Australian Natural Adventures

Custom Itinerary for
Carmen & Cedric Wormely, and
Sharon & Jimmie Tyus

Australia
J une 17 - June 29 2005

Day 1 - Friday, June 17: Birmingham / Los Angeles / In Flight
Fly to Los Angeles and transfer to the Tom Bradley Terminal, which is at the head of the horseshoe of LAX terminals. Check in for your Qantas flight QF108, leaving at 12pm 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 sit back and enjoy the hospitality, meals and a movie or two. The seats have individual video screens, and a range of entertainment options.        Overnight In Fight    *D

Day 2 - Saturday, June 18: Sydney
You arrive in Sydney at 9.30pm thi s evening, pass through customs and immigration and transfer to your hotel by private limousine. The evening arrival allow you to go straight to bed, and awake more in tune with the new time zone. Overnight Opera View room Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel       *M,*D

Day 3 - Sunday, June 19: Sydney
Your hotel is the Sydney Harbour Marriott, at Circular Quay, adjacent to converted 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. Today is Sunday, and The Rocks Markets are in full swing. Occupying several streets a a couple of minutes walk from your hotel, the markets have become a very popular place for Sydneysiders and visitors alike. Pretty much anything you could want to buy can be found here, from easy to eat food representing many nations to crafts, fine arts, used household itmes and even Aboriginal artifacts and crafts such as didgeridoos. 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. While there are tours that utilize the ferries, usually with lunch or morning tea, an easy, and cheaper, 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. Even if you are a little tired mid-afternoon you need to stay awake all today, then sleep on Sydney's time, to best adjust to the new time zone.        Overnight Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel Sydney      *B
                  

Day 4 - Monday, June 20: Sydney
This morning you enjoy an introduction to the city of Sydney and its history by joining a small group for a 10.30am 90-minute guided walk around The Rocks, the historical center and oldest part of Sydney. Many buildings were built by the earliest settlers, including convicts transported to Australia from England as punishment for their crimes. Houses, hotels, woolsheds and other buildings dating from the very early 1800s (Australia was first settled in 1788) are seen, many of which now house some of Sydney’s most interesting shops, with wares ranging from Aboriginal artifacts to the latest high fashion. The Rocks is at the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, right adjacent to Circular Quay. Across the Quay is the Opera House, and lining the quay are cafes and restaurants, many offering al fresco dining. 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.

The rest of the day is free to continue discovering this vibrant city. Just a short walk from your hotel are the Botanic Gardens, which has good views of the harbour, an abundant bird life, and a colony of huge but appealing Grey Flying-foxes, whose wingspans are approximately three feet. They are easily seen during the day as they roost hanging from the trees. Many birds, from Black Swans to colorful Rainbow Lorikeets can usually be seen about the Gardens. A pleasant ten minute walk north of the Gardens, along the edge of Farm Cove, brings you to the point known as Mrs Macquarie's Chair (Mr Macquarie was an early Governor). this is probably the best place to get views and photos of the Bridge, Harbour and Opera House in one expanse. Immediately south of the Gardens is a park called The Domain, also a good place for walking, and which houses the Art Gallery, featuring an excellent collection of Australian and overseas art, including Aboriginal Art. A little further south, at the corner of Hyde Park, is the Australian Museum, with possibly Australia’s best collection of Aboriginal artifacts and other pieces. It is also a very good natural history museum, naturally featuring Australian wildlife, geography and geology. On the other side of Hyde Park are the Hyde Park Barracks, home to over 15,000 convicts in Australia’s formative years; it has displays which give a good insight into Australia's early days.       Overnight Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel

Day 5 - Tuesday, June 21: Blue Mountains
You are picked up this morning for a full day out to the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney. Depart this morning, travelling in luxury 4WD, see the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge, before enjoying a memorable wildlife park visit. See koalas, kangaroos up close plus friendly dingoes - and yes, even pat the koalas!Your route takes you much the same way as the earliest 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.       Overnight Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel                  L

Day 6 - Wednesday, June 22: Sydney
Continue to explore Sydney. As well as the immediate downtown and the Rocks, you may wish to visit areas such as the inner suburbs of Wooloomooloo and Paddington, which are now home to restaurants, boutique shops, and other less touristy and more local-flavored shopping and dining opportunities. There's also Darling Harbour, with its world-class Aquarium and shopping precinct, and of course the once-notorious area called Kings Cross, now very trendy with numerous restaurants, shops and Sydney's best nightlife. You may wish to take a guided tour of the Opera House; tours leave on the half hour from 9.30am until 4.30pm, and the cost is about $9. Your hotel desk can help you visit any of these areas. Public transport is excellent in Sydney, and is the recommended way to get about.

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.              Overnight Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel 

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