pre-cruise land program in Australia
6 guided tours
9 meals on tour (5 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners) and all meals onboard
Intra-tour airfare, including transfers and baggage handling
22-night sailing aboard the Celebrity Edge
Drinks and Wi-Fi Onboard
Always Included
International airfare, including transfers and baggage handling
English-speaking Local Guide during land program on most departures
Guaranteed early hotel check-in on arrival day (pre-cruise tours only)
Centrally located four- and five-star hotels
Inclusive pricing: includes airfare, land program, cruise, transfers, and all taxes and fees
Exclusive amenities onboard your cruise (see special offers)
10% off shore excursions
Sunset Magic in Sydney and the Outback
Prepare to be captivated! Join us as we celebrate the magical sunsets of Sydney and the magnificent Australian Outback in this immersive video Journey. Whether it's the vibrant hues reflecting off the Sydney Opera House or the serene landscapes of the Outback, this adventure promises a unique blend of experiences that will leave you longing for more!
Extend Your Journey
More time to relax, explore and make the most of your trip.
Hotel Extension
Want an extra day to adjust to the new time zone? With this optional extension you will arrive to Sydney a day early and have one extra day to relax at the hotel before the tour starts. Note: tours are not included. Price of $219 per person (based on double occupancy) includes 1-night hotel accommodations in Sydney with daily breakfast and private transfer from airport to hotel (applicable when air is booked through Enrichment Journeys).
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More Information
What to Know Before You Go
The land portion of the trip should be considered active and includes a considerable amount of walking.
While in the outback, the Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge walk is about 1 mile each way on an uneven, rocky surface and takes approximately 1 hour to do. Guests are encouraged to go at their own pace and may decide to head back to the coach whenever they feel comfortable and wait for the group to return. While on the Sydney Opera house tour you can be expected to climb approximately 300 steps during the duration of the tour, with little or no elevator access.
Enrichment Journeys will do everything in our power to ensure comfort through our third-party providers, including air-conditioned buses and comfortable accommodations where applicable. However, some areas cannot be accessed by coach, so our drivers will get you as close to sites as is legally allowed. Sensible, rubber-soled walking shoes are strongly recommended. Historical sites often do not have elevators, escalators, or ramps due to the age of the building/structure. Steps can be steep and uneven. Based on crowds and traffic, order of visits may be changed. You may have to walk a moderate distance to transfer to coach stations and airport terminals. Time spent on the road and traveling can be long, so you will need to be prepared for stretches of down time in between destinations.
Wheelchair access at many sites is limited. A fold-up wheelchair may be able to be stored on the bus but requires prior arrangements. Guests must be able to transfer from their chair to the transportation. Guides/drivers are not allowed to lift or push wheelchairs, so guests requiring physical assistance must travel with a companion who can assist. Motorized wheelchairs and scooters cannot be accommodated on this group program.
Included airfare is from select airports only. To inquire about a different airport, please contact your Personal Vacation Manager.
Enrichment Journeys is committed to providing remarkable experiences at extraordinary value. As a result, airlines and routes are selected to maximize that value and may involve multiple stops and extended layovers versus non-stop or direct flights. Passengers wishing to utilize specific carriers, direct/non-stop flights, Business Class upgrades, or to extend their time in any of our beginning or ending destination cities may do so by contacting Enrichment Journeys and inquiring about the Custom Airfare Program. There is a $100 per person charge for this service, however this charge will be applied toward any flights or upgrades you choose to purchase. The $100 charge must be paid prior to receiving a custom air quote.
To travel internationally, you must have a passport in good condition, and it must be valid for at least 6 months after the last day of your trip. Visa requirements change frequently and for various reasons. As a result, our Personal Vacation Managers are not always able to provide visa information. The best way to obtain up-to-date information regarding visa requirements is to visit the official US government website for Americans traveling abroad, Travel.State.Gov (Canadian citizens should visit https://travel.gc.ca/, for all other countries please visit your government website or local embassy), which details specific information on the countries you would like to visit, including visa requirements. You may also use a third-party visa service, such as Expedited Travel. These services require an additional service fee but make the process of applying for a visa much simpler.
To extend a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your Journey, please speak to a Personal Vacation Manager for assistance in making those arrangements.
If you are interested in customizing your Journey, pairing it with a different cruise, or arranging a private tour for your party, you may be interested in our Private Journeys program. You can learn more about this program here, or speak to a Personal Vacation Manager for more information.
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