15 Nights in Australia

Sydney – Adelaide – Kangaroo Island - Alice Springs – Rock – Port Douglas

B = Breakfast      L= Lunch       D = Dinner

Departure from Italy

Arrive at Sydney’s International Airport. You will be met and welcomed by your english speaking guide and transferred to your hotel. We have picked a centrally located good 3 star hotel. You might be a little tired tonight so dinner is at leisure.

Hotel : Corus Hotel www.corushotels.com

Continental breakfast at hotel Sydney itself is not a very large city, so from the hotel, we will walk toward the harbour passed the Opera House for a number of comments on its history. The botanical garden is just nearby and the guide will introduce you to some of the native species that aboriginals often use for medicinal or other purposes. We will reach the New South Wales Art Gallery for an introduction to Australian art from ancestral aboriginal art through 19th century painters to modern creators, an insight into the Australian variety.We will have a light meal in the Botanic Garden restaurant; it is absolutely delightful as it is nestled in the giant fig trees. We will now transfer to the historic quarter of the Rocks and stop for a coffee in the most ancient part of the city with its paved narrow streets. This area was saved by the locals when developers in the 60’s wanted to bulldoze the Rocks and make it a kind of fishermans’ wharf; fortunately it did not happen and you will love it.

Dinner at leisure.

Hotel : Corus Hotel www.corushotels.com

Continental breakfast at hotel. Now that you have seen Sydney from the land, you need to see it from the sea. We will board a ferry and cruise toward Watsons Bay passing many interesting sites on the way to reach one of Sydney’s havens: Watsons Bay. Lets stop at the Beer Garden facing the bay for a refreshment before taking a walk to the Head, the name given to the cliff overlooking the natural entrance of Sydney harbour. Lunch (at leisure) can be taken on the terrace of the hotel, a fine place to watch and talk with the Australians. We will then travel slowly back stopping for a walk at Parsley Bay a hidden paradise that only a few initiates have reached. Paddington will be our next stop to see one of the many little art galleries, shops and terrace houses that used to be the worker’s homes and are now highly sought after by rich Sydneysiders. Paddington is where you live if you are an artist, a social addict, a student. We will return to the hotel. A walk to the pub for the unavoidable ( happy hour ), an institution in itself that will test your ability to order the right drink or beer surrounded by lots of loud and enthusiastic Australians.

Dinner in the garden of the pub (self cook BBQ and buffet).

Hotel : Corus Hotel www.corushotels.com

Continental breakfast at hotel There is a place said to be (7 miles from Sydney and a thousand from care). This place is called Manly a peninsula and a lucky paradise for those who take the time to cross the bay by ferry and allocate some time for a swim or a surf (both can be easily achieved if requested). We will have a chat at the surf club with some lifesavers to learn about this institution that train the kids from the age of 6 and keep them swimming and surfing passed 80. A light lunch at Shelly Beach for a bit of (social studies) as it is a destination for youngsters, families, lovers, sport addicts and many more. Afternoon we will visit a surf workshop for some explanation on how to make the proper board and a chance to exchange your view with a wave lover. We will return to the city centre by ferry and walk back to the hotel.

Dinner at leisure.

Hotel : Corus Hotel www.corushotels.com 

Continental breakfast at hotel. Homebush is 19 km from the city centre and it is where the Olympics where held in 2000. It is like a very modern city created for this social occasion. Because it is widely spread, we will use pushbikes for an hour (or more) to travel to the different sporting buildings. We will then continue to the entrance of the Blue Mountains National Park, to a secret spot called Eureka Clearing : the Kangaroos live there in their natural habitat and the big white Cockatoos are their friends. It is a nice area and a chance to see these peaceful animals away from the traditional animal park. We will have a picnic there. Stop at Norman Lindsey property a well known Australian artist now deceased and who was a genius artist; painter, cartoonist, sculptor, model maker. We will continue to Katoomba which is not far; a very touristy destination but worth a walk and a look at the Grand Canyon. Back to Sydney late afternoon.

Dinner at leisure.

Hotel : Corus Hotel www.corushotels.com

Continental breakfast at hotel. Flight SYDNEY / ADELAIDE (morning) Lunch at leisure. The city of Adelaide has kept the charms of its Victorian past as well as the 100 pubs and 100 churches. We will visit to the Museum of South Australia for an introduction into Aboriginal Art and Culture as the South Australian Museum has the richest collection of ritual objects. Adelaide is the capital of the wine industry and we will go to the wine centre to taste some of the vintage and comment on this burgeoning activity.

Hotel : Mercure Grosvenor www.accorhotels.com

Continental breakfast at hotel. The island is about 150 km long and we will allow 2 days to do all the visits mentioned below. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kangaroo Island (30 min flight). A full days touring of this pristine paradise awaits. :: Visits to Flinders Chase National Park Travel through the park, enjoying breathtaking views of Yacca Flat and coastal scenery. :: The Remarkable Rocks. Take a walk around these huge rocks which have been carved into many different weird and wonderful shapes by the wind and the ocean spray over many centuries. :: Drive past the ruins of an early settlement at Weirs Cove before going on to the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse built in 1906, and the natural land bridge that is “Admirals Arch”. Look out for the New Zealand Fur Seals frolicking in the water and on the rocks under the arch. :: Before lunch stop at Hanson Bay Sanctuary to find wild koalas in the roadside trees. :: Lunch is at Beckwiths Farm where you will enjoy a two-course Australian country style lunch. :: Travel on to Seal Bay, the only place in the world where you can stroll with your guide through a wild seal colony. Seal Bay is home to around 600 of the rare Australian Sea Lions. :: Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery and a handshake with its owner a real character … We will organise one of the local farmers / inhabitants to have dinner with the group at the hotel.

Dinner at hotel. After dinner we will go out to spot the little fairy penguins.

Hotel : Ozone (3*)

Continental breakfast at hotel. Continuation of the visits. Lunch is included Ferry to Jervis Bay and drive to ADELAIDE.

Dinner at leisure.

Hotel : Mercure Grosvenor www.accorhotels.com

Continental breakfast at hotel On arrival transfer directly to the town centre and the School of the Air for a fascinating insight into education of children living in the remote regions of Australia. Check into to your hotel. There is something fascinating about Alice Springs: it is definitely not its architecture or its food but the population of travellers of all profiles, cattle-station owners, public servants, and what we call the modern pioneers who continue to fascinate us by their ability to adapt and find new ideas for living in such a remote place. To understand the magnitude required to adapt to this area, we will study in the afternoon the flora and the fauna of the Red Centre desert. That is where you find out that, for instance, a specific frog can bury itself for 10 years under the sand using the reserve of water she keeps in her layers of skin and be back like a fresh new born as soon as it rains.

Dinner at a local, typical restaurant.

Hotel : Mercure diplomat (3*). Centrally located it enables the group to move freely around town with no need of transportation.

Continental breakfast at hotel. You will notice walking around THE ALICE as they call it here, an vast number of aboriginals. We will meet at the Cultural Centre where we will start with a Didjeridoo lesson, a wooden hollow instrument that vibrates when you blow air in it. A local aboriginal will then take you to a number of sites and will also introduce you to some of the dances, some traditional, some being modern. You will learn about the dreamtime and various aspects of aboriginal life and beliefs including survival in the outback. Lunch will be included during the day.

Dinner is free.

Hotel : Mercure diplomat (3*)

Continental breakfast at hotel. On the way to AYERS ROCK, we will stop at a Camel Farm. There are about 50 000 wild camels living south of the Northern Territories and 3 camel breeders. We will stop to talk to one of them . Lunch at leisure. Ayers Rock will be reached mid-afternoon, time to drop the luggage off and drive toward Uluru the sacred and impressive rock for a walk. The tour guide will talk about the Tjukurpa (creation dreamtime story), the geology and will show you some aboriginal sites. Time permitting we will take a walk to Mutitjulu.

Dinner at leisure.

Hotel : The Outback Pioneer hotel (3*)www.voyages.com.au

Continental breakfast at hotel. This morning we propose a tour to the Olgas. The magnificent domes of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), steeped in the history and tradition of the local Anangu culture, are equally impressive as Uluru (Ayers Rock). Immerse yourself in the mystery of this amazing place by taking the Gorge Walk. Lunch at leisure. Coach transfer to the airport. Flight AYERS ROCK / CAIRNS ‘Meet and greet’ by your new English speaking tour guide and transfer to your hotel 25 min north of Cairns, among the palm trees and a private beach.

Accommodation is in a bungalow.

Dinner at hotel Hotel : Kewarra Beach Resort – www.kewarrabeach.com.au This hotel is a delight with only 75 bungalows, attention to service, smile of the employees, you will melt and probably start speaking italian again!                                             

Continental breakfast at hotel. Full day cruising and swimming on the Barrier Reef aboard a large sailing catamaran. Snorkelling equipment available on board. Scubadiving available (with a supplement).

Lunch on board. Dinner at leisure.

Hotel : Kewarra Beach Resort – www.kewarrabeach.com.au

Continental breakfast at hotel We will board the coach to travel the 30 min that separate us from Port Douglas, then another 30 min to Mossman. The coastline to Port Douglas is wonderfully wild. Meet with a family of plant collectors; they have gathered close to 4000 species. A number of them can be used for juices, bread or to make cakes and Suzy will take you for a < taste bud trip > and a visit of this very nice property. A family who settled there 25 years ago and has since developed their dream, not without difficulties, and they will share their story with you. Lunch at leisure. This afternoon we will meet a member of the Kukulayanji tribe who will take you for a one hour walk on their land. An interesting insight into a different way to look at things, listen and dream the life. On the way back, we will stop at Port Douglas to relax a little while on the yacht harbour.

Dinner at hotel

Hotel : Kewarra Beach Resort – www.kewarrabeach.com.au

Continental breakfast at hotel You can decide to use the shuttle to the city or relax on the beach or by the pool (in January the beach is protected by a net as there are sometimes jellyfish causing burns).

Since we have a very special and interesting group, we have decided to offer you the dinner. It is a surprise so we will not tell you where but it will be a nice farewell evening and you will only need to pay for your drinks.

Hotel : Kewarra Beach Resort – www.kewarrabeach.com.au

Continental breakfast at hotel Transfer to Cairns airport for your return flight.

Transfer to Cairns airport for your return flight.