Sydney, Cairns & Melbourne from $1839 - 15 days/12 nights
If you like to be where the action is, you can’t beat Sydney. A modern, vibrant city with something for everyone: climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for spectacular views, swim at a famous beach or take yourself on an exciting shopping expedition. For sheer relaxation, immerse yourself in the beauty of Cairns,
the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. Experience an underwater ecosystem so unique, it’s almost out of this world. Capital of the state of Victoria,
Melbourne is attractively set on the shores of Port Philip Bay. Famous for its beautiful parks and gardens, mixed with fine Victorian architecture, elegant tree lined boulevards and modern skyscrapers. Explore the city by tram and absorb the atmosphere of Australia’s cultural capital in the many arts galleries and museums or take a cruise on the Yarra River.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart US
Day 2 - Cross International Date Line
Day 3 - Arrive 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.
Days 4 - 6 - Sydney
Explore
Explore Sydney at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:
Sydney Opera House - Essentials Tour
Experience this miracle of architecture and engineering. Working with new, rich audio-visual components, where images are projected onto the fabric of the building, your guide will take you on an emotional journey, engrossing you in a story to rival any opera plot with its dramatic twists and turns.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
BridgeClimb is a 3.5 hour adventure and an experience that will never be forgotten on one of the world's most modern wonders - The Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Australian Eco Adventures Blue Mountains tour
Breakfast with the Koalas at Featherdale Wildlife Park,
Complete circle loop of the Blue Mountains,
Short walks to explore the remote regions with stunning views
Lunch, Visit to Scenic World Attractions,
Champagne with Wild Kangaroos.
"Wild Ways to See Sydney" combo
Let Australian Wild Escapes take you on a morning tour of Sydney, the city, its harbour, South Head and Bondi
Beach. You will be transferred to Sea Sydney Cruises, lunch on the vessel and
cruise like a local in the afternoon on your four hour Sydney Harbour cruise on Calypso, a 52 foot motor yacht.
Day 7 - Fly Sydney - Cairns
Cairns is the colorful capital of Tropical North Queensland and the major gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The city is a gateway to an amazing selection of touring options encompassing the Reef, the Outback and the Rainforest. Take the Skyrail gondola to the market town of Kuranda and return to Cairns via the Kuranda scenic railway through lush rainforest. A visit to the Tjupukai Aboriginal Park is a must to learn of the local Aboriginal tribes and culture. The exclusive resort of Palm Cove lies 20 minutes north of Cairns, with hotels set on an esplanade behind a pristine palm fringed beach. An hour north of Cairns brings you to Port Douglas, the closest town to the Great Barrier Reef with Rainforest clad mountains sweeping down to sparkling sandy beaches.
Days 8 -10 - Cairns
Explore Cairns at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:
Kuranda, Rail, Skyrail & Tjapukai
Kuranda Scenic Rail to Kuranda, Barron River & Stoney Creek Falls, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway,
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park which includes indigenous guide , entrance to all Theatres, the famous Tjapukai Dancers, boomerang/spear throwing & bush medicine.
Ocean Spirit Cruise
Luxury sailing catamaran to Michaelmas Cay, a picturesque vegetated Sand Cay encircled by a superb fringing reef. The Cay is a National Park and a protected sanctuary for migratory seabirds. Lunch is included. Enjoy four hours on the Reef where you can choose from a range of activities including snorkelling, semi-submersible tours and guided beach walks.
Cape Tribulation by Appointment
Privately guided explorations of Australia's Tropical Rainforests have been a specialty of Down Under by Appointment since they began touring over 20 years ago, with every itinerary tailor-made to suit each guest's interests, time frame and budget.
Days 11 - Fly Cairns - Melbourne
Capital of the state of Victoria, is attractively set on the shores of Port Philip Bay. Famous for its beautiful parks and gardens, mixed with fine Victorian architecture, elegant tree lined boulevards and modern skyscrapers. Explore the city by tram and absorb the atmosphere of Australia’s cultural capital in the many arts galleries and museums or take a cruise on the Yarra River. Visit the Victorian Arts Center and the National Gallery of Victoria. Also the sporting capital of Australia, Melbourne hosts major annual events such as the Australian Open Tennis, Australia Formula One Grand Prix, the AFL Grand Final and the Melbourne Cup. Dining out in Melbourne is a direct reflection of the city’s diverse ethnicity with an abundance of Greek, Italian, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and Malaysian restaurants. Don’t miss Lygon Street with its abundance of Italian restaurants.
Days 12 - 14 - Melbourne
Explore Melbourne at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:
Great Ocean Road
Known as the worlds most inspiring coastal drive, follow its winding trail through the lush Otway rainforests, to the breathtaking, windswept drama of the Shipwreck Coast. For much of the way the road clings to the coastline, twisting and turning, every bend revealing a sight more spectacular than the last.
Phillip Island - Penguins, Koalas, Wildlife
A fascinating afternoon/eveing tour to Phillip Island stopping enroute at the Koala Conservation Center. Each evening at dusk Little Penguins arrive in groups on the beach after a day of fishing. See them waddle their way into the dunes where their burrow nests are situated.
Day 15 - Depart for US
Package Inclusions
• Roundtrip Economy Class air from Los Angeles
• Add-on airfares available from other cities
• All domestic air in Australia
• 4 nights in Sydney, 4 nights in Cairns, 4 nights in Melbourne
Sightseeing options and packages are available - see suggestions
below
Prices are per person based on double occupancy departures from Los
Angeles. Blackout periods will have surcharges. Tickets must be
purchased by 31 December 2010 with travel complete by March 2011. Add $300 for New York departures. Add-on fares are available from other cities. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels are subject to availability. US/foreign taxes/fees of approximately $330, including September 11th Security Fee, are additional. After ticketing, no change is allowed on outbound sector; inbound may be changed for $250. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply.
