Sydney Sights and Blue Mountains Escape: 5-Day Adventure | 23-27 March 2025

The image shows the facade of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, featuring a neoclassical design with grand columns and a triangular pediment. The building is made of light-colored stone, reminiscent of structures found in Sydney. A sunny day with a clear sky forms the backdrop.

Embark on a 5-day journey through Sydney and the Blue Mountains with The Funtastic Tour Company, from 23-27 March 2025. Begin your adventure with a visit to the world-renowned Sydney Opera House, where you’ll enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour, followed by a stroll through the Art Gallery of NSW, home to stunning global collections. Settle into your hotel near Darling Harbour, known for its vibrant waterfront.

Leave the city behind as you embark on a tranquil cruise along the Nepean River aboard the historic Paddlewheeler. Glide past lush riverbanks and take in the beauty of the Blue Mountains, where you’ll discover the iconic Three Sisters rock formation and enjoy a tour of the famous Hydro Majestic Hotel, known for its timeless elegance and rich history.

Your journey continues with a deep dive into Australia’s maritime history at the National Maritime Museum. Sail aboard a magnificent tall ship, passing iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Taronga Zoo, while soaking up fascinating tales of the harbour’s past. To conclude, enjoy a spectacular dining experience at the Sydney Tower Restaurant, with panoramic 360-degree views of the city’s skyline.

Tailored for mature travellers, the Sydney and the Blue Mountains tour provides a balance of culture, history, and relaxation. With thoughtfully curated experiences and expert guides, you can enjoy a seamless and enriching travel experience, making lasting memories.

Holiday Escapes

An aerial view of the Sydney Opera House, featuring its distinct sail-like design, surrounded by water. In the background, a skyline of modern skyscrapers rises alongside lush greenery from the Royal Botanic Garden.

A spacious library with high ceilings and modern design, reminiscent of the charm found in New England High Country. There are long wooden tables and chairs arranged in the center for reading. Bookshelves filled with books line the walls on both sides, and large windows allow natural light to illuminate the interior.

Highlights

Sydney Opera House and Art Gallery of NSW
Enjoy a guided behind-the-scenes tour of Sydney's most iconic landmark and explore world-class art collections.
Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler and Blue Mountains
Experience a serene river cruise and take in the scenic beauty of the Blue Mountains, including the famous Three Sisters.
Historical Hydro Majestic Hotel
Discover the grandeur and history of this famous hotel with a guided tour.
National Maritime Museum and Tall Ship Cruise
Dive into Australia’s maritime history followed by a scenic harbour cruise.

Accommodation

A modern hotel room in the heart of New England High Country features a neatly made bed with white linens, two bedside tables, a framed picture above the headboard, a cozy chair with a standing lamp nearby, a desk with an office chair, and a large window offering a cityscape view.

Cityscape at dusk featuring high-rise buildings, with the Park Royal hotel prominently displayed in the foreground. Traffic flows on streets in the lower portion of the image, reminiscent of New England High Country, and a tower with a needle-like structure is visible in the background against a purple sky.

4-star PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney

The PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney, is a premium hotel offering modern, spacious accommodations in the heart of the city. The hotel features elegant rooms, a fitness centre, and an on-site restaurant, making it perfect for both leisure and business travellers seeking comfort and convenience in a prime location.

4-Nights

150 Day St, Sydney NSW 2000

Day 1 HOME TO SYDNEY

Welcome to our 5-day tour to Sydney featuring the Blue Mountains. With our pick-ups complete we make our way to the airport for our direct flight to Sydney. Upon arrival in Sydney, we are met by our local tour operator who will transfer us to our hotel in the heart of Darling Harbour – home for the next 4 nights. We have some free time before dinner and the hotel is only a short walk to the exciting waterfront area.

Overnight Parkroyal Darling Harbour – 4 nights

(Lunch own expense | Dinner at the hotel)

Day 2 SYDNEY SIGHTS

Following breakfast, we begin our day of fantastic touring starting with a visit to the Art Gallery NSW, one of Australia’s leading art museums. Here we’ll meet our guide to be taken on a journey through the significant collections house here from around the world. We will have some free time after our guide to purchase refreshments from the café (at own expense) and explore the gallery at leisure. For lunch today we make our way to the Sydney Opera House. We’ll take in some of the best views of the Harbour over a delicious meal before embarking on a behind-the-scenes tour.

Seeing the Opera House from the outside is only half the story. Beneath her magnificent sails lie incredible spaces and stories. We’ll learn about the controversial history and exciting future of the Sydney Opera House. Each perspective brings a unique and breathtaking experience. Farewelling our wonderful guide, we now have a little time at leisure to explore Circular Quay before ending our day taking in the city sights. We stop for a great photo opportunity at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and see more spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Fort Denison from a different angle as well as the waterfront million-dollar mansions before making our way to the hotel in time to freshen up for dinner.

(Breakfast and dinner at the hotel | Lunch at Opera House)

Day 3 EXPLORING THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

Today we leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind us and make our way to Penrith where we join the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for a spectacular morning tea cruise on the Nepean River. Reflecting the grace and charm of yesteryear, the “Belle’s” interiors are beautifully panelled with stained timbers featuring cedar and teak. After a relaxing morning, our journey takes us into the heart of the Blue Mountains where we have a fascinating visit at Bygone Beautys browsing the vast array of old treasures including jewellery, furniture, fine china, dinner services, dolls and toys.

We’re enjoying our time here so much we decide to stay on for lunch. Next, we take a sightseeing tour along the scenic Cliff Drive with a stop to admire Echo Point and the Three Sisters before rounding out the day with a History Tour at the iconic Hydro Majestic Hotel. Our tour takes in the history of the Casino lobby with its iconic domed roof, the elegant Majestic Ballroom and concludes in the Hydro Majestic Pavilion showcasing vibrant displays of Hydro’s historical past along with boutique food and wine from the Blue Mountains and its surrounding regions. What a magical way to end our time in the Mountains before meandering our way back to Sydney for our evening meal at the hotel.

(Breakfast & dinner at hotel | Lunch at Bygone Beauty’s)

Day 4 MARITIME HISTORY

We have a relaxed start to our day and following breakfast, we make our way to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour. The Museum began collecting maritime artefacts long before it opened its doors in 1991 and contains over 140,000 objects. Collection themes are based on Australia’s changing relationship with the maritime environment, its seas, coastlines and inland waterways, and aim to reflect the maritime history and contemporary maritime experiences of all Australians.

Continuing our Maritime theme, we take the scenic route via the historic Rocks area before reaching Campbells Cove where we set sail on a magnificent 1850s-style tall ship. Sit back and relax as we sail past some of Sydney’s biggest attractions including the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Fort Denison, Garden Island, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park and Admiralty House. Discover Sydney’s rich history and some of the stories and tales behind these iconic landmarks whilst enjoying a delicious lunch. Back on dry land, we make our way to the hotel in time to freshen up for dinner. Tonight, we’ll be dining 82 floors above the city in the iconic Sydney Tower Restaurant. SkyFeast offers spectacular, 360-degree revolving views of the harbour and city below. What a fabulous way to end our tour!

(Breakfast at the hotel | Lunch aboard the Cruise | Dinner at Sydney Tower Restaurant)

Day 5 HOMEWARD BOUND

Sadly, our tour must come to an end today. Following a leisurely breakfast, we have some free time before we are transferred to the airport for our flight home. We arrive home after a wonderful getaway travelling with new and old friends.

(Breakfast at the hotel | Lunch own expense)

Tours Details

Tour Inclusions

4 nights 4-Star Park Royal Darling Harbour accommodation
Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off (Sunshine Coast)
Return Economy Class Airfares from the Sunshine Coast
4 cooked breakfasts
3 two-course dinners
1 additional included dinners
3 included lunches
5-day coach charter with AusCoach
Guided tour at Art Gallery NSW
Lunch at Opera Bar and a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House
Morning cruise with Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler
Visit and lunch at Bygone Beautys
History tour at The Hydro Majestic Hotel
Visit to Australian National Maritime Museum
Lunch cruise with Sydney Harbour Tall Ships
Dinner at Sydney Tower Eye

Fitness Requirements

Fitness Level: Relaxed

Discover the Art of Relaxation

Welcome to “Serenity Journeys,” where serenity is the name of the game. Our tours offer a chance to unwind, with minimal physical demands. Unpack only once, and relax as we take care of the rest.

Although most of our journey involves cozy coach travel, some day tours may involve light physical activity, such as embarking and disembarking vessels or vehicles with stairs, which you’ll handle independently.