Australia

Private Guide Tours

16 Day Australia Highlights Tour: Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Sydney & More

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Discover our 16-Day Australia Highlights Tour

Experience the best of Australia on this immersive highlights tour that blends vibrant cities, ancient landscapes, and natural wonders. Begin in Melbourne where laneways, street art, and café culture set the tone for a dynamic urban adventure. Fly to the heart of the Red Centre to witness the awe-inspiring Uluru and Kata Tjuta, with guided walks, Aboriginal cultural insights, and unforgettable desert sunsets. From there head north to Cairns for a full-day cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, where snorkelling reveals the world’s largest coral ecosystem. End in Sydney, exploring iconic landmarks like the Opera House and Bondi Beach. With quality accommodations, expert local guides and several meals included, this well-paced itinerary is perfect for travellers seeking a seamless and enriching Australian adventure.

Build your own Australian tour

The activities listed above are just a glimpse of what’s possible! We pride ourselves on creating bespoke experiences tailored to your interests and desires. If you have specific activities or destinations in mind, let us know, and we’ll craft a personalised itinerary just for you. Every journey is unique, and we’re here to make yours perfect. Dream big – your adventure is waiting to be customised!

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Matt

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We offer a mix of private local guides, small group and self drive experiences. Feel free to select both if that’s of interest.

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Top attractions in Australia

Must-See

Added to 10 trips

Adelaide Hills

Kangaroo Island

Must-See

Added to 51 trips

Kangaroo Island

Grand Pacific Drive

Must-See

Added to 38 trips

Grand Pacific Drive

Must-See

Added to 98 trips

Sydney City

Must-See

Added to 29 trips

Uluru

Must-See

Added to 25 trips

Port Douglas

Great Barrier Reef

Must-See

Added to 94 trips

Great Barrier Reef

Must-See

Added to 84 trips

Melbourne City

Your 16 day Australian road trip itinerary

16 day journey exploring key destinations across Australia's diverse landscapes.

Victoria

South Australia

Queensland

Northern Territory

New South Wales

DAY 1
1. Melbourne Arrival
DAY 2
1. Melbourne Guided Experience
DAY 3
1. Melbourne Sightseeing (Food and Exploration)

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 1

Melbourne Arrival

YOUR DAY

Welcome to Australia. You will be met at the airport and transferred into the city by shuttle. From here the day is free to explore Melbourne and discover some of it’s incredible cafes, bars, restaurants and landmarks at your leisure. We provide a detailed interactive travel app that will ensure that the best spots are able to be navigated by the push of a button.

DAY 2

Melbourne Guided Experience

YOUR DAY

The best way to truly experience Melbourne is with a local expert who can tailor the day to your interests. Today, we’ll arrange for one of our experienced guides to meet you at your hotel and take you on a personalised walking tour of the city.

Rather than following a set itinerary, we’ll customise the experience based on what excites you most — whether that’s Melbourne’s iconic laneways and café culture, its vibrant street art scene, rich Indigenous history, striking architecture, or quirky historic tales.

With really any walking tour theme to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Some favourites include:

Lanes & Arcades Tour – uncover hidden cafes, boutique shops and colourful street art
The Lost City of Melbourne – delve into Melbourne’s forgotten history
Sustainable or Fabulous Architecture Tours – explore the city’s cutting-edge and classic designs
Indigenous Landscapes Tour – a meaningful look at the city’s cultural heritage
Crime & Scandal Tours – tales of Melbourne’s colourful past
Local Neighbourhood Walks – like St Kilda, Docklands, or the Queen Victoria Market

Just let us know your interests, and we’ll ensure your guide crafts the perfect Melbourne experience — unique, engaging, and made just for you.

DAY 3

Melbourne Sightseeing (Food and Exploration)

YOUR DAY

Today is a full day to explore Melbourne and experience the ins and outs of this vibrant metropolis. Melbourne has long been hailed as the foodie capital of Australia, and its cuisine is as diverse as the city itself. this afternoon you will join a walking food tour, discover Melbourne’s best restaurants, coffee shops, and street food vendors with a local expert. Along the way, explore the city’s narrow laneways, historical arcades, and vibrant street art — and, of course, sample a variety of delicious foods.

This afternoon i recommend checking out the Queen Victoria Market

Tonight i recommend Izakaya Domo Or Cha Ching for dinner

What’s included?

Flights connecting all destinations in the tour

One expert to arrange both New Zealand and Australia tour plans

Your choice of accommodation. Silver (4 star) gold (5 star) or platinum (luxury lodge) options available

Most breakfasts, select lunches and dinners

A choice of self-drive and privately guided transport

In-depth and detailed custom travel guide

Listed activities (the list is fully customisable)

Full insurance coverage on rented vehicles

Overnight parking where necessary

Custom tour creation with one of our travel experts

What’s not included?

Return international flights

Personal travel insurance

Some lunches and dinners

Individual shopping and souvenirs

Extra, optional activities

Why Book a Bespoke Package With The Road Trip

Freedom to Explore

Tailored Experiences

Driver-Inclusive Tour and Self-Drive Options

Unrivaled Expertise

Prioritizing Wellbeing

Personalized Pricing

16 Day Australia Highlights Tour FAQs

Can we see more of Australia, such as Perth or other cities?

Absolutely! We can expand your tour to include destinations like Perth or other notable cities and regions in Australia. Just let us know your interests, and we will customise your itinerary to explore more of Australia's diverse landscapes and attractions.

Is it possible to drive more and explore off-the-beaten-path locations?

Yes, we can adjust your itinerary to include more driving and visits to less-traveled, off-the-beaten-path locations. This way, you can experience hidden gems and local favorites that are not typically included in standard tours. Let us know your preferences, and we will create a unique adventure for you.

Can we make the tour shorter?

Yes, we can certainly shorten the tour to fit your schedule. However, please note that this will require removing some destinations or activities. Let us know your timeframe, and we will create a streamlined itinerary that still covers the highlights you wish to see.

Real and Independent Traveller Feedback

READ all testimonials

These guys are good! They put our itinerary together based on a mutual discussion(s) and di a very good job. The highlight was the end of the Trip in Port Douglas, a GREAT hotel-The Peninsula, and two great tours, the Daintree Rain Forest , Far North Escapes, where the guide-Jason was amazing and then The Great Barrier Reef with Wavelength for snorkeling-AMZING and the crew were fantastic. Highly recommend these guys. By the way Yamilla is fantastic as well.

Stephen S

Couple From the USA

Our trip was amazing, everything happened just as it was supposed to! I really appreciate Yamila’s efforts to plan our trip just as we asked, everything was well organized. From our transportation arrangements to our private guide Glenn who took us to the Blue mountains, the personnel were excellent. We packed a lot in 3 days each Sydney and Ayers Rock.

C B

Family of 7 (one who is non-ambulatory)

Dear Yamila & The Road Trip Team Thank you for your making my Sydney-Gold Coast Road Trip a smooth one. I would say there wasn't any hiccup along the trip. Everything well taken care of; from airport transfer to hotel bookings to rental car and some tour bookings. My family really enjoyed the holiday. What I really love was the freedom to drive anywhere with recommendations to go. It was very comprehensive. My kids loved the hotels you booked for us, especially the Anchorage and Pepper Soul! You made our maiden road drive in Australia to a new level. It is definitely an memorable experience. We are already thinking of another road trip in Australia! Thank you once again!

Flyer786747

Couple From America.

21-day Australia trip was fabulous. We didn't want to drive the Australian roads, so The Road Trip organized all of the hotels, transportation and guided tours. The Road Trip team, especially Yamila, had everything planned and they even helped make changes as new opportunities came up. The trip itinerary appealed to everyone as there was the perfect combination of beach, sightseeing, tours, downtime, and outdoor activities. Our favorites included: penguin parade, full-day snorkel tour, night walk tour in the rainforest, and the canyon hike through the Blue Mountain National Park. All six of us agreed that we couldn't have seen or done as much as we did if it wasn't for The Road Trip team. We will be contacting you again for our next trip!

Linda E

A couple from the USA

I want to thank Road Trip Australia for planning and coordinating such a great itinerary. I wouldn’t have known where to start doing it on my own. They made it easy. The packet they provided was full of good information and allowed me to maximize the time that I had to tour. I definitely recommend them to plan your trip.

Elizabeth B

5 Friends From USA

The Road Trip put together our recently completed self-driving tour of Australia. They were easy to work with and did an outstanding job of arranging our accommodations and travel in country (both driving and flying). We started in Melbourne with an excellent tour of the central city. We then heading over to the Yarra Valley for two nights. It’s an area known for its vineyards and wine making. Then it was off to the Great Ocean Road for two days of beautiful beaches and great stops recommended by The Road Trip. We spent two days in charming Port Fairy at a great boutique hotel. Then it was back to Melbourne to head to Sydney. Some weather issues prevented us from traveling as planned but we did spend a day and a half in Sydney with the highlight being a climb to the top of the Harbor Bridge. After Sydney we spent two days in the Blue Mountains. Our plans were limited by the recent fires which was disappointing. We spent one day in the Hunter Valley and if you are into wine another day would be appropriate. Then back to Sydney to fly up to the Great Barrier Reef. The rainforests and reef were magical. Wavelength did a great job with the reef snorkeling tour. It was then back to Melbourne for the Australian Open which was a blast. Then finally a trip to Phillip Island to watch the penguins come back to their burrows after a busy day in the sea. Overall a memorable trip and it was logistically very easy with The Road Trip.

JEPAZ

Singaporean Friends

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