Australia Total Solar Eclipse

Upon arrival in Melbourne, transfer to our hotel and rest after the long flight. Later this evening, meet fellow travelers at a welcome reception and dinner.

After a leisurely morning and lunch, set out on a walking tour of Melbourne, stopping to visit local artisans as we go. Dinner tonight is on our own.

This morning, transfer to Melbourne Airport for our flight to Adelaide, South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital. At the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, we learn about Aboriginal bush foods, plant uses, and the social history of the area. After lunch, we tour the South Australian Museum with an Aboriginal guide. Continue the conversation about Aboriginal life and the role Aboriginal people have played in the city’s development back at our hotel during a lecture by our guide. This evening, walk to a favorite local restaurant for dinner.

Opt to join an early morning tour of the Adelaide Central Market, sampling gourmet foods and preserves. Afterward, transfer to Cleland Wildlife Park, an open bushland habitat that aims to connect visitors with Australia’s wildlife in its natural habitat. Feed a kangaroo, meet an emu, and pet a koala. Continue to The Cedars at Hahndorf, home of the renowned Australian artist, Sir Hans Heysen. One of Australia’s best-preserved historic homes, the chalet-style studio is the nation’s oldest surviving purpose-built artist’s studio. Sit for high tea before taking a guided tour of the homestead. This afternoon, visit the historic town of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement.

This morning transfer to Adelaide airport for our scheduled air flight to Alice Springs, set against the dramatic red desert of Australia’s Northern Territory and gateway to the Outback. Stop at the Alice Springs Royal Flying Doctor Service to learn about the history and work of RFDS pilots, engineers, doctors, and nurses in remote outback communities. After lunch, we take a tour of Alice Springs town before checking in to our hotel.

This morning, drive to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This sacred monolith has a circumference of about five miles and rises 1,143 feet. After checking in to the hotel, transfer to the outback for an al fresco dinner. As the sun sets and darkness falls, listen to the sound of a didgeridoo while enjoying a bush tucker inspired menu incorporating native bush ingredients. While listening to the resident star talker, locate the Southern Cross and planets and galaxies that are visible due to the exceptional clarity of the atmosphere.

Before light, depart to watch the sunrise over Uluru. Afterward, journey to the base of Uluru for a closer exploration of its ancient rock formations. End the morning with a visit to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, where we delve into the traditions, beliefs, and living culture of the Anangu people. Lunch is on our own with the afternoon at leisure to partake in any of the activities available at the resort. Perhaps attend a didgeridoo workshop and performance, take a guided garden walk, or observe a local Anangu artist at work in the Gallery of Central Australia. This evening we enjoy sunset drinks and canapés at Field of Lights, Bruce Munro’s outdoor art installation. Witness the landscape transform as 50,000 delicate glass spheres gently illuminate the desert in a breathtaking display of color and light. Return to our hotel for dinner.

In the pre-dawn hours, set out for a guided sunrise experience at Kata Tjuta, arriving in time to catch the domes emerge from the darkness as the desert sky begins to glow. Afterward, we walk into the awe-inspiring Walpa Gorge to see the towering rock formations and unique flora. In the afternoon, transfer to Uluru airport for our scheduled air flight to Sydney.

Begin the morning with a walking tour of the city. Wander through the Royal Botanic Gardens to Mrs Macquarie’s Point, then continue around Farm Cove to Bennelong Point, on which sits the Sydney Opera House. Step onto the Harbour Bridge then wind down through the narrow alleyways of The Rocks before concluding in Circular Quay. Following lunch, climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and take in the spectacular views. Dinner this evening is on our own.

Spend the morning exploring the collections and exhibits in the Art Gallery of New South Wales. See contemporary Australian and international art in the newest building, Naala Badu; take in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in the Yiribana Gallery; and tour Naala Nura, the Art Gallery’s original sandstone building. Continue to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney where an Aboriginal guide teaches us about the traditional uses of native plants, bush foods, and the deep spiritual connection to Country. Conclude the day with a tour of Sydney’s famous icon, the Sydney Opera House.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before we make our way to lunch at the Glenmore Hotel in the Rocks District. This heritage-listed building boasts a rooftop bar with 180-degree views of Circular Quay and the Opera House. Here, at approximately 1:59 p.m., weather permitting, we witness a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event as the 2028 total solar eclipse takes place. Later this evening, toast our journey at a farewell reception and dinner.

After breakfast, bid farewell to the ‘land down under’ and transfer to Sydney Airport for flights returning home.