Wild at heart, yet sophisticated and welcoming – Australia is a destination that never ceases to amaze. Fusing vibrant city discoveries with wilderness adventure, Air Canada Vacations captures the essence of Australia’s diverse allure with six different tours.
“In Australia, we have a combination of fully escorted, guided tours for those who want their tours planned, and the self-guided options for the independent traveller. Australia is so big, and those clients who want to hit the outback and take a drive on their own can easily do it,” says Marigold Frontuna, General Manager, Sales – Western Canada, Air Canada Vacations.
Each tour package has many inclusions – return flights, airport transfers, as well as a wide variety of included activities and excursions and many surprising experiences which we’ll break down as we dive deeper into each tour.
All tours include 4-star hotel stays and some meals – that means your clients can expect to stay at properties such as the centrally located Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour (or similar) in Sydney, or Bay & Bush Cottages in South Canberra (or similar), surrounded by coastal and marine National Parks, incredible turquoise waters, and white-sand beaches.
With Air Canada Vacations, the many wonders of Australia are accessible to everyone. Whether your clients crave a fully guided exploration or the freedom of a self-drive adventure, there’s a perfect itinerary waiting to unlock the magic of Australia’s cities, coastlines, and outback wonders.
3 Must-Knows For Selling Australia Tours
For travel advisors pairing clients with their perfect Aussie itinerary, there’s more to consider than the koalas and the surf. Let’s dive into three key details to keep in mind when recommending Australian tours to your clients, ensuring their Down Under adventure is truly unforgettable.
1. Seasons are the opposite of Canada’s. Summer in Australia is from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August, and spring from September to November.
2. A destination unlike any other. “Oz” is a bucket list destination for many Canadians because of its unique character. Air Canada Vacations covers a lot of ground with six packages catering to diverse interests – whether its guided exploration or freedom to travel at one’s own pace.
“The great thing about Australia is it really caters to different demographics. They have adventure, beautiful beaches, wine and culinary , wildlife and marine life sanctuaries, surfing, and snorkeling. It can really attract a wide variety of interests and we have something to offer any one of those clients,” Frontuna says.
“Your clients can experience world wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and the Gold Coast. For those who enjoy lively city vibes, Melbourne and Adelaide are excellent choices, and animal lovers will find plenty to adore on Kangaroo Island and at the Penguin Parade wildlife park. These are all experiences Air Canada Vacations offers.”
3. One of the safest travel destinations. Australia is widely regarded as a safe destination. With low crime rates and a stable political environment, visitors can explore with confidence, whether they’re families, adventure-seekers or solo travellers.
Fully-Guided “Oz-Some” Tours for Immersive Experiences
The 14-day Highlights of Australia is an easy choice for clients who want a fully guided and supported tour.
Air Canada Vacations trip planning experts have curated an itinerary of four nights each in Sydney, Cairns, and Brisbane, with domestic flights included. This immersive experience goes beyond sightseeing, allowing travellers to truly delve into each destination with unique activities and explorations.
On a day trip to the Blue Mountains, for example, a visit to the Calmsley Hill working farm means rubbing shoulders with kangaroos, emus, wombats, and koalas. Another highlight comes on Day 7, when guests are taken to the Daintree Rainforest, where they can ascend Mount Alexandra and get a stunning panoramic view of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area merging with the azure colours of the Coral Sea. Here, guests enjoy a barbecue lunch with freshly prepared salads.
These, and many other immersive experiences, are sprinkled throughout the tour, including visits to iconic destinations like the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as scenic river cruises offering a tranquil perspective on Australia’s stunning landscapes.
While gratuities and meals are not included in the tours, some experiences may offer snacks or meals as part of the package or experience. Please refer to the individual itinerary for the most up-to-date information.
Icons of Australia
The fully-guided Icons of Australia tour is Air Canada Vacations’ most immersive Australia tour yet. Icons of Australia will offer 17 days of exploration across some of the country’s most iconic cities and attractions. Your clients will discover Brisbane, Carins, Uluru and Sydney. Visit a koala sanctuary, experience the Tangalooma Island Resort, take a rainforest hike, enjoy a visit to the Great Barrier Reef and top things off with a gourmet picnic at Ayers Rock and a hike through Walpa Gorge. See, learn, and taste all that Australia has to offer.
Additional tours will soon be added to Air Canada Vacations’ Australia portfolio including featured destinations such as Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and Phillips Island.
Guided & Fly-And-Drive Tours for Hands-On Adventure
Air Canada Vacations also offers part-guided, part self-drive adventure. The Fly & Drive tours are designed for those clients who wish to benefit from the knowledge of local guides but are eager to take the wheel themselves and drive off into a beautiful Aussie sunset.
Car rentals and hotel stays are included in these packages, along with other travel essentials that help make the trip easy and unforgettable. Meals and gratuities are not included, but there are a few exceptions for special meals that can be found on each tour page.
Four guided and self-drive combos are offered, with either Brisbane or Sydney as the arrival and departure destination:
Ocean to Hinterland, with Brisbane as the arrival and departure destination, includes four days guided touring and five self-guided Fly & Drive tour, hitting hotspots such as the Gold Coast and Lamington National Park, where a Glow Worm Experience on a guided rainforest tour is included in the package. For animal lovers, a visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary means hanging out with with koalas and platypuses. When was the last time you hung out with a platypus?
East Coast Beaches and Bays is a three-day guided/nine-day self-guided Fly & Drive tour that starts in Sydney and ends in Brisbane, with a host of interesting spots in between, such as Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and Byron Bay.
This tour is perfect for coastline and ocean lovers, providing opportunities for travellers to visit shoreline gems like Port Macquarie, a fishing port where convicts were sent as punishment. The tour weaves in a two-night stopover in the captivating Gold Coast before culminating in a thorough exploration of the vibrant city of Brisbane, famous for its beautiful parklands, scenic lookouts, and bustling markets.
For clients wishing to fly into and out of Sydney, two distinct tours are available.
Just the name of Air Canada Vacations’ Mountains, Beach and Wine tour might have your clients hooked – we don’t blame them! This tour explores the rugged Blue Mountains – a World Heritage region west of Sydney known for its stunning natural beauty – before heading over to the wine region in Hunter Valley. Here, a charcuterie lunch is included at the Cellar Door winery along with a bottle of wine. The “beach” part of the tour kicks in at Port Stephens, known for its 26 golden sandy beaches. It includes three days as guided touring and seven days self-guided Fly & Drive.
From bustling cityscapes to breathtaking nature, the four-day guided/five-day Heritage and Grand Pacific driving tour exploring south of Sydney has it all. Your clients are whisked through vibrant Sydney, into the heart of the majestic Blue Mountains, to Canberra, Australia’s capital city, with visits to Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia and Questacon.
