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Australian Natural Adventures A specialist
travel agency for Australia travel, Australia tours, and all things
Australian.
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Australian Natural Adventures A specialist
travel agency for Australia travel, Australia tours, and all things
Australian.
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Tourism Australia accredited Premier Aussie Specialist.
,
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 
harbour, an abundant bird life, and a colony of huge grey fruit-bats,
whose wingspans are approximately three feet. The 
You are picked up this morning for a full day out to the Blue Mountains
just west of Sydney. You
r
route takes you much the same way as the early explorers who sought
a way across the mountains to the fertile grazing land beyond. The
views from the lookouts, including the Three Sisters, are quite spectacular.
You can enjoy a short bushwalk, look for kangaroos, experience the
tall Eucalyptus forest - and try some billy tea while there - enjoy
some typically Australian food in an country pub, or homestead for
lunch, and see early Australian non-urban architecture. 
Your
guide will tell you much abut the history and geology and of the areas
visited. You are returned to your hotel about 6pm.
L
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 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. This morning
Today
a tour north to the Hunter Valley, is suggested. This is an area of
sheep farms, valleys and rolling hills mixed with some of Australia's
best wineries, and you will experience much that is typical of Australia.
afternoon
flight south to 
Today you enjoy a half-day guided tour of old Hobart and nearby
historic 
ong
a quiet back-country road, with thousands of poopy heads waving
in the breeze behind simple 3-strand fences usually seen along wheat
or corn fields. Tasmania produces some of Australia's best seafood,
especially shellfish and cold-water fish such as salmon and trout.
In addition, cheese factories such as the 
most
incorrigible prisoners during Australia's early convict days - Port
Arthur. English convicts were not sent to here initially, but only
after they had committed further crimes while under sentence in
Australia. The conditions were brutal, and were meant to be (but
across on Tasmania's west cost was an even worse hell-hole, where
conditions were so tough, 
and
the area so wild, fences and other restraints were not needed to
keep the prisoners from escaping). Today the goal can be visited,
and even stayed overnight at, and historic 
ith
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 
history buff the 
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 
that
has been operating for over 120 years - it started in 1878 - at
this same location. Although it is at its busiest on the weekend,
it operates from 6am until 2pm today, and is of great interest.
This is not a tourist trap, like so many markets, but a place
that locals go - and come to - to buy goods. Just about every
language
can be heard - Melbourne is a most cosmopolitan city, and has
the largest Greek community outside Atherns - from both buyers
and sellers. Not only languages; there is usually a didgeridoo
player or two around. Spread over 20 acres, it is the largest
open air Market in the southern hemisphere. 
Almost one thousand traders sell everything from exotic Australian
fruit and vegetables and local and imported gourmet foods, meat,
fish and poultry to hardware, manchester, clothing and authentic
Australian artefacts
and souvenirs. After your visit to the market spend the remainder
of the day exploring this comfortable city, using the free City
Explorer tram route, and a little self-exploration. The Victorian
terrace houses of East Melbourne are quite beautiful, Lygon St
area of Carlton is always colorful, and taking a tram up St Kilda
road, with the home-bound commuters will both give 
you
vistas of the Shrine of Remembrance, gardens, and a range of dwellings
each side, and make you feel like a true local. One interesting
feature of downtown Melbourne are the arcades, small covered lanes
that run between the real streets, each lined with small shops,
and each having its own ambience.
Penguins
return to their beachside burrows each evening. The 
island
is about 1 1/2 hours south of Melbourne, and although it will
be cool, the waddling penguins make it worthwhile. also to the
east and south of Melbourne are excellent wineries, producing
some of Australia's best and most innovative wines. A tour to
some of these, including lunch, can fit in with a trip to see
the penguins.