Australia

Specials / Suggested packages / Nature Tours / 18-35 year old tours
Active Tours / Sydney / Cairns / Brisbane / Melbourne
Cruises / Alice/Ayers Rock / Adelaide / Darwin / Hobart / Perth

20 Day Aussie Adventure -
Melbourne, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island,
Ayers Rock, Cairns & Sydney

Melbourne 3 days and nights - Time at leisure
Adelaide 3 days and nights - Kangaroo Island wildlife and scenery
Ayers Rock 2 days and nights - Ayers Rock and Olga's touring, Aboriginal culture
Cairns 4 days and nights - Great Barrier Reef, Hot Air Ballooning
Sydney 4 days and nights - City highlights, harbor cruise
Airport transfers as listed

Package can be modified to suit your needs. People from countries other than U.S. can also buy land only package

Day 1 Fly USA to Melbourne (Via Sydney)

Day 2 You cross the International Date Line - The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the earth’s surface that approximately coincides with the 180th meridian (LONGITUDE), and separates the calendar date. Traveling east across the line takes the traveler back one day; traveling west, takes the traveler forward one day.

Day 3 Welcome to Melbourne, Australia - On arrival into Melbourne you will need to clear customs and make your way through the main arrivals hall from where you will either catch a taxi into the city or be transferred to your accommodation.At first glance, Melbourne may resemble any other modern city with its skyline full of concrete & glass. However, if you look a little closer, you'll find the real Melbourne, a city of unique charm. There are the clanging trams (street cars), swanky boutiques, friendly taxi drivers, Australian Rules Football, fickle weather and 'BYO's', by the hundred (restaurants to which you bring your own liquor or wine). Add to this, Melbourne's traditional virtues of tree lined boulevards, glorious parks, elegant buildings & imposing Victorian Banks & Churches, and of course the giant Melbourne Cricket Ground and you'll have some idea of the city. Melbourne has become a polyglot society with a huge diversity of cultures, Italian, Greek, East European, Middle Eastern & Asian. This diversity is reflected in the food styles, the lifestyle, & even the language spoken in the street.

Day 3 Tour - Savannah Walkabout full day tour - A one day cultural and nature tour where you may see and learn about native animals and plants both in the famous open-range grasslands of Serendip Sanctuary on the Western Plains and in the bushlands of Brisbane Ranges National Park. We search for kangaroos, koalas, birdlife and discover a rich Aboriginal heritage. Departing from your city hotel, we travel the short distance to the western plains of Victoria - one of the largest volcanic plains on earth. Open grasslands stretch in all directions with the occasional extinct volcano or ancient mountain range rising steeply out of the plain. There is a distinctly 'Australian' feel about the region.

Our first stop is Serendip Sanctuary, an open range reservation for rare and endangered indigenous wildlife of the Western Plains. Run by the National Parks Service, Serendip plays a pivotal role in the conservation of some of Australia's rarest birds, including the Bustard, Brolga and Cape Barren Goose. Seek out the large free-range mobs of our tallest kangaroo, the Eastern-grey and family groups of the world's second largest bird, the Emu.We have a bush lunch before traveling to the Brisbane Ranges National Park, to walk a wide Savannah of grass, bush and wetlands searching for kangaroos and koalas. The park has a large population of wild Koalas and we very rarely miss out on sighting a number of these delightful creatures, we also visit places of importance to the Aboriginal people of the region.

Day 4 At leisure, Melbourne - At your leisure to explore the very cosmopolitan city of Melbourne. The many attractions of the city vary from the spectacular parklands and gardens that surround the city, to the museums and festivals that are a continuing part of the city life. Excellent restaurants are on every corner and cater to every taste in the world.

Day 5 Fly Melbourne to Adelaide - Transfer to the airport for your flight to Adelaide. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. The gracious capital of South Australia, Adelaide is the City of Churches, orderly streets, manicured parks and superb restaurants, where cultures from all over the world have contributed to a vibrant, energetic community. Adelaide is today, an orderly, airy city ringed by beautiful parks and gardens and graced with elegant sandstone buildings and cottages. There are more restaurants per head of population than any other Australian city. From expensive bistros to the formal and exotic, most serve a range of outstanding local wines from the famous 'valleys' nearby. Home to over one million people, Adelaide is best explored on foot to properly experience the wealth of art galleries and museums, festivals, markets, cafe society and superb shopping.

Day 6 Fly Adelaide to Kangaroo Island - Depart from Adelaide airport for your short flight to Kangaroo Island. On arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation. The two days of touring tour shows you the sights and aromas of the Australian bush, close up wildlife encounters and stunning flora. Gourmet style picnic lunches are enjoyed in tranquil bush settings and overnight accommodation is included. See and visit natural bush land sanctuaries rich in wildlife, dramatic coastlines, sea lion and fairy penguin colonies. Visits to the well known Seal Bay, Remarkable Rocks and Flinders Chase National Park are also highlights of the tour.

Day 7 Kangaroo Island - Enjoy another day exploring Kangaroo Island before your tour ends at Kingscote airport on the afternoon of day two, for your return flight to Adelaide. Upon arrival you will transfer to your hotel.

Day 8 At leisure, Adelaide - Regardless of the season, the Adelaide Hills offer a welcome respite in country air. Investigate historic townships and enjoy heritage accommodation properties with stunning gardens. Adelaide has a great reputation for its art and culture. The Adelaide Festival of Arts and associated Fringe Festival generate a constant energy in the city. The Festival Centre on King William Road is the hub of opera, theatre and orchestra. For visual arts, the Art Gallery of South Australia is a must for its collection of Aboriginal works, Australian 19th century paintings and a collection of Rodins. Several galleries specialize in indigenous art and Melbourne Street is the place for antiques.

Day 9 Fly Adelaide to Ayers Rock (via Alice Springs) - Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ayers Rock. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Ayers Rock Resort is made up of six properties offering a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotel to the campground. Superb restaurants, shops, art galleries, swimming pools and beautiful gardens making it a true oasis in the middle of the desert.

Day 9 Tour - Kata Tjuta And Dunes - Leaving from your hotel mid-afternoon, the Discovery Ecotours guide will explain the nature of the desert and its development. A short walk to the dune lookout puts one in touch with the environment and lets you delight in the spectacular panoramic view of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) - a very sacred place to the Aboriginal people. Arriving at Walpa (Olga) Gorge, walk into this mystic place, to hear how it has evolved over millions of years. The scale of the walls and the wind far above, add a sense of mystery here. The sky deepens and the great domes of Kata Tjuta (Olgas) flush red as the tour retires to the sunset viewing area to celebrate the fantastic colour changes wrought by sunset with complimentary champagne. Sit back and absorb the desert solitude or relax and chat to your guide about Australia’s red centre. The spectacle fades as you return to Yulara beneath a sky of brilliant stars. This afternoon tour is around 4 hours duration

Day 10 Tour - Spirit of Uluru (Ayers Rock) - This is a vehicle based tour around Uluru (Ayers Rock), providing the opportunity to witness the spectacular sunrise and absorb Uluru's natural history and deep significance to the Anangu people. Short walks will bring you close to this wonderful and powerful place, viewing rock art, waterholes and appreciating the unique flora and fauna of Uluru. There is time to amble, to absorb images and to gain an insight into Uluru's remarkable presence. The final step is to the Uluru and Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. This is a small group tour (max 18) with Discovery Ecotours. Light breakfast included - morning tour duration of around 4 hours.

Day 11 Fly Ayers Rock to Cairns - Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation. Cairns is the gateway to Tropical Far North Queensland, a region of contrasts and surprises. It is home to the Great Barrier Reef, palm-fringed isolated beaches, Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands, World Heritage listed rainforests and the sun burnt outback. This dynamic area serves as a diverse hub for many attractions and activities of the Tropical North. Apart from the major tourism attractions of the Reef & Rainforest, there are many adventure sports such as white water rafting and bungy jumping, as well as other activities such as golf and trail riding.

Day 12 Tour - Great Barrier Reef day cruise with Ocean Spirit - This morning, transfer to Cairns wharf and board the 'Ocean Spirit', a luxury 105ft sailing vessel - the largest of her kind in the world. Sail to Michaelmas Cay, known as the Isle of the Birds, a year round home to thousands of sea birds of some 14 different species. Its spectacular coral reef which thrives in the ideal conditions of clear, shallow, sunlit water is home to a variety of marine life including giant clams and brilliant fish. Because Michaelmas Cay is a National Park the fish are so tame you can feed them from the beach and birds know they are safe to wander among you with their chicks. Lunch is a buffet of seafood, hot and cold meats, roasted potatoes, salads and tropical fruit, freshly prepared in the spacious galley. We spend four hours at the reef with time for a variety of activities. You may wish to do a guided snorkeling tour with a graduate marine biologist, scuba dive with a qualified instructor (extra cost), or just laze on the beach. Enjoy a leisurely sail back to Cairns and afternoon tea, arriving back at the wharf around 4.30pm.

Day 13-14 At leisure, Cairns - The major centre in Tropical North Queensland is Cairns, a popular gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The city is fringed by lush rainforests and, to the north and south, are miles of white sandy beaches and turquoise oceans teeming with marine life.

Day 15 Fly Cairns to Sydney - Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sydney. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. Sydney - Australia's premier city is the oldest settlement in Australia, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country's capital in everything but name. Built on the shores of the stunning Port Jackson, you would have to die and go to heaven before you see a more spectacular setting for a city. It's a vital, self-regarding metropolis, exuding both a devil-may-care urbanity and a slavish obsession with global fads. The Sydney area was the ancestral home of the Daruk tribe, whose territory extended from Botany Bay to Pittwater.

There are some 2000 Aboriginal rock engraving sites in the Sydney area, and many of Sydney's suburbs have Aboriginal names. The city of Sydney began life as a penal colony in 1788 and for the next 60 years received the unwanted, persecuted and criminal elements of British society. Despite its brutal beginnings, the city's mixture of pragmatic egalitarianism and plain indifference has transformed it into a thriving multicultural society. Sydney now attracts the majority of Australia's immigrants and the city's predominantly Anglo-Irish heritage has been revitalized by large influxes of Italian, Lebanese, Turkish, Greek, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Day 16 Tour - Sydney half day small group tour - Sydney truly is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with its spectacular harbor setting, fascinating convict history, bustling downtown area and an exciting blend of architecture, ranging from convict built early colonial style reflecting our heritage, through to the world famous Sydney Opera House. This is a very special small-group tour designed to give you a feel for this great city by showing you more than just the normal must-see 'tourist sites' Because we only use small luxury mini-vans, we will get behind the scenes to some fascinating city and suburban areas. Your driver is a very experienced private guide able to answer questions and discuss things of interest, with the knowledge and flexibility to cater for most interests.

You will be collected late morning from your hotel to see the highlights of downtown Sydney before venturing into some of the exclusive harborside residential areas where we stop for a 2 course lunch at the Vaucluse House Tea Rooms. Vaucluse House is one of Australia’s most historic houses and was home to the father of the Australian Constitution. From lunch we continue our sightseeing including the famous areas of Bondi Beach and Paddington before returning to the city to commence a leisurely cruise of magnificent Sydney Harbour aboard a sailing catamaran. Your cruise ends at Circular Quay and Darling Harbour by 5pm, from where you make your own way to your hotel.

Day 17-19 At leisure, Sydney - At your leisure to explore Sydney. Most of the major attractions of the city are within easy walking distance of your accommodation - Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, Centrepoint Tower, Circular Quay, The Rocks etc.

Day 20 Fly Sydney to USA - You will be met and transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

Pricing per person in US$

Land pricing includes accommodation (in your choice of standard of hotels) and transfers, touring and meals (if stated)

Excludes govt. fees and taxes on airfares. These can be up to $135 per person, depended on your trip itinerary.

All prices reflect a 3% discount for purchases made by cash/check. There are no discounts for payment made by credit card.

International Airfare Credit

Air credit pricing can be deducted from the overall package cost if you have already obtained/plan to obtain your international flights independently. For this itinerary, the air credit includes the following flight segments: LAX-SYD//MEL-LAX:
Low Season $725
Shoulder Season $1025
High Season $1325
Peak Season $1375

Travel Seasons

Low Season 5/1–6/9/05 and 8/1–9/15/05
Shoulder Season 4/1–4/30/05; 6/10–7/31/05; 9/16–12/2/05 and 3/1–3/31/06
High Season 12/3–12/9 and 12/24–2/28/06
Peak Season 12/10–12/23/05

Prices are subject to fluctuations in currency exchange