Day 1 & 2
Fly from Los
Angeles across the Pacific Ocean to Melbourne, Australia.Day 3
Arriving
early this morning, spend the day exploring Melbourne, Australia’s most
elegant city with its many museums, diverse ethnic neighborhoods,
boutiques and cafes.
Day 4
Join a guided tour of your choice - either a trip along the spectacular
Great Ocean Road or, a visit to Phillip Island, where hundreds of penguins
come ashore at nightfall and walk up the sandy beach – a remarkable
sight.
Day 5
Leave
Melbourne this morning and fly to Hobart, Tasmania. Picking up a rental
car you are free to explore this fascinating island. Check out Hobart,
with her cobblestone streets steeped in history. Later, drive towards the
coast to the Freycinet National Park.
Day 6
This part of Tasmania is a haven for nature lovers with its varying
terrain of sea crags, open forests, brushland, virgin beaches and
turquoise blue sea. Explore the hiking trails or go kayaking on the
coastal headlands and crystal waters of the many bays in the area.
Day 7
Leaving Freycinet follow the ‘Heritage Highway’ past quaint townships
with Georgian facades and idyllic river settings, where you can find
locally made woolen products and crafts, as well as antiques. Along the
way is the Liffey Falls State Park, a World Heritage site that offers
several short walks through ancient rainforests and fern groves. Overnight
at the Cradle Mountain Lodge.
Day 8
Explore the vast wilderness of Cradle Mountain National Park today, with
its craggy peaks, cascading waterfalls and subtropical rain forests. There
are a multitude of trails on which you can venture on your own, each
offering rewarding vistas of the pristine environment around you.
Day 9
Enjoy this
wonderful area at you leisure before heading out this afternoon for
Launceston, a two hour drive away. Spend some time strolling through the
historic district of Launceston, shopping in the quaint stores and
sampling some of Tasmania’s famous gourmet cuisine.
Day 10
Return your
rental car and catch an early morning flight to Ayers Rock, in the ‘Red
Center’ of the Australia. Later, join a tour to the Olgas, an
interesting rock formation in the desert, before proceeding to watch the
magic spectacle of a sunset at the Rock. See the flaming red monolith
turning pink, purple and dark orange with the changing light of the
setting sun.
Day 11
Early risers
have a chance to climb Ayers Rock this morning. Later, you may take a tour
of interesting Aboriginal sites at the base of the Rock, before travelling
by road through the desert to Kings Canyon. You can join a guided walk
either of the canyon floor (easy) or around the rim (challenging), before
spending the night at Kings Canyon Resort.
Day 12
The red
rock, green ferns and clear water pools in Kings Canyon offer a great
contrast to the blue desert sky. You have more time to explore the canyon
this morning, before travelling to Alice Springs in the afternoon.
Day 13
The
landscape changes today from the desert red to tropical green, as you fly
to Cairns in the far north eastern corner of Australia, where ancient
rainforests meet the Great Barrier Reef.
Day 14
Take a day
tour to Kuranda, travelling there on the famous scenic train. The return
trip is via Skyrail, an aerial cable car that travels over the treetops of
the rainforest, allowing you an unique viewpoint of the flora and fauna of this
fascinating area.
Day 15
Take a
full-day trip to the outer Barrier Reef, almost 70 miles from the
shoreline. Snorkel, dive or board a glass-walled submarine to view the
incredible marine life under the water’s surface!
Day 16
A free day
to spend as you wish.
Day 17
Travel from
one highlight of your trip to another as you fly to Sydney today. Enjoy a
guided cruise (included) on Sydney’s spectacular harbor with landmark
sights such as the famous Opera House and the Harbor Bridge.
Day 18
Join a
half-day tour of Sydney, followed by free time for independent
sight-seeing.
Day 19
A free day
to enjoy more of Sydney, rated by many to be the world’s most beautiful
city!
Day 20
Your flight
home leaves Sydney late this morning and you arrive back in the U.S.A. on
the same day.
