Duration: 16 Days / 15 Nights
Priced From: $4,610 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Jan - Mar /09 

Itinerary

Day 1 Fly USA to Melbourne (Via Sydney)

Please note international air from the USA has not been included in the package price.

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 line (LONGITUDE), and separates the calendar date. Traveling east across the line takes the traveler back one day, traveling west takes the traveler forward.

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 where you will be met and 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 4 Phillip Island Little Penguin tour

See Port Phillip Bay and pass through bayside suburbs of Brighton and Frankston on the way to Phillip Island.  Visit the koala sanctuary.  An evening tour of the island includes coastal views of Seal Rock & the Nobbies.  Then you witness the nightly ritual of the world famous Penguin Parade - see the fairy penguins march up the beach to their nests.

Days 5-6 Tour - Great Ocean Road (Melbourne to Adelaide)

Depart Melbourne over the Westgate Bridge and pass through rolling farmland en route to the city of Geelong.  Join the Great Ocean Road and follow the 'surf coast' through pretty beach towns to the spectacular cliff face roads.  At Apollo Bay, visit the Cape Otway National Park with a temperate rainforest and boardwalk through a valley of ferns and giant trees.  Continuing along the Great Ocean Road, visit the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard and London Bridge rock formations.  You will overnight in either Port Campbell or Warrnambool, the start of the shipwreck coast.

The next day, we continue our travels, through the scenic Discovery Bay Coastal Park en route to Mount Gambier, famous for its Blue Lake.  While here, visit the Crater Lakes and fascinating Sunken Gardens.  Now at the Limestone Coast, our expedition shows constantly changing scenery, from rugged coastlines to long deserted beaches, and lagoons filled with animal and bird life.  Your second overnight will be at Robe, a scenic and historic Port, with the Coonawarra wine region to the north.

The third day brings us to 'The Coorong', one of the most important wetland regions in the world.  Stretching from the mouth of the Murray River, it is home to local and migratory birds, kangaroos, emus and other native fauna.  It is a region steeped in history, both of our early settlers and the Aborigines.  Entering the Mount Lofty Ranges, we are in the final leg of our journey, through the picturesque hills and in to Adelaide.

Your 3-day excursion includes 1 nights B&B in Port Campbell, or Warrnambool and 1 nights B&B in Coonawarra , 3 days 4WD small group touring, lunches and morning tea and all park entry and permit fees.

Day 7 Arrive Adelaide

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 8 Tour - Kangaroo Island Sealink full day tour

Today you will take the brief flight to Kangaroo Island for a full day of touring.  Highlights will include a visit to Seal Bay, where you can walk with a Park Ranger amongst a colony of rare Australian Sea Lions resting on the beach after their long fishing expeditions.  Discover the Island's most renowned park, Flinders Chase National Park, a sanctuary for numerous native Australian animals including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and Cape Barren Geese. On the southern tip of Flinders Chase National Park are Remarkable Rocks and Admiral's Arch, both providing great photographic opportunities.

Return to Kingscote for your return fight to Adelaide.  Today’s excursion includes round trip air, full day touring, National Park fees and lunch.

Day 9 At leisure, Adelaide

Often regarded at the most beautiful city in Australia with its parklands surrounding the city and its unique walking mall. You have easy access to the famous Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale wine districts, beautiful beaches and the Mt Lofty Ranges and Cleland National Park.

Day 10 Fly Adelaide to Brisbane

You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for your onward flight to Brisbane.  Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your accommodation.

Your driver will meet you to take the 2 hour drive south into Lamington National Park and O'Reilly’s Rainforest Guest House. This is one of the best places in Australia to see and come into close contact with some of mainland Australia's favorite native animals.  The fauna you are likely to see here includes wallabies of several species, marsupial possums, platypus, and a huge range of brilliantly colored native parrots.

Day 11 At leisure, O’Reilly’s

There is something for everyone at O'Reilly's. Let the 4WD bus do the work as you head out to one of many scenic spots where we have the traditional 'boiling the billy'. If you are more energetic, you can escape for the day on your own or with one of the O'Reilly clan, grab a walking map, packed lunch and head for the hills.

Discover hundreds of waterfalls, ancient Antarctic Beech trees and spectacular views of rugged mountain ranges. The rainforests, the bush walks, the vast array of bird life, waterfalls and spectacular views of the rugged escarpment attract people from all over the world.

Day 12 O’Reilly’s to Fraser Island

Today you will be transferred back to Brisbane to where you will commence your journey to Fraser Island.  This includes a train experience, motor coach service and a launch cruise to Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island.

Kingfisher Bay Resort has opened the doors to a unique holiday experience. Fraser Island itself is a World Heritage listed environmental museum with virgin rainforest, rare ferns and lakes perched above sea level and miles of untouched golden beaches. Its wildlife roam freely: dingoes, echidnas, swamp wallabies, gliding possums, dugongs and humpback whales (August - October)

But the best way to discover Fraser Island is by 4WD vehicle as your Ranger guide takes you on a tour of unique discovery.

Day 13 At leisure, Fraser Island

Explore Kingfisher Bay Resort. This unique ecotourism resort is the winner of numerous environment, tourism and architectural awards and in harmony with its natural surroundings. Resort activities include ranger guided 4WD tours, guided nature walks, water activities and of course fishing.

Day 14 Fraser Island to Brisbane

Transfer by launch to Hervey Bay where you connect with a motor coach service to Maryborough.  Here you board the Tilt Train for service into Brisbane.  Upon arrival into Brisbane, you will be met at the train station and transferred by private vehicle to your accommodation.

Brisbane is known as the Sunshine Capital and is Australia's third largest city. Its suburbs sprawl from the Gold Coast in the south to the Sunshine Coast in the north.  Because of the relaxed lifestyle in Queensland, and the warm, subtropical climate, the Brisbane region has over the last 20 years, experienced a growth and prosperity like no other part of Australia.

Day 15 Tour - Sunshine Coast full day tour

The Sunshine Coast has a large number of attractions on offer besides its beaches. Visit exciting attractions such as Australia Zoo, home of TV's Crocodile Hunter.

Here you can see the amazing Crocodile Feeding demonstrations, and a range of other wildlife and animal shows and interactions. Stop at the Mooloolaba Wharf Complex, providing a choice of what to do.  Visit Underwater World with its 80 meters of underwater tunnel and a whole world of exotic undersea life - showing contrast and variety.  Or stroll along the Esplanade and beach front, taking in the beautiful beach scenery or the shops and cafes.

Entry and show at Australia Zoo included, Underwater World is an optional extra and paid direct - lunch is at your own expense today.

Day 16 Fly Brisbane to USA (Via Sydney)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sydney.  Upon arrival, transfer to the international terminal for your departure flight to the USA.

• Rydges Melbourne

• O'Reilly's Guesthouse

• Medina Grand Treasury

• Kingfisher Bay Resort

• Rydges Brisbane

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