Australian Natural Adventures

  Tourism Australia Premier Aussie Specialist
Accredited Tassie, Northern Territory, NT Outback, NSW, Victoria & Queensland Specialists
Matai Fiji Specialist

CUSTOM ITINERARY PREPARED FOR

BRANDI, MARCIA AND HALEY BRIGHT

AUSTRALIA
June 2007

Day 1 - Thursday, June 7: Los Angeles / Lost In Space
Depart Birmingham or Huntsville for LAX. Make your way to the Tom Bradley terminal, where Australia begins the moment you step aboard your plane - the style is easy going, casually efficient and very friendly. Qantas is known for its decent food and excellent in flight service, so sit back and enjoy the hospitality, meal and a movie. There is an extensive in-flight entertainment system to while away the 14-hour flight, if you can’t sleep. However, we recommend forgoing the airline food, getting something at one of the many restaurants in the terminal, and asking for a Do Not Disturb sticker as soon as you board. Curl up, and try to sleep.    (*D)

Day 2 – Friday, June 8: Lost In Space
Lose today due to the International Dateline, but regain it on your return journey.

Day 3 – Saturday, June 9: LIS / Sydney / Perth
Arrive in Sydney early this morning, pass through customs and immigration and transfer to the domestic terminal by the free Qantas shuttle for your flight to Perth, on the other side of the continent. Arrive early afternoon, transfer to your hotel, and relax after your long journey.    (*B,*L)

Day 4 – Sunday, June 10: Perth
Explore Perth today. There are particularly good views of the city and river from Kings Park, a shot walk from downtown. A path meanders through native gardens, and ducks may be seen on the small lake. The gallery at the park has some nice local jewelry and artwork. Across the road is an Aboriginal-owned shop selling Aboriginal works. There is a café in the park where Magpies and Twenty-eight Parrots come begging for food – quite a change from the usual pigeons and sparrows. You may also enjoy a part day out to Rottnest Island, where tame Quokkas, a small wallaby, wander about the town.

Day 5 – Monday, June 11: Perth / Lynton
This morning you leave for your week-long exploration of Western Australia. After an early head north to Lancelin, where you try sand boarding on the huge sand dunes. Then take the back tracks to the unique Pinnacles Desert, and walk through this desert of unique limestone spears. Tonight you stay at the historic Lynton Convict Settlement, now run as a typical Aussie farm.    (L,D)

Day 6 – Tuesday, June 12: Lynton / Monkey Mia
This morning explore the coastal cliffs and gorges of Kalbarri, including Natures Window & ''The Loop'' canyons, and enjoy a cooling swim. After lunch head to the Shark Bay World Heritage Area where you overnight at Monkey Mia Lodge.   (B,L,D)

Day 7 – Wednesday, June 13: Monkey Mia/ Coral Bay
Monkey Mia is famous for the dolphins that come up to the beach meet the humans. Enjoy this amazing wildlife encounter (dolphin appearance not guaranteed), and then perhaps go sailing (optional extra) or just laze on the beach. This afternoon head north to your overnight station (ranch) stay south of Coral Bay, chat around the campfire, try real Aussie damper (bread cooked in the campfire).    (B,L,D)

Day 8 – Thursday, June 14: Coral Bay / Exmouth
Today snorkel Coral Bay, one of the world''s most accessible coral reefs. Over 450 species of fish & 250 species of coral make the reef their home, second only in Australia to the Great Barrier Reef (there’s less than 200 fish species on most Caribbean reefs). After snorkeling (or just keep going) you can relax on the beach, swim in the bay, or take an optional glass bottom boat tour or hire a 4WD quad bike through the bush. Tonight overnight in Exmouth.    (B,L)

Day 9 – Friday, June 15: Ningaloo Reef
Today join in the search for whale sharks in Ningaloo. Spotter planes fly over the reef area, looking for these huge fish – the world’s largest at up to 50 ft. When they are seen you boat is directed towards them, and off the back of the boat you go, to snorkel in their company. Although sightings are not guaranteed, this is the best area for them, and most days are successful. (B,L,D)

Day 10 – Saturday, June 16: Exmouth / Geraldton
Start the return journey south this morning, admiring the scenery along the way to your overnight stay near Geraldton. The mixture of desert and coast landscape is somewhat reminiscent of Baja California, although lusher.    (B,L,D)

Day 11 – Sunday, June 17: Geraldton / Perth
Depart Geraldton this morning and travel south to Yanchep National Park to learn more about Aboriginal culture and dreamtime with the Noongyar people. Lunch overlooking Lake McNess, before arriving back in Perth at approximately 5pm.    (B,L)

Day 12 – Monday, June 18: Perth / Ayers Rock
Taxi to the airport for your 10.30am flight to the center of Australia, Ayers Rock, arriving at 2.15pm. You are transferred to your hotel, and apartment style in the resort complex. About an hour and a half before sunset you are picked up and taken to the camel corral, where you are introduced to your ride to sunset – a camel. These animals were introduced to Australia in the 19th century, as they were the ideal transport in the Australian central desert when the overland telegraph line was being constructed. They came from Afghanistan, along with their trainer/drivers. The train from Adelaide to Alice Springs is called The Ghan in remembrance of the job done by these Afghans. After enjoying the sunset on Ayers Rock you return to the hotel about an hour afterwards.    (*L)

Day 13 – Tuesday, June 19: Ayers Rock
This morning you are picked up at 6am to explore Uluru itself. After a breakfast witnessing sunrise on Uluru, and event not to be missed, and a picnic breakfast, you visit several parts of Uluru with your Aboriginal guide and interpreter. This walk will bring you considerable understanding of this wonderful and powerful place, viewing rock art, waterholes and the flora and fauna of Uluru. A special feature is the appreciation of the exquisite as well as the dramatic sculpturing of Uluru. There is time to amble, to absorb images and to gain an insight into Uluru's remarkable presence, while your guide will introduce you to the stories of Uluru and the medicines and foods the desert provides. You return to the hotel in time for lunch. This afternoon at about 3.30pm picked up and taken to the Uluru Cultural Centre, where you learn the inside story and meaning of art works directly from an Aboriginal artist. This fascinating introduction to Aboriginal art also enables you to join the artists to try your own hand at painting, which can be taken home as a memento of the experience. Your Aboriginal guides provide an introduction to the culture and how this is expressed in their art works. You’ll return to your accommodation about 5.30pm.    (B)

Day 14 – Wednesday, June 20: Ayers Rock / Cairns
After a free morning, perhaps taking a short walk to a viewing area in the dunes near the resort to once again view sunrise on Uluru you return to the airport for your flight to Cairns, in tropical North Queensland. You arrive late afternoon and transfer to your accommodation at Rydges Tradewinds, right on the Esplanade and close to Cairns downtown. You can walk directly out of the rear of the hotel to the Esplanade, which runs along the bayfront. It is a very short and pleasant walk through the new Esplanade Fogarty Park to the main downtown area, past cafes, shops and restaurants. Looking out from the Esplanade boardwalk is one of the best places in Australia to see shorebirds, which dot the flats as the tide recedes.     (*M)

Day 15 – Thursday, June 21: Great Barrier Reef
Today you are introduced to one of the natural wonders of the world—Australia’s outer Great Barrier Reef, a series of reefs extending for about 1,250 miles along the coast of Queensland, nearly to Papua New Guinea. Your boat today is Passions of Paradise, a snorkel and dive catamaran, which will take you to at least two separate places on the reef, including Michaelmas cay, home to tens of thousands of swirling – and confiding - seabirds. You are picked up from your hotel at 7.20am to begin your day. Don't forget your towel (the hotel has special reef towels available), hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Most of the Great Barrier Reef, including the parts visited today, are multiple-use Marine Park. Brilliantly colored fish, giant clams, beche de mer and coral outcrops can all be seen. Easy swimming in 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. Lunch is a tropical smorgasbord aboard. There is time after your return this evening to visit Cairns downtown, for souvenirs and perhaps a meal at Red Ochre Grill, specializing in native Australian foods.    (L)

 

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