Skanda Holidays
Explore Aboriginal culture and history, and get up close to native wildlife on this Grand tour of Australia. Experience the sunrise over Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), one of the most iconic natural landmarks. Admire the coral and marine life of the Great Barrier Reef. Discover Sydney, Australia’s famous harbour city and capital of New South Wales.
Discover the World Heritage treasures of Blue Mountains National Park and the breathtaking natural wonders of the Jenolan Caves. Nestled on the western side of the Blue Mountains, this extensive network of limestone caves and above-ground arches are Australia’s most impressive. Pass by the Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush Bay. Climb the western mountain highway via the sleepy townships Blaxland, Wentworth, Lawson and Katoomba the quaint capital of the Blue Mountains National Park, a getaway destination for holiday-makers. Enjoy views over stunning eucalypt forests and age-old rock formations as you travel through the scenic Blue Mountains, learn ancient Aboriginal Dreamtime interpretations of the creation of the world. Enjoy a stop at Echo Point and see the famous Three Sisters rock formation. Enter the Grand Arch at Jenolan Caves, hiding place of sparkling limestone caverns. Take in the beauty of the region and see the mysterious Blue Lake. Join an informative and fully guided Cave tour through the Lucas Cave.
This tour is the ideal introduction to Sydney, it includes major highlights and a guided tour of Australia’s most iconic building , the Sydney Opera House. Your tour highlights all the city’s major landmarks – Darling Harbour, Chinatown, Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Sydney’s birthplace, Parliament House, Hyde Park, St Mary’s Cathedral, Art Gallery of NSW and the Domain. You will travel through the exclusive Eastern suburbs of Double Bay and Vaucluse to The Gap for stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the Heads before arriving at the famous Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s favourite beaches. Finally you will return to the city via the historic and trendy suburb of Paddington to the Opera House where you will join a comprehensive guided tour of this famous building.
Rise early this morning to travel to Talinguru Nyakunytjaku in Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park. Watch the first rays of the sun rise the Red Centre alight while enjoying a warming cup of tea or coffee. Then travel to the mystical 36 domes of Kata Tjuta. On the way enjoy panoramic views of the southern side of Kata Tjuta before arriving at the base of Walpa Gorge. Spend some time exploring the gorge and the unusual conglomerate rock formations. The walking trail through Walpa Gorge follows the natural creek between two of the tallest domes of Kata Tjuta.
Early morning travel from Ayers Rock Resort to Kings Canyon, stopping for breakfast at Kings Creek Station (included) along the way. Make the rocky climb to the rim of the canyon for marvellous views of Watarrka National Park. Follow the rim of the canyon stopping to look down into the canyon gorge at look-out points. Time permitting, you may choose to descend into the green oasis of the ‘Garden of Eden’. The circuit walk takes approximately 3 hours to complete and is rocky and steep in parts. It is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. Alternatively, you may wish to take an easier, shorter walk to explore the boulder strewn canyon floor. On arrival Alice Spring check in at hotel Double tree by Hilton.
Explore the West MacDonnell Ranges on a full-day tour. This one day 4WD safari travels through the West MacDonnell Ranges to Hermannsburg, an Aboriginal community and historic precinct which is renowned for its Aboriginal art collection and the works of Albert Namatjira. Either morning or afternoon tea is provided in Hermannsburg. Travel down the bed of the Finke River, one of oldest water courses in the world, into Palm Valley. See spectacular rock forms, white sands and an oasis of rock pools and palm trees. Some plants such as the cycad and ‘Livistonia Mariae’ (cabbage palm) are known world-wide as relic plants and are unique to Central Australia. Visit the spectacular rock formation known as the Ampitheatre. Enjoy a picnic lunch within the Finke Gorge National Park. On the return journey, relax and enjoy the changing colours of the magnificent West MacDonnell Ranges in the afternoon light.
Kakadu National Park is a timeless place, a landscape of exceptional beauty and diversity. Mangrove fringed coastal areas blend into expansive flood plains, lowland hills flanked to the east by sandstone escarpments, all interwoven between various open woodland and forest habitats. You travel on the Arnhem Highway across the Adelaide River and Marrakai Plains. Stop at Nourlangie to view ancient Aboriginal rock art. After lunch you cruise the famous Yellow Water Billabong. Visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre with informative displays depicting the traditions of the Aboriginal people in Kakadu.
Morning we travel south passing former World War II airstrips en route to Adelaide River. A short stop to view the Adelaide River War Cemetery, a site dedicated to those killed in the attacks on Darwin in the 1940’s. Travel to Nitmiluk National Park for your guided cruise on Katherine Gorge. Opportunity to see Crocodiles sunning on the banks and interesting species of birdlife. The first two gorges takes us past sheer rock walls and of flora and fauna. The second gorge requires a short walk before boarding a second cruise vessel. A picnic lunch is included before taking a brief tour of Katherine. We have an afternoon break at Edith Falls. There is time for a refreshing swim in the crystal pool beneath the falls.
After breakfast, take a scenic rail journey up to the rainforest village of Kuranda, where you can explore the stunning scenery, take a memorable journey on the skyrail. Visit the award winning Rainforestation Nature Park to experience the Dreamtime Walk and a performance of the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers in the rainforest amphitheatre and take a tour of the rainforest by amphibious army duck. Learn about the rainforest ecosystem from both land and water as your guide explains the vast array of flora and fauna. Then onto the Wildlife Park and observe Australian animals such as crocodiles, snakes & wombats, hand feed the friendly Kangaroos. Relax over a delicious barbecue lunch before you go back to Cairns on the Kuranda Scenic Rail.
We depart Cairns and cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef on a 25 metre high-performance catamaran, enjoying morning tea along the way. First stop is the beautiful Michaelmas Cay where most of our water activities take place, including snorkelling tour assisted by our very own Marine Naturalist for new or nervous snorkeler. All snorkelling equipment is provided and you also have the option of scuba diving (at own expense) in the crystal clear waters. After lunch depart to Breaking Patches (Paradise Reef Mooring) where you have time to snorkel, dive (at own expenses)
Full day tour of Great Ocean road. See some of the most spectacular coastal scenery on Earth, including the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks and the Gibson’s Steps, site of a historic clifflines. Enjoy the views of the city and Port Phillip Bay as you cross the Westgate Bridge. You will pass through Geelong on the way to the Surf Coast and the world’s premier surfing spot of Bells Beach. Continuing along the Great Ocean Road. A stop will be made at Kennet River township to locate local koalas in their native habitat. Your tour then continues through the spectacular Otway Ranges, here you have the opportunity to walk through the cool temperate rainforest. Then it’s on to Port Campbell National Park and it’s iconic array of rock formations. You will be awestruck by the majestic monoliths of the Twelve Apostles before returning back to Melbourne.
Sit back and allow the experts to introduce Victoria’s most visited region. The Yarra Valley is irresistible, with its majestic hills and mountains of the Great Dividing Ranges. Recognised as one of the world’s great wine growing regions, you will experience fine local produce and breathtaking scenery during the tour. Your first visit will be the Yering Station Vineyards. Start the day by learning how to swirl, sniff and slurp and you’ll be ready to taste some wines. Then off to lunch at Ray’s Restaurant located in Balgownie Estate. Enjoy a high quality restaurant lunch with a glass of Balgownie Estate wine to compliment the meal. After lunch we continue to Yering Farm. The cellar door proudly showcases antique cooper tools used by pioneer wine makers over a century ago. Our last winery visit is the Domaine Chandon. This is the perfect way to finish the day with a guided tour through the winery that shows how the wine is made, followed by a relaxing glass of Australia’s best bubbly with tasty light platters and a view that will leave you in awe.
After ealry breakfast we leave for Kangaroo island. Experience this spectacular shipwreck island, home to a diverse range of wildlife and natural wilderness. Pass through the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula to Cape Jervis where we board our ferry and cruise the Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island. First stop is Seal Bay where you can walk on the beach with over 500 Australian Sea Lions living in the area. Enjoy an Aussie country style lunch in a rural setting before admiring the stunning landscape of the Flinders Chase National Park, home to the Wallaby, Kangaroo, Goanna, Echidna and a large variety of Seabirds. Next travel to ‘Remarkable Rocks’ a group of granite rocks worn by natural forces over thousands of years to form astounding and unusual shapes. We then move onto Admirals Arch where you can view New Zealand Fur Seals in their natural ocean environment before re-boarding the ferry and beginning the trip back to Adelaide.
City tour of Adelaide. The tour begins with an introduction of the captivating city. A city of churches, the food and wine capital of Australia, sandstone homes and cottages with sweeping gardens and greenbelts. You will visit attractions such as Trinity Church-Adelaide’s oldest church, Adelaide Oval-one of Australia’s most notable cricket grounds, Parliament House, River Torrens with its delightful garden banks before stopping at Haigh’s Chocolates (Monday to Saturday) for some sampling and tea or coffee. Lastly visit Colonel Light’s lookout on Montefiore Hill for spectacular views over Adelaide before joining a scenic cruise along the Torrens River on board the famous ‘Pop-eye’.
We travel through rolling hills and Mallee outback to the mighty Murray River, which transforms this thirsty land into a land rich in green vineyards, golden citrus orchards and prosperous rural communities. Pass through Verdun, the undulating green Adelaide Hills and the mill town of Bridgewater before we reach Mannum, the birthplace of the River Murray Paddlesteamers. Board a riverboat and enjoy a morning tea of cake with tea or coffee and Buffet lunch as we cruise this magnificent river. Admire the stark cliffs and River Red Gums that surround the river and keep an eye out for the diversity of bird life in the area including Galahs, Cockatoos and Pelicans. Enjoy a scenic drive along the river from Mannum to Younghusband and Walker Flat. Then follow the Torrens River, a region famous for its olive groves and grape growing before heading back.
After breakfast, you head north through the Swan Valley to Caversham Wildlife Park where you stop to view and photograph koalas and hand feed kangaroos. After stopping at Caversham Wildlife Park, you travel to the lobster fishing town of Cervantes for lunch. You stop at the Lobster Shack for an informative talk about the lobster industry, followed by a self guided tour through the purpose built factory. Then it’s onwards to the mystical Pinnacles Desert for an easy paced walk through the fascinating landscape where you will be in awe at the sheer size and number of these spiers. Afterwards enjoy a thrilling experience of sand boarding and 4-wheel driving over the vast sand dunes of Lancelin.
After breakfast, we begin the day at the lovely Kings Park to experience a walk through the tree canopies. Then continue to Cottesloe Beach before arriving at Fremantle. Stay on the coach and return to Perth by road travelling past exclusive suburbs, the University of WA, Royal Perth Yacht Club, the Old Swan Brewery. Travel through the historic town of Guildford to the Swan Valley wine growing region. Stop at Sandalford Wines for some wine tasting. They offer extensive cellar and wine emporium gift store featuring wine accessories. Then visit the Margaret River Chocolate Factory to sample delicious chocolates. Afterwards feed kangaroos and touch a koala at Caversham Wildlife Park. Next stop is at Charlies Estate Wine & Nougat Boutique to enjoy an extensive wine tasting including cheese and biscuits. Return to Perth via the Burswood Resort & Casino.
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All our holiday packages are flight inclusive tours, we also do ground only tours should you wish to arrange your own air tickets, perhaps you might want to redeem your favourite airline loyalty points. Or you might want only a few elements of the tour, talk to us we will guide you the best, trust us we are experts in what we do. We tailor make holidays to what you want and not what we have, so you sit back and relax, we’ll take care of all your holiday arrangements.
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