Discover two sides of Sydney on this optional excursion linked by Aboriginal culture. At Taronga Zoo listen to your Aboriginal guide’s personal stories and discover their connections back to the land, animals and nature. Take a tour of the world-famous Opera House where you’ll go behind-the-scenes and see what it takes to get a live production on stage. Enjoy lunch with your group and then learn about the indigenous elements of the Bennelong Point site.

Enjoy a full-day cruise through the beautiful Whitsunday Passage and behold views of the archipelago’s rugged islands. On June 3, 1770, or Whit Sunday according to the Christian Church, Captain Cook guided the Endeavor through the passage and named it after the Christian holiday. Your cruise includes a stop at White Haven Beach, home to Australia’s purest white sand, for an included barbeque lunch.

Continue on to the picturesque mountain town of Kuranda, where you’ll learn about traditional Aboriginal culture and customs through live dancing and boomerang throwing at Tjapukai Cultural Center. A short walk from Tjapukai is the Skyrail train, which you’ll board to take a journey through a pristine rainforest that spans Red Peak and Barron Falls stations’ dramatic mountain lookouts.

Enhance your time in the world’s largest reef system by opting for a snorkeling adventure with a marine biologist. Learn about the sights and sounds of the Great Barrier Reef from an expert who can teach you more about the animal and plant life you spot in this interactive, aquatic classroom.