Australian Natural Adventures

Custom Itinerary for Karen and Thomas Feeley

Australia
May 3 - 25, 2006

Day 1 - Wednesday, May 3: Los Angeles / Lost In Space
Begin your journey Down under flying to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles collect your bags, then you may wish to take the airport terminal shuttle to the American Airlines Terminal 4. However, as you have plenty of time, and you will be sitting down for over 14 hours, you can also walk. Check in for your flight to Australia, which begins the moment you step aboard your Qantas plane. The Downunder style is apparent—easy going, casually efficient and very friendly. Both airlines are known for their excellent food and inflight service, so sit back and enjoy the hospitality, meal and a movie. I would, however, recommend having dinner at the airport – there is a wide range of options upstairs in the Tom Bradley Terminal (to the left of the American Terminal as you exit) – then just relaxing on the plane.              *M

Day 2 - Thursday, May 4: Lost In Space
Lose today due to the International Dateline, but regain it on your return journey.               

Day 3 - Friday, May 5: LIS / Sydney
You arrive in Sydney early this morning, pass through customs and immigration after which you are met and transferred to your hotel , the Victoria Court Bed & Breakfast Inn, located just a short walk from The Domain and the Botanic Gardens, at the head of which is the Opera House. A little further on is The Rocks, the historical heart of Sydney. As well as a good range of interestings 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. Due to your early arrival your room may not available as soon as you arrive, however the hotel has an area to leave luggage, and a shower and freshen-up room for your use. As you need to stay awake all today, then sleep on Sydney's time tonight to best adjust to the new time zone, we suggest a ferry ride on Sydney Harbour. You'll enjoy 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. You may also like to stroll across to the Opera House, where you can enjoy a guided tour if you wish (additional small expense). Dinner is also available at the well-recommended restaurant, with its stunning view of the harbor. Return to your hotel for a well-deserved night's rest, but make sure you are not tempted to lie down before about 8pm .                   *B

Day 4 - Saturday, May 6: Sydney
Discover Sydney today, a wonderfully cosmopolitan city. r Take public transport (an easy way and preferred way to get around Sydney, the hotel desk can give you assistance) to the office of The Rocks Walking Tours, from where you will start your 10.30am 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. Afterwards enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area - ask your guide for a recommendation. Today The Rocks market is on, where you can buy both treasure and tack.

There are a range of options for you to enjoy Sydney. One that may intrigue is to ferry across to Manly, and at the Aquarium try something that you can dine out on for years to come - try a scuba dive in the shark tank (you don't have to be a qualified diver).  This afternoon you may wish to take a guided tour of the Opera House; tours leave on the half hour. If you are interesting in attending a show in one of the Opera House theatres after your tour, a calendar of events can be found here. Dinner is also available at the well-recommended restaurant, with its stunning view of the harbor.      B

Day 5 - Sunday, May 7: Sydney
Continue to explore Sydney – today you may want to meet your friends today, and perhaps visit the nearby Kuringai Chase National Park, or the Blue Mountains.

On the Domain side of downtown Hyde Park are the Hyde Park Barracks, home to over 15,000 convicts in Australia’s formative years. 

Many people think of opals when they think of Australia, and we can recommend a visit to the National Opal Collection downtown. It has a mining and information display about opals in association with The Australian Museum, and offers tax-free buying; we’ve included brochure which also entitle you to a discount and a free gift. You should take your passport and airline ticket to buy tax-free.                B

Day 6 - Monday, May 8: Sydney
This morning a most unusal activity. At your arranged time you will report to the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a special view of Sydney - from the top! After a safety talk and instructions, and rigging up, you'll start to climb the span of the bridge, to the very top. The view is nothing short of spectacular, and every time you see a photo of Sydney you'll be able to point to the bridge and say "I've climbed that!" The total climb time, including briefing, is about 3 hours leaving you plenty of time to see some of Sydney's other sights. 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.                       B      

Day 7 - Sydney / Melbourne
Fly south to Melbourne today and taxi or take the shuttle bus to your hotel. Melbourne is quite different to Sydney, with less rush and bustle, with a more sedate and less brash population which considers itself to be more interested in the finer things of life, rather than the more hedonistic. It has a lot of excellent Victorian architecture, and the wonderful trams - some Melbourne trams run in San Francisco - which also give it an old-time air. The Botanic Gardens are world-class, and close by. Also close by is the National Gallery of Victoria, with probably the world’s best collection of Australian art, and a notable collection of masterpiece works (a part of which toured selected US galleries in 2003). The new Gallery building has aroused considerable controversy for its unique design and decoration. For the history buff the Fitzroy Gardens, at the top of Collins St, has Captain Cook’s Cottage, his actual home that was packed up and shipped to Melbourne for re-erection. It’s interesting to see just how small an English middle-class home was back then. The Yarra River runs through the center of Melbourne, and is a popular place to wander the banks, and watch the rowers. Your hotel desk will be happy to help you get to any of Melbourne’s sights or areas.

Day 8 - Brisbane Ranges
This morning you are picked up at 9.30am by Roger or Janine of Echidna Walkabout for a full day outing to the hills and plains west of Melbourne to see wild kangaroos and koalas, abundant birdlife and discover a rich Aboriginal heritage. You’ll learn about native animals and plants both in the open-range grasslands of Serendip Sanctuary on the Western Plains and in the bush lands of Brisbane Ranges National Park. Within easy reach from the centre of the city of Melbourne, these environments provide the perfect introduction to Australia's unique wildlife and indigenous culture. You’ll see and walk amongst Grey Kangaroos in large free ranging groups, and find emus, wallabies, koalas and other unique Australian wildlife. A delicious bush lunch is provided. The Brisbane Ranges are home to a large and healthy population of wild koalas and we rarely miss out on multiple sightings of these delightful creatures. In additional to the wildlife of the region during your journey your guide will share with you the great significance of the Western Plains to Aboriginal people.       L

your Australian adventure continues>>>>