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Day 1 – Friday, October 13: Home City / Los Angeles / In Flight
Fly to Los Angeles at 7.20pm from New York, other cities as determined. Depart Los Angeles at 11.20pm on your 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 you can sit back and enjoy the hospitality, meal and a movie. (*D)

Day 2 – Saturday, October 14: Lost In Space
Today is lost due to the International Date Line, but it is regained on your return journey.

Day 3 – Sunday, October 15: In Flight / Sydney
Arrive early this morning, pass through customs and immigration, after which you are met and transferred to your hotel for the next two nights, perfectly located in the heart of The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest and now prime location. Although your room may not be ready this early, you can leave your bags and freshen up in their day room. Your hotel is a converted 19C woolshed, originally built for the important Australian wool trade, and is a two minute walk from Circular Quay, home to the many ferries that cross the harbor, the Sydney Harbour Bridge itself, and the beautifully designed, and placed, Opera House. It is surrounded by interesting shops with an excellent range of Australian goods, including Coogee sweaters and other Australian clothing including the excellent Blundstone boots and Drizabone coats, Aboriginal artifacts, and quality souvenirs. The Rocks Markets are also in full swing today, and several streets will be closed off and filled with stall of all kinds, from tacky to treasure-filled. Restaurants, cafes and Sydney’s oldest pubs, with possibly the most colorful history are also here and worth a visit – or two. Also a few minutes away is the Visitor Centre, where you can get a brochure for this historic area, and most of Sydney's other attractions and sights. Cadman's Cottage, one of Australia's oldest houses, is just down the road. Included in your final package is a coupon redeemable at the Visitor Centre which gives discount on attractions and restaurants. There are many small restaurants around the Quay, and is a wonderful place to eat and watch the evening light over the Opera House, which is a short walk away.

Once you are cleaned up you are taken on a private 2-hour tour of Sydney’s sights, giving you both an orientation and a guide to what’s available in this exciting and busy city. Return to your hotel about lunchtime, with the afternoon free to explore. This evening you will watch the sun set (sunset is at 6.03pm tonight) while you cruise Sydney Harbour enjoying cocktails. You’ll see the lights start to twinkle on, and both the harbour Bridge and the Opera House in their best light; the return to Circular Quay is at 6.30pm. As you will be tired after your flight a simple light meal and an early night will be in order this evening. (*B)

Day 4 – Monday, October 16: Sydney
This morning a most unusual 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.

Just a short walk from your hotel is the Botanic Gardens and the Domain, which has good views of the harbour and Opera House – most of the photos you see are taken from here - and a colony of huge grey fruit-bats, whose wingspans are approximately three feet. If you wish, you can go on a guided tour of the Opera House – just turn up at the box office there any time before about 4.30pm, and pay a small fee. There are several very good opal stores in Sydney, and we have included discount coupons for two of them.

We suggest dining out tonight, if the weather is fine, at one of the superb seafood restaurants lining the Quay, including the Waterfront, more elegant, and Wolfies, more casual. If the weather is not so agreeable, the Quay or Wildfires restaurants, overlooking the harbour and the Opera House, offers suitable alternatives.

For nightlife Kings Cross, a short cab ride away, is where most Sydneysiders go. There’s everything here from Sydney’s traditional red light district to 5-star hotels, cabarets, cheap cosmopolitan eats, tacky souvenirs and a interesting mix of people. Modern fashions, including some of Australia’s most fashionable designers and stores, can be found along Oxford St and the smaller streets of Darlinghurst and Paddington, both minutes away by cab or public transport, if you want to be a true local. Your hotel concierge can advise you on anything you need. (B)

Day 5 – Tuesday, October 17: Sydney / Cairns
Today is free to continue to discover Sydney. If the weather is sunny take the Bondi Bus – or a cab – to famous Bondi Beach. This is Australia’s iconic beach, and you’ll see surfers, swimmers, sunbathers – topless is OK here, and even more at the far end – and just locals enjoying the Esplanade, shops and cafes of this vibrant area. Closer by is Darling Harbour, a developed area of hotels, shopping, entertainment and restaurants. It’s connected to downtown by a footbridge and a monorail, or take a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. There’s also a world-class Aquarium here, and a casino. Late this afternoon you are transferred back to Sydney Airport for your 7.15pm flight to Cairns, in the tropical north, arriving at 10.25pm. You are met and transferred to your hotel, located right on Cairns beautiful Esplanade. Your rooms face Trinity Bay, and have uninterrupted views from both inside and from their private balconies (a wonderful place to enjoy a relaxing pre-dinner drink of quality Australian wine) to the Coral Sea.

Australia itinerary for Cliff & Friends continues >>>