|
25 Days Exploring Australia With Fiji Extension Tour Package
Duration: 25 Days / 24 Nights
Priced From: $6,549 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Jan - Jun, Sep - Dec, Jan - Mar
Explore fascinating Australia during this captivating vacation. From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef, on this vacation you experience the beauty of Australia’s unique scenery and the adventure of its cities. Begin your trip with three nights in the tropical paradise of Fiji before continuing to Brisbane, Australia. From Brisbane, drive to the Sunshine Coast, where you visit the Australia Zoo of Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin fame. Come face to face with many of Australia’s native animals. Then fly north to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Board a catamaran and experience Australia’s Great Barrier Reef firsthand on Green Island, one of the Great Barrier Reef’s many tropical islands. Snorkel, take a glass-bottom boat tour, or walk through the island’s rainforest.
Tour Itinerary
Days 1-2
Board your transpacific flight and skip a day as you cross the International Date Line.
Day 3 Arrive in Nadi, Fiji
Welcome to Fiji! Upon arrival, transfer to the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa. This afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the island. Visit VISEISEI VILLAGE, where the Fijian people first landed centuries ago, and the GARDEN OF THE SLEEPING GIANT to see a stunning private collection of tropical orchids. Then, stroll through a LOCAL MARKET to see the various crops grown on the island before visiting the largest Hindu temple in Fiji.
Days 4-5 Fiji
Two full days at your leisure. Your Local Host will have suggestions for optional activities. (B)
Day 6 Fiji
Today, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Australia Off the coast of Australia. (B)
Day 7 Sunshine Coast. Excursion to Australia Zoo
Come face-to-face with many of Australia’s native animals at the AUSTRALIA ZOO. You’ll see a crocodile demonstration and witness the feeding of the koalas. (B)
Day 8 Sunshine Coast–Brisbane–Cairns
Enjoy an orientation drive through Brisbane before your flight to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Dinner is at your hotel. (B,D)
Day 9 Cairns. Great Barrier Reef Excursion Story aboutGreat Barrier Reef
For nature-lovers, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef is a quasi-religious experience. The 1600 mile long organism, which can even be identified from space, is actually a web of 2,900 self-contained reefs that lie between 40 and 100 miles off Australia’s north-east coast. From a plane, the Reef looks like a giant blue rash, but beneath its placid waves lie canyons of brilliant coral, each one a mini-galaxy of sea life, including wildly colored fish and anemones, giant turtles, moray eels, sharks and manta rays so large they can blot out the sun’s light as they pass overhead. The clarity of the water, the intensity of color, even the quality of the antipodean light are like nowhere else on earth.
Board a fast catamaran for a CRUISE to Green Island, one of the many tropical islands on Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. Here you can choose to SNORKEL, take a GLASS-BOTTOM BOAT TOUR, or walk through the island’s cool rainforest. This afternoon you may wish to upgrade to a full-day excursion on the Outer Barrier Reef. In the evening, consider a unique experience at the famous Flames of the Forest, where you enjoy tropical dining in an actual rainforest and authentic Aboriginal culture through storytelling and music (operates seasonally). Or you can enjoy a sunset cruise followed by a delicious dinner at a waterfront restaurant. (B)
Day 10 Cairns–Darwin
Morning at leisure in this tropical paradise. Perhaps join our optional trip to Kuranda via the old scenic rail route. See magnificent scenery, lush rainforests, and twisting waterfalls from the comfort of a restored, historic mountain train. For the return journey you may choose to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Or, take a tour to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park—a fascinating portrayal of Aboriginal culture, dance, and folklore. Then, fly to the top end of Australia to Darwin, famous for its strategic importance during WWII. (B)
Day 11 Darwin–Kakadu National Park
Today, see giant termite nests on the way to KAKADU NATIONAL PARK. Explore parts of nearly 7,300 square miles of unspoiled waterways with a rich heritage of Aboriginal culture and stop at the Bowali Visitor Centre to learn about Kakadu’s habitats. CRUISE waterways where you may view crocodiles, and walk ancient trails to see Aboriginal rock petroglyphs. An optional light-aircraft flight over the park should not be missed. Dinner tonight is at your hotel. (B,D) Note: During the wet season (December through April) it can be difficult to see crocodiles in the wild.
Day 12 Kakadu National Park–Darwin
Depart your hotel this morning and stop at WINDOWS ON THE WETLANDS VISITOR CENTRE, an interactive display of Kakadu fauna. Return to Darwin for sightseeing. See the elegant colonial architecture of the city’s historic buildings that survived Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Visit the splendid BOTANIC GARDENS and beautiful East Point, an area rich in WWII memorabilia. Also visit the ART GALLERY to view fine collections of Aboriginal art. (B)
Day 13 Darwin–Alice Springs–Ayers Rock
Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, is sacred to the Aboriginal people
During a brief stop in Alice Springs, enjoy a visit to the SCHOOL OF AIR to learn how education services are provided to children living in the vast Outback. Then, visit the OLD TELEGRAPH STATION to discover how the locals live in this remote area and to learn the history of how the early settlers developed communication. On to Anzac Hill, a tribute to Australia’s and New Zealand
Stunning views in New Zealand’s war heroes. Afterward, fly to Ayers Rock. Travel to a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 30 brilliant monoliths. There is time to take photos before returning for a TOUR around the base of Ayers Rock and to “Sunset Strip” for a drink and canapés and to witness the changing colors of the Rock. (B)
Day 14 Ayers Rock–Alice Springs
For an unforgettable experience, rise early for an optional camel ride to watch the sunrise at Ayers Rock. Then, fly to Alice Springs and visit the ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE to appreciate how medical service is provided to those in remote regions. The afternoon is at leisure. You may want to visit the Desert Park to learn more about the flora and fauna of the Australian desert. Tonight, enjoy a unique Aussie experience—an OUTBACK BARBEQUE that features a meal of typical campfire fare, fascinating tales of the Outback, and Aboriginal folklore. (B,D)
Day 15 Alice Springs–Ghan Train
The Ghan Train
This morning, enjoy free time to relax. Later, a highlight of your vacation begins as you board the GHAN TRAIN
The Ghan Train passing through the Outbackfor an overnight journey that offers a fascinating perspective of the Outback. (B,L,D)
Day 16 Ghan Train–Adelaide
Arrive in Adelaide for a city tour along the wide tree-lined streets and well-manicured gardens. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. (B)
Day 17 Adelaide
The day is at leisure. You may choose a full-day trip to Kangaroo Island, one of the world’s last unspoiled habitats. (B)
Day 18 Adelaide–Barossa Valley
The beautiful vineyards of Barossa Valley at sunset–Melbourne
The illuminated city of Melbourne at night
Today, drive to the BAROSSA VALLEY with its Bavarian villages, baroque Italianate chateaux, and stunning vineyard scenery. Breathe in the beauty of the Adelaide Hills in the leafy greenness of the quaint yet charming villages. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch and sample some of Australia’s premium wines Story aboutAustralian Wine
It’s hard to believe today, when Australia’s wines are world famous and fine vintages are readily available in every pub and café from Wagga to Oodnadatta, but it was not until the 1970s that Aussies really began to appreciate the virtues of the grape. Many Australians don’t realize that the local wine industry is actually as old as white settlement itself. The first vines were brought from Brazil and South Africa on board the very first convict fleet in 1788, and planted in the British Governor’s private garden. Twelve years later, a pair of French prisoners-of-war from Napoleon’s armies were purposely sent to Sydney to provide a little Gallic know-how. Although these two clumsy Frenchmen produced wines of “very indifferent quality,” by the 1820s Aussie farmers were gamely sending their best wines back to European wine competitions, with mixed success.
at a LOCAL WINERY. Later this afternoon, fly to Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city. (B,L)
Day 19 Melbourne
Today’s tour includes landmarks such as Parliament House and the Shrine of Remembrance, a tribute to Australia’s war heroes. Visit beautiful FITZROY GARDENS and then drive past the lush Royal Botanical Gardens. You’ll soon discover the differing architectural influences of this city as you see the Victorian Arts Centre and other buildings of significance. For a unique dining experience, join an optional outing on board a historic tramcar restaurant as it winds its way through the streets of Melbourne. Later this afternoon, drive to Phillip Island to see a PENGUIN PARADE from an exclusive viewing platform. (B,D)
Day 20 Melbourne–Hobart
Fly to Hobart, Tasmania, home of the famed Tasmanian Devil. (B)
Day 21 Hobart. Excursion to Port Arthur
Today’s tour of the scenic Tasman Peninsula features the blowhole, the Devil’s Kitchen, and the Tasman Arch coastal formations. Visit PORT ARTHUR, where the first convicts arrived in the 1830s. A guided tour of the Penal Settlement shows you the ruins of the 4-story penitentiary and the model prison—grim reminders of Australia’s days as a penal colony. Also included is a short stop at a nearby WILDLIFE SANCTUARY to see the famous Tasmanian Devil, a rare marsupial wolf. (B)
Day 22 Hobart–Sydney
Today, fly to Sydney, the largest city in Australia. The afternoon is at leisure for you to discover this exciting and beautiful city on your own. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for optional activities. (B)
Day 23 Sydney
Today, explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Your tour includes a CRUISE on Sydney Harbour Story aboutSydney Harbor
Few visitors realize that Sydney’s most iconic landmark, the Opera House, was almost never completed. The radical design by Danish architect Jørn Utzon was chosen from an international competition in 1957, even though engineers at the time had no idea how to build it. Within five years, the prototype sails had to be taken down and totally recommenced. Budget blowouts dogged the project until the perfectionist Utzon resigned over cost-cutting measures. Construction continued anyway, with the interior design modified. The embittered Utzon, however, refused to visit Sydney again, and has still never seen the finished building hailed regularly as one of the seven architectural wonders of the modern world. A recent reconciliation occurred when an interior annex was completed to Utzon’s original design, but the architect was too old to visit; he sent his son to the Opera House instead.
that highlights this bustling waterway and a guided tour of the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
Sydney’s famed Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The World Heritage List includes over 800 properties with cultural and/or natural heritage of global significance
Travel to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s BOTANICAL GARDENS for a great photo opportunity of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Tour the world-famous BONDI Story aboutBondi Beach
As the Harbor stretches its turquoise tentacles into every inner suburb of Sydney, the 70 beaches that lace the city’s edges have created a hedonistic surf culture on a par with Rio and Waikiki. The most beloved of the urban beaches is Bondi (pronounced Bond-eye). Here, between sandstone headlands at the eastern fringe of the city, the long glassy rollers of the Pacific Ocean thunder onto a half-mile of golden powdery sand. In the 1920s, Bondi was a modest version of Coney Island, where city dwellers in need of fresh air would travel here by a rattling tram to cool off with an ice cream or cheap fish-and-chips by the sea. In the 1950s, the surf craze arrived from Hawaii, luring thousands with their boards into the crashing surf. And since the 1990s, Bondi has gentrified, attracting millionaires and movie stars.
SURF BATHERS’ LIFE SAVING CLUB and enjoy a lifesaving demonstration! See some of the city’s original suburbs, followed by the historic Rocks area, home to Sydney’s original convicts. Also visit one of the country’s leading OPAL COMPANIES to discover how the beautiful gems are mined. The balance of the day is free. (B)
Day 24 Sydney
Enjoy a full day at leisure. Perhaps join our optional excursions to the Blue Mountains
The majestic Three Sisters peaks in the Blue Mountain Range or to Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s leading wine-growing regions. You can even climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge! Your Tour Director will help you make the most of this exciting city. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant with fantastic views of the highlights of Sydney. (B,D)
Day 25 Sydney
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Fiji vacation specialist.
Contact : Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
3/11
|
