SYDNEY MARATHON TOUR PACKAGE SEPTEMBER 14 to 27, 2012


SYDNEY  Sept 14 to Sept 19, 2012
5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS (4 star accommodation)


DAY 1 ARRIVE SYDNEY

Arrive into Sydney ex flight from LAX. You will be met and transferred to your hotel by your driver.
Accommodation: Grace Hotel  5 nights

DAY 2 SYDNEY – HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Depart your hotel with Mount N Beach safaris for an unforgettable Panoramic Sydney half-day city sights tour. On tour you'll visit the historic Rocks area and hear early convict history. Enjoy magnificent views of the Opera House & Harbour Bridge. See the shopping heart of the city, QVB, Centrepoint. Visit Sydney's trendy new district Oxford Street. Travel through elegant Paddington with its terrace houses before arriving at the Pacific Ocean. See the superb coast cliff walk around Tamarama and Bronte. Travel on to famous Bondi Beach. Visit the beachfront promenade, enjoy a coffee or cool drink (at own cost). You may see some bronzed Aussie lifesavers & see Sydney's best panoramic view. Return to Sydney via Double Bay, Kings Cross & city centre. Tour will drop you off at Circular Quay.

Reminder of the day and evening is at leisure

DAY 3 SYDNEY - MARATHON, EVENING DINNER (D)

This morning take the train to Milson's Point for the starting point of the Sydney Marathon.
Later this evening, please make your own way Jetty no 6 Circular Quay for this evening’s Post Celebration Dinner Cruise. Cruise, dine and dance aboard Sydney's flagship MV Sydney 2000.
After the cruise make your own way back to the hotel.

DAY 4 SYDNEY – FULL DAY BLUE MOUNTAINS TOUR (L)

Depart your city hotel this morning and travel in luxury 4WD’s from the
center of Sydney across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, through exclusive
garden suburbs, past the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games site and onto the
Blue Mountains National Park at Glenbrook. Today you’ll enjoy backcountry
sightseeing plus you’ll see lots of wildlife. Leaving the main roads behind
travel deep into the forest to find wild kangaroos, parrots, kookaburras and
to enjoy a real bush morning tea. This is a great time to find out all about
Australia, our history, nature and culture from your expert driver/guide.
Head to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. Enjoy three hours self guided bush
walking around the Three Sisters and Scenic Railway in this World Heritage
Listed National Park.
On our return to Sydney follow one of the original trails of the first explorers to
cross the Blue Mountains, with time to enjoy throwing a boomerang in the
bush before arriving at Sydney’s premier wildlife park. At the park you’ll see
koalas and kangaroos up close plus a friendly Dingo, Australia’s famous
native ‘dog’. You can even take a close-up photo as you pat the friendly
koalas. After experiencing all the animals rejoin your luxury 4WD’s for the final return
to your hotel. This is an outstanding day of sightseeing, wildlife and great
Aussie hospitality. Includes delicious picnic lunch with water bottle and full self-guided map kit.
Return directly to all Sydney hotels after a fantastic Blue Mountains Wildlife Day!

DAY 5 SYDNEY – DAY PERIOD BRIDGE CLIMB

This morning you will have to make your own way to Sydney Harbour Bridge for climbing. You get a real overall sense of Sydney from the harbour and Opera House, across to the coastline and right out to the Blue Mountains. Climbing in the day has a vibrant, bustling, energetic feel.
In every direction you look you're bowled over by an awesome view of the world's most beautiful harbour. Nothing else in Sydney gives you this breathtaking perspective.


DAY 6 DEPART SYDNEY

You will be met by your driver and transferred to airport for your flight to Cairns.

POST MARATHON OPTIONAL CAIRNS PACKAGE September 19 to Sept 23, 2012
4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS (4 star accommodation)


DAY 1 ARRIVE CAIRNS

On arrival into the Cairns you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel located in Palm Cove. (approximately a 20 minutes)
Accommodation: Paradise on the Beach  Palm Cove  4 nights


DAY 2 FULL DAY GREAT BARRIER REEF CRUISE (L)

Exploring the Great Barrier Reef will be the most memorable day of your life. The Michaelmas Cay Cruise offers a wide range of activities including snorkelling, scuba diving (both certified and first time beginner), semi-submersible coral viewing, coral cay scientific tours, nature walks among a bird sanctuary, live musical entertainment and a glass of champagne on the homeward sail, lunch and morning and afternoon teas.

DAY 3 PALM COVE

Day at leisure

You will be transferred back to your hotel.

DAY 4 FULL DAY DAINTREE DREAMING SAFARI (L)

With Adventure North travel along one of Australia’s most scenic coastal drives as we travel north of Port Douglas, to Cooya Beach. Walk on ancient ancestral trails with one of the Kurribi Warra brothers of Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours on a traditional mangrove and beach combing journey.

During this unique, fun tour you will learn first hand how to throw a spear, track coastal resources through the mangroves and search and hunt for fish, mud crabs and mussels. Learn about bush tucker and bush medicines. Nothing is wasted. Enjoy morning tea on the balcony of their family home, overlooking the ocean, of fresh homemade damper, tea/coffee and taste what you have caught and collected throughout your morning. The Walker brothers demonstrate different Aboriginal artifacts and their uses. Maybe learn how to play a didgeridoo!

We continue north to the township of Mossman and Janbal Gallery, which is more than just an art gallery – it is a truly unique Aboriginal experience. Meet Binna, a proud Kuku Yalanji man and your tutor. Share in an authentic Aboriginal art experience and take home a memento of your experience. Authentic Aboriginal arts and craft that depicts the reef and rainforest culture of the local Kuku Yalanji people are on display.

Lunch along the way, as we travel further north past the Daintree Village and the Niau falls, a pristine natural wonder waiting for you to discover in the heart of the World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park. You will see strange, primitive plants and learn about the original French settler family. Hear of their incredible story of survival. Your guided rainforest walk will unlock the secrets of this fascinating eco-system. Time for a swim in this magical rainforest environment, (don’t forget your swimmers). Your amazing day of discovery comes to a close as you are returned to your accommodation.

What to bring:- Hat, Sunscreen insect repellent, towel, swimmers, bottle of water


DAY 5 DEPART PALM COVE

Transfer from the hotel to Cairns airport for the flight to LAX or Melbourne.

POST MARATHON MELBOURNE PACKAGE September 23 to Sept 27, 2012
4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS (4 star accommodation)

DAY 1 ARRIVE MELBOURNE (D)

On arrival to Melbourne airport you will be transferred to the hotel for quick check-in and then you will be transferred for your early dinner at Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.
Dining in Melbourne can be a fabulous experience, especially aboard the fleet of historical trams that have become The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. These glossy, burgundy restaurants on wheels are the first travelling tramcar restaurants in the world and ensure a delightful innovative approach to dining. As they cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, diners can enjoy our fine cuisine and drink the very best of Australian wines or make a selection from our fully stocked bar at a fully inclusive price. The atmosphere is cosy, the service friendly and the decor as inviting as the colonial period these trams reflect. The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant officially commenced operation in August 1983 and has since become a star attraction and tourist symbol for the city of Melbourne. Dining aboard the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is not only a culinary delight, but also a trip into a little piece of Victoria's history.
After dinner you will be transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Novotel on Collins 4 nights

DAY 2 MELBOURNE - PHILLIP ISLAND

This morning is at leisure to explore town on your own and have lunch of your choice. Afternoon, you will be picked up at the hotel by your coach driver and depart for one of the most popular tours from Melbourne. Every evening at dusk the Little Penguins come from the sea at Phillip Island. From the waves-across the beach-to the sand dunes-the fairy penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. Sunset at Summerland Beach has drawn millions of visitors to Phillip Island. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthral you as you observe from the beach and the elevated boardwalk.

DAY 3 MELBOURNE – SAVANNAH WALKABOUT (L)

We depart Melbourne at around 9.30am to travel just 45 minutes to the west to Serendip Open Range Sanctuary, where we are immediately amongst wild kangaroos and native birds. Often our entrance is heralded by the screeching of Cockatoos or the chattering of Honeyeaters. After a short walk to meet the kangaroos, we begin our special Safari Drive around the Sanctuary to see emus and huge wild mobs of kangaroos. We stop often to enjoy the antics of the animals, and disembark for short walks to the billabong (home to large populations of waterbirds) and through the gum trees.
Before lunch we visit a protected population of wallabies and get close to some strange Australian birds. Our picnic lunch is served in an open-air setting at the Sanctuary, and includes fruit and cakes, coffee and delicious Australian "Billy tea". Your guide will explain the history and recipe for the traditional tea of the Swagmen.
Leaving Serendip, we travel just 20 minutes further west to the bushland of Brisbane Ranges National Park. The park is home to a large and healthy population of wild Koalas, which we research and monitor to ensure the best possible sightings. We take a very easy walk through the gum trees, searching for koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and birds in their natural setting. Your guide will point out plants and features of interest, explain some of the history of the area and, where possible, introduce you to known, named koalas that are part of our research project.
The area we walk through is of great significance to the local Aboriginal People of the Wathaurong Tribe. Freshwater lakes and billabongs nearby provided a rich food source for them, and some signs of their occupation still remain. Your guide will share their knowledge with you. Though we will not be meeting any Aboriginal People on this tour, we act with the knowledge, consent and support of the Wathaurong Community.
We return to Melbourne at about 6pm.

DAY 4 GREAT OCEAN ROAD (L)

You will be picked up this morning for your full day tour to The Great Ocean Road.

Starting 100km south west of Melbourne the Great Ocean Road works its way along the stunning coastline of Victoria's south-west. Recognised as one of the world's most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road stretches for over 300 kilometres, from Torquay, just south of Geelong, to Warrnambool. For most of the distance the road hugs the coastline.
Torquay is a popular surfing spot and the Road leads past a collection of surfing and swimming beaches. Between Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay the road features the beautiful contrast of the ocean beaches on one side and the forests and mountains of the Otway Ranges on the other. The Otway Ranges stretch from Anglesea to Cape Otway and offer beautiful hills, waterfalls, excellent walking tracks and picnic spots. At Apollo Bay the Great Ocean Road leaves the coast and winds through the rainforest of Cape Otway.
The Great Ocean Road returns to hug the coastline along the entire length of the Port Campbell National Park. This stretch offers dramatic coastal scenery, with the road twisting and turning. Along this stretch of the Great Ocean Road is an amazing collection of rock sculptures such as 'The Twelve Apostles' - huge stone pillars looming out of the surf - and 'London Bridge', a rocky promontory arch carved out by the sea.
Lunch at Apollo bay


DAY 5 DEPART MELBOURNE

Transfer from the hotel to Melbourne airport for your flight to LAX. Please be waiting outside your hotel for the transfer.


              

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