A trip to Australia is a bucket-list vacation for many travelers. From the bustling streets of Sydney to the vast expanses of the Outback, there’s an adventure waiting for everyone in the Land Down Under. If you’re looking at Australia tours, you’ll have plenty of options. Many of the most popular tours of Australia mix major sights, World Heritage sites, and off-the-beaten-path gems. Tour types fit all travelers and budgets, with everything from large group coach tours to luxury private tours that cater to your every need.
Many of the best Australian tours include a visit to the Outback, but some also offer winery tours, opportunities to dive at the Great Barrier Reef, and even the chance to get up close to koalas. These group tours make seeing the massive country easy and accessible for everyone in your group.
10 Great Australia Tours in 2023 and 2024
These 10 standout Australia tours take travelers to some of the most beautiful destinations in the country. One of the best things about group tours is that everything is taken care of, including the travel route and activities to do in each place. With the help of expert guides, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips for the entire trip.
1. Trafalgar Aboriginal Culture and Australian Highlights
Travelers who want to get a deeper sense of what Australia’s Aboriginal culture is like should consider the Trafalgar Aboriginal Culture and Australian Highlights tour. The 13-day trip takes travelers from Melbourne to Cairns, with a focus on indigenous people groups. Starting in Melbourne, the experience kicks off with a walking tour of the city with an Indigenous guide.
On some days, there are different options to choose from. For instance, on the third day, choose between a coastal drive or seeing tiny penguins on Phillip Island.
COMPANY REVIEW: What to Know About Trafalgar Before You Book
The tour continues with a few days in Uluru, where you’ll see ancient rock art, learn about dot art, take a scenic helicopter flight, and sip local wine as the sun sets. Day seven starts your full day in Sydney, where you can explore the Opera House and enjoy an Aboriginal cultural cruise through the harbor. The adventure ends with a day at the Great Barrier Reef and a day in Cairns where you can either hop on the scenic railway or take time to explore the city.
- Length: 13 days
- Starting Price: $7,144
- Group Size: around 40 people
- How to Book: Directly through Trafalgar; or through a travel agent such as AAA
2. Intrepid Daintree Family Holiday
Family travelers interested in the coastal rainforests of Australia will enjoy the Intrepid Daintree Family Holiday. The tour is recommended for families with kids ages five and older. The five-day trip includes a visit to the world’s oldest rainforest, where travelers learn about the fragile ecosystem and take nature walks with a First Nations guide.
The tour starts with a day at Barron Gorge to see the stunning waterfalls and take a river cruise around Port Douglas. Then there’s a day in the Daintree Rainforest, where you’ll take a cruise around Cooper Creek to spot wildlife.
GO WITH CONFIDENCE: Best Companies for Guided Tours
After an intense first two days, your family can rest and go at your own pace on day three, which is completely free to do whatever you want, though your guide will be available if you want suggestions of things to do. Day four is the most active day of the trip, with a guided walk through the rainforest, a spear-throwing demonstration, and education from the Kuku Yalanji community.
- Length: 5 days
- Starting Price: $2,945
- Group Size: up to 16 people
- How to Book: Directly through Intrepid; via tour specialist OTAs (online travel agents) TourRadar or Global Journeys; or through a travel agent such as AAA
3. EF Go Ahead Tours Highlights of Australia: The Great Barrier Reef to Sydney
If you’re looking for a tour of Australia that hits both big cities and the beach towns, the EF Go Ahead Tours Highlights of Australia: The Great Barrier Reef to Sydney is worth checking out. Even though the itinerary is 12 days, the first two days are scheduled travel days to get to the country, so you’ll really only have 10 days on the ground.
The tour starts in Sydney, where you’ll take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, visit Bondi Beach, and have a free day in the city. Day six starts with a flight to Cairns, which is the launch point to get to the Great Barrier Reef. En route to the ocean, you’ll stop at Mossman Gorge to see the overlooks and learn about life from an indigenous guide.
THE SCOOP: What to Know About EF Go Ahead Tours
While at the Great Barrier Reef, you can pick to see the reef from a glass-bottom boat or don a snorkel and see the colors underneath the water. The itinerary ends in Melbourne, where you’ll get a walking tour of the city and then have a day of free time before leaving Australia.
- Length: 12 days
- Starting Price: $3,289
- Group Size: 15 to 35 people
- How to Book: Directly through EF Go Ahead Tours; or through a travel agent such as AAA
4. Abercrombie & Kent Wings Over Australia
Groups or families looking for a private luxury tour of Australia should check out the Abercrombie & Kent Wings Over Australia trip. The 13-day itinerary features private charter flights between all of the major destinations on the trip, which allows everyone to reduce travel time and make the most of every minute in Australia.
ALONE BUT TOGETHER: 10 Best Tour Companies for Solo Tours
The trip starts with two days in Melbourne, where you’ll explore the city and visit a few nearby wineries for tastings. Then the group flies to Tasmania, where you’ll visit a bird sanctuary, an art museum, learn about local oysters, and more. Days six through eight are spent in Uluru, where you’ll dine among the dunes and see cave paintings. Then the group moves to Hayman Island, where you’ll learn first-hand about the Great Barrier Reef before ending in Sydney, where everyone will enjoy a harbor cruise and a behind-the-scenes visit to the Sydney Opera House.
- Length: 13 days
- Starting Price: $39,995
- Group Size: 11 people
- How to Book: Directly through Abercrombie & Kent; or through a travel agent such as AAA
5. G Adventures Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays
Younger travelers who are looking for a fun way to visit Australia without breaking the bank may enjoy the G Adventures Brisbane to Cairns Experience: Sand Dunes & the Whitsundays tour. The 10-day tour is specifically designed for 18 to 39 years old who have a passion for travel. The itinerary starts in Brisbane, where you’ll kick off your Australia tour with a day exploring on your own before meeting the group leaders and fellow travelers.
COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY: How to Choose the Best Walking Shoes for Travel
The tour continues to Noosa, known for its beaches; and Fraser Island, where you’ll explore the only rainforest in the world that grows in sand. In Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands, the group will enjoy a day on a yacht and sailing along the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The itinerary ends in Cairns, where you can try adventure sports like skydiving or white water rafting before a night out on the town with your new friends.
- Length: 10 days
- Starting Price: $1,724
- Group Size: up to 20 people
- How to Book: Directly through G Adventures; via tour specialist OTAs TourRadar; or through a travel agent such as AAA
6. National Geographic Expeditions The Kimberley Coast by Sea: Northwest Australia and Indonesia
One of the most unusual and interesting Australia tours is an expedition cruise with National Geographic Expeditions, The Kimberley Coast by Sea: Northwest Australia and Indonesia. The 18-day journey starts in Perth, though the official sailing date isn’t until day four in Broome. Everyone in the group will board the National Geographic Orion before setting out to sea.
TRAVEL TOGETHER: Best Tour Companies for Solo Travel
Day five is where the real adventure begins, with a day at Rowley Shoals, which is a popular diving spot to see coral reefs. Days six and seven are spent at sea navigating the Kimberly Coast. Groups then venture to Bigge Island to see the cave systems and artwork, and to search for Monkon rock wallabies. Day 14 is when the group makes landfall in Indonesia at Savu Sea Marine National Park to see whales and turtles. You’ll also get to see Komodo dragons and Pink Beach in Komodo. The trip ends with a traditional wedding ceremony and boxing match on the island of Sumbawa before heading to Denpasar to catch a flight home.
- Length: 18 days
- Starting Price: $16,577
- Group Size: up to 102 people
- How to Book: Directly through National Geographic Expeditions; or through a travel agent such as AAA
7. Contiki Great Ocean Road Trip
Imagine spending eight days with a group of adventurous young travelers around Australia. That’s exactly what the Contiki Great Ocean Road Trip offers to travelers. The tour starts in Melbourne, where the group ventures to the surf town of Torquay to learn about the sport. Then everyone will head off to Apollo Bay to see the 12 Apostles, limestone stacks that measure 45 meters high.
FUN AND YOUNG: Best Tour Companies for Young People
The tour continues to Mount Gambier where everyone will have a chance to marvel at the Umpherston Sinkhole and Blue Lake. The halfway point of the trip is in Adelaide, where the group enjoys a walking tour of the city, takes a food tour, and a heads out after dark for night out on the town. The final highlight of the tour comes with a few days at Kangaroo Island, which is inhabited by everything from kangaroos to seals.
- Length: 8 days
- Starting Price: $1,769
- Group Size: up to 25 people
- How to Book: Directly through Contiki; via Travelstride or TourRadar, all of which are tour specialist OTAs; or through a travel agent such as AAA
8. Tauck Australia Adventure: Adelaide, Tasmania & Sydney
Travelers looking for a more laid-back tour may be interested in the Tauck Australia Adventure: Adelaide, Tasmania & Sydney trip. The 14-day tour begins in Adelaide, where you’ll have time to explore the city on your own and go to the nearby wine country, take an art tour, or explore the local food hall as a group.
The trip continues on to Melbourne, which is really just a jumping-off point to get to the Great Ocean Road for a scenic drive. The tour also takes guests to Tasmania, where they can pick from a variety of excursions including beekeeping lessons, kayaking, and visiting a local vineyard. The tour ends in Sydney where you’ll see the Opera House, take a sightseeing cruise, and have free time to explore the city.
- Length: 14 days
- Starting Price: $12,790
- Group Size: about 18 people
- How to Book: Directly through Tauck; or through a travel agent such as AAA
9. Kensington Tours Australia Family: Koalas, Reef & Rainforest
Families looking to take younger kids to Australia will want to dive into the Kensington Tours Australia Family: Koalas, Reef & Rainforest trip. The 12-day itinerary starts in Sydney, where families can enjoy free time on their own to see everything from the harbor and Opera House to animals at the Wild Life Sydney Zoo. For more animal fun, the second day in Sydney includes a trip to the Taronga Zoo along with a tour from a zookeeper.
Day four is when your family will pack up and move to Hamilton Island, where you can explore on your own or take advantage of the hotel’s complimentary water sports just off the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. The trip ends in Port Douglas, where your family will join a marine biologist for a snorkel tour and a trip to Daintree National Park.
- Length: 12 days
- Starting Price: $4.795
- Group Size: Just your family
- How to Book: Directly through Kensington Tours; or through a travel agent such as AAA
10. Globus Gems of the Red Center
The Globus Gems of the Red Center tour takes place in the middle of the Australian Outback, allowing travelers to experience the desert and Indigenous culture. The tour starts in Alice Springs, where you’ll visit the Standley Chasm with the help of an Indigenous guide.
Day three brings the real adventure as the group moves through the Outback to Kings Canyon, where domes, gorges, and sandstone walls dot the landscape. Here, the group can enjoy a morning canyon rim walk before moving to Uluru to see the Mutitjulu Waterhole and Aboriginal rock paintings. Before leaving Uluru for your journey back home, you can enjoy optional excursions like a camel ride or helicopter tour.
- Length: 6 days
- Starting Price: $2,689
- Group Size: 20 people
- How to Book: Directly through Globus; via Travelstride or TourRadar, all of which are tour specialist OTAs; or through a travel agent such as AAA