Two great cities and the Red Centre in between

Australia Adventure: Sydney to Melbourne via Uluru

Four nights in Sydney, a guided Outback adventure through Kings Canyon and Uluru, then four nights in Melbourne.

£3,639per person · UK return flights included · was £5,351, save 32%
13days
11stages
Travelodealoperator
≈£280per day
16 May 2027lead-in date
Photo: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • ATOL & ABTA protected packages
  • Internal flights & transfers arranged
  • Escorted, multi-centre or private
  • Departures into 2028
  • Low deposits · pay in instalments

The trip in a nutshell

Why this one

This is the trip most people actually have in mind when they say “Australia”: the harbour, the rock, and the coffee capital — with an internal flight doing the heavy lifting in between. You get proper time in each place rather than a whistle-stop, and the Outback leg is a genuine small-group guided adventure with an Aboriginal cultural walk at Simpsons Gap, the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, sunset and sunrise at Uluru and a group dinner around a campfire.

Flights in and out are included (into Sydney, home from Melbourne, so you never double back), as are both internal flights, all transfers and checked baggage. At the lead-in price it works out around £280 a day including your long-haul flights.

“Everything is arranged. Every flight, every transfer, every hotel, every big-ticket experience. All you have to do is turn up at the airport.”

Where you'll stay

The Grace Sydney (4 nights, B&B) · Stay At Alice Springs Hotel (1 night) · permanent tented camps at Kings Canyon and Yulara (3 nights) · Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne (4 nights, B&B)

From

£5,351  Save 32%
£3,639
per person, including UK return flights
  • Duration 13 days
  • Accommodation 12 nights — 4 in Sydney, 1 in Alice Springs, 3 on the Uluru & Kings Canyon tour, 4 in Melbourne
  • Meals 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2 dinners on the Outback tour, plus B&B in Sydney and Melbourne
  • Operated by Travelodeal
  • Lead-in date 16 May 2027
  • Departs from London Gatwick
  • Cost per day ≈ £280
Check dates & prices

Live availability on Travelodeal's site · low deposit · ABTA & ATOL protected

The moments you'll remember

Nine reasons this itinerary sells out

Uluru at sunset and sunrise

Two visits, two completely different rocks. Sunset from the viewing area, then an early start for sunrise and the Mala Walk.

Aboriginal cultural walk at Simpsons Gap

A guided walk in the West MacDonnell Ranges that sets up everything you'll see over the following three days.

The Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Six kilometres around the rim of a 100-metre sandstone gorge — the single best walk in the Red Centre.

Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta

The Olgas are, for many people, quietly more impressive than Uluru itself. You walk right into the gorge between the domes.

Group dinner under the stars

Campsite dinner in the desert on the first night of the Outback leg, with the whole Milky Way overhead.

Four full nights in Sydney

Not two. Enough for the Opera House, Bondi, a harbour cruise and still a day doing nothing.

Four full nights in Melbourne

Laneways, the Queen Victoria Market, and a free day for the Great Ocean Road or Phillip Island if you want it.

Open-jaw flights included

Into Sydney, home from Melbourne — no wasted day backtracking across the country.

Everything transferred

Airport transfers, internal flights and checked baggage are all in the price.

Where you'll go

The route, mapped

Every stop below is included — with all internal flights, transfers and ground travel arranged for you.

Australia route

5 stops, with every internal flight and transfer between them arranged for you.

Route map of the australia route SydneyAlice SpringsKings CanyonUluruMelbourne
Journey starts hereTour stopDashed line shows the route order

Day by day

The full 13-day itinerary

Tap any stage to open it. Meals included at each stage are marked in green.

Day 1Arrive in Sydney

Land in Sydney and transfer to The Grace, a heritage art-deco hotel a five-minute walk from Circular Quay. Evening at leisure by the harbour.

Day 2Sydney sightseeing

The icons: the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. Evening at your own pace — the Rocks is a short stroll away.

Breakfast
Days 3–4Sydney at leisure

Two free days. A harbour cruise, the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee, the Blue Mountains, or simply a long lunch in Surry Hills.

2 breakfasts
Day 5Fly to Alice Springs — the Outback tour begins

Internal flight to the Red Centre, welcome meeting at 8am, then a guided Aboriginal cultural walk at Simpsons Gap. Scenic drive via Erldunda towards Kings Canyon, finishing with a group dinner at the campsite.

Dinner
Day 6Kings Canyon Rim Walk & Uluru sunset

Morning on the Rim Walk high above the canyon floor, then the drive to Yulara — arriving in time for the Uluru sunset viewing as the rock runs through every shade of red.

Breakfast, lunch
Day 7Kata Tjuta & Mutitjulu

The Walpa Gorge walk at Kata Tjuta in the cool of the morning, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to understand Anangu culture, then the Kuniya Walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8Uluru sunrise, then fly to Melbourne

An early start for sunrise, followed by the Mala Walk along the base of the rock with its art sites and shelters. Transfer to the airport and fly on to Melbourne.

Breakfast
Days 9–10Melbourne

Laneway coffee, street art, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the markets. Your hotel, the Rendezvous, is on Flinders Street in the thick of it.

2 breakfasts
Day 11Day trip options

The classic choices: the Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles, the Phillip Island penguin parade, or the Yarra Valley wineries.

Breakfast
Day 12Last day in Melbourne

Shopping, a gallery, or a final long lunch before you pack.

Breakfast
Day 13Fly home

Transfer to Melbourne Airport for the flight back to the UK.

Breakfast

Itinerary summarised from the operator's published programme and correct at the time of writing. Order of stages can vary by departure date — confirm the exact schedule for your date on the operator's site.

Photo tour

What it actually looks like

Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour
Uluru, Northern Territory
Uluru, Northern Territory
MC Olgas pano
MC Olgas pano
ViewFromKingsCanyon
ViewFromKingsCanyon
Melbourne
Melbourne
The Red Centre
The Red Centre
Blue Mountains National Park (AU), Three Sisters -- 2019 -- 1987-9
Blue Mountains National Park (AU), Three Sisters -- 2019 -- 1987-9
The Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles
Beach on Phillip Island
Beach on Phillip Island
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef

Photography from Wikimedia Commons contributors under Creative Commons licences — full credits here.

The detail

What's included — and what isn't

Included in the price

  • 12 nights — 4 in Sydney, 1 in Alice Springs, 3 on the Uluru & Kings Canyon tour, 4 in Melbourne
  • 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2 dinners on the Outback tour, plus B&B in Sydney and Melbourne
  • Return flights from the UK (open-jaw where the itinerary requires)
  • All transfers and checked baggage included
  • ABTA & ATOL protected booking, direct with the operator
  • Low deposit, with the balance due closer to departure

Not included

  • Travel insurance
  • Australian ETA / visa fees
  • Optional excursions and personal spending
  • Meals other than those listed
  • Resort or city taxes payable locally (where applicable)
See live prices & dates on Travelodeal →
8.5out of 10

Our verdict on this trip

If you want Uluru without spending five figures, this is the trip. Four nights each in Sydney and Melbourne bookend a genuine three-night small-group Outback adventure, and at £280 a day including long-haul flights it is the best value on the entire site.

Before you fly

Don't leave these until the last week

Airport parking, a night at the terminal, lounge access and travel insurance are all cheaper booked early — and on a 13-day trip, the parking alone is a serious line item.

Airport parking

On a four-week trip, airport parking is one of the biggest add-on costs of the whole holiday — and one of the few that gets cheaper the earlier you book.

Check prices & book

Airport hotels

Long-haul to Australia usually means an early or awkward departure. A night at the terminal beforehand turns a 3am start into a lie-in.

Check prices & book

Airport lounges

Before a 20-hour flight, three hours of quiet, free food and a proper seat is worth considerably more than it costs.

Check prices & book

Travel insurance

Non-negotiable on a trip this long and this far away. Check the medical cover limits and that your full trip length and any activities are included.

Check prices & book

eSIM data — £2.50 off

Skip the roaming charges. An Airalo eSIM gives you data the moment you land, and our referral link takes £2.50 off your first one.

Get £2.50 off

Your flights leave from London Gatwick. Parking, hotels, lounges and insurance are booked through Holiday Extras; eSIMs through Airalo, using our referral link (you get £2.50 off, we get credit too). Both are commercial links — see our disclosure.

Not sure this is the one?

How it compares

Here's how this compares with the other multi-centre holidays we rate. See all 20 holidays →

Before you book

Frequently asked questions

When can I travel, and how far ahead should I book?

Departures run from October 2026 through to September 2028. Long-haul escorted tours of this length sell out early — the best-value departure dates and preferred room types typically go 9–12 months ahead, so it pays to secure your place sooner rather than later.

Which UK airport can I fly from?

Return flights are included from your chosen UK airport. Regional departures are available on most dates, sometimes for a small supplement — you'll see the options for your date when you check availability.

Is this a group tour? How big is the group?

Yes — this is a fully escorted small-group tour with a Travelsphere Holiday Director travelling with you throughout. They handle the logistics, the check-ins and the local know-how, so your job is simply to enjoy it. Groups are typically modest in size and overwhelmingly British.

Do I need a visa?

British passport holders need an Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) and an NZeTA for New Zealand where applicable — both are straightforward online applications. Your passport should have at least six months' validity remaining. Always check the latest FCDO and official government guidance before you travel.

How much walking is involved?

A moderate amount. You should be comfortable on your feet for sightseeing, uneven ground at Uluru and Kakadu, and getting on and off coaches and boats. There is plenty of free time built in to rest, and most active elements are optional.

Are single travellers welcome?

Very. Escorted touring is one of the friendliest ways to travel solo, and single rooms are available on request — check current availability and any supplement when you view the departure dates.

Ready to see the dates?

Live availability, departure dates from your local airport and current offers are on the operator's booking page. Deposits are low, the balance isn't due until much later, and every booking is ABTA and ATOL protected.

Check dates & prices for Australia Adventure: Sydney to Melbourne via Uluru →

Keep looking

Other tours you might prefer

Sydney to Melbourne via Alice Springs
Save 25% Australia
Operated by Travelodeal · Multi-centre holiday

Sydney to Melbourne via Alice Springs

Nine days, two cities and the full Uluru and Kings Canyon guided adventure — flying from Manchester.

  • ✈️ 9 days · UK return flights included
  • 🏨 8 nights
From£4,572 £3,429
Full details
Australia Adventure: Sydney to Melbourne via Uluru — from £3,639pp13 days · Travelodeal · UK flights included
Check dates & prices