Australia Photo Tour Itinerary - January 11th to 28th, 2026

Day One: Sunday January 11, 2026  Folk meeting in the London region we will meet at London Airport for our morning coach departure to Pearson Airport. GTA and connecting guests will me at Pearson Airport. Our flight to Melbourne via Air Canada departing 10:30 a.m. arriving in Melbourne, Australia the following afternoon.

Day Two: Monday January 12, 2026  Welcome to Australia!  Upon arrival in Melbourne, you will be met by a local representative and transferred by private vehicle to your accommodation. The remainder of the day we will begin exploring Melbourne. Melbourne is a multicultural city with a vibrant artistic life and is regarded as one of the culinary, sporting and shopping capitals of Australia, with a wide selection of museums, art galleries, theatres and festivals. We will be staying at Rendezvous Melbourne which was built in 1913 and is one of Australia’s most historic hotels. This heritage-listed hotel is located on Flinders Street overlooking the Yarra River and many of Melbourne’s top attractions within easy reach, including Flinders Street Station just 3 minutes away. Step into one of the 340 contemporary yet charming rooms, with the heritage wing boasting 7-meter high ceilings, stained glass windows, and Edwardian Baroque architecture. Each room is equipped with all the essentials, Dreamcatcher beds, complimentary WiFi, and 24-hour in-room dining. 3 nights accommodation: Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne.

Day Three: Tudesay January 13, 2026 - City Tour and Phillip Island Penguin Parade with Penguins Plus Tours - Breakfast will be served at our hotel. Then we will board our private coach, and enjoy a city highlights tour visiting the many parks and gardens in Melbourne. We will also vist and photograph the Fitzroy Gardens and Captain Cook’s cottage. Pass the magnificent Royal Botanical Gardens and make a visit to the Shrine of Remembrance. We then will drive to Phillip Island and to the south western end of the island, overlooking some spectacular rocky outcrops known as the Nobbies and Seal Rocks. Here we will have opportunity to photograph the Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Every day at dusk the Little Penguins come ashore after fishing for whitebait for their young. They come out of the surf in small groups and waddle up the beach making for some great photo opportunities. We will be treated to viewing the penguins at the special Penguins Plus viewing platform close to the little penguins' favourite spot to exit the water. Dinner will be at our own this evening we have a group location close to our hotel. Accommodation: Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne (B)

Day Four: Wednesday January 14, 2026 - Full Day Great Ocean Road Tour - Breakfast at our hotel restaurant. Then we will depart to experience the majestic coastal drive. in style. Stay on the lookout for some very special animals including whales, dolphins, echidnas and bandicoots. The coastal drive will offer up  plenty of photo opportunities. We will travel west, bypassing Geelong, to Anglesea and it’s here we commence our breathtaking drive.  Built to honour the servicemen and women of World War One, the road extends more than 300 kilometres along some of the best coastal scenery this country has to offer. We will travel to the coastal town of Lorne, which was the first place to be declared an area of Special Significance and Natural Beauty by the Victorian Government.  The approach to Lorne is spectacular.  From here we continue onto Apollo Bay where we leave the coast and wind our way through the slopes of the Otway Ranges. This afternoon, we continue along the Port Campbell National Park - the western section of the Great Ocean Road which is known as the “Shipwreck Coast”.  We stop to photograph the famous Twelve Apostles, towering limestone stacks with wild waves crashing at their bases, as they dominate the coastline near Port Campbell. We have arrange lunch in the village as we explore today. Late afternoon back to Melbourne, with dinner close by our hotel on our own account, you are free to explore or dine with the group. Accommodation: Rendezvous Hotel Melbourn (B) (L)

Day Five: Thursday January 15, 2026 - Melbourne / Adelaide flight – Adelaide Hills and Hahndorf Location Photography -Breakfast at our hotel restaurant. Check-out and transfer to the airport for our flight to Adelaide. This afternoon we will begin exploring and photograping Adelaide. We will visit Adelaide Hills and the historic German settlement of Hahndorf. The  Adelaide Hills is home to the Mt Lofty Ranges, rolling vineyards, unspoilt bush land and rich farmland. A village visit for unique photo opportunites and a chance to sample the local produce as well as the arts and crafts. We will be staying at the Vibe Hotel steps away from the city's urban dining, Rundle Mall, Central Market, Botanical Gardens. Vibe Hotel Adelaide (B)

Day Six: Friday January 16, 2026 - Kangaroo Island vist by ferry - Breakfast at our hotel then drive to Cape Jervis for a ferry ride to Kangaroo Island. We we arrive we will take a nature walk on the beach among a colony of rare and wild Australian sea lions with a National Parks Ranger at Seal Bay Conservation Park. Get up close and see these wild creatures frolic and laze about – we will have plenty of time for to photograh the sea lions and shore birds. Time for a delicious two-course lunch, in the beautiful park surrounding then we will spend the afternoon at the Flinders Chase National Park. An opportunity to photograp echidnas, wallabies, reptiles, and koalas. We will experience the rugged coastline from walks around Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Remarkable Rocks provide great photographic opportunities, and the Admirals Arch boardwalk takes you down a rugged cliff face to reveal the spectacular rock archway, a natural nursery, and a haven for playful long-nosed fur seals. Our last visit of the day is to the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park photograph the kangaroos and get up close to the Kangaroo Island koalas. There is also a possibility to photograph more kangaroos and wallabies on our return to Penneshaw for our return ferry and coach transfer back to Adelaide. We will have some time to relax before heading out for dinner. Overnight - Vibe Hotel Adelaide (B) (L)

Day Seven: Saturday January 17, 2026 Breakfast at our hotel a little time to relax this morning will a little down time with our morning at leisure. Will will have a lighter afternoon with a visit to the Botanical Gardens and head out in the evening for dinner. Today will a lighter to ensure we keep a steady pace with so many other activities planned. Vibe Hotel Adelaide (B) 

Day Eight: Sunday January 18, 2026 Breakfast - check-out and head to the airport for our flight from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Upon arrival we will meet our local guide and head to our hotel for check-in. Later this afternoon we will take a tour of the town of Alice Springs. Alice Springs - the world's most famous outback town, the fascinating capital of Australia's red centre, truly 'The Heart, The Soul. History, culture and ingenuity abound with a will to survive the reality of Outback Australia. Many photo experiences different to any other in the world! We will be staying at the Doubletree by Hilton Alice Springs (B)

Day Nine: Monday January 19, 2026 - Tour to Ayers Rock - Kata Tjuta Domes and tonight BBQ under the stars - Breakfast then we will travel to Ayers Rock and check into your accommodation. This afternoon, we will travel to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to a place where unique flora and fauna thrive, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).  Here our naturalkist guide will reveal the many attributes of this diverse environment and describe the cultural significance of Kata Tjuta as a sacred Aboriginal ceremonial site. At Walpa Gorge we will walk between the mighty conglomerate domes and hear how these 36 domes that make up Kata Tjuta have evolved over millions of years. We will return you to our hotel in time to join the under the stars BBQ. Accommodation: Desert Gardens Hotel (B) (D)

Day Ten: Tuesday January 20, 2026 - Sunrise at Ayers Rock and flight to Cairns. Early rise this morning to watch the beautiful desert sunrise over Ayers Rock. Breakfast check-out and our flight to Cairns. Upon arrival check into our hotel and have a little personal time to explore some of the region around our hotel in Cairns.  The Pacific International Hotel is a boutique style hotel, overlooking the world famous Marlin Marina close to the waterfront, gardens and pleanty of dining locations for our group to experine. Pacific Hotel Cairns. (B)

Day Eleven: Wednesday January 21, 2026 - Great Barrier Reef and Reef Cruise - Breakfast then a short walk this morning board your cruise vessel, and depart to the Great Barrier Reef. Departing Cairns, our destination is Marine World – a purpose-built two storey platform 45 metres x 12 metres featuring Spacious Lower Deck with Ample Undercover Seating, Upper Sundeck with Sun Lounges, Underwater Observatory. This should make for some interesting photo opportunites.The Great Barrier Reef supports 1,500 species of fish, 400 types of coral and over 30 types of whales and dolphins. It is the only living structure visible from the moon. Lunch today is a hot and cold tropical buffet. Later this afternoon return to our hotel for time to freshen up before dinner. Todays excurions is approximatly 5 hours. This evening we will head out for dinner perhaps a marninal walk and some night photography opportunities. Pacific Hotel Cairns. (B) (L)

Day Twelve: Thursday January 22, 2026 - Kuranda Scenic Rail – Rainforestation - Skyrail - Breakfast and drive to the Railway Station to board the famous Kuranda Scenic Rail. An amazing journey aw we travel one of the world's most scenic rail routes through hand hewn tunnels and over bridges spanning spectacular gorges. A stop is made at Barron Gorge to view the Falls before arriving at beautiful Kuranda Station. Spend some time exploring this quaint Village before a short journey brings us to Rainforestation set in 40 hectares of gardens and rainforest. We will board the unusual amphibious Army Duck for a different look at the Rainforest. An experienced guide will show us unique tropical fruits, ancient rainforest plants and point out a number of our native animals as you meander through the Rainforest. We will have an insight into ancient Aboriginal and Islander history. Their way of life is explained and you can even try our hand at boomerang throwing. The Pamagirri Dancers perform a range of native dances in the Rainforest Amphitheatre that reflects the humour and excitement of their culture. We will have a barbeque lunch which is included before visiting the Koala and Wildlife Park. Later in the afternoon it's tme to return to Kuranda and board Skyrail, an experience which takes you over the Rainforest canopy with stops along the way for photography before arriving at Caravonica Lakes. Our coach will be waiting to return us to our hotel. wrapping up our day in the rainforest. Pacific Hotel Cairns. (B) (L)

Day Thirteen: Friday January 23, 2026  Breakfast at our hotel and a littler day to enjoy the marina and our surroundings. Trinity Wharf offers shopping and eating venues, a tourist coach terminal and Pier Marketplace is also on the waterfront. It is a retail and leisure complex with more than 90 outlets, including Ben Cropp’s Shipwreck Museum and the Undersea World Oceanarium, home to over 1200 marine animals. All outlets are open 7 days a week. On weekends, local artists and craftspeople display their wares at the Mud Market, located in the main amphitheatre. Cairns Museum, located on the corner of Lake and Shields streets, has displays featuring the Aboriginal, timber, goldrush and sugarcane history of the area. Flecker Botanic Gardens, in Collins Ave, feature native plants and their traditional use by Aboriginal people. Cairns is famous for its tropical fruits, fresh seafood and relaxed ambience. Pacific Hotle Cairns (B)

Day Fourteen: Saturday January 24, 2026 - Depart Cairns for our flight to Sydnes - Breakfast and transfer to the airport for our fiights to Sydney. Upon arrival meet our local guide and coach and check-into our accommodations. Welcome to Sydney ... Radiating from the sparkling waters of Sydney Harbour, Australia’s largest city stretches from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the foot of the Blue Mountains. Along with outstanding natural assets – stunning beaches, extensive parklands and of course the famous Sydney Opera House. Our accomodations are the Vibe Hotel Sydney (B) (D)

Day Fifteen: Sunday January 25, 2026 - Sydney City Sights - Sydney Opera House - Sydney Harbour Crusie - Breakfast at our hotel then head out to explore and photograph Sydney. We will vist the historic Rocks area and learn about the early convict history. We will have opportunity to photograph the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. We will pay a visit to Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Kings Cross, Double Bay and Sydney’s best panoramic view at Dover Heights then onto famous Bondi Beach. This afternoon we will take a cruise on magnificent Sydney Harbour. More photo opportunites of the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, from the water. Return to our hotel for time to fresehen up and dinner. Vibe Hotel Sydney (B)

Day Sixteen: Monday January 26, 2026 Breakfast at our hotel then depart for Featherdale Wildlife Park.  This morning, accompanied by our local guide, we will visit Featherdale Wildlife Park, which houses a great variety of wildlife including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, Australian reptiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats and various species of Australian birds. A few photo opportunites for sure. Mid morning we will depart Featherdale and head towards the township of Katoomba. Our coac will take us up the Blue Mountains, an awe-inspiring “Grand Canyon” of giant rock formations, deep tree-studded valleys and cascading waterfalls. We will have lunch at a the Blue Mountains restaurant. We will experince a ride on the world's steepest incline Railway that descends some 700 feet into the valley. A 900-foot boardwalk will take us to the base of the “Sceniscender” Cable Car for the trip back to the top, enjoying yet another perspective of the Blue Mountains. Next, a short transfer takes us to the Blue Mountains lookout for a view of the famous “The Three Sisters” rock formation and distant vistas including the Jamieson Valley, Mount Solitary, Katoomba Falls and the Burraborang Valley. Late afternoon we will journey back to Sydney. Vibe Hotel Sydney (B) (L)

Day Seventeen: Tuesday January 27, 2026 Breakfast at our hotel then mid morning transfer to the Airport for our flight back to Canada arriving the following day (B)

Day Eighteen: Wednesday January 28, 2026 Welome home. Our mid morning flights arrives and after clearing stay farewale to our GTA and connecting guests, board our coach for the return drive to London arriving in London late afernoon at approximately 6:30 p.m. Wow what an adventure. 

 Australia offers up spectacular photo opportunities, from wildlife to beautiful landscapes. The temperatures in January is Austrailas summer time temperatures lows of 14 C to 18 C to highs of 22C to 28C. Quite a few locataions on this tour are coastal when choosing your clothing for this tour, think of items you can take to dress in layers as temperatures will vary and is cooler in the desert and water regions during the evening hours.

Pre-tour Information Night:  As with all our photo tours, we will hold a photo information zoom night approximately three weeks prior to departure. We will present the final itinerary, travel suggestions, what gear to pack, and hand out all related travel documents. The pre-tour presentation is designed to give our photographers all the information needed for our trek. This also allows a chance for you to meet your fellow travellers, and host. As the tour date approaches we will send out an email invitation to the registered guests. 

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 The cost of Australia Photo Tour is $12,465.00 per person CAD based on double occupancy including air via Air Canada, plus air taxes of $650.95 CAD plus $13.00 HST. Single supplement is available for an additional $2,680.00 CAD.

A non-refundable deposit of $650.00 is due at the time of booking. Balance due 60 days before departure November 11th, 2025. We recommend the purchase of travel and health insurance as this tour takes us out of the province.

More ways to pay ... Equal monthly payments from deposit day to 60 days prior to departure charged to your credit card or finance though our Uplift Finance Program and pay over 6 month, 12 month  or 18 month payments. You may choose your payment option during registration. 

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Your tour includes:

• Includes:

  • Round trip coach departing from our London Meetup Locatons / Pick Ups Enroute
  • Round Trip Airfare via Air Canada
  • All internal flights
  • Accommodations all 4 and 5 star properities
  • Motor Coach with washroom transportation during tour
  • Accommodations as specified in our itinerary
  • Breakfast each morning
  • Lunches and dinners listed on itinerary
  • All airport transfers by private coach
  • Admissions, park entry fees and permits were required
  • Museum Entrance Fees
  • Philip Island and Peguin experince
  • All excursions including cruises and full day Kangaroo Island
  • Uluru Sunrise and base rock tour
  • All Sydney tours
  • Tour hosted and escorted by photograher James Cowie

• Excludes: 

• Alcoholic beverages, laundry and tips

• Australia tourist eTA visa which we will assist

           Please note times and schedule may vary due to weather, traffic and final confirmation of excursions.

* Policy dose not allow us to do residental pickup.

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