Cairns

Embark on an unforgettable journey to experience the richness of Australian culture and its stunning natural beauty. Our program invites you to get up close with the vibrant marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and explore the Indigenous heartland of Australia, including the iconic 'Red Centre' to marvel at Uluru (Ayers Rock). Along the way, gain deep insights from the local Aboriginal community, learning about the oldest known culture in the country. The program ends with one night evening spent in the beautiful city of Sydney.

Operational Note: This program begins in Cairns, Australia and ends in Sydney Australia where guests will board the ship. Guests will need to fly into the Cairns International Airport for Day 1 of the program. The domestic flight between Ayers Rock and Sydney on Day 5 is included in the program.

Any guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour. This program is not suitable for guests who utilize a wheelchair or rely on walking aids due to the level of mobility required to participate in each of the activities.

DAY 1 – January 22, 2026

Upon arrival in Cairns, you will be met and escorted to your hotel based in Cairns, where you can unwind and enjoy the comforts for the night. The remainder of the day is yours to relish at your leisure. Whether you opt to luxuriate at the spa or explore the surrounding attractions, the decision is entirely yours. Any meals today are on your own.

DAY 2 - January 23, 2026

After breakfast at your hotel, you will embark on an exhilarating journey to explore the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef! Meet your tour leader in the lobby (don’t forget a towel and biodegradable sunscreen) and board your coach for a short transfer to the pier for an unforgettable reef cruise.

Begin your adventure with a morning tea served once you board, setting the perfect tone for what lies ahead. The first stop is the breathtaking Michaelmas Cay, where you will have the opportunity to explore the vibrant underwater world with a guided snorkel tour. Immerse yourself in the beauty of this natural wonderland before indulging in a hot and cold buffet lunch. While at Michaelmas Cay, don't forget to keep an eye out for the elusive batfish, gracefully gliding among the coral formations. You can also join a Glass Bottom Boat tour with commentary, learning about the reef.

Next, venture to Hastings Reef, another spectacular location teeming with marine life. Here, you can continue your snorkelling adventure or simply relax and take in the stunning surroundings. Be sure to keep an eye out for colourful fish, graceful rays, and perhaps even a curious turtle.

Throughout the day, the knowledgeable crew will provide insightful reef interpretation talks, enhancing your understanding of this remarkable ecosystem. Whether you are an experienced snorkeler or a first-time explorer, all the equipment and instruction you need for a safe and enjoyable experience will be provided.

As the day winds down, depart from the Reef enriched by unforgettable experiences. Arrive back in Cairns and transfer back to the hotel, where you will have some time to freshen up and relax before the evening plans.

Meet your tour leader in the lobby and walk to Dundees at the Waterfront for dinner. Indulge in a delicious three-course meal, all while enjoying the picturesque views of the waterfront.

Note: All equipment is provided, or guests may bring their own. Guests must bring a towel and biodegradable sunscreen.

DAY 3 - January 24, 2026

Gather in the lobby, check out, and board your coach for a transfer to the Cairns Airport, for a flight to Ayers Rock. Upon arrival, retrieve your luggage and transfer to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. Here you will have the chance to explore both the Cultural Centre and the Walkatjara Art Gallery at your leisure.

Afterwards, rejoin the coach for a scenic drive to Mangata Bistro and Bar, where a delightful lunch will be served. After lunch, take some time to relax, check in, and enjoy the various free activities offered at Sails in the Desert this afternoon. Activities may include cultural experiences, camel farm and guided garden tours and didgeridoo and painting workshops to name a few. The resort will provide a list of the available activities upon arrival.

Tonight, prepare for a memorable experience as you will partake in the Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner. Wintjiri Wiru, which translates to 'beautiful view out to the horizon' in the Pitjantjatjara language, offers a mesmerizing cultural narrative. This immersive experience vividly portrays a chapter of the ancestral Mala story using choreographed drones, lasers, and projections that dance across the night sky, showcasing the spiritual significance of the land. Indulge in an evening meal as the sun sets, complemented by cocktails infused with local flavors, all while enjoying breathtaking vistas of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

After an evening filled with delicious food, cultural insights, and mesmerizing views, you will be transported back to your hotel, where you can unwind and enjoy the remainder of the night at your leisure.

*Note: The activities offered at Sails in the Desert are subject to change without notice. Please enquire at hotel reception to confirm operating times. Please be aware that their Indigenous performers are traditional people with strong cultural obligations. Wet weather may also impact scheduled activities

DAY 4 - January 25, 2026

After breakfast, embark on a journey to Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, where ancient rock formations create a breathtaking landscape. Explore this natural wonder, marvelling at its towering domes and rich cultural significance.

Following a morning of exploration, enjoy a leisurely lunch and some free time to relax and unwind. Whether you choose to lounge by the pool or explore the hotel's amenities, take this opportunity to recharge for the afternoon ahead.

In the afternoon, delve deeper into the wonders of Uluru with a base tour and the Mala walk. Learn about the cultural significance of this sacred site as you stroll along its base, surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Cap off your tour with sunset drinks and canapés, soaking in the serenity of the desert landscape as day transitions into night.

As evening falls, a sumptuous dinner in included at Ilkari Restaurant, where a buffet of tantalizing dishes awaits. Indulge in a culinary journey inspired by local flavours and global influences.

DAY 5 - January 26, 2026

Begin your day with an awe-inspiring Uluru Sunrise tour, where you will witness the majestic rock formation come to life in the soft morning light. As the sun paints the sky with vibrant hues, immerse yourself in the beauty of this sacred site. Afterward, enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel before your departure for the airport.

After breakfast, meet your tour leader and transfer to the Ayers Rock airport for a flight to Sydney where upon arrival you will be whisked away to the luxurious Four Seasons hotel, where you will unwind for the night. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you please. Whether you choose to relax at the hotel or seek recommendations for nearby attractions, the choice is entirely yours. Dinner arrangements are left to your preference.

DAY 6 - January 27, 2026

Following breakfast at the hotel, you will enjoy free time until check out. For those who want to make the most of the morning, First Fleet Park is an easy walk away and offers one last look at the beautiful Sydney Harbor.

In time, you will check-out and transfer to the port and board the ship.

Land Program Details Step by Step:

•Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.

•Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one last final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.

•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.

•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 2:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.

•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 2:00pm.

•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.

DAY 1

Arrive at Cairns International Airport. You are met outside customs by your tour leader or driver and transferred to your hotel where the afternoon and evening are at your leisure

2:00pm Official hotel check-in time. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed unless an extra night is booked.

Overnight at Riley by Crystalbrook Collection or similar hotel

Meet and Greet and transfers

•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.

•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.

•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.

•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.

Day 2

AM Early breakfast at the hotel

7:00am Meet you guide at Reception and transfer to the marina for a reef cruise

7:30am Board the vessel for the Great Barrier Reef cruise

Morning tea served prior to departure

9:15am Arrive at first reef location Michaelmas Cay

12:00pm Depart Michaelmas Cay to Hastings Reef

Hot and cold buffet lunch on the boat

12:30pm Arrive at Hastings Reef

2:30pm Afternoon Tea on the boat

3:00pm Depart Hastings Reef

4:00pm Arrive back in Cairns

4:15pm Return to your hotel and chance to refresh

6:30pm Meet in lobby and walk to restaurant

7:00pm Dinner at Dundees at the Waterfront

9:30pm Return to your hotel

Overnight at Riley by Crystalbrook Collection or similar hotel

Day 3

5:15am Check-out, meet in lobby and board coach (don’t forget to settle any incidentals)

5:30am Transfer to the airport

6:00am Check in for flight to Ayers Rock

7:10am Flight from Cairns to Ayers Rock (flight details TBA and subject to change)

In flight meal (subject to change by airline)

9:30am Arrive in Ayers Rock, collect luggage

10:30am Board coach for transfer

10:45am Transfer to Ulu?u-Kata Tju?a Cultural Centre

11:15am Visit Ulu?u-Kata Tju?a Cultural Centre & Walkatjara Art Gallery

12:30pm Arrive at Sails in the Desert

1:00pm Lunch at Mangata Bistro and Bar or similar venue and then time at leisure

3:00pm Check in time

5:00pom Meet for sunset dinner

5:15pm Wintjiri Wiru sunset dinner

8:30pm Arrive back at the hotel

Overnight at Sails in the Desert

Day 4

7-9:00am Breakfast at hotel

9:00am Kata Tjuta tour

12:00pm Lunch and time at leisure

3:00pm Meet for Uluru base tour

3:15pm Uluru base tour, Mala walk and sunset tour with canapes

7:45pm Return to the hotel

8:30pm Dinner at Ilkari Restaurant (Buffet dinner)

Overnight at Sails in the Desert

Day 5

5:40am Uluru Sunrise tour

7-9:00am Breakfast at hotel

10:00am Check out, don’t forget to settle any incidentals

10:30am Board coach for transfer to the airport

11:00am Arrive at the airport and check in for flight

12:20pm Flight Ayers Rock to Sydney (flight details TBA and subject to change)

In flight meal (subject to change by airline)

4:45pm Collect luggage and board coach

5:45pm Transfer to your hotel

6:15pm Check-in

Evening at leisure, dinner on own

Overnight at the Four Seasons Hotel or similar hotel

Day 6

From 6:30am Breakfast at the hotel

Morning at leisure

12:00pm Check-out, don’t forget to settle any incidentals

12:15pm Meet at Harrington St Entrance (Level 3 - Four Seasons) and board coach

12:30pm Transfer to the port

1:00pm Estimated arrival to the ship for embarkation

Expected Weather:

Cairns: The weather will be approximately 20-28°C / 69-93°F. Humidity can be high, and rainfall should be expected.

Ayers Rock: In January the weather is typically hot, with temperatures ranging from 25-38 °C /77 to 100°F.

What to Bring:

Bring comfortable casual clothes and good walking shoes. You may want to include a smart pair of shorts (or skirt) with a polo shirt for dinner occasions, swimwear, and a light sweater in case it gets cooler in the evening, hat and biodegradable sunscreen.

Local Currency:

Australian Dollars. The U.S. dollar is not accepted. However, all major credit cards can be used. A credit card will be required at by the resort at check in for any incidentals.

Electricity:

Australia operates with 220 volts, and guests should bring an international travel adaptor for electronic devices.

Luggage information:

Guests are allowed to bring a maximum of 1 checked suitcase free of charge for domestic flights. Maximum weight is 20kg (50bs.) One small carry-on per person that can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you is also permitted. Guests having excess or overweight luggage will be responsible for any fees upon check in at the airports.

Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)

1.Guests must obtain a Doctor’s Certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on their flights.

2.The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or any other type)

3.These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at RSSC at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).

4.Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises nor our local ground operator are responsible for.

Documents and Visa Requirements:

Guests will need a visa to visit Australia and should check with their travel agent or embassy for requirements for their nationality. A valid passport is also required, and your number must be added to your cruise booking at least 120 days before the cruise starts so that the domestic flight tickets can be issued.

VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be the same for flight ticket purchase for this program otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.

Failure to have the required documents ahead of time will result in denial of travel and guests will have to pay for any expenses incurred in order to not proceed with the program.

The above information is subject to change and serves as a guide only. We would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our guests that it is the ultimate and sole responsibility of the guest to ensure they meet the entry requirements for each destination.

If traveling internationally, the countries you are flying to and/ or connecting through may have different document requirements and as such we encourage you to visit the government and airport websites of every country you will be traveling to throughout the journey to familiarize yourself with their requirements for your nationality.

Accommodations:

Riley by Cystalbrook

131-141 Esplanade, Cairns Queensland 4870

Phone: +61 (0)7 4252 7777

Sails in the Desert

163 Yulara Drive, Yulara, Northern Territory 0872

Phone: +61 2 8296 8010

The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

199 George Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000

Phone: +61 (0)2 9250 3100

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards, and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•Two nights at Riley by Crystalbrook (Sea View Room or similar)

•Two nights at Sails in the Desert (Superior Room or similar)

•One night at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (Deluxe Partial Harbour Room or similar)

•Breakfasts x 4, Lunch x 2, Dinner x 3

•All touring and any entrances mentioned above

•Economy class domestic flights from Cairns to Ayers Rock and Ayers Rock to Sydney – direct flights are not guaranteed

•Porterage

Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.

Program Excludes for guests:

•Gratuities for drivers and guides

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar, laundry and room service

•Additional meals, drinks not included in the program

•Scuba diving and any extra activities on the Great Barrier reef program

•Towels

•Excess or overweight luggage on flights above what is included

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. The pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Mid cruise overland programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty.