Witness Australia’s cultures and natural majesty alongside fellow solo travelers.
With a vast terrain that offers a buffet of climates, histories, and cultures, Australia doesn’t disappoint when it comes to immersive experiences. On this Solo Tour, you’ll soak up the sights, learn from the Aboriginals, and bond with your fellow solo travelers. From exploring the metropolitan, coastal gems of Sydney and Melbourne to spotting manta rays while you cruise the pristine waters of the Whitsunday Islands, to being welcomed with an ancient ceremony led by an Aboriginal guide at Airlie Beach, this itinerary serves up a diverse array of Australian adventures. As if all that weren’t enticing enough, add the Tasmania extension to see endangered animals like wombats and Tasmanian devils, explore sea caves, and shop the expansive Salamanca Market.
Your tour package includes
12 nights in a private room at handpicked hotels
12 breakfasts
2 lunches
5 dinners with beer or wine
1 food tasting
7 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
Private deluxe motor coach
3 on-tour flights
4 ferry transfers
Included highlights
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Queen Victoria Market
Aboriginal Welcome to Country ceremony
Whitsundays cruise
Noosa Everglades
K’gari Island
Bondi Beach
National Opal Collection
Sydney Opera House
Itinerary
Overnight Flight2 nights
Day 1: Travel day
Cross the International Date Line in flight and “lose” a day.
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
This contemporary hotel is located in Melbourne's historic South Wharf Promenade. Guests enjoy the fitness center, on-site coffee house, and bar with beautiful views. Nearby you'll find Eureka Tower, the Immigration Museum, and...
Hotel Grand Chancellor Townsville
This modern hotel is located in the heart of Townsville City. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, fitness center, and outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the city. Nearby you’ll find the Queensland Museum Tropics, ANZAC Memorial...
Mantra Club Croc Airlie Beach
This traditionally designed hotel is located at Airlie Beach across the harbour from the Whitsundays. Guests enjoy the lagoon style pool, live music, and on-site coffee house. Nearby you'll find Turtle Boardwalk, the Cannonvale...
Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
This seaside hotel is located in Twin Waters along the Queensland Sunshine Coast. Guests enjoy beautiful tropical gardens, swimming pools, and the private beach area. You'll also find a variety of dining options, bicycle...
Novotel Sydney Darling Square
This newly remodeled hotel is located in Sydney, Australia’s Darling Square. Guests enjoy the on-site restaurant, pool, and on-site coffee shop. Nearby you’ll find Chinatown, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the...
Vibe Hotel Hobart
This artfully designed hotel is located in Hobart on the island of Tasmania. Guests enjoy the indoor pool, ocean views, and on-site coffee house. Nearby you'll find the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, the Salamanca Market & Arts...
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
In order to enter Australia, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code AT6.
You will walk for about 1.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and gravel paths, with few hills.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Melbourne and depart from Sydney (or Hobart on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Flights from Melbourne to Townsville, Whitsundays to Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast Airport to Sydney, as well as ferries and cruises in Townsville, the Whitsundays, the Noosa Everglades, and K’Gari Island, are included in the price of your tour. (The tour extension also includes a flight from Sydney to Hobart.)
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
The Australian sun is very strong and hot. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Bug repellent is also useful.
A reusable water bottle is an environmentally friendly way to stay hydrated.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
Take particular care for sun exposure and drink plenty of liquids. If you choose to go swimming, be careful of powerful surf. Make sure to obey signs and lifeguards’ orders, and always swim between the marked flags.
Travelers prone to seasickness may want to take special precautions for the boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef.
There are inherent risks associated with water activities, particularly for those with preexisting medical conditions. Discuss your planned activities with your doctor or healthcare provider for the best advice on participation.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code AT6.
Australian menus emphasize high-quality steaks and lamb chops, though meat pies are also popular. Regional specialties include shellfish (such as Sydney rock oysters and crabs) and smoked sausages brought to South Australia by German settlers. The national beverage is beer, and a visit to an Aussie pub is a popular pastime, but the country’s wines are also superb.
Australia operates on the standard 220-240 volts and uses Types I plugs with three large, flat pins set on an angle.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The majority of the hotels on this tour will have air conditioning.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
You’ll travel through Australian Eastern Standard Time (15 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time). Please note that Queensland does not observe daylight saving time and is on Australian Eastern Standard Time year-round.
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 4am on tour.
You will use the Australian dollar on this tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.
Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See the last page of your tour itinerary for more information.
