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Adventure Grand Tou

Australias Golden Triangle If you are flat out like a lizard drinking or standing like a bandicoot on a burnt ridge then Down Under is the destination for you even Oprah agrees after spending some time there recently! The experience begins with a visit to Sydney, known for its most recognizable opera house, scenic beaches and the Blue Mountains! In Cairns you will discover why the Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The experience ends with expression of Holy Dooley! as you visit Melbourne and travel the Great Ocean Road and walk encompassed by the beloved Australian kangaroos and koalas.

April 14 25th 2012 Itinerary:

Day 1 Depart for Sydney (You will arrive in Sydney on the 16th due to the difference in time/date change) Day 2- Upon arrival in Sydney, your group will be met by a SoloMate representative and transferred to the hotel for check in. The hotel will be your home for the next three nights. There is no place in the world like Sydney with its beautiful harbour and beaches; Sydney is very scenic and a main gateway to the other parts of Australia. A sponsored welcome event will help you get to know your fellow travelers. Hotel Accommodations: Marriott Hotel Day 3-Sydney After an 8:30 breakfast at hotel, enjoy a private half day sightseeing tour around Sydney. This tour includes the Rocks District, the Botanical Gardens, Hyde Park, The Domain, Mrs. Macquaries Chair, Paddington, Double Bay, Rose Bay, Watsons Bay and the famous Bondi Beach. Next, the group will embark on a harbour highlights cruise (departs at 12:45pm) to see the most recognizable landmarks such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House. Enjoy commentary while you cruise. Finally, see inside the worlds most well-known sails while your group experiences the miracles of architecture and engineering as your guide will take you on a 1-hour tour of the Opera House. (B)Hotel Accommodations: Marriott Hotel Day 4-Full Day Blue Mountains Tour Breakfast at the hotel and then its GDay to your Grennie as your embark from the hotel on our small group eco tour into the heart of a unique World Heritage Region, the Blue Mountains. Discover the spectacular and impressive Blue Mountains and see native wildlife as you explore World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park. This rugged and beautiful region forms part of the Great Dividing Range, while dividing coastal cities from the vast Outback. The day starts as you head out of the city and reach Featherdale Wildlife Park before any other tourists, meeting various animals native to Oz! Continuing on, you will head up through the northern section of the Blue Mountains National Park, pausing just long enough at various spots to take mental and digital snapshots of the sensational picturesque views. Dont forget to download a flora and fauna app because there is plenty of eye catching plant life that will tickle your curiosity. Passing through the historic town of

Hartley Vale, the group will observe (hopefully) mobs of kangaroos grazing in their natural habitat. For lunch, your guide will escort you to Scenic World where they have a buffet or caf to choose from (at your expense). After lunch, there is time to enjoy the attractions at Scenic World. Enjoy uninterrupted views of the Three Sisters and a walk through the rainforest, before you head down the southern section. You will depart from the National Park and return to the city before the natives can say youve gone troppo (tropical madness) after a day engorged with experiences of a . (B) Hotel Accommodations: Marriott Hotel Day 5-Sydney Cairns By Air Have breakfast at hotel before being whisked away to the airport to catch your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival at Cairns International airport, you will be greeted and transferred by private coach to your hotel in Cairns. Enroute to your Australian residence for the next three nights; you will be given a quick orientation tour. Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The rest of the day is at your leisure. (B) Hotel Accommodations: Mecure Harbourside Cairns Hotel Day 6-Enjoy a free day in Meals: (B) OR Optional Tour Full Day Sightseeing Kuranda COST: $ 175.00 Enjoy breakfast at hotel, and then join a seat in coach tour to travel to Kuranda onboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway which locomotes through 15 tunnels and past Stoney Creek Falls and Barron Falls. Visit famous Kuranda Village and explore markets and art galleries. Upon arrival at Rainforestation Nature Park, it will be time to throw a shrimp on the Barbie, feast on a tropical barbecue lunch and experience three famous attractions. Tour the rainforest on an amphibious Army Duck; you can also wander through the Tropical Fruit Orchard. Watch the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dance Show and Dreamtime Walk, where you learn to throw a boomerang, play a Didgeridoo and watch spear throwing. Leisurely stroll through the Koala and Wildlife Park and feed the kangaroos while taking advantage of this rip snorter (fantastic) photo op. Your friends will turn green with envy when you upload a photo of you holding a koala or a small crocodile (optional extra). Return to Cairns via the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Hotel Accommodations: Mecure Harbourside Cairns Day 7-Full Day Barrier Reef Cruise Breakfast will be served at the hotel, and then you will bask in the awe of the Great Barrier Reef on the Wave Dancer Catamaran, exploring the Low Island. Low Isles is an idyllic, unspoiled coral island that appeals to blokes everywhere. And why not relish in the fact that you are enjoying everyones idea of a secluded tropical paradise! The wide, sandy beach and clear, calm lagoon waters are ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Experience the underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance. Here you can experience first hand the magic that is the Great Barrier Reef! View presentations by marine biologists. Morning and afternoon teas will be served along with a tropical smorgasbord lunch. Snorkeling equipment is included. Return back to Cairns. (B,L) Hotel Accommodations: Mecure Harbourside Cairns Hotel Day 8-Cairns Melbourne By Air Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the airport for your flight to Melbourne. Enroute, you will have a quick tour to discover Melbournes past and present. The drive will envelope the central business district with its eclectic architecture, pass the 170 million dollar Victorian Arts Centre and highlight the fashionable Toorak with its luxurious homes. View Captain Cooks Cottage in the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens with avenues of huge English elms planted along gently contoured lawns. Pass by the Royal Botanical Gardens and observe the hustle and bustle of the famous Queen Victorian Markets. Continue along breathing in views of the Shrine of Remembrance. The tour concludes at your hotel where you will check in

for the next three nights. (B)Hotel Accommodations: Crown Promenade Hotel Day 9-Melbourne Great Ocean Road Tour Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and see some of the most spectacular and breathtaking coastal scenery found in Australia. Travel via Bells Beach, famous for its surfing, before joining the Great Ocean Road as it winds its way, hugging the coast, through quaint towns, passing towering cliffs and sweeping sandy beaches and stunning forest scenery. An icon of the Australian coastline, the Twelve Apostles are the worlds largest limestone towers. Marvel at Loch Ard Gorge and London Bridge, which have been sculptured by millions of years of erosion. Port Campbell National Park boasts a range of natural attractions, including the Blowhole and the Grotto. Travel back to the hotel in Melbourne for the night via the inland route. (B) Hotel Accommodations: Crown Promenade Day 10-Melbourne Savannah Walkabout Have breakfast at hotel and then enjoy a naturalist-guided ecotour, where your walkabout merges with gum trees, hundreds of wild Kangaroos, dozens of Emus and many species of birds. The group will learn about the wildlife and enjoy the wide open spaces of Australia. There is also a special Koala Research Project here which ensures multiple sightings of these delightful creatures in the wild. A delicious bush lunch is included. Tonight, the group will enjoy a farewell three course food and beverage dining experience (Approx. 5:45 7:15) at the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant Pretty Spiffy (excellent)! The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is on wheels and is one of the first travelling tramcar restaurants in the world a delightful innovative approach to dining. This is an ideal way to conclude your day. Travel on a converted 1927 tram that has been transformed into a first class colonial restaurant. The tramcar restaurant covers a scenic route, showing Melbournes gardens, trendy shops and boutiques, elegant homes, city centre and major attractions along the way. Travel past the Town Hall, Museum, National Art Gallery, Concert Hall, War Memorial and Botanic Gardens. Return to your hotel by private coach. (B,L,D) Hotel Accommodations: Crown Promenade Hotel Day 11- Melbourne Departure Have breakfast at the hotel and then bid an until the next time to your new mates as you transfer back to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

http://www.queenslandertours.com/qtt/australia/australia_itinerary1.html

Deluxe Australia Tour

The Adventure

Begins.

Depart USA Depart the USA on your TransPacific flight to Sydney (flight not included - inquire for pricing).

Cross the International Dateline

This day will be "lost" as we cross the International Dateline. We will regain this day on our return.

Australia

Sydney, Australia | Harbour Walkabout

Breakfast: B, Lunch: L, Dinner: D Included Today: Early morning arrival at Sydney Airport. Consider our optional arrival transfer ($89 per person, minimum two guests) to our hotel located on Circular Quay on beautiful Sydney Harbour. Your QueensLander Tour Captain will meet you once you've cleared customs, if you've opted for our arrival transfer, OR meet you at the hotel for our Orientation Walkabout (see final documents for timing and location). THE ROCKS After check-in, join our Tour Captain for a walkabout of the Circular Quay and historic Rocks district. Your Tour Captain is knowledgeable on local customs, history and shoppes. The historic Rocks district comes alive as you walk where the original Sydney settlers and convicts walked. For lunch, we board our catamaran for a delightful harbor cruise. Enjoy a delicious Australian smorgasbord while sailing. The harbor provides incredible views of the Opera House, the Prime Minister's residence, and more. AN AUSTRALIAN WELCOME Tonight enjoy an Aussie Welcome Dinner with your Tour Captain. Please make note: Similar hotel properties will be utilized should availability at our preferred hotel be an issue. You will be advised of the selected hotel should this occur. Hotel: Harbour Rocks Hotel, 3 Nights

Sydney | Sightseeing Experience

EXPLORE SYDNEY WITH QUEENSLANDER TODAY B. After breakfast, meet the Tour Captain and then enjoy our included sightseeing experience of Sydney, Australia. Sights and stops include a local wildlife park where you'll get to meet some of Australia's 'native residents' up close including the famed Koala (not a bear!) and, of course, the Kangaroo. Enjoy lunch at a farm "station" before returning to the city by way of Bondi Beach. This is one of the most famous beaches in the world. Enjoy a history of the Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club. We return to the Rocks for the balance of the day free. Tonight, explore on your own for dinner, or join the Tour Captain to an optional but unique, distinctly Australian dining experience. Each evening the Tour Captain will invite you to join them at dinner, regardless of whether it's included.

Sydney | Blue Mountains Optional Excursion

EXPLORE SYDNEY AT LEISURE OR BLUE MOUNTAINS B. After breakfast (daily breakfast included), enjoy a free day in Sydney or join our optional excursion to the beautiful Blue

Mountains ($179/person). Stunning and at times breathtaking views of the natural raw beauty that is Australia. The Blue Mountains boast steep terrain with wildlife, blooming flora, sheer sandstone cliffs and towering rock formations interlaced with waterfalls. Return to the hotel late afternoon for a free evening. Tonight, explore on your own for dinner, or join the Tour Captain to an optional but unique, distinctly Australian dining experience. Each evening the Tour Captain will invite you to join them at dinner, regardless of whether it's included.

Sydney to Melbourne
GIDDAY MELBOURNE BD. This morning, after a hearty breakfast, we're off to Melbourne. Welcome to cosmopolitan Melbourne, gateway to the Yarra Valley wine region. Upon arrival, check in to our hotel, freshen up and enjoy an afternoon walkabout. Tonight, enjoy our included welcome dinner in this metropolitan city with your Tour Captain. Hotel: Intercontinental Rialto, 3 Nights

Melbourne | Parliament to Penguins

MELBOURNE CITY SIGHTS & PENGUIN PARADE B. After breakfast, we enjoy sightseeing to Parliament House and the Shrine of Remembrance - which honors Australias war heroes. We will visit the exotic Fitzroy Gardens. If Opals are your thing, then you're in store for a treat as we visit a nearby opal company that will highlight how they are mined. We travel to Phillip Island to see the world-famous Penguin Parade. Return to the city center tonight for a free evening. The Tour Captain will invite you to join them tonight for an optional dinner at a unique restaurant in Melbourne.

Melbourne | Yarra Valley Wine

YARRA VALLEY WINE BD. After breafkast, enjoy a visit to the Yarra Valley, where the wine flows and the wine industry is our highlight. Join the Tour Captain for this included trek. As one of Victoria's premier wine regions, the Yarra Valley makes for an ideal day trip from Melbourne. It's 50km east of Melbourne, an easy hour's drive aboard our comfortable vehcile along a route that parallels the Yarra River. Discover a landscape of hills and eucalyptus forests as you enjoy tasting your way through Victoria's finest. Enjoy an included dinner tonight with the Tour Captain and balance of evening free.

Melbourne to the Outback | Ayer's Rock/Uluru

THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK & THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE BD. Morning departure for Ayer's Rock and the Australian Outback. Arrive early afternoon and transfer to our deluxe hotel, Sails in the Desert, located in the heart of Ayer's Rock Resort. Time this afternoon to freshen up and take an arvo's rest. At dusk, we head to the literal "Red Center of Australia" for our included dinner experience (unlike anything you've experienced yet!). Enjoy a champagne party and a spectacular evening under the stars at the award-winning Sounds of Silence experience,

where we'll dine on gourmet Australian barbecue, then sit back and soak in the mystery of the Australian Outback and the beauty of the Southern Hempisphere night sky At the Sounds of Silence experience you can dine under the canopy of the desert night, while your very own storyteller shares tales as told in the stars. Entered into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, Sounds of Silence offers the best of the Red Centre distilled into four magical hours. An evening of dining under the sparkling outback sky. Sunset canaps. Your journey begins on a lone sand dune. A path takes you to an uninterrupted, three hundred and sixty degree view of this vast landscape. In front of you is the fabled Uluru; behind you are the domes of Kata Tjuta and, possibly the most spectacular sunset you have ever seen. Here you enjoy sparkling wine and a selection of delectable canaps. Dining under the sparkling outback sky As the sun sets, you feast on a BBQ buffet of authentic Australian delicacies examples include barramundi, kangaroo and crocodile, bush salads and classic desserts, complemented by Australian wines. Stargazing Attention then turns to some of the world's best stargazing, as our startalker takes you on a tour of the spectacular southern night sky. As you wind down after dinner, you are offered a choice of tea, coffee or port. The Sounds of Silence experience includes: Canaps Beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks, Buffet BBQ (vegetarian options available with prior notice), Scrumptious desserts, Tea, coffee, port, Entertainment Star talk, and stargazing. We return to the hotels for a good night's rest before our early rising to see the sunrise at Ayer's Rock! Hotel: Sails in the Desert, 1 Night

Sunrise at the Rock | Uluru

SUNRISE AT AYER'S ROCK SB: Special Breakfast. D. This morning's breakfast is via Brown Bag, as we departbefore sunrise for Ayer's Rock. An optional climbing of Ayer's Rock may be in order, or simply watching an impressive display of color as the sun rises. It's a brisk morning, but well worth it to experience Ayer's Rock up close. After our time at the rock, we are led in a walkabout around a part of the base of the rock. At midday, we transfer to the airport for our air hop over to the coast to discover the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical Far North Queensland. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel and freshen up before a Queensland welcome dinner with your Tour Captain. QueensLander Tours' name was inspired as a result of the adventures our founder experienced while exploring Queensland's natural beauty. Hotel: Cairns Oasis Resort or Similar, 4 Nights

Cairns | Kuranda | Tjapukai | SkyRail

CAIRNS: GATEWAY TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF BD. Welcome to Cairns, where the rainforest meets the reef. Today we're off to experience the contrast of this region's oldest and most unique picturesque railway via Kuranda Railways. Enjoy the shops of Kuranda and the Saturday Market for great savings on Australiana. Afterwards, we take the SkyRail gondola for incredible treetop views of the rainforest (is that the ocean in the distance?) to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Culural Park, located at the base of the mountain by the Caravonica Lakes, where we learn indepth about the native Australians. Enjoy an included dinner with the Tour Captain tonight at a unique northern Queensland restaurant.

Great Barrier Reef

AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF BL. After breakfast, we're off to see the Great Barrier Reef up close. Today, enjoy a full-day tour of the Great Barrier Reef complete with glass bottom boats and snorkeling - get up close to the technicolor banks of coral reef teeming with tropical fish. This experience is one which makes a lasting impression on Queenslander patrons - if at all possible, you must try snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. The day is highlighted with a smorgasbord lunch on the water and ample free time for relaxing and soaking in the sun. Return to the mainland late afternoon. The Tour Captain will invite you to an optional dinner tonight, or you may explore on your own.

Free Day | At Your Leisure

BD. Enjoy a Free Day at your leisure to explore, or join the Tour Captain to Far North Queensland ~ Port Douglas. TROPICAL FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND: Optional Trip to Port Douglas This morning, consider joining your Tour Captain for a leisurely drive northward to Port Douglas. Enjoy Far North Tropical Queensland. Lunch today will be at your own expense. There will be ample opportunity for photography while enjoying a beautiful ocean drive. Return mid to late afternoon. Freshen up and join the Tour Captain in the lobby for transfer to our reception and included Farewell to Australia Dinner.

DEPARTURE TO USA OR EXTENSION TO CHRISTCHURCH B. We depart Mount Cook National Park this morning bound for Christchurch. You may opt to extend your vacatoin with our Christchurch Extension or catch your flight bound for the USA. ##Tour Ends## Inquire with reservations for pricing and details.