Australia with Tasmania
15 Day Escorted Tour

Sometimes your vacation time is limited, so you can elect to visit Australia this time, and come back to explore New Zealand at another time on these distinctive programs. Click Here For Itinerary

Inclusions:

• 3 nights in Pacific view rooms at the Hilton Cairns Hotel
• 1 night at Sails in the Desert Hotel
• 1 night at the Crowne Plaza in Alice Springs
• 2 nights at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne
• 2 nights in harbor view rooms at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart
• 3 nights in Opera House view rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
• 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners

Highlights:

• Cruise the Great Barrier Reef on a catamaran
• Ride over the rain forest canopy on the Skyrail Gondola and take the Kuranda Train through the rain forest
• Visit Uluru (Ayers Rock)

• Enjoy a performance and dinner at Sydney Opera House
• Dine at the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant.
  

Itinerary
Day 1 & 2
Depart U.S.A.
Fly to Cairns, crossing the International Date Line.

Day 3 D
Arrive Cairns
G'day, mates! Arrive in Cairns and transfer directly to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and settle into your Pacific view room. Meet your fellow travelers at a get-acquainted reception and dinner at the HILTON CAIRNS HOTEL.

Day 4 BL Great Barrier Reef
Blue water and tropical fish surround you as you sail to the massive Great Barrier Reef. Swim or snorkel in this stunning underwater world, or take a ride in the semi-submersible for a close look at the coral and its residents. HILTON CAIRNS HOTEL

Day 5 B
Kuranda Train/Skyrail/Tjapukai
Ride the Kuranda Train over deep gorges, past raging waterfalls, and through verdant rain forests as you journey to Kuranda. Witness a rainbow of color and the flutter of tiny wings at the butterfly sanctuary before you soar skyward aboard the world's longest gondola cableway. Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the canopy of the teeming rain forest below. Then, immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture with a performance of native dances at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Dance Theater. HILTON CAIRNS HOTEL

Day 6 BD
Uluru/Ayers Rock
Mighty Uluru, often referred to as Ayers Rock, towers more than 1,100 feet above the desert and is a sacred site to the Aboriginal people. As mammoth as this monolith appears, approximately 2/3 of the rock lies beneath the ground. Watch, with a glass of champagne and canapes in your hand, as reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks blend slowly together as the sun sets. SAILS IN THE DESERT HOTEL

Day 7 BD
Uluru/Alice Springs
Today, return to Uluru to explore by daylight. Take some time to examine the unique animal and plant life living on and around this rock formation, one of the largest in the world. Later, fly to Alice Springs, site of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Visit the Flying Doctor Service Base and learn of the airborne physicians who make their house calls to outlying areas. Long before the railway made its way into this isolated area, the camel was the mode of transportation for people and supplies. Take a camelback ride and learn about these animals at the Camel Farm. This evening, join in the fun at an authentic Australian barbecue and a boomerang-throwing demonstration. CROWNE PLAZA ALICE SPRINGS

Day 8 BD Melbourne/Tram Car Restaurant

For those who wish an early morning optional balloon ride, arrangements can be made before your flight to Melbourne. Arrive at your hotel with time to relax before your dinner aboard the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant, sightseeing the city in a most unusual fashion. As you sit down to dine, the restaurant will begin to drive around the city. Your hotel is centrally located at the "top end" of prestigious Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne business, theater and shopping districts. GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE

Day 9 B
Melbourne Sightseeing/Free Time
Begin this morning with a city tour, including Captain Cook's Cottage and a drive by the Shrine of Remembrance and Toorak Village. Visit the Melbourne Museum with a private guide. This afternoon is free to relax at your hotel, to discover Melbourne on your own, to shop or to take part in an optional evening tour of Phillip Island for the "penguin parade," where small fairy penguins cross the beach on their way home after a day of fishing. GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE

Day 10 BD
Hobart, Tasmania
Head to Hobart, one of the world's finest deepwater harbors, sightseeing en route to your hotel. Hobart is Australia's second oldest city, and has fascinating and infamous history to investigate. HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR HOBART

Day 11 BL
Hobart, Port Arthur
Learn about Tasmania's notorious side today with a full-day tour of Port Arthur. This former penal colony sits on the tip of the Tasman Peninsula. Visit the Isle of the Dead Cemetery and learn about its colorful past. Then hear about the area's more pleasant history as you stroll through fine gardens, and visit preserved colonial villages nearby. HOTEL GRAND CHANCELLOR HOBART

Day 12 BD
Sydney/Sydney Opera House Performance
This morning, fly to Sydney with sightseeing en route to your hotel, located in the historic Rocks area on the harbor. Relax and explore your surroundings. This evening is a special treat. Dinner is at the Bennelong Restaurant, prior to your attending a performance at the Sydney Opera House. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SYDNEY

Day 13 BL
Koala Park/Sydney Sightseeing/Cruise
Begin your day where Sydney originated, at the Rocks. Journey to South Head for a view of Sydney Harbour from the enormous cliffs. Then have a close-up meeting with some of Australia's furry inhabitants at the West Pennant Hills Koala Park. Return to Sydney for a relaxing luncheon cruise for views of the harbor. Your last stop today is a private "behind the scenes" tour of the Sydney Opera House. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SYDNEY

Day 14 B
Sydney/Free Day
You have the full day free to explore Sydney on your own. You may want to take a tour of the Olympic Park, site of the 2000 Summer Games, or take a 4WD excursion to the Blue Mountains, a wine tour to the Hunter Valley, or an exciting Sydney Bridge Climb. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL SYDNEY

Day 15 B
Return Home
Today you leave Australia and return to the United States.

Note: For those participating in the 24 Day tour of Australia, New Zealand & Tasmania, you will fly on Day 15 to Christchurch, joining the New Zealand tour on its Day 3. Back to Top

The above rates are presented as a guideline only.
Please contact Quality Travel at 1-800-331-5601
for actual pricing and availability.