January 26 - February 06, 2024
12 Days
Tour Status - Available

This HOSTED agriculture tour with David & Brenda Layden of Select Holidays is a rural and cultural tour in Australia, a country where 52% of its land mass is used for agriculture and accounts for more than half of the world’s certified organic agriculture hectares. Visiting many highlights including the Kuranda Rail to a picturesque mountain village, Tjapukai Aboriginal Park, Great Barrier Reef, and ride the world’s longest gondola. You are in for an incredible "down under" farm tour with stops at cereal grain, potato, sheep, wheat, sorghum, cotton and pulse crop farms.

Very enjoyable trip and a lifetime of memories. Well organized and would highly recommend.
— 2020 ~ Dale & Terry, SK

Click Image to Enlarge

Tour Highlights

  • Deluxe, city center accommodations*

  • Meals as per itinerary

  • Air conditioned transportation

  • City & area tours as per itinerary

  • Rural visits as per itinerary

  • Sydney Harbour Cruise

  • Sydney Opera House Tour

  • Lone Pine Koala Park

  • Darling Downs

  • Feed Lot Tour

  • Grain, Cotton & Fruit Farm

  • Atherton Tablelands

  • Green Island & Great Barrier Reef

  • Tjapukai Aboriginal Park

  • Kuranda Rail

  • Skyrail Rainforest Tours

  • Flights within Australia are included in the above price

  • Hosted by Select Holidays

  • Plus More....

Day 01 - Jan 26, 2024: Fri – ADELAIDE ~ CAIRNS
Arrive into the tropical city of Cairns. Upon arrival transfer to hotel with the balance of the day free. [B]
Today is “Australia Day”

Day 02 - Jan 27, 2024: Sat – CAIRNS, AU
Following breakfast, travel to “Freshwater Train Station” to board the “Kuranda Rail” for a scenic train journey up the mountainside to “Kuranda Station” and a visit to the Kuranda village.  The picturesque mountain village is surrounded by the “World Heritage Rainforest”.  Later, board the “Skyrail Rainforest Cableway”, the world’s longest gondola, for an epic aerial ride over the rainforest canopy as you make your way back down the mountain and visit “Tjapukai Aboriginal Park” for a dance and boomerang throwing performance.  It is both an entertaining spectacle, and an educational experience for everyone.  This evening, take time to explore the foreshore promenade and shop at local markets, eat tropical fruits and seafood.  [B]

Day 03 - Jan 28, 2024: Sun – CAIRNS, AU
A fast 45 minute catamaran ride will take you to beautiful Green Island to enjoy this unique coral reef, which is situated on part of the “Great Barrier Reef" - one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.  Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride over the coral as well as a lunch on the island before returning back to Cairns.  [B/L] 
*Snorkeling equipment included*

Day 04 - Jan 29, 2024: Mon – CAIRNS, AU
Drive onto the “Atherton Tablelands” where sugarcanes, bananas, tea and peanut farms supply the main income.  Visit the “Giant Fig Tree” followed by lunch at Lake Barrine, a lake formed by an extinct volcano.  Visit a mango and avocado farm before returning to Cairns later in the afternoon. [B/L]

Day 05 - Jan 30, 2024: Tue - CAIRNS ~ BRISBANE, AU
This morning, transfer to the Cairns International Airport for the flight to Brisbane.  Visit to the “Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary” where you can see koalas, kangaroos and other amazing animals. Then transfer to the hotel with the balance of the time at leisure.    [B]

Day 06 - Jan 31, 2024: Wed – BRISBANE ~ TOOWOOMBA, AU
Depart Brisbane and travel west to a fertile area known as the Darling Downs. Visit one of the largest cattle feedlots in the region. A visit will also be arranged to visit a local rural supplies store – services include merchandise, livestock, horticulture, real estate, finance and insurance. This region is also the center for agricultural equipment dealerships – showcasing the equipment being used by farmers in the surrounding area. A visit to a local dealership will also be included. Check in to centrally located hotel in the city of Toowoomba for the night. Dinner in the hotel’s restaurant. [B/D]

Day 07- Feb 01, 2024: Thu - TOOWOOMBA ~ STANTHORPE, AU
Depart Toowoomba and travel to an area located to the southwest. Visit a family with a mixed cropping enterprise. Intensive cropping and irrigation practices have made this area of Queensland famous with both summer and winter crops such as cotton, soybeans, maize and sorghum, many grown utilising innovative water harvesting and production techniques. Further southeast, visit a leading breeder of stud Charolais and commercial composite beef cattle. Make a stop at Kent Saddlery for a workshop tour. This successful family business has a connection to the Outback and country people, built on servicing and their annual visits to Outback cattle stations for over 30 years. Arrive in the town of Stanthorpe and check in to our hotel. [B/L/D]

Day 08 - Feb 02, 2024: Fri – STANTHORPE ~ ARMIDALE, AU
Following the New England Highway (the inland highway connecting Brisbane to Sydney) to Guyra to visit a successful mixed livestock farmer, with cattle and sheep for both wool and meat. Arrive in the city of Armidale - at an elevation of almost 1,000 m above sea level, it is Australia’s highest city. Visit the University of New England’s Smart Farm & Innovation Centre – showcasing the latest on-site technologies for improving productivity, sustainability and support for Australian farms. Check into your centrally located accommodation for the night. [B/L/D]

Day 09 - Feb 03, 2024: Sat - ARMIDALE ~ SCONE, AU
Depart Armidale and travel to visit a leading family Poll Hereford and Merino breeding operation, which actively uses BREEDPLAN (a modern genetic evaluation system for beef cattle which is used by breed societies across the world). The family will share with you their strategies for managing their property under previous unseen drought conditions. Visit a large dairy with a Friesian herd. Then continue travelling to an area known as the Liverpool Plains, where there will be a visit to a successful cropping enterprise. Travel on to Scone – located in a very well-known area called the Hunter Valley. Check into hotel. [B/D]

Day 10 - Feb 04, 2024: Sun - SCONE - SYDNEY, AU
Depart Scone and continue the journey south towards Sydney. A visit to a thoroughbred stud farm in the Murrurundi area. The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s famous wine regions. Enjoy wine tastings and lunch at a winery. Continue into Sydney and checking into the hotel, situated on the Darling Harbour, for a 2-night stay. [B/L]

Day 11 - Feb 05, 2024: Mon - SYDNEY, AU
Enjoy a morning cruise on the world's most beautiful Harbour, Sydney Harbour. The beauty and splendor of the Sydney Harbour, is something that has to be experienced first-hand - no picture or video can do justice to it. After lunch, take a tour of the world-famous “Sydney Opera House”. The balance of the afternoon and evening is free to explore on your own. [B]

Day 12- Feb 06, 2024: Tue – SYDNEY ~ END OF TOUR
All good things must come to an end. Depart for the Sydney International AIrport for your return flight back to North America. [B/IFM]

Ask about extending your stay in Australia by adding a visit to one of these other amazing regions; Tasmania, Western Australia, Ayers Rock and Alice Springs.

**Airfare to/from Australia is not included in the price. 
Ask about special International airfares for this tour.

price PER PERSON, DOUBLE - from $8,680.00 Land price only*

Plus Air/Gov't Taxes of $591.00 CAD per person
Single Occupancy - add $2,290.00
INITIAL DEPOSIT - $2,000.00 per person at time of booking
Second Payment of $2,000.00 is due before June 30, 2023
FINAL PAYMENT per person is due before October 04, 2023

Gallery