2 Day Coast to Highlands Explorer

Day 1: Coast, Escarpment & Nocturnal Encounters

Begin with a drive through the Royal National Park, Australia's oldest, before reaching Bald Hill Lookout, where sweeping views of the Illawarra coastline stretch to the horizon. Continue along the Grand Pacific Drive and cross the spectacular Sea Cliff Bridge, curving high above the ocean. Stopping in a seaside village, enjoy a relaxed beachside café lunch with ocean views – and perhaps a swim if the weather invites.

In the afternoon, the road climbs into the Southern Highlands, a landscape of lush forest and farmland. Enjoy the spectacular escarpment vistas at Fitzroy Falls, where water plunges over 80m to a deep rainforest ravine below, with parrots, cockatoos, honeyeaters, rosellas, catbirds, Satin Bowerbirds and Eastern Whipbirds possible sightings around the lush surroundings. But it is the opportunity to spot the renowned songbird, the Superb Lyrebird, that is highlight for many guests. Approximately 80% of this bird's song consists of incredible mimicry, with the breeding season taking place between April and October. With some luck you can see the males singing and dancing on mounds while throwing tails forward over the body and shaking vigourously.

You will also explore some of the rivers flowing through the region with your guide at dusk, providing the opportunity to see one of Australia's most curious creatures, the Platypus. Here, you can contribute to current projects underway to map the location and movement of Platypus in the area and provide more complete data to assist decision-makers support the local Platypus population in the future.

After dinner at Australia's oldest continuously licensed Inn, you are provided with the opportunity to go spotlighting with special flashlights, looking for the nocturnal species in the region including Brush-tailed Possums and Common Wombats, before returning to Sydney mid-late evening. 

Accommodation: Milton Park Hotel or similar

Day 2: Highlands, Birds & Bushland

After a relaxed morning in the crisp highland air, your guide will take you back into the bush to discover the remarkable diversity of birdlife in the region. From the cheeky laugh of the Kookaburra to the flashes of colour from rosellas, galahs, and cockatoos, there is always something to see. Keep your eyes peeled for rarer sightings too, such as an echidna snuffling through the undergrowth or the threatened glossy black cockatoo, which depends on the forests of the Great Western Wildlife Corridor. This vital stretch of habitat links the Southern Highlands with the Blue Mountains and Morton National Park, allowing wildlife to move freely and survive into the future.

After a leisurely wildlife walk, you'll sit down to lunch at one of the Highlands' charming restaurants, enjoying seasonal produce and, if you wish, a glass of local wine. With content hearts and full bellies, it's time to make the scenic drive back to Sydney, arriving by late afternoon.

Key Details

Shared Group Size: Minimum of 2 guests, Maximum of 8 guests
Pick-up and Drop Off Point: Sydney Hotels and City Centre
Pick-up and Drop-off Time: 10am Day 1, 5pm Day 2
Languages: Translation services for private tours available on request.

How you'll be making a positive impact

We have aligned our sustainability vision with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).