Australian Natural Adventures

Custom Australia & New Zealand Itinerary for
Ann & Ozen Batum continues...

Day 14 - : Darwin
Free day in Darwin

Day 15–: Darwin / Uluru
This morning taxi to the airport for your Qantas flight to Ayers Rock, arriving early afternoon. This flight gives you a wonderful look at the desert landscape from the air. Here you are transferred to your accommodation, Ayers Rock Resort, a few miles from the base of Uluru, as Ayers Rock is known to the local Aboriginal people (although there is a little controversy as to what Uluru really is referring to, and by which group.) You will have a couple of hours to relax, perhaps visiting the nearby cultural and display center, then about one hour before sunset you will be picked up and transferred to a sand dune a little way from Uluru. Hear a didgeridoo’s sounds greet you, and you watch the sun set on Uluru, one of the most inspiring sights possible. As the colors change, you will be sipping on canapés and champagne. Afterwards sit down, under the southern stars, for a truly memorable dinner. Once dinner is over you have the opportunity to observe the constellations and stars through a telescope, while your guide explains which is which. Don’t forget to ask how to find south, and tell the time, by the stars.              D

Day 16– : Ayers Rock
This morning you are picked up at 6am to explore Uluru itself with Anangu and/or Discovery Ecotours either walking or by small group bus (if you decide on two tours, one can be done tomorrow morning) . 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. After lunch you will explore another fascination and significant formation, Kata Tjuta, or The Olgas. Kata Tjuta is a series of huge rounded rocks hills, and once again an important Aboriginal area. Your guide will show you the area, and describe stories of the Dreamtime relevant to Kata Tjuta (not in full as the stories are only fully available to tribal members), as well as geology and history. The day ends with a sunset some say equal to that on Uluru itself. You return to the resort in time for dinner. (You may be interested in attending a dot painting workshop with Aboriginal women as an alternative to Kata Tjuta)

Day 17 - : Ayers Rock / Sydney
After a free morning - perhaps you'll take a short walk to a viewing area in the dunes near the resort to once again view sunrise on Uluru, return to the airport for your flight to Sydney, arriving about 5pm. Your hotel taxi or shuttle to your hotel, the Harbour Rocks, located in the Rocks, the historical heart of Sydney. As well as a good range of interesting shops, some of Sydney's oldest and most colorful pubs, and best restaurants, are found within a ten minute stroll. Australia has developed its own cuisine, a far cry from the stodgy English-based fare of earlier years. Restaurants featuring a fusion of Asian, European and even native Australian food abound, often featuring the superbly fresh fish abundantly available from Australia's long coastline.

Day 18 - : Sydney
Discover Sydney today, a wonderfully cosmopolitan city. Just a short walk from your hotel (the desk can give you directions) is the office of The Rocks Walking Tours, from where you will start your 11.30am easy 90-minute walking tour of this historic and vibrant area. 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 great 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 harbour, 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 harbour, 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. This can be followed by dinner and a show, or just a show, in one of the Opera House theatres, depending on your tastes. A calendar of events can be found here. Everything is within walking distance of your hotel, although the Museum is a little far and you may wish to take the bus or a train - Sydney is extremely well-serviced by buses and the underground.             B

Day 19 - : Sydney
Continue to get to know Sydney. 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. The best way to really see Sydney Harbour is on a ferry. 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-harbour 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 advantage to this, as opposed to a typical guided tour, is the lack of a person telling you about the homes of Australian television personalities, of whom you have never heard. 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.   

Many people think of opals when they think of Australia, and we can recommend Altmann & Cherny and Art of Opal for interesting and quality opals, along with excellent service. There are a number of places to buy opals , but these two get consistently high marks form our clients, and have a wide range of stones at all price points, both set and loose. Altmann & Cherny has an educational section wher eyou can learn about opals, and also displays the Aurora Australia, a huge 180 carat black opal valued at $1m million. We’ve included a brochure which also entitles you to a discount and a free gift. You should take your passport and airline ticket to buy tax-free.                   B

Day 20 - : Sydney / Christchurch
Late this afternoon you are transferred to the airport for your 6.45pm Qantas flight QF65 to Christchurch, New Zealand, arriving rather late at 11.40pm. You are met and transferred to your hotel.    (B,*D)

Day 21 – : Christchurch
After your late arrival you have a free day to sleep in – a luxury so far. After a restful sleep take some time to explore Christchurch City, often described as the most English city outside of England. There is a plethora of architecturally stunning 19th and 20th century buildings on parade as well as the very modern such as the Christchurch Art Gallery, all surrounded by award-winning parks and botanical gardens. You may be interested in visiting the International Antarctic Centre (located out by the International Airport): take a ride in a Haglund (snowcat) and then experience a very real polar blast! Or perhaps you may want to take a trip out to Banks Peninsula and explore the beautiful French village of Akaroa and even take an award-winning dolphin-watching cruise. You will meet your guide this evening over pre-dinner drinks at your hotel and then off to dinner as your guide takes you out on the town to experience just a small part of Christchurch City at night.      (B)

Day 22 –: Christchurch / Franz Josef Glacier
Today you begin your circuit of New Zealand’s majestic South Island. You begin with a spectacular train ride, often described as one of the most stunning rail journeys in the world. The TranzAlpine takes you across the backbone of the South Island, amongst sheep-studded grassy plains, through forests, and over the Southern Alps – home to New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mt Cook/Aoraki, all the time surrounded by glorious snowcapped mountains glistening in the morning sun. The train climbs through the Alps via Arthur's Pass, with your journey taking you from one side of the South Island to the other, all within a morning – and ending on the opposite side of the island: the wild West Coast. At the top of the range Keas, a mountain parrot, are often seen, sometimes attacking cars and other human sources of amusement. Your guide will meet you at Greymouth station where you will continue your journey by SUV down the West Coast of the South Island. Along the way you will stop at Hokitika – an old mining town offering unique Maori greenstone/jade (pounamu) jewelry. As we travel down the West Coast we will explore the magnificent scenery and end the day’s journey in the village of Franz Josef. Overnight at the Franz Josef Glacier Hotel.      (B)

Day 23 – : Franz Josef / Queenstown
Explore the Franz Josef glacier by walking to the foot of the moraine field. If the weather is still, an early morning walk to Lake Mathieson, through forest often filled with bird calls, will reveal a beautiful reflection of the mountains in the still lake. Depending on time, either yesterday evening or this morning there is time, weather permitting, for a scenic flight over and onto the glacier. We then head further south, eventually turning inland through the Haast Pass to Queenstown. Our hotel tonight is well located for our optional activities tomorrow.       (B,L)

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