Sydney Melbourne Adelaide Sub Tropical Rainforest Great Barrier Reef island Kangaroo Island Wine regions Wildlife Great Ocean Road
Included are small group excursions and sightseeing with special guides
Departs from Adelaide on Fridays, Sundays or Wednesdays (itinerary can be altered to begin in any Australian city)
DAY 1 WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA! (Friday, Sunday or Wednesday): departure city can be altered... Arrive into Adelaide (connections daily via Sydney or Melbourne) this morning. Meet our local representative in the Arrivals Hall and transfer to your hotel. The day is at leisure to relax and walk about this lovely, small city – capital of South Australia. Or, take the afternoon ‘tram tour’ which leisurely moves about the city sights.
DAY 2 KANGAROO ISLAND (CB/L) You are transferred to the airport for your short flight to Kangaroo Island! Upon arrival on the Island, you¹ll be met by your island guide and explore the island by 4WD vehicle.
Take a walk down a country track through tall Eucalyptus trees where koalas snooze overhead, or more likely, try to sleep with raucous cockatoos screeching the trees. See some of the 1.3 million sheep quietly grazing, growing some of the world’s finest wool. Walk quietly through the bush with your guide. Look for wallabies which are almost extinct on the mainland, and a kangaroo found only on Kangaroo Island.
Enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch served with fine South Australian wines before to a colony of Australian Sea lions. At Seal Bay Conservation Park walk with your guide among sea lions on a beautiful sandy beach. Watch pups nursing, or playing in the surf; see old bulls bearing the scars of territorial disputes and learn of their unique breeding biology.
Continue on to D¹Estrees Bay in the afternoon - where there are the remains of an old whaling station, ospreys nesting, kangaroos come out late in the day, and some spectacular coastline.
At day's end, you return by air to Adelaide and to your hotel.
DAY 3 ADELAIDE (CB/L) famous wineries of Barossa
You are picked up from the hotel about 9AM by our special touring car, and travel via the winding road of the Chain of Ponds out to the historic German village of Lyndoch. A stop along the way at the Whispering Wall where voices travel over a quarter mile expanse by natural amplification. You will visit small family owned wineries such as Kies Estate, Grant Burge, Rockfords, Elderton or large well known wineries such as Yalumba, Penfolds, Orlando, Peter Lehmann, Richmond Grove,Seppelts and others. A side trip to the keg factory to see keg and barrel building in the old coopering style. An elegant lunch is on a beautiful country estate. Return to Adelaide and your hotel at 5.30PM.
DAY 4 to MELBOURNE (CB/D)
You are transferred to the airport for your short morning flight to Melbourne, capital of the Garden State of Victoria. Settle into a lovely central hotel.
This afternoon you enjoy a sightseeing trip around Melbourne with an excellent local guide. Return to the hotel and make your way the short walk to the Tramcar departure point by 5.15PM for departure at 5.30PM. Enjoy a dinner on board the converted air-conditioned 1927 tram that has become a famous Melbourne icon. The atmosphere is cozy, the service friendly and the food a culinary delight. As you cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne enjoy a 3-course dinner and a trip into a little piece of history. The Tramcar returns to the departure point at approximately 7.15PM and make your way back to the hotel. Or, stop into the Crown Casino across the road to try your luck.
DAY 5 VICTORIA COUNTRYSIDE 2-DAY SPECIAL TOURING (B/L/D) Sun, Tue or Thursday:
After a personalized hotel pickup we travel to Geelong, stopping at the waterfront and the famous ‘Bollards’ at Eastern Beach. We then travel on to Anglesea Golf Club to see wild Kangaroos roaming around. Morning tea is taken at Lorne overlooking a very popular surf spot. We then wind along the spectacular cliff top road stopping for photos and stories at the most scenic spots. At the Kennett River we get to spot wild Koalas, many sightings are within just a few metres. We then lunch in Apollo Bay; a beachside village with great food and safe beaches for walking or swimming.
After lunch we travel into the ‘Great Otway National Park’ and take a walk at ‘Maits Rest’. This is a 1km rainforest walk through some of the best native forest in Australia. This lush forest dating back 100 million years is highly protected and has amazing examples of Mountain Ash Eucalyptus, Tree Ferns and Myrtle Beech. This is a truly amazing walk that is overlooked by many day tours.
The accommodation tonight is set high on a hill overlooking the Southern Ocean near Apollo Bay. This is the perfect place to relax and unwind before dinner at the Apollo Bay Hotel. After dinner you will have the chance to see glowworms in the local rainforest.
DAY 6 Great Ocean Road (CB/L) return to MELBOURNE
Today starts with a continental breakfast in Apollo Bay. Our first stop is the 12 Apostles. Here you will here of the creation and erosion that has shaped this spectacular coastline over the past 20 million years. Helicopter rides available at own expense. The next stop is Loch Ard Gorge, where in 1878 the ‘Loch Ard’ carrying 54 people was wrecked with only 2 survivors. We tell of Tom and Eva’s struggle while reading their diary notes and handing around original artifacts from the ship
Lunch is in the popular fishing village of Port Campbell. After lunch we continue our journey to London Bridge, Bay Of Islands Coastal Park, Boat Bay and Peterborough. These are all very scenic limestone features and are just as spectacular as the better known rock formations.
We return to Melbourne via an inland route travelling through Colac and Geelong. We arrive in Melbourne around 6pm
DAY 7 SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST (B)
You are transferred to the airport for your morning flight to the Gold Coast and short transfer drive up into the magnificent subtropical rainfoerests for a two-night stay.
Set on mist-covered mountains, your lodge is its very own garden, alive with the wonders of rare and beautiful sub-tropical flora, friendly and inquisitive birds and animals. More than 160km of walking tracks are yours to walk beside gurgling streams to cascades and waterfalls, through wind-eroded caves in volcanic ash cliffs, down into fern-filled gullies or up to high lookouts with breathtaking views.
Your comfortable cottage is set within the forest, and from morning tea or coffee on your verandah with the birds to evening around a fire with fellow guests after an active day - this will be a special time with nature at her best.
DAY 8 SUBTROPICAL RAINFOREST (B)
DAY 09 TO GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLAND (B)
After breakfast, you are transferred to Brisbane airport for your flight to Gladstone and your beautiful 40 minute helicopter flight out to one of the only islands positioned at the Outer Edge of the Great Barrier Reef, arriving mid afternoon.
Living on the Great Barrier Reef, you can explore this world heritage area of underwater mysteries on a glass bottom boat, or in the water with snorkel equipment. There is excellent scuba diving (all equipment on the island) for certified divers, or a Resort Dive for those interested in trying a dive. There is a swimming pool, tennis court and marine biologists to walk the reef at low tide with and learn more about the unique marine life of the Great Barrier Reef.
There is a bar and restaurant, and evening activities. From October to February/March, the Giant Sea Turtles come ashore to lay their eggs and can be easily viewed. The island is a bird sanctuary and noisy at times with its interesting sea birds. Breakfasts and reef walks are included in your tariff.
DAY 10 GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLAND (B)
Relax and enjoy the warm Queensland sun, Blue Pacific waters, palm trees and sand. Mingle with many Australians and overseas guests.
DAY 11 GREAT BARRIER REEF ISLAND (B)
DAY 12 TO SYDNEY (B)
After breakfast, transfer by helicopter (note: there is also a daily catamaran transfer) to the mainland and fly to Sydney. Arrive early afternoon and transfer to your hotel in the historic Rocks area of the city. Easy walk to the city centre and restaurants and pubs, make your way out this evening to explore the many exciting dining options of Sydney.
DAY 13 SYDNEY, touring and cruise (CB)
You are collected at about 9.15am at your hotel for a morning city tour with an excellent local guide. Enjoy a leisurely lunch (own expense) This afternoon you enjoy a cruise on beautiful Sydney Harbour.
DAY 14 SYDNEY, at leisure (CB)
The day is completely at leisure to enjoy Sydney sights, shopping, the harbour and restaurants. Souveniers and postcards to write!
This evening you have an option of a performance at the Sydney Opera House: depending on dates, there are choices of drama, opera, ballet or Symphony. Please inquire at time of booking. This is not included in the tour price.
Also available today as an option is a full day tour to the Blue Mountains, Hunter Wine Valley or a half day tour to a wildlife park. Not included in touring price.
DAY 15 SYDNEY/USA (CB)
You are transferred to the airport for your departure flight home. OR, take advantage of a trip over to New Zealand if time permits! We can do it!
*****************************************
Inclusions:
Three nights Adelaide hotel with Continental breakfast daily Full day Kangaroo Island small group adventure including: Island guide, transport, lunch Full day small group excursion to Barossa Valley including: Guide, Transport, Lunch, Tastings Two nights Melbourne hotel with breakfast daily Evening dinner aboard Victorian tramcar (early sitting) Two-day/1 nights Great Ocean Road excursion including: Accommodation, Most meals, Private guide and transport,Touring and sightseeing Two nights in subtropical rainforest lodge including Mountain view cottage accommodation with breakfast daily Three nights on Great Barrier Reef island including breakfast, accommodation Return helicopter from mainland to your reef island Three nights Sydney hotel with Continental breakfast daily Half day small group Sydney sightseeing excursion Afternoon Sydney Harbour Cruise All transfers between hotels and airports (return) throughout Service of Sydney local office while traveling All taxes on above Planning, communication, documentation
Cost per person, USD: $4252.50 plus applicable airfare that includes: Adelaide-Kangaroo Island-Adelaide-Melbourne-Gold Coast-Sydney - estimate $519.00 USD
Cost is based on two persons sharing room, transfers and tours
Single room supplement: Add $1567.00 approximately Costs are valid through March 2010 and subject to fluctuation of the U.S. dollar. Prices are subject to availability; hotels are first class and may be upgraded to deluxe level if desired.
Inquires and bookings to: Destinations Downunder, Travel Specialists to Australia and New Zealand 3712 N. Broadway, PMB #251, Chicago, Il. 60618 USA Ph:(773) 832-1699 Fax: (773)832-1699 Email: travel@koalakiwi.com
