$9899—Azamara all-inc cruise w/rainforest rail, Uluru & flts

This 17-night journey connects coast, rainforest and Uluru in one trip. Australia rarely comes together like this. You begin with a Sydney to Cairns sailing on Azamara Pursuit, a small ship suited to this coastline. The journey moves north towards the tropics, shifting from city harbours to reef waters. Ports like K’gari, Airlie Beach and Townsville unfold without effort. The pace feels considered. By the time you reach Cairns, you’ve moved fully into the tropics. Then it changes. A stay on the Esplanade and the Kuranda Scenic Railway bring the rainforest into focus. After that, you fly inland. The landscape opens out into something entirely different. The Red Centre is not a side trip here. It’s the finish, with the Field of Light dinner set beneath the night sky. This holiday includes flights, stays, touring and transfers, so nothing needs piecing together. Onboard, you have what you need—premium drinks, Wi-Fi, spa credit, laundry and hosted events. That removes the extras that add up. Cairns gives you breathing room. Uluru gets four nights, not a quick stop. Days here are slower, shaped by light, space and scale. If you’ve been waiting to do Australia properly, this is the one to book.

Our research shows savings of up to $1902 per person compared with booking this trip yourself. The cruise and Ayers Rock stay are valued at up to $10,142 per person, accounting for most of the cost. With the holiday starting from $9899 per person, the flights, 5-star Cairns stay, transfers and touring are essentially complimentary.

What's included

• 10-night cruise from Sydney to Cairns onboard the Azamara Pursuit
  • Ports of call: Newcastle, Brisbane, K’gari (Fraser Island), Gladstone, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Willis Island
  • All onboard meals (specialty dining excluded)
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including house spirits, wine, and international beers
  • Pre-paid gratuities and AzAmazing Evenings event
  • Concierge services for personal guidance and reservations
  • All port fees and government taxes
  • Bonus cruise inclusions:
    • Unlimited Wi-Fi for two devices
    • Ultimate Beverage Package for two
    • USD 250 onboard spa credit per cabin
    • Five bags of laundry during the voyage
    • Chef’s Table or Table Tour dining experience for two
    • Two exclusive premium cocktail receptions with canapés
• Chartered coach transfer from port to hotel in Cairns
• 3 nights' 5-star accommodation on the Esplanade, including breakfast
• Kuranda Scenic Railway rainforest experience with return coach transfers
• Chartered coach transfer from hotel to airport
• One-way charter flight from Cairns to Ayers Rock Airport
• Return airport transfers at Ayers Rock Resort
• 4 nights' stay at the 4.5-star Desert Gardens Hotel, including breakfast
• Access to a complimentary resort shuttle and free on-site activities
• Field of Light dinner experience with drone over Uluru
• One-way flight from Ayers Rock Airport to Sydney

When

This itinerary sails out of Sydney on 14 November 2027.

Book by 7 May 2026.

Cabin upgrades

Featured prices are based on an Inside cabin while cruising. We've also found savings on cabin upgrades. Upgrades start at $999 per person:

• +$999 for an Oceanview cabin
• +$1999 for a Balcony
• +$2799 for a Veranda Plus
• +$5399 for a Continent Suite

To find out more, see our partner's website.

Holiday snapshot

Sydney - Newcastle - Brisbane - K’gari (Fraser Island) - Gladstone - Airlie Beach - Townsville - Willis Island - Cairns - Uluru - Sydney

Itinerary highlights

In Newcastle, the coastline begins to open up, where a working harbour meets surf beaches, ocean baths and headland walks that ease you into the journey.

Through Brisbane, the river winds past South Bank’s parklands and cultural precincts, offering a balance of city energy and an easy, outdoor lifestyle.

At K’gari, the landscape shifts completely, where perched freshwater lakes sit among vast sand dunes, and rainforest grows directly from the sand, creating one of Australia’s most distinctive natural environments.

In Gladstone, the transition into reef country becomes clear, where the water brightens and nearby islands hint at the southern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef.

From Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays unfold, with island-dotted horizons, white-sand beaches and calm, turquoise water shaping one of the coast’s most recognisable settings.

Through Townsville, a more grounded coastal city, offers access to Magnetic Island, where rocky bays, walking tracks and resident wildlife sit just offshore.

Passing Willis Island, the experience turns quiet and remote, where a lone coral cay rises from the open ocean, marking one of the reef’s most isolated outposts.

In Cairns, a three-night 5-star stay along the Esplanade allows time to settle into the tropics, with a journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway carrying you through dense rainforest and mountain ridgelines.

At Uluru, the pace slows completely, where four nights in the desert bring time to experience the scale and shifting light of the landscape, culminating in the Field of Light dinner beneath a vast night sky.