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Australian Natural Adventures A specialist
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Tourism
Australia Premier Aussie Specialist
The Grabovich Australia adventure continues ....... Day 15 – Thursday, June 15: Cainrns
/ Atherton Tablelands Day 16– Friday, June 16: Atherton
Tablelands / Cairns Day 17 – Sunday, June 17: Great Barrier
Reef Day 18 – Monday, June 18: Cairns /
Sydney Day 19 – Wednesday, May 16: Sydney Day 20 – Wednesday, June 20: Sydney
/ Los Angeles / Huntsville / Home |
This morning you are picked up early for a day of tropical rafting
on the Clas
s
III/IV Tully River . The Tully is considered one of Australia’s
best rafted rivers, with 34 rapids and rock gardens. This is technical
rafting, in 6-person rafts with all participants paddling. You’ll
learn various maneuvers, including back-paddling, overs (no, not a
flip, but moving to one side of the boat to lift it up, narrowing
it to fit between rocks), and others. In between the rapids are stretches
of flat water, with rainforest on each side. Lunch is served along
the river, with an opportunity for a swim and rope-swinging. A snack
is served at a stop on the return to Cairns, where you can also see
video of your day’s rafting (these are available for purchase).
(L,S)
mall
Rock Wallabies among the granite boulders. Continue south to explore
the rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands. Make your way back to
the Atherton Tablelands to 
The Chambers Lodge for your overnight. The Wet Tropics, 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. Much
of this area is designated World Heritage, as is the Great Barrier
Reef. There are huge specimens of strangler fig trees, and the smallest
and most primitive kangaroo, the Musky Rat-kangaroo, can often be
seen here, as well as fruit pigeons and brush turkeys. Suggested is
a walk to see the Twin Kauris and then a one-hour cruise around 
nages
to find Amethystine Pythons, over 12 ft long, sunning along the bank.
Your accommodation tonight is The Chambers Rainforest Lodge, a sm
all
ecolodge in the heart of the rainforest. Here there is time to relax
and enjoy the peace and wildlife which is plentiful here. There are
several restaurants and cafes in nearby Yungaburra, but as the Lodge
is self-catering – it comes with a complete small kitchen –
you should pick up some breakfast supplies today. There is plenty
of wildlife right on the property, and at about dusk dozens of pademelons,
a small rainforest wallaby, emerge onto the grass. Also about dusk
your naturalist guide Allen drops by, and the evening is spent spotlighting
for mammals and owls. Alan Gillanders is a "step-aboard"
guide, that is he joins you in your vehicle, rather than using a bus.
The area visited for this is especially good for the strange Tree
Kangaroo, which has taken to life in the rainforest trees. 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. 
early
part of 
the
morning looking for platypus at a small stream. Some special birds
will be seen, perhaps including the Golden Bowerbird at his huge bower,
over 5 feet high. During the morning Allen will explain the plants
and workings of the rainforest. After a morning of wildlife continue
to explore the Tablelands at your own pace. There is a nice 2-3km
walk around Lake Eacham, or you can rent a canoe to explore by water.
Alan will make suggestions for your time as well. Return to Cairns
late this afternoon.
Your second day out on the Reef today. Your boat today is Tusa, a
smaller dedicated snorkel and dive boat, which will take you to at
least two separate places on the outer reef. The variety of marine
life here is somewhat different form the middle shelf reef and cay
visited earlier. From the boat you will see the edge of the reef,
out form which is nothing but thousands of miles of empty Pacific
Ocean. You arrive back in Cairns about 4.30pm, and have the evening
to pick up any needed souvenirs, or to enjoy a meal of tropical fish.
(L) 
is an international-designated flight, you will need to be at the
airport by about 5.30am, but once you check in you can get breakfast
in the airport (you also get breakfast on the plane). On arrival taxi
to your hotel located in 
'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 su
perbly
fresh fish abundantly available from Australia's long coastline. The
rest of the day is free to explore Sydney. If you want you can book
(added expense) to climb the Harbour Bridge, a spectacular way to
see Sydney, and enabling you to watch the New Year’s Eve celebrations
each year, and when Sydney comes on screen, along with the bridge,
as it always does, you’ll be able to say “I climbed that!”
esk
can give you directions) is the Rocks Information Centre, where you
can get a brochure for a self-guided 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. 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 
cts
and art, is also close by. 
ne
of the Opera House theatres, depending on your tastes. 
e,
as well as the boats and ferries of what is often called the most
beautiful city harbor in the world. 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 O
lympics
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 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. If you did not get to the opal shop in Cairns,
we can recommend