MONTREAL — Air Canada Vacations has launched brand new Australia tour packages, with year-round tours available to top destinations including Sydney and Brisbane.

Direct daily flights depart from Vancouver, plus travellers can also take advantage of connecting flights from over 60 Canadian airports in Air Canada’s network.

“Australia was once thought of as a bucket list travel destination for many,” said Nino Montagnese, Vice President, Air Canada Vacations. “We’re changing that by taking the guesswork out of planning and getting around Australia’s rich landscape and most sought-after sites with the introduction of new tour packages. With daily direct flights departing from Vancouver, we’re proud to offer a newfound ease of access to this dream destination and hope Canadians will want to hop on over and discover all that Australia has to offer.”

For now ACV’s Australia tours program offers six year-round packages in Sydney and Brisbane, with additional offerings planned for Melbourne, Adelaide and Kangaroo Island.

Featuring a variety of hand-picked durations and activities, Air Canada Vacations’ fully guided and self-guided tours in Australia are curated to cater to most travel styles, featuring 4-star accommodations located in key areas, and domestic flights between cities (where applicable).

Tours featured in the program include:

• Ocean to Hinterland, 11 days/9 nights: This trip combines a 4-day guided / 5-day self-guided tour, exploring the city and rainforest on a journey through New South Wales. Visit a koala sanctuary, take a river cruise, discover the marine life of Tangalooma and stroll through the rainforest at Lamington National Park in Queensland.
• Heritage and Grand Pacific, 11 days/9 nights: A tour through Sydney and the Blue Mountains is just one highlight, plus Canberra and Jervis Bay on a 4-day guided / 5-day self-guided driving tour of the South Coast of Australia.
• Mountains, Beach and Wine, 12 days/10 nights: Cruise Sydney Harbour, relax by the beach, and drive off through the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley, visiting vineyards along the way with this 3-day guided / 7-day self-guided tour.
• East Coast Beaches and Bays, 14 days/12 nights: This  3-day guided / 9-day self-guided tour offers flexibility to travel by car. Highlights include Sydney and its famed Opera House and Harbour Bridge, plus Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
• Highlights of Australia, 14 days/12 nights: The iconic cities of Sydney, Cairns and Brisbane feature prominently in this fully guided tour. Explore the Great Barrier Reef, the Botanic Garden of Mount Tomah and a wealth of other natural wonders.

Also coming soon, ACV will offer Icons of Australia, a 17 day / 15 night trip, fully guided, to Brisbane, Cairns, Uluru and Sydney.

ACV’s news about its Australia tours won’t be the last big announcement from the tour operator: “Air Canada Vacations will continue to broaden horizons by adding leisure tours to more Air Canada destinations in the near future, offering travellers enhanced opportunities to create unforgettable experiences across the globe. Stay tuned for more details.”