A N  I N T R O D U C T I O N  T O  A U S T R A L I A  S E R I E S
TOUR (G) 13 DAYS

visiting
MELBOURNE - GREAT OCEAN ROAD - ADELAIDE -  THE GHAN -  ALICE SPRINGS -AYERS ROCK - SYDNEY

DAY 1  ARRIVE MELBOURNE                Welcome to Melbourne Australia.  On arrival you will be met and assisted with your private car transfer to your hotel. Built in 1883, the Windsor is one of Australia’s few grand hotels and has been restored to its original splendour combining Victorian grandeur and opulence with modern comforts and facilities. The remainder of the day is free at leisure. Accomm: Windsor Hotel (Superior Room) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 2  MELBOURNE CITY HIGHLIGHTS - COLONIAL TRAMCAR RESTAURANT (D)           Renowned to be Australia's cultural and fashion capital, Melbourne has an air of graciousness with its wide tree-lined boulevards, old bluestone buildings and its many public parks and gardens.          This morning accompanied by your private guide, enjoy a city orientation tour visiting the many parks and gardens of this gracious city. See the tranquil Fitzroy Gardens and the magnificent Royal Botanical Gardens. Make a special visit to the Shrine of Remembrance and see the Arts and Cultural Centre, Albert Park Lake, the gracious tree lined St. Kilda Road and visit the historical Como House.   This evening board the Colonial Tramcar restaurant for a memorable dinner.  This is an excellent way to capture the feeling of Melbourne.  Tour Melbourne's streets on board the Colonial Restaurant, an original 1927 tram while enjoying fine dining.  (Transfers at own arrangement) Accomm: Windsor Hotel (Superior Room) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 3  MELBOURNE - GREAT OCEAN ROAD - PORT FAIRY                Today accompanied by your private guide, travel west to the Werribee Parkland State Rose Garden before crossing the spectacular Westgate Bridge to Geelong, Victoria's largest provincial city.  Join the Great Ocean Road at Torquay and explore this magnificent road carved into he cliffside offering some of the most spectacular coastal views in Australia.  Travel through the popular seaside resort of Anglesea where you will break for morning refreshments and view the wild Kangaroos grazing on the golf course. Enjoy the scenery as you pass wide surf beaches, dramatic stretches of precipitous cliffs and idyllic coves where fern-shaded creeks join the sea.  Time at the peaceful township of Apollo Bay to take a walk along a beautiful beach.  See Koalas in Eucalyptus forests and walk in world heritage temperate rainforest.  After crossing the beautiful Otway Ranges arrive at the Port Campbell National Park, and area of immense beauty featuring some of the most rugged and dangerous coastline in Victoria.  See the power of the ocean at work at the Twelve Apostles, a row of great stone pillars, and the remains of London Bridge.  Behold the marvel of nature which is Loch Ard Gorge, the scene of the dramatic shipwreck of the "Loch Ard" with only two survivors over 100 years ago.  This area is truly a photographer's paradise.  Continue on to the fishing village of Port Fairy for your overnight accommodation. Accomm: Caledonian (or similar) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 4  PORT FAIRY - COONAWARRA WINE REGION                 Today you will cross the border into the state of South Australia and travel to one of Australia’s finest wine producing regions - Coonawarra.   Coonawarra reds are considered to be amongst the great wines of the world and the region also produces fine Chardonnays.                 Highlights of your journey today will include:  Tower Hill Volcano Wildlife Reserve, tour of Port Fairy, Discovery Bay Coastal Park, Mount Gambier and the famous "Blue Lake".    Accomm: Chardonnay Lodge  --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 5  COONAWARRA - ADELAIDE                    This morning you will have the opportunity to visit some of the leading award winning wineries in this area.  On departing Coonawarra visit the historical city of Penola and travel through picturesque South Australian forest areas and the Adelaide Hills before your tour concludes at your heritage listed Adelaide accommodation.  Accomm: Buxton Manor (Musica Vista) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 6  ADELAIDE  -  KANGAROO ISLAND  -  ADELAIDE (air) (L)           This morning transfer by private car to the airport to board your scenic flight along the South Coast to Kangaroo Island where on arrival you will board your 4WD for a full day of touring.  Explore a redgum forest in the Cygnet River Valley where you will have the opportunity to seek out Koalas sleeping in the forks of trees.  Travel through some of the islands best wool producing areas to Lathami Conservation Park where you can take a walk through the habitat of kangaroos, tammar wallabies and endangered glossy black cockatoos.  Break for lunch and enjoy delicious seafood barbeque with fine South Australian wines. At Seal Bay Conservation Park walk with your guide amongst Australian sealions.  Visit Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park including D’Estrees Bay where ospreys nest and kangaroos come out late in the day to feed.  Upon conclusion of your tour, you will be transferred to Kingscote airport to connect with your return flight to Adelaide.  On arrival transfer by private car to your accommodation. Accomm: Buxton Manor (Musica Vista) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 7 ADELAIDE - ALICE SPRINGS (The Ghan) (D)           Morning free at leisure until your private car transfer to board The Ghan rail service to Alice Springs. One of the world’s great train journeys, you  will pass through golden wheatfields, vast sheep stations, rugged mountain ranges, and the fierce Simpson Desert.                 Dinner will be served in the dining car. Overnight Accomm: The Ghan (First Class Sleeper) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 8  ARRIVE ALICE SPRINGS - TOWN TOUR - BOND SPRINGS STATION (B/L/D)     Arrive Alice Springs after breakfast.  You will be met by your private vehicle/guide and commence a sightseeing tour of this historic city.                Transfer to the Alice Springs Desert Park where you will arrive in time to see the Birds of Prey being fed.  Spend two hours exploring the Park which showcases the landscapes, animals and plants of Australia’s deserts and their traditional use and management by Aboriginal people.   Visit the Todd Mall for lunch and the opportunity to browse through the many galleries featuring Aboriginal artworks.  After lunch,  visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and learn fully how this marvellous facility operates to provide a "Mantle of Safety" to the people of the Outback.  Call in at the "School of the Air" where sometimes you are able to listen to the children of the outback take lessons on air.  Take in the panoramic views of Alice Springs from Anzac Hill Lookout and visit Guths Panorama before transferring to Bond Springs, a working Australian Cattle Station encompassing 1500 square kilometres.  Set in the MacDonnell Ranges, the station embraces extraordinary pockets of flora, fauna and bird life.            This evening you will be taken on an evening safari where you will be introduced to nocturnal nature and the southern night sky.  An Australian bush dinner will be served. Accomm: Bond Springs Station (Acacia Suite) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 9  ALICE SPRINGS - AYERS ROCK (air) (B)                            Breakfast will be served in the homestead.   This morning transfer by private vehicle to Alice Springs airport to board your flight to Ayers Rock.   On arrival in Ayers Rock, transfer by courtesy shuttle to your accommodation.  This afternoon visit Mt Olga to view the spectacular rock formations and be dwarfed by these 36 huge, mysterious domes.  This is part of the Uluru National Park, a region now given back to the Aboriginal people and leased back to the nation. Return to Ayers Rock to experience the magnificent sunset and watch the startling colour changes that take place over this huge monolith.  It is a sight not to be missed. Accomm: Desert Gardens Hotel (Rock View Room) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 10  ABORIGINAL CULTURE TOUR  AYERS ROCK - SYDNEY (air) (CB)         Breakfast in the early morning light with panoramic view of Uluru from the magnificent Uluru Cultural Centre restaurant.  After breakfast browse the Cultural Centre's Aboriginal art galleries, shops and interpretative displays, before joining your Aboriginal guides on the Liru Tour. This tour is a walk of discovery along a path to Uluru following the track of the ancestral Liru.  Hear the ancient Tjukurpa of the Western Brown Snake, the Liru.  Watch demonstrations of traditional bush skills such as how to make adhesive resin from spinifex grass, a multi-purpose spearthrower from the mulga tree and a water carrying bowl from the inner bark of the bloodwood tree.  Transfer by courtesy coach to Ayers Rock Airport to board your flight to Sydney.   On arrival you will be transferred by private car to your accommodation located within easy walking distance to Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and Central Business District.  The remainder of the days is free at leisure to explore this beautiful harbour city. Accomm: Renaissance Hotel (Deluxe City View) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 11  FULL DAY CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR (L)              This morning accompanied by your private guide, transfer to the Sydney Opera House described as the Eighth Wonder of the World for a guided tour.  Continue on to the Art Gallery of New South Wales for a guided tour including the Yiribana Aboriginal collection.  Learn about Sydney’s historic past as you tour historic Macquarie Street and see Parliament House, the Mint Museum and the Hyde Park Barracks.  Visit Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for splendid views over this magnificent harbour and the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge before following the harbour foreshores through cosmopolitan Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay,  and Double Bay to your lunch venue at the famous Doyles Seafood Restaurant at Watsons Bay.                After lunch visit the Gap for spectacular views over the Pacific Ocean before stopping at the world famous Bondi Beach.  Return to the city via the trendy suburb of Paddington renowned for its boutiques and galleries.  Your tour will terminate at Circular Quay where you will board a harbour highlights cruise on magnificent Sydney Harbour.  See spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, million dollar mansions and the bays and inlets that dot the harbour. Accomm: Renaissance Hotel (Deluxe City View) --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 12  FREE AT LEISURE                    Today is free at leisure for your own activities. --=={ TOP }==-- DAY 13    DEPART                    Transfer by private car to the airport to board your departure flight. END OF SERVICES Prices Are Valid Till 31 March 2002 Based on 4 star accommodation: 2 Paying Passengers Twin Share AUD5985.00 per person * Single rates on application. Cost includes: Accommodation as per the itinerary in first class properties (4 star) with private facilities First Class Sleepers on the Ghan service Adelaide - Alice Springs  Transfers as mentioned in the itinerary by private car or courtesy coach  All touring on a private basis or in a seat in coach basis (small personalised groups only)     Met on arrival into Melbourne by an Aussie Travel Reservations representative Meals as indicated by (CB) Continental Breakfast  (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch and (D) Dinner Porterage Admission to attractions listed National Park Entry fees in Ayers Rock Northern Territory and Sydney Bed Tax  Welcome Kit and Travel documentation on arrival  Cost does not include:   International and domestic airfares (ASP - AYQ, AYQ - SYD) Meals not indicated by (CB) Continental Breakfast  (B) Breakfast  (L) Lunch and (D) Dinner Personal expenses such as telephone calls, drycleaning, mini bar purchases etc Use of hotel rooms before/after normal check in/out times Pre-registration of rooms if early arrival in Melbourne Any other services not mentioned in the itinerary

Note: Costs quoted are subject to availability and confirmation of accommodation as specified. Costs are subject to increase should any federal or state government levies or taxes be introduced. Payment by credit card is available (we accept Amex, Visa or Mastercard only). Please note that if paying by this channel there is a 3.5% merchant fees surcharge for Visa and/or Mastercard and a 3.95% merchant fees surcharge for American Express.

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