Sunday, October 31 and Monday, November 1
Days 1 & 2 Depart Board your overnight flight for your trip to Australia (air not included in rate). Crossing the International Dateline, you lose a full day.
Tuesday, November 2
Day 3: Arrive Melbourne, Australia Our tour begins in the beautiful Victorian city of Melbourne, set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse. Tonight, you will be welcomed by a group orientation and icebreaker, followed by a welcome dinner. (D)
Wednesday, November 3
Day 4: Melbourne Today we’ll enjoy kangaroos and koalas on our guided Ecotour. We’ll take an easy walk through the gum trees of the You Yangs Park looking for koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and birds in their natural settings. Next, we travel to Serendip Open Range Sanctuary, developed by the Victorian government to provide refuge for a large variety of Australian fauna. With our guide, we’ll discover waterbirds and dryland birds, view wallabies, kangaroos, emus and other Australian wildlife. After our “outback lunch”, a short walk through forest alongside a quiet stream provides an opportunity to spot koalas in the treetops. Tonight we enjoy a group dinner at a local Melbourne restaurant. (B, L, D)
Thursday, November 4
Day 5: Melbourne Today, embark on a morning city tour of Melbourne featuring the Parliament House, The Shrine of Remembrance, Cook’s Cottage and the Fitzroy Gardens, valued for their historic, architectural and horticultural significance. After our tour, enjoy an afternoon at leisure to discover all that Melbourne has to offer! (B)
Friday, November 5
Day 6: Melbourne – Ayers Rock Today we fly to Ayers Rock in the heart of the Australian Outback. The huge monolith called Ayers Rock and the sandstone domes of the Olgas were created through the process of upheaval and erosion. We’ll tour the Olgas and around the base of “the Rock.” Enjoy time to relax or hike around the Olgas. Enjoy a Shabbat you will not soon forget as the base of Ayres Rock is the backdrop and we are surrounded by a carpet of bright red ground beneath our feet and only the sounds of our voices to fill the night sky. We’ll then have the opportunity to enjoy an experience like no other during the “Sounds of Silence” dinner under millions of stars. Sip on a glass of champagne with the sound of a lone didgeridoo filling the air as the sun slowly sets over the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) and Ayers Rock (Uluru). Dine on a gourmet BBQ of Australian delicacies and then sit back and take in the mystery of the desert at night as an astronomer takes you on a tour of the Southern night skies. (B, D)
Saturday, November 6
Day 7: Ayers Rock Sit back and let friendly camels carry you off the beaten track to watch the sunrise from the tallest seats in town. Ride amongst the big red sand dunes and watch the sun rise on Uluru (Ayers Rock). The afternoon and evening are free to visit other attractions, or relax by the pool of our beautiful resort hotel. This evening, join us for “steaks on the barby” Aussie style! (B, D)
Sunday, November 7
Day 8: Ayers Rock – Cairns Leaving behind Australia’s Outback, today we are off to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. One of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions, the reef was established as a marine park in 1975 and is a collective haven for thousands of species of sea life, as well as turtles and birds. In 1981 the United Nations designated the Great Barrier Reef a World Heritage site. Tonight the rest of your evening is at leisure to explore this enjoyable sea-side town. (B, D)
Monday, November 8
Day 9: Cairns – Great Barrier Reef – Cairns Get ready to experience a day like no other…Head out in the wee hours of the morning for a hot air balloon ride over the city of Cairns. There will be lots of activity as the crew prepares the balloons while the sun gently rises to unveil the surrounding beauty. The friendly crew will help you onboard and your balloon will gently lift into the dawn sky. After the flight, come back to earth for a champagne breakfast. Later, board a high-speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. From our base on Green Island, we are able to explore the reef in many ways. Enjoy a trip on a glass bottom boat where beautifully colored fish swim by in their natural habitat. Choose a stroll on the walking trail to take in the rain forest and the beaches, or watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. You may also visit the underwater observatory. For a more adventurous encounter with the reef, optional scuba diving, snorkeling and an outer reef tour are also available. (B, L)
Tuesday, November 9
Day 10: Cairns – Daintree – Cairns Spend an enjoyable day exploring the rainforest, rivers and beaches of Daintree and Cape Tribulation. From Cairns, we take a scenic coastal drive north to Port Douglas where we will partake in a short tour and enjoy the spectacular “Four Mile Beach.” Next, we proceed further north through the sugar town of Mossman to the famous Daintree River. Before joining our cruise through the mangroves and rainforest wilderness, enjoy a light morning tea. As we depart for our wildlife cruise, look for crocodiles, pythons and flying foxes. Next, we will stop at Daintree Hideaway for a relaxing lunch. There will be time for a walk through the rainforest or a dip in a freshwater swimming hole. We will meet up with a qualified botanist who will guide us on an interpretative walk through the rainforest. Stop at the Marrdja Boardwalk, a timber boardwalk into the rainforest and mangrove swamps, then cross the Daintree River by cable ferry, reaching the upper levels of the rainforest via the unique Canopy Tower, with views unparalleled. Enjoy afternoon tea on the veranda. (B, L)
Wednesday, November 10
Day 11: Cairns – Sydney This morning you will experience the beauty of Far North Queensland’s World Heritage Rainforest as we travel on the Kuranda Skyrail – the world’s largest gondola railway. Our gondola trip takes us above the canopy of the tropical rainforests of the Barron Gorge National Park. Next, experience the unique lifestyle of the Aborigine people with a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center. See an Aboriginal dance show, explore the Aboriginal lifestyle, and learn to throw a boomerang or play a didgeridoo, a traditional instrument. Browse the renowned art gallery and visit the interpretation center which boasts a collection of interesting artifacts. Later, depart for the exciting city of Sydney. (B)
Thursday, November 11
Day 12: Sydney Today is a full day exploring the fun-loving city of Sydney. Begin with a tour that includes sights such as Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. Discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural sites as you take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, poised majestically on Sydney Harbour. This afternoon arrive at Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most famous beaches. Enjoy time at leisure to explore, enjoy the beach, and experience great views. Tonight, join local Jewish singles for a get-together. (B)
Friday, November 12
Day 13: Sydney Climb Australia’s most exciting and accessible adventure, The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Get a perfect bird’s-eye view of the Opera House and Sydney’s beautiful harbor. Experience the incredible adventure that will take you to the top of the Bridge some 440 feet above sea level. For those who prefer, you can walk across the bridge without climbing it. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to experience more of Sydney’s wonderful sites on your own. This evening, we’ll enjoy Shabbat services at The Great Synagogue of Sydney. (B)
Saturday, November 13
Day 14: Sydney Today enjoy a day of leisure to discover in this cosmopolitan city. Join your fellow travelers for our Amazing Journeys Farewell Event, followed by dinner. (B, D)
Sunday, November 14
Day 15: Sydney – Depart for Home Today you will fly home, or, for those who are continuing, fly to New Zealand. Re-crossing the International Dateline, you regain the day you lost at the beginning of your trip. (B)
Your Australia Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1, 2 Overnight Flight
Day 3-5 Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne
Day 6, 7 Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock
Day 8-10 Pacific International, Cairns
Day11-14 All Seasons Premier Menzies, Sydney
Please Note: Hotels listed above may change without notice. Due to changes in air schedules while on tour, the order of days may change. Due to early arrival times in some cities, rooms may not always be ready for immediate check-in. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed with the exception of visits to wildlife parks.
| Room Options |
Double |
Single |
Rates
|
$4,099 |
$5,199 |
Prices subject to availability. $550 deposit due with reservation; full payment due on 8/26/2010. Roommate Matching Available.
Not included in rates:
- International Airfare
- Visa for Australia
- Departure taxes will be paid upon departure from each country
This trip is limited in the amount of participants. We will sell out. Don’t wait to sign up!
INTERNATIONAL GROUP AIR PROGRAM
Airfare has not been included in the tour rate. Group airfare is available as follows:
Roundtrip air: Los Angeles – Australia
$2282 + $230 taxes and fees
Roundtrip air: Los Angeles – Australia – New Zealand
$2532 + $230 taxes and fees
These rates include all internal flights within the itinerary. If you do not purchase our international group air program, you are responsible for your own flights within Australia (and on the post-tour in New Zealand).
International departure taxes have not been included and must be paid upon departure from each country.
Roundtrip airport transfers have been included in the air rates for those who are using the Amazing Journeys group air.
Our International air rates include your required Australian Visa.
