Cosmopolitan Australia: Sydney & Melbourne from $2,349 per person

Posted on Friday, 1 Jul 2011 12:03 AM

If you like to be where the action is, you can’t beat Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is 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. Melbourne's beautiful parks and gardens, mixed with fine Victorian architecture, elegant tree lined boulevards, modern skyscrapers and diverse shopping and cuisine make for an unforgettable stay. Outside Melbourne, you'll find a host of regional attractions, from the little penguins  on Phillip Island to the spectacular Great Ocean Road.

Package Inclusions:
* Roundtrip Economy Class air from Los Angeles
* Add-on airfares available from other cities
* Internal Australia flights
* 4 nights accommodation Sydney in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
* 4 nights accommodation Melbourne in your choice of 3/4/5 Star hotels
* Airport transfers in a seat in coach basis
** Sightseeing options and packages are available**

Day 1 - Depart US
All Qantas transpacific flights include complimentary meals, bar service, pillows and blankets plus personal entertainment screens featuring award-winning audio visual on demand entertainment.

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 Sydney at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

tours_syd.jpg Sydney Opera House - Tour & Tasting Plate
Go on a spectacular tour inside the Opera house where you will see inside the great halls and venues and discover the stories, magic and history of this magnificent World Heritage site. After exploring inside, relax and unwind at Sydney’s newest dining spot, Opera Kitchen,* home to Sydney’s best chefs, food artisans and producers. Be treated to a three-tier gourmet Tasting Plate for two or Japanese Bento Tower for two and soak in the Sydney Harbour view.
 tours_sydessentials.jpg Sydney - Essentials Tour
Observatory Hill, Manly, North Head for unrivalled views, lunch at the magnificent Botanical gardens, Mrs Macquarie’s chair,  Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Bondi Beach and Paddington. Starts 1030am, finish 330pm, perfect for day of arrival from US or as the perfect half day tour.
 tours_bridgeclimb.jpg 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.
 tours_bluemtns.jpg Blue Mountains Eco Adventure
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.
 tours_seasyd.jpg Sea Sydney Cruises & half day city tour with Mount N Beach Safaris
Great Value value until 30 June 2012

This morning enjoy a small vehicle city sights tour experiencing all the highlights of Sydney. At Lunchtime board Calypso, a luxurious 52 foot Motor Yacht. This afternoon sit on the expansive sunbeds and be mesmerized by the multi million dollar homes, the spectacular city sights including the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge before dropping anchor in your own private cove for your barbecue lunch.
 tours_boutique.jpg Boutique Wildlife Tours
Venture into the Australian Bush in search of Australia’s iconic native animals - Koalas, Kangaroos, Platypus, Emus & Wombats. Small group luxury 4WD to pristine bushland in the Southern Highlands, just 90 minutes south of Sydney.

For more Sydney tour options, see pages 34-37 of our e-brochure.

Day 7 - Fly Sydney - 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 8 - 10 - Melbourne
Explore Melbourne at your leisure or consider adding one of our tour options - Some of our favorites:

75-gor.jpg 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.
75-phillipisl.jpg 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.
75-Melarcades.jpg Half Day Lanes & Arcades tour
Indulge with a casual walk through Melbourne's lanes and arcades in small groups to engage in the life of this city which many miss. Discover local designers and specialty retailers, tiny cafés and more. A little history and attention to amazing architecture will inspire locals and visitors alike. Lunch is included. Get orientated and return to those places you like best in the afternoon, at your leisure.
 75-yarra.jpg Yarra Valley Wine Experience
Learn how to swirl, sniff and slurp, then you’ll be ready to taste some of the Yarra's best wines, Yering Station’s award winning classic Australian wine, Rochford Wines with traditional wine making methods in their cellar door and French Champagne company Moet & Chandon's Australian production house -Domaine Chandon
75-mel.JPG "Undertsanding the Real Melbourne" half day Tour
Hear stories of the early Indigenous history and how this history is reflected in modern day Melbourne.  Take a drive through The Golden Mile, past the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House, Royal Exhibition Building and the beach at St Kilda. Choice between a stroll through some of Melbourne's iconic laneways, an indigenous river walk with a descendant of the local tribe, or try your hand in the kitchen with an indigenous cooking class.  Lunch at a restaurant is included.

For more Melbourne tour options, see pages 45-47 of our e-brochure.

Day 11 - Depart for US

Costing 3-star 4-star 5-star
Now - 31 March 2013 $2,349 $2,549 $2,999 


Prices are per person based on double occupancy departures from Los Angeles/San Francisco/Honolulu. Melbourne Cup, Grand Prix, Australian Open, Mardi Gras and other blackout periods will have surcharges. Tickets must be purchased by 31 March 2013 for departures until March 31 2013. 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. All prices reflect a 3% discount for purchases made by cash/wire transfer/check, please see terms and conditions for credit card payment. There are no discounts for payment made by credit cards. Cancellation penalties and other restrictions apply.