BRAND NEW FOR 2027: Expedition Cruises!

This is the best of an Australia Gold Coast vacation, created especially for those dreaming of golden beaches. The finest way to experience Australia’s coast is by car, and you’ll pick your rental up in Sydney. (Consider asking your Authentic Expert about a pre-night stay in Sydney before you head north.) Your first stop is Port Stephens—you may decide to swim with dolphins or go sandboarding down the Stockton Dunes! Next, you’re in Coffs Harbor; we suggest going to the Butterfly House. In the spring, Jacaranda trees are in full bloom in this region.

Byron Bay is one of the world’s most renowned beach towns. It has eclectic charm, local art, interior rain forests, a coast made for exploring, the historic Byron Lighthouse, and sumptuous cuisine. Step into your adventurous self and try skydiving or take a surf lesson! The water is various shades of turquoise-blue, and the sunsets are stunning.

Your last two nights are pure, five-star luxury in Brisbane, capital of Queensland. This vibrant city sits prettily on the River, is surrounded by soft hills, has an idyllic climate and tropical vegetation. (The scent of frangipani fills the air.) We have arranged an evening of live, Aboriginal theater for you. Experience the culture that has been the soul of Australia for 60,000 years. Spend your free time visiting Moreton Island, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, or Mount Coot-tha. This tour is truly the heart of Australia’s gold coast.

PLAN AND BOOK

Included Unique Activities

  • Interactive Cultural Theatre Show with Dinner and Transfer
Interactive Aboriginal Theatre Show and Dinner

Interactive Aboriginal Theatre Show and Dinner

Accommodations

1 Night

Exquisite Seaside Resort

1 Night

Beachside Spa Resort

2 Nights

Beachside Apartment

2 Nights

5-Star Luxury Boutique Hotel

Transportation and Guides

  • Automatic Compact Car Rental for 6 Nights

Points of Interest

  • Nelson Head Lighthouse
  • Port Macquarie
  • Koala Hospital, Billabong Zoo
  • Bellingen
  • The Big Banana
  • Butterfly House
  • Grafton
  • Cape Byron Walking Track
  • Byron Lighthouse
  • Lamington National Park
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
  • Brisbane Botanic Gardens
  • Mount Coot-tha
  • James Street
  • Brisbane Treasury Building
  • Moreton Island

Hunter Valley Wine Region, New South Wales

Port Macquarie, New South Wales

Grafton, New South Wales

Lamington National Park, Australia

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Australia

Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Queensland

Mount Coot-Tha, Australia

Dining Options Included (inclusions)

  • 1 Breakfasts at The Anchorage
  • 1 Dinner; Aboriginal Theatre and Dining Experience
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2026

Available Dates

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

From $1,707 per person

2027

Available Dates

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

From $1,878 per person

Your Price Includes

Tour Highlights

ACCOMMODATION

  • 4 Nights 4 Star Unique Coastal Hotels
  • 2 Nights 5 Star Hotel

TRANSPORTATION

  • Automatic Compact Car Rental for 6 Nights

DINING OPTIONS INCLUDED (Inclusions)

  • 1 Breakfasts at The Anchorage
  • 1 Dinner; Aboriginal Theatre and Dining Experience

INCLUDED UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

  • Interactive Cultural Theatre Show with Dinner and Transfer

POINTS OF INTEREST

  • Nelson Head Lighthouse
  • Port Macquarie
  • Koala Hospital, Billabong Zoo
  • Bellingen
  • The Big Banana
  • Butterfly House
  • Grafton
  • Cape Byron Walking Track
  • Byron Lighthouse
  • Lamington National Park
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
  • Brisbane Botanic Gardens
  • Mount Coot-tha
  • James Street
  • Brisbane Treasury Building
  • Moreton Island
Prices Based On
  • All Taxes & Fees Included
  • Prices are Per Person based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room.
  • Traveling Alone? No Problem. Single cost from $2298, ask us for a personal quote

"Italy anniversary trip"

Jan Pepe

GA

Ellie did a fabulous job helping me put together the perfect trip for my clients. She paid such great attention to the details I sent her, and my clients said the trip was AMAZING! Thank you Ellie!!!

"mom and daughter trip"

Tracy Layton

Ireland

What an amazing trip! I chose Authentic because the itinerary sounded exactly what we wanted to see. But what made this the trip of a lifetime was our driver/guide, Colm Dunlea. He was absolutely incredible. The stories he told, the little side trips he took us on, the tips he gave us as we arrived in each of the towns/cities, the pictures he took and all of the extras he gave us were just so very much appreciated. I am forever grateful to Colm Dunlea for all he did. He was BRILLIANT!!!

"85th birthday gift celebration"

Patricia Slota

Montague Michigan

Our trip to Ireland was beyond amazing. Each day brought new vistas filling us all with the heart of this beautiful land, The accomadations were just magical and each one had a lovely history of its own. The tour itinerary was well designed to teach us about Irelands different areas and history. Special praise to our ProCar chauffer / guide, Mr. Declan Cummins for going way above to care for each traveler . ( We were a varied group.) He is a huge asset to your company, We all grew very fond of him by weeks end. Thank you all for creating this wonderful adventure. I'd do it over again in a heartbeat!

"Denmark Vacation"

Eric Jensen

Minneapolis, MN

My clients' 'Denmark in the Spring' trip exceeded expectations — from the seamless logistics to the curated experiences in both Copenhagen and Aarhus, every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Their drivers and guides were exceptional, bringing the destinations to life in ways they couldn't have discovered on their own. They returned home already dreaming of their next trip.

"Mom and daughter trip"

Jill Loveless

Wisconsin

My client and her mother contacted me about travel to Ireland. They wanted something private and special. I met my Authentic Vacations' sales rep the night before and decided to send in a request. Best decision ever! Lauren L. received my request and immediately sent me an email with a few ideas, we talked on the phone and within 2 days I had a winning itinerary.

Fast forward. My client emailed me on arrival day and was very pleased with the service. She emailed me again on the last day and raved about their driver Colm Dunlea.

Working with Authentic Vacations was effortless. I highly recommend them and plan to use their service again.

"Family Vacation"

Denise Ferraro

New York

As a travel advisor, this was the first Ireland trip I entrusted to Authentic Vacations, and they knocked it out of the park. The clients loved having a private driver, thought the hotels were ideal, and a castle stay was the perfect ending to the trip.

"Birthday Family Trip"

Joan Cook

Illinois

My group of 10 returned from a week in Ireland where I hired a driver through Authentic Vacations. Delcan went above and beyond as I had 2 80+ women in the group that could not walk long distances. He found wheelchairs at every venue. My clients said he was very kind and friendly. Thank you to Jennifer at Authentic Vacations who made this experience a memory of a lifetime.

"Family Adventure"

Loryl Haggard

Fort Thomas, KY

Amber M. does the best job bringing my ideas to life for my clients. She truly builds the best curated trips and makes me look like a rockstar. From start to finish - she is there every step of the way. Having her and Authentic's support is awesome! Thank you for another excellent adventure!

1. Click the “GET QUOTE” Button Above.

Complete our inquiry form by selecting your departure date, and all other relevant fields. Be sure to let us know if you're traveling for a special occasion! We can adjust most of our vacation packages to suit your needs, based on the details you provide.

2. Online Account & Quote Created

Your request will be forwarded to our team of Destination Experts, and a price quote will be prepared, based on your submitted preferences and criteria. A free Authentic Vacations online account will also be created, allowing you to view and request changes to your quote at any time. Log into your account via “LOGIN” at the top of any of our webpages.

3. Fine-Tune Your Tour Quote

Work with your assigned Destination Expert to tweak your quote in any way you wish. Our customers continually tell us that our flexibility in this regard is exceptional – your Destination Expert’s sole brief is to create the perfect tour for you!

4. Reserve & Pay Online

Once your quote is 100% to your liking, you can pay for your package with your credit card via your Authentic Vacations online account. We also accept payment by personal check and wire transfer. We only require a 20% deposit to secure your vacation, and our Risk-Free Cancellation Policy provides you with complete peace of mind.

5. Print Your Travel Documents & Go!

Once your vacation has been paid in full, you will be able to print your travel documents directly from your online account. You’re ready to embark on your ideal, authentic vacation!!

Questions?

If you would prefer to discuss your perfect vacation on the phone, we would be delighted to hear from you! Our Destination Experts are standing-by and looking forward to speaking with you at any time during our business hours listed below. We also operate a very responsive and efficient Live Chat service on our website…instant gratification awaits!

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Saturday: 6:00am – 3:00pm PST

Sunday: 6:00am – 3:00pm PST

With offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, London, Dublin, Copenhagen and Edinburgh, we can offer you unrivaled support while you are abroad. We truly believe all our clients deserve an extraordinary, authentic experience!