Tour Extensions
Great Barrier Reef / Darwin/Kakadu / Tasmania
Sydney to Adelaide via Canberra, Melbourne and the magnificent Great Ocean Drive, Historic Homesteads and Country Houses, all by private car and driver-guide.
The Great Barrier Reef
Day 1—CAIRNS to PORT DOUGLAS
Arrive Cairns, Australia. Welcome to the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns, an attractive tropical township, 1797 km north of Brisbane, serves as a gateway to a lush, scenic hinterland and the northern end of the “Great Barrier Reef.” North and south of the city are extensive sugarcane farms, inland and north on Cape York are vast cattle stations and bauxite mines at Weipa. Nearby to the west is the Atherton Tableland with water falls, crater lakes and ferny valleys.
Sheraton Mirage.
Day 2—PORT DOUGLAS
Full day M.V. Quicksilver tour. Join the M.V. Quicksilver, the glamour trip of the entire Great Barrier Reef. “Quicksilver” is a 20m high-speed catamaran. Cruising at 20 knots through clear tropical waters past Schnapper Island, Undine Cay, and numerous reefs, it arrives close to Australia’s continental shelf just 90 minutes after leaving Port Douglas. It moors over what experts rate as one of the most spectacular sections of the 2,000 km Great Barrier Reef, with maximum underwater visibility. It is a seascape of breathtaking beauty with deep, sunlit valleys and coral. In the Subsea Explorer watch the marine world go by.
Day 3—PORT DOUGLAS
Full day “Rain Forest and Cultural” tour by private car and driver/guide. Depart for the railroad station where you will board the train for one of the most spectacular rail journeys in Australia. Traveling slowly, it winds its way up the epic pioneer track with every turn revealing a new panorama sugar plantations, Barron Falls, Stoney Creek falls until it reaches Kuranda Station, a cool, green tropic delight of native shrubs, ferns and flowers. Following lunch, join the Amphibious Army Duck for a tour of the rainforest and then plunge into the dam for a closer look at the animal and bird life. Drive back to Port Douglas down the Juranda Range with views of the Coral Sea.
Day 4—PORT DOUGLAS
Full day at leisure for independent activities May we suggest the optional full day “white Water Rafting” on the Upper Gorge of the Tully River, or perhaps an environmental land safari north to the Daintree World Heritage regions.
Day 5—PORT DOUGLAS
After check-out, you will be transferred by private car from your hotel in Port Douglas to the Cairns Airport. Arrangements terminate.
Land Costs Per Person
| Each of 2 PAX | Each of 3 PAX | Each of 4 PAX |
| $2595 | $2450 | $2295 |
| Single room supplement $1150 | ||
All tours can be modified to suit client wishes.
Darwin/Kakadu
Day 1—DARWIN
Arrive Darwin Airport. You will be met by our representative and transferred from the airport to your hotel. Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory, is a modern tropical city with a colorful history that reaches back beyond the gold-rush days to the European explorers whose daring and fortitude opened up the content. The palm sand bamboo, the shady banyans and mango trees and the blazing tropical blooms mix with the languages of Asia and Europe to give a unique background to the sophistication of modern living. An afternoon “City Sights and Sunset” tour will visit the Gallery of Aboriginal Man at the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery. Watch wallabies feed at sunset. See the blazing tropical sunsets.
Saville Park Suites Hotel
Day 2—DARWIN
Full day “Wildlife and Waterfall” tour. Travel along the Stuart highway to Bachelor, enter Litchfield National Park, visit Florence Falls, enjoy a swim, bushwalking, four wheel drive and a visit to Berry Springs. After lunch, visit the Territory Wildlife Park including the Nocturnal Animal House. The park has a magnificent range of Territory sub-tropical and arid zone animals and birds on display, many of which are not seen by most people other than professional naturalists.
Day 3—TWO-DAY KAKADU TOUR
Travel south from Darwin to Kakadu National Park, passing Adelaide, Mary and South Alligator River en route. Proceed to Jabiru airport for an optional half-hour flight over the magnificent Arnhem Land Escarpment and Wetlands. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to explore the Wetlands by foot.
Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn
Day 4—RETURN TO DARWIN
An early morning two-hour boat cruise will enable you to see many varieties of birds and saltwater crocodiles easily viewed at a safe distance. Return to shore for breakfast, before heading for Nourlangie Rock to view the Aboriginal paintings. Your guide will explain some of the significant point of Aboriginal legend to you. Return to Darwin via the Arnhem Highway.
Saville Park Suites Hotel
Day 5—DEPART DARWIN
After check-out, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport. Arrangements terminate.
Land Costs Per Person
| Each of 2 PAX | Each of 3 PAX | Each of 4 PAX |
| $3750 | $2995 | $2490 |
| Single room supplement $750 | ||
All tours can be modified to suit client wishes.
Tasmania
Day 1—LAUNCESTON
On arrival in Launceston, Tasmania’s second largest city, you will be met by your private car and driver/guide. The city is nestled in hilly country where the Tamar, North Esk and South Esk rivers meet. The afternoon visit Cataract Gorge. Situated in the center of Launceston, it has a number of easy walks to enjoy. Follow the Tamar River to Bradys Lookout to enjoy spectacular views of Tasmania’s Eastern Highlands and broad sweeping river.
Country Club Casino.
Day 2—LAUNCESTON—CRADLE MOUNTAIN
Leave Launceston and travel through Georgian villages of Carrick, Hagley and Westbury before driving into the Great Western Tiers to the Tasmanian Wildlife Park. Met the “natives”— koalas, Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, wedgetail eagles, kookaburras falcons and hawks. Travel to King Solomon’s Caves for a guided tour. Stalagmites, stalactites, columns and shawls all delicately colored from rich ochre to pale pink form the surrounding soils. After a cave inspection, travel to Black Stumps for lunch. After dinner, make your way to the verandah to observe the native wildlife enjoying their evening meal.
Cradle Mountain Lodge
Day 3—CRADLE MOUNTAIN—STRAHAN
Morning departure to discover Waldheim, located at the edge of the National Park. Gustav Weindorfer built Waldheim at the turn of the century and spent most of his life encouraging the government to protect this magnificent valley. Enjoy the walk he created through the King Billy Pines, Myrtle Forest and Mossy Glens. Visit the enchanted Forest Walk before traveling to Tasmania’s West Coast and fishing village of Strahan on the shores of MacQuarie Harbor.
Strahan Village Waterfront
Day 4—STRAHAN—HOBART
Optional wilderness airfare “birds eye view” of this magnificent region. See mountain ranges; marvel at small lakes seemingly suspended on the side of mountains. Travel to Gordon River where you will land to walk into the forest to Sir John Falls to see the Huon Pine Trees, known to be 2,000 years old. Return to Strahan; enjoy a wander before traveling to Hobart. Stop en route at Lake St. Clair.
Grand Hotel Chancellor Harbor View
Day 5—DEPART HOBART
Travel to the summit of Mt. Wellington to see the view. Visit Battery point, Salamanca Place and if time permits, the historic town of Richmond before your flight.