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Australian Natural Adventures Custom
Australia, New Zealand & Pacific tours and travel
ANDREW
& JONATHAN, TODD & JOAN
AUSTRALIA
Day 2 – Tuesday, May
26: Lost In Space Day 3 – Wednesday, May
27: LIS /Melbourne Day 5 – Friday, May
29: Melbourne / You Yangs / Melbourne
Day 7 – Sunday, May
31: Ayers Rock/Cairns
Day 8 – Monday, June
1: Great Barrier Reef
Day 9 – Tuesday, June
2: Daintree
Day 13 – Saturday, June
6: Mooloolaba Area
Day 15 – Monday, June
8: Sydney
Day 16 – Tuesday, June
9: Sydney
Day 17 – Wednesday,
June 10: Sydney / Los Angeles / Birmingham
Day 18 – Thursday, June
11: Chicago/Birmingham
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rrive
in Sydney at 6.10am this morning, pass through customs and immigration,
after which change to the domestic terminal for your 9.15am Virgin
Blue flight 826 to Melbourne. On arrival at 10.45am you are met and
transferred to your hotel, a 2 bedroom fully
Free day in Melbourne to explore this interesting city. You may take
a trip down to 
and
plains west of Melbourne to see wild kangaroos and koa
las,
abundant birdlife and discover a rich Aboriginal heritage. You’ll
learn about native animals and plants both in the open-range grasslands
of Serendip Sanctuary on the Western Plains and in the bush lands
of Brisbane Ranges National Park. Within easy reach from the centre
of the city of Melbourne, these environments provide the perfect introduction
to Australia's unique wildlife and indigenous culture. You’ll
see and walk amongst Grey Kangaroos in large free ranging groups,
and find emus, wallabies, koalas and other unique Australian wildlife.
A delicious bush lunch is provided. The Brisbane Ranges are home to
a large and healthy population of wild koalas and we rarely miss out
on multiple sightings of these delightful creatures. In additional
to the wildlife of the region during your journey your guide will
share with you the great significance of the Western Plains to Aboriginal
people. (L)
Drive to Uluru early this morning (check with the hotel for the best
time and travel time, but sunrise is at 7.23 this morning) to view
sunrise on Uluru. You can either check out before l
walking
time by about half an hour, but may make things easier than packing
and checking out very early.) Continue on to Kata Tjuta and walk the
trails through this section of the park. Return to your hotel to pick
up your bags, return your car at the airport and fly to Cairns on
Qantas flight 1853 at 3.30pm, arriving at 6.30pm. Take a taxi into
your hotel, a 
d
on one end. Michaelmas Reef lies about 22 miles off the coast just
north of Cairns, with Michaelmas Cay on its southern tip. It is an
important seabird rookery, which becomes apparent as you ap
proach
the mass of birds swirling constantly above the cay. The four primary
species are Crested, Lesser-crested and Sooty Terns, and Common Noddy.
Lesser Frigatebirds are usually present, occasionally Greater, as
are Silver Gulls, Brown Boobies and Ruddy Turnstones. The cay, most
of which is off limits, is a National Park within the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park. However, the birds are very tolerant of visitors
and stand thickly along the beach, allowing us to approach them within
a few yards and less. Immediately offshore in waist-deep water, the
first of the corals can be seen. For those not used to snorkeling,
there is no easier introduction—just walk up to your waist,
and bend over. Brilliantly colored fish, giant clams, beche de mer
and coral outcrops can all be seen. Easy swimming in shallow water
brings you over coral “bombies
,”
heads of coral with their assortment of fishes, and hard and
soft corals. Parrot fish glean algae from the coral, and small and
medium predators search for food. Schools of fish twist and flash
between the outcrops. An occasional sea turtle may be seen. You can
also glide around the coral in a glass-bottomed boat, dry and with
your ordinary camera, while a marine biologist describes the species
seen and some of the processes at work. There are guided snorkel tours.
On your trip out, one of the marine biologists explains the development
of this and other reef systems and gives us an introduction to many
of the animal species that you see. Lunch is a tropical smorgasbord.
In the afternoon you return to Cairns, under sail if the winds are
right. (L)
Pick up your rental car and drive north to the Daintree River, where
you take a 
Day
10 – Wednesday, June 3: Cairns / Brisbane 
Day
12 –Friday, June 5: Australia Zoo 
Day
14 – Sunday, June 7: Australia Zoo 
.30am
easy 90-minute walking tour of this historic and vibrant area if you
have chosen this option. Many of the buildings date from the very
first years of the settlement, and are convict-built. You will get
a good insight to the history of Sydney, and Australia. The rest of
the day is free to explore this vibrant and friendly city. In addition
to g
reat
shops to buy the needed souvenirs and gifts, just a short walk is
the Botanic Gardens and the Domain, which has good views of the harbor,
an abundant bird life, and a colony of huge grey fruit-bats, whose
wingspans are approximately three feet. The Australian Museum, with
its impressive collection of Aboriginal artifacts and art, is also
close by. The Taronga Zoo is a ferry ride across the harbor, and a
lunch or dinner cruise is a good way to truly appreciate this water-side
city. During today or tomorrow you may wish to take a guided tour
of the Opera House; tours leave on the half hour from 9.30am until
4.45pm. Much is within walking distance of your
hotel, although The Rocks is a lit
tle
far and you may wish to take the bus or a train - Sydney is extremely
well-serviced by buses and the underground. Lunch can be taken on
a cruise on the harbor, with views of the Opera House and Harbour
Bridge, as well as the boats and ferries of what is often called the
most beautiful city harbor in the world. While there are tours that
utilize the ferries, usually with lunch or morning tea, the cheapest
way to do this is to simply buy a return ticket to one of the up-harbor
places such as Homebush (where the Olympics were held). You’ll
see a map of all the places they go at Circular Quay. The ferries
have a snack/meal bar, and you can just get an easy lunch or snack
there, sit back, and enjoy the ride. The ferry to Manly goes in the
other direction, and as it passes the Entrance, where the harbor enters
the Pacific, can get interestingly rough at times. This ferry will
pass the Opera House and various other landmarks, and is also a good
run, especially as the sun sets behind the bridge and opera house,
and the lights are coming on. The ferry from Taronga Zoo also provides
a good sunset run.
also
significant because it was designed by Australia's first architect
Francis Greenway, and is rega
rded
as one of his best works. Visitors can explore the museum dedicated
to Australian history, and join a guided tour. At Campbell’s
Cove adjacent to Circular Quay is a replica of Captain Bligh of mutiny
fame’ ship the Bounty, which was used in the film. It now sails
out in the harbor for dinner cruises. You can also stroll the pedestrian
walkway across, or into the center of, the Sydney Harbour Bridge;
there is a museum in one of the pylons, which has a good view as well.
Mrs Macquaries Chair, the point of the Botanic Gardens that juts into
the harbor, offers sweeping views of the Opera House with the bridge
in the background. The walk takes you past the Naval Shipyard; in
Darling Harbor, the other direction, is a very good 
Sadly you leave Australia today, but taking many memories and permanent
souvenirs. Taxi back to the airport mid-morning for your 1.55pm United
flight 840 for Los Angeles. Due to the International Dateline, you
arrive back into Los Angeles at 10.19am this same morning. After clearing
immigration and customs board you have a long connection time before
your next flight. You may consider hiring a car and visiting the