This will be our 5th visit
to the "Land Down Under" and we're doing it right.
Come join us as we explore this wonderful country and take
in the best tours. This is the
Australia trip you've been waiting for - with a fun group
of singles to the 2 most interesting places in the country
without a whole lot of moving around. With this trip
we will be spending 5-nights in Sydney, then 5-nights in
Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
SYDNEY
We
start off in Sydney where, over the course of 5 days, we'll
have a chance to
visit the top beaches and attractions. You will fall in
love with this cosmopolitan city. Surrounded by water,
beautiful beaches and scenic parks everywhere you turn,
it's beautiful. We'll start off with a nice city tour to
visit the highlights of Sydney - the
Opera House & Harbour Bridge; see the shopping heart
of the city; visit Sydney's trendy district of Oxford Street;
travel through elegant Paddington with its terrace houses
before arriving at the Pacific Ocean to see the superb coast
cliff walk. We'll travel on to famous Bondi Beach, visit
the beachfront promenade, enjoy a coffee or cool drink (at
own cost) and see bronzed Aussie lifesavers & Sydney's
best panoramic view. We'll return to Sydney via Double
Bay, Kings
Cross & city centre.
We'll also organize
an optional tour to
experience the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb.
You will need to wear suitable rubber soled shoes and be ready
to wear special suits over your existing clothing. You will
climb to the top of the Sydney Harbor
Bridge some 130
meters above sea level.
Another fun way to see Sydney is by bike. We've really
had fun with this one. Check
out my video!
On past trips we also chartered a beautiful sailing yacht
for a Sydney Harbor cruise that was so much fun. We had
some good music going, some wine and the most
spectacular scenery all around us! We'll be doing this again
for sure.
On another optional tour
we'll spend the day heading outside the city to the famous
Blue Mountains. This fantastic Ecotour makes our way to
the Great Dividing Range of Australia. It is here we leave
the ‘average’ Blue Mountains tourist behind & enter
the National Park to unlock a piece of Australia you would
never have known existed. We visit an ancient Aboriginal
site & 
outstanding
lookouts; examine rock formations 
&
the unusual plants & wildlife that abound the area.
From the quaint little village of Leura we skirt around
Cliff Drive to Katoomba
where you will find yourself looking out over the magnificent
Jamieson Valley (Australia’s Grand Canyon) & the Three
Sisters. We enjoy a delicious barbeque lunch including a
selection of fine Australian wines with a cheese platter
under the canopy of the Australian bush. Before returning
to Sydney we drop into a hidden valley where we roam the
area, seeking out the many kangaroos that graze in the wild
(conditions permitting). Reluctantly we leave the National
Park passing through the Olympic 2000 site, arriving at
your hotel around 5.30pm.
You'll have opportunities
to take a seaplane tour, or go out jet-boating or you may
want to take in a show or tour at the famous Opera House.
There is so much to do in Sydney, this is not even scratching
the surface! Plus, if you enjoy nightlife, there's
an abundance in Sydney and we'll be walking distance to
much of it at Darling Harbor area. This is where it's really
all happening, so that's where we want to be.
CAIRNS
No Australia trip is complete without
spending some time at the gateway to the 
Great
Barrier Reef, which is Cairns. Again, we'll be
staying at the Novotel Oasis, a 4-star hotel right in the
heart of Cairns walking distance to the Esplanade where
all the shops and restaurants are. We'll have snorkel and
scuba trips set up as well as some more adventure tours.
Of course the diving is the best in the world, which I can
vouch for. Unbelievable soft and hard corral and extremely
clear turquoise water. We will typically get quite
a few divers on this trip, and you won't be disappointed.
We'll take our divers
and snorkelers to
the most spectacular sites for the maximum number of hours
on the outer Great Barrier Reef. In one day you will visit
two magnificent sites where you will explore vast coral
gardens, walls drop-offs, caverns and isolated pinnacles
with an array of colorful marine life.
If
you want the ultimate in rafting, you want an unforgettable
day on the Tully River. The Tully is Australia¹s most famous
one-day whitewater rafting experience. It¹s the North¹s
guaranteed tropical white water, white-knuckle adventure.
On our Tully River full day trip, rafters can tackle over
45 extraordinary rapids. The magnificent waterfalls that
cascade down the gorge walls through World Heritage Jurassic
era rainforest provide an unforgettable backdrop.
November is an excellent time to raft, and the rapids are
up to Grade 4. Lots of excitement. A person
looking for a good, exciting time will absolutely love it.
We'll take another optional
tour aboard the luxury
"Ocean Spirit",
a 105-foot
sailing vessel - the largest of her kind in the world.
We'll take a sail/ cruise in the Great Barrier Reef to Michaelmas
Cay, known as the Isle of the Birds, a year-round home to
thousands of sea birds of some 14 different species. It
is a spectacular
coral reef that thrives in the ideal conditions of clear,
shallow, sunlit water, and is home to a variety of marine
life including giant clams and brilliant fish. Because Michaelmas
Cay is a National Park, the fish are so tame you can feed
them from the beach and birds know they are safe to wander
among you with their chicks. Divers will be able
to
put on some tanks and enjoy a very nice dive today as well.
On our last trip, this was one of the most enjoyable days.
Another tour that's set up is
an Aboriginal Culture, Sky Rail and Rainforest tour. This
breathtaking journey, on one of the world's most scenic
train routes, will take us through hand-hewn tunnels and
across bridges with amazing views. Stop at Barron Gorge
to view the Falls
before arriving at beautiful Kuranda Station. We'll have
some time to explore the "Village in the Rainforest".
Explore the markets or visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary
and colorful Birdworld. We'll get on the Skyrail and enjoy
the world's most beautiful rainforest experience. Glide
over the Rainforest canopy and take advantage of the two
stops en-route to a walk through the rainforest.
What else? Well,
of course along our journey you will have opportunities
to see plenty of koala bears and kangaroo. 
INCLUDES:
- All
ground transportation
- 10-nights
accommodations (double occ.)
- Daily
Breakfast
DOES
NOT INCLUDE:
- Optional
tours
- International air
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: ________
OUR
AIR:
Click
here to see tentative itinerary with tours and approximate
cost of tours
See photos of our last Australia trip
HOTELS:
Sydney:
Novotel on Darling Harbor 4-1/2 star hotel right
in the most exciting area of Sydney! Awesome hotel!
Check out the rooftop pool!
Tripadvisor
review
With its soaring lobby and cool vibes, Novotel Sydney on
Darling Harbour is a resort within the city and located
in the heart of Darling Harbour. This lifestyle hotel balances
eclectic details with striking public spaces that are playful
and filled with light and energy. The Ternary, our signature
restaurant, has three distinct offerings; the Grill Kitchen,
Asian Kitchen and Wine Bar in a single, stylish open space
offering spectacular floor to ceiling views of the city
skyline.
This lifestyle resort balances eclectic details with striking
public spaces that are playful and filled with light and
energy. Treat yourself to an Executive room to really take
advantage of the unrivalled location and enjoy our stunning
views of the Sydney skyline. I have booked us in their executive
rooms.
Cairns:
Novotel
Oasis 4-1/2 star hotel right in the heart of things.
Walking distance to everything!
Tripadvisor
Reviews #4 out of 69 hotels!
Beautiful tropical surrounds and modern contemporary style
is waiting for you at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort. Each
of the resorts 314 rooms feature a private terrace or balcony
facing either the lagoon swimming pool, lush tropical gardens
or Cairns city. The city location is ideal with easy access
to the award winning Esplanade and Cairns attractions.
All rooms and suites at Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort have
individual balconies, air conditioning, mini bars, television
and tea and coffee making facilities. The resort style rooms
are bright and spacious with light furniture and fabrics
in keeping with the tropical environment.
Sign
up for this Trip!
