If your idea of meeting the locals is cradling koalas, hand feeding kangaroos, and laughing with a school of clownfish, then this is the vacation for you. Animal lovers unite on this spectacular safari tour of Australia. From Brisbane’s Australia Zoo, “Home of the Crocodile Hunter,” to Alice Spring’s Kangaroo Sanctuary, “Home of the Kangaroo Dundee,” you’ll get to know Down Under’s most captivating creatures and characters. The furry fun continues with a hop over to Melbourne to witness Phillip Island’s famous heart-warming Penguin Parade. Wombats and wallabies welcome you to the island state of Tasmania, as does the infamous Tasmanian devil—in its own unique way. Going below the surface, this in-depth tour of Australia also leads you to the marine life at the Great Barrier Reef, the whales, seals, and dolphins off the Tasman Peninsula, and the city and harbors of sunny Sydney.

Did you know the koala sleeps an average of 20 hours a day? Why not add three nights in Fiji to your tour of Australia and curl up in a beachside hammock yourself? Between naps, you’ll enjoy a Sigatoka River Safari and the sun, fun, and genuine warmth of the islanders. Brisbane:Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane
Cairns:Pullman Cairns International
Uluru:Desert Gardens Hotel
Alice Springs:Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
Adelaide:Pullman Adelaide
Melbourne:Vibe Melbourne
Cradle Mountain National Park:Cradle Mountain Hotel
Hobart:The Old Woolstore Hotel
Sydney:Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney
Coral Coast:Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort