Australian Natural Adventures

Custom Itinerary for
Ann & Ozen Batum

Australia & New Zealand
September 2007

Day 1 -

Albuquerque / Los Angeles / In Flight
Fly from Albuquerque to Los Angeles and make your way to the Tom Bradley Terminal, where you check in for your Qantas flight to Australia, which begins the moment you step aboard your Qantas plane. The Australian style is apparent—easy going, casually efficient and very friendly. Qantas is known for its excellent food and in flight service, so sit back and enjoy the hospitality, meals and a movie or two. The seats have individual video screens, and a range of entertainment options. Overnight In Flight.       (*D)

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

Day 3 - : LIS / Brisbane / Crestmead
You arrive in Brisbane this morning, where you pass through Immigration and Customs, after which you are met by your relatives. Head south through Brisbane to Crestmead to spend the next two days. (*B)

Day 4 –: Crestmead

Day 5 – Crestmead

Day 6 – Brisbane / Cairns
This afternoon return to Brisbane to fly to Cairns, in the tropical north. Arrive early evening, 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.        (B,*M)

Day 7 - Wednesday, May 31: Great Barrier Reef
This morning you are picked up for a 30-minute drive south, through typical North Queensland countryside. Here you transfer to your boat, high up in a tropical river. As the boat makes its way towards the sea you first pass through canefields, then rainforest, and eventually the important mangrove ecosystem. Eventually you reach the sea, where a short 20-minute ride lands you at the Frankland Islands. These islands, once part of the mainland, are now isolated, and surrounded by coral reefs. On shore there is a small forest, where pigeons, doves and other rainforest birds roost and feed. The surrounding waters are alive with coral, reef fishes, giant clams and all the life forms of this rich underwater habitat. Unlike many parts of the reef, the coral starts just offshore, and can be seen by both wading, and evening walking along the exposed reef at low tide. On the other hand, world-class snorkeling and diving is just a few minutes further out, by small boat or swimming. Lunch is served under the trees, and it's not until about 3pm that you have to leave this island paradise. During the day a naturalist will lead you on a guided walk through the forest, and is available for a guided underwater snorkel as well.      (L)

Day 8 - : Cairns
Today learn about Aboriginal culture at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, enjoy a scenic train ride up the range behind Cairns, and brush the top of the rainforest trees by cablecar. Although designed as a tourist venture, the 16 year old Tjapukai concept began and remains today a means of introducing non-aboriginal people to the world’s oldest living culture, while at the same time showing by example to the Aboriginal people themselves that their culture, often ignored and looked down upon by its own people, is of great value and interest to others throughout Australia and the world. Through dance and theatre, and traditional activities including spear and boomerang throwing, food and medicinal plants identification, and shelter construction, there is much to learn here about Aboriginal life. Prior to Tjapukai you will be picked up for the morning scenic train ride to Kuranda, then the Skyrail Cable ride down, an interesting way to see the rainforest from the canopy. Skyrail's terminus is adjacent to Tjapukai, and at the end of the day you will be returned to your hotel. A suggestion for dinner is the Red Ochre Grill, where native Australian foods are cooked and presented in gourmet style. This unique concept has introduced a whole new range of tastes to the Australian palate.

Day 9– : Cairns/ Atherton Tableleands / Cairns
This morning is free to look around Cairns. A suggestion is a visit to the Outback Opal Mine, where as well as buying opals you can learn from a educational film and display how and where they are mined. A call to this interesting store and museum will have them coming to collect you, and drop you off later, at no obligation.

Early this afternoon you will be picked up for an afternoon/evening tour to the rainforest of the Atherton Tablelands. These World Heritage listed rainforests, at an elevation of about 2,500 ft, are home to some of Australia’s rarest and most unusual animals, including four kinds of very restricted possums, gliders, and the definitely weird tree kangaroo, a kangaroo which has adapted to a life in the trees, rather than on the ground. Your guide will take you to a small stream to wait for platypus, the egg-laying mammal unique to Australia, all the time describing the plants and dynamics of the surrounding rainforest. A variety of rainforest birds and other animals, perhaps including the leaf-tailed gecko - eight inches long and colored and shaped like a piece of bark - will be found and seen. After dinner out, a couple of hours will be spent spotlighting for nocturnal animals, always a highlight of the day. The return to Cairns will be late, around midnight, but the long day will remain in your memory for years to come.                       D

Day 10 –: Cairns / Darwin
After a free day (this day is left open to allow for extra activities in Cairns during the last few days) take your Qantas flight QF800 departing at 6.40pm and arriving in Darwin at 8.45pm. Here you are shuttled via the airport shuttle to your hotel on the Esplanade. As you have an early start tomorrow you may wish to repack clothes just for Kakadu in a smaller bag; leave your main bag at the hotel for your return. (*L,*M)

Day 11 –: Darwin / Kakadu National Park
This morning you are picked up at 7am from your hotel in a 4WD vehicle for a three day small group exploration of one of Australia’s richest natural areas, Kakadu National Park. Not only a national park, Kakadu is a World Heritage listed region, both for the natural history and the superb Aboriginal art it contains. First stop will be Bird Billabong on the edge of the Mary River where you’ll take an early morning walk to spot for wildlife, then take a break at the Bark Hut Inn, an interesting outback pub. Once in Kakadu visit the Bowali Visitor Centre – Kakadu National Park Headquarters, where the displays provide an introduction to the many different ecosystems that make up this World Heritage National Park. After lunch visit Ubirr Rock, where your guide will interpret some of the meanings behind the ancient Aboriginal rock art found through the galleries. A short climb will take you to a lookout with panoramic views over the surrounding landscape and the lands of Hawk Dreaming. From here travel to Hawk Dreaming, where with special permission of the traditional Aboriginal owner custodians the tour operator has been granted exclusive overnight access to the land of Hawk Dreaming, in which they have built an exclusive safari camp. Settle in before watching the sun set on the nearby billabong. (L,D)

Day 12 –: Kakadu National Park
After breakfast this morning, travel to Jim Jim Gorge by 4WD track. Take a hike through the spectacular gorge to the base of the falls and enjoy a refreshing swim in the plunge pool. After lunch return to Hawk Dreaming to explore the land of the Bunitj people. Here intimate rock art sites can be explored without fences or crowds, with time to soak up the spiritual atmosphere of the area. Unlike other areas of Kakadu Hawk Dreaming is completely undeveloped, and exploring involves hiking up and down slopes, with boulders and poorly defined, little used tracks. This is closer to true exploration than touring. But there’s also time to sit and learn in outdoor “classrooms” just like the Aborigines have done for thousands of years. (B,L,D)

Day 13 –: Kakadu National Park / Darwin
In the early morning light bid goodbye to Hawk Dreaming and head south to Cooinda, home of the Yellow Water Wetlands Cruise. Here you have the opportunity to spot for crocodiles, birds and other wildlife. You then travel to Barramundi Gorge (Maguk) where a short walk through a paperbark forest will bring you to the base of this picturesque waterfall. Take lunch here before beginning the journey back to Darwin along the Old Jim Jim Road, an historic 4WD track. You’ll drive through the South Alligator River along this track before rejoining the Arnhem and Stuart Highways, returning to your Darwin accommodation in the late afternoon. Have the hotel arrange a taxi for you tomorrow morning; you should arrive at the airport abut 6am. (B,L)

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