Day 3 - Arrive Adelaide
Upon arrival into Sydney you will need to clear customs and make your way to the domestic terminal for your connecting flight to Adelaide.

The capital of South Australia, Adelaide is nestled between the sea and hills. It is a graceful city of wide streets, elegant buildings and parkland. Adelaide is compact and easy to walk around. It is known for its refinement and has a charm and grace that shows in sophisticated wining and dining, and beautiful architecture that has been well preserved. The state of South Australia is home to some of the freshest food and finest wines in Australia. Adelaide has a reputation for innovative, affordable cuisine which, when combined with local wines, is a memorable experience

Day 4 - Barossa Valley
This personally escorted winelovers tour includes lunch at Vintners Restaurant or a gourmet picnic and visits leading wineries such as Peter Lehmann, Torbreck, Henschke (closed on Sunday's) and Rockfords. You travel through the scenic Torrens Gorge to the Barossa Valley. The Torrens Gorge is a natural chasm carved out of the Adelaide Hills by the River Torrens. If time permits we may stop at a local bakery to taste the best of the fine German pastries. After consultation with the individual clients touring, the tour will be tailor made to meet client needs. The itinerary may change to accommodate special interest or seasonal highlights

Day 5 - Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
Fly (additional cost) or take ferry to Kangaroo Island
Sea Lions Guided Beach Walk, Kangaroos, Koalas, Wetlands Birdlife
Meet your guide for an introduction to Kangaroo Island before heading out in search of wildlife encounters. Your guide will help you spot kangaroos, koalas and echidnas in the wild. A highlight today is a guided beach walk at Seal Bay, home to a colony of Australian sea lions. See these fascinating mammals up close, as they bask on the beach or in the dunes. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch in the bush, followed by a bushwalk. We visit one of the island's wetland areas to see and hear diverse birdlife.

Day 6 - Kangaroo Island
After breakfast discover the wonders of Flinders Chase National Park. See at close range the New Zealand fur seals that inhabit these waters and view the unique geological formations of Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a bush setting, sampling island foods and South Australian wines. Later, explore the Rocky River region to see yet more wildlife. At Hanson Bay Sanctuary, we search for koalas, then, by special permit, we enter the Kelly Hill Conservation Park. As dusk approaches, mobs of kangaroos and other native animals move out into the open to graze. Fly (additional cost) or take ferry back to Adelaide.

Days 7-8 - Ghan Train from Adelaide to Alice Springs
Transfer by shuttle service to the train station for your overnight train journey into the heart of the Australian outback.

A legendary journey on a legendary train. The Ghan is internationally recognized as one of the world's most famous long distance luxury trains. Named after the Afghan camel drivers who did so much to open up the heart of Australia last century, this magnificent train is of great historical significance to the nation.

Its 1555 kilometer journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs takes 22 hours. And it’s truly a legendary experience to watch the vast Australian Outback unfold as you journey to the centre.

Day 9 - Alice Springs to Ayer Rock
An early start this morning as you depart from your hotel bound for Ayers Rock. This coach ride takes about four and a half hours and truly gives you a great appreciation of the Australian Outback. You arrive in Ayers Rock in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel.

Uluru (Ayers Rock), in the heart of the Red Centre, has a desert climate - mostly dry, with brilliant blue skies all year. Autumn and spring will give you sunny days with cloudless skies and crisp, cool nights which is the perfect kind of weather for exploring the sights by foot or in the comfort of a vehicle. Summer is the time when Central Australia is at its most vivid, with hot days and balmy nights. December to February are the hottest months -usually more that 35º-Celsius - so take a hat and sunscreen.

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 Olga’s) - 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 (The Olga’s) flush red as the tour retires to the sunset viewing area to celebrate the fantastic color 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 center. The spectacle fades as you return to Yulara beneath a sky of brilliant stars. This afternoon tour is around 4 hour’s duration.

Day 10 - Spirit of Uluru tour
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 11-12 - Ghan Train from Alice Springs to Darwin
Make your way to the airport for your flight from Ayers Rock to Alice Springs. On arrival, make your way to the train station for the overnight Ghan Train to Darwin.

Join the Ghan Train for a legendary journey. The Ghan is internationally recognized as one of the world's most famous long distance trains. Named after the Afghan camel drivers who did so much to open up the heart of Australia last century, this magnificent train is of great historical significance to the nation. The journey from Alice Springs to Darwin takes 24 hours - so relax and watch the vast Australian Outback unfold as you journey from the desert of the 'Red Centre' to the tropical 'Top End'.

On arrival into Darwin, there is a coach transfer service to Darwin city. Darwin is a vibrant, tropical capital city perched on a deepwater port, offering a blend of cosmopolitan and city pleasures. It also acts as a gateway to key Top End natural and cultural attractions. Darwin sits on a harbor twice the size of Sydney harbor and overlooks the Arafura Sea, offering an array of waterfront delights including superb dining, cruising, or wreck-diving.

This afternoon is at your leisure to explore Darwin, a very diverse community of about 80,000 people. Many interesting cultural museums and activities abound in and around the city to keep you busy

Day 13-15 - Tour - Kakadu & Arnhem Land
Travel via Adelaide River and the Marrakai Plains deep into Kakadu National Park. Join a guided walk to view Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie. After lunch, board the famous Yellow Water billabong cruise to observe the birdlife, and seek the saltwater crocodile. Visit Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

An early start to travel by 4WD vehicle into Arnhem Land and the Mikinj Valley. Travel through spectacular scenery, including sandstone outcrops, escarpments, floodplains and billabongs. Hear of traditional land ownership, learn of bush skills, food gathering and preparation of ‘bush tucker’. View Aboriginal rock art without fences or barriers.

Today, stop at Ubirr with a short walk to view Aboriginal rock art. Join the Guluyambi Cruise along the East Alligator River in search of saltwater crocodiles. With permission of the local people, will go ashore in Arnhem Land. Visit the Bowali Visitor Centre, and perhaps take an optional scenic flight (own expense) over the Arnhem Land Escarpment before returning to Darwin.

Day 16 - Fly Darwin to Sydney
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sydney. On arrival you will be transferred by shuttle service to your accommodation.

Sydney's sparkling harbor is the jewel in the city's crown. It's flanked by golden beaches and bush land, and is bisected by one of the most famous bridges in the world. Islands sprinkle its waters, and it's crisscrossed by all manner of craft, from water taxis and yachts to tour boats and ferries.

Day 17 - Sydney
Blessed with a temperate climate, Sydney is Australia’s favorite city with the world’s most beautiful harbor. The harbor provides a playground for jet boating, sailing, swimming, harbor scenic flights, dining, fishing, climbing the harbor bridge and sightseeing at the Opera House. Take a stroll through The Rocks, the site of the first European settlement. Don’t miss The Rocks markets held every Saturday & Sunday. Be entertained with great street theatre and music while you browse for Australian arts & crafts. Circular Quay is the gateway to the harbor and the starting point for most of Sydney’s harbor cruises and passenger ferries. Familiarize yourself with the harbor by taking one of the many cruises on offer or jump on a passenger ferry to Taronga Zoo or Manly beach. Sydney’s shopping is second to none with its endless selection of boutiques, markets and malls. Unique Australian specialty shops reside at The Rocks and Darling harbor’s Shopping Centre and a visit to the Queen Victoria Building in the city center is a must. Dining out at one of the many fabulous harbor side restaurants is a must. Fresh produce, great views, inspiring chefs and a multicultural flavor turn a meal into a gastronomic delight.

Day 18 - Depart for US