Australia Solar Eclipse

Arrive Sydney. Check-in to your hotel. (Check-in time is 2.00pm, but front office can store your luggage if you arrive early). Tonight meet your tour leader and enjoy a short briefing about the tour. Overnight at your hotel in Sydney.

Hotel: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney – 5*

Sydney, capital of New South Wales was founded in 1788 and is Australia’s oldest city. Sydney sits astride Port Jackson, one of the most beautiful deep water harbours in the world. With a population of just over 4 million, Sydney is also Australia’s largest city. The city boasts famous landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, as well as a fine array of restaurants, theatres, shopping complexes and some of Australia’s best surfing beaches. Meet your Local Guide in the hotel lobby then board your private coach to commence a Full Day Sydney City Tour including Mrs Macquarie Chair, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Bondi Beach, The Gap, Sydney Opera House (1 Hour Tour included) + Lunch Cruise on Sydney Harbour. Tour terminates at your hotel accommodation.

Hotel: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney– 5*

Full breakfast at the hotel. Meet your Local Guide in the hotel Lobby then board your private coach for to commence a Full Day Blue Mountains Tour including Featherdale Wildlife Park (Koala Photo not included at your own expense) + Scenic World (2 Rides) + Lunch at Local Restaurant. Tour terminates at your hotel accommodation.

Hotel: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney– 5*

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a free day at leisure to explore Sydney on your own.

Hotel: Shangri-La Hotel Sydney– 5*

Optional Tour Suggestion: Tour Name: Bridge Climb – Based on Day Climb Cost: The additional charge for this tour would be AUD 247:00 per person including gst (nett cost) this is based on Monday to Friday.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day in Sydney to enjoy the city on your own. Transfer from hotel to airport to board our late afternoon flight to Cairns. Upon arrival, meet your Local Guide then board your private coach for transfer to your hotel accommodation at Port Douglas for check in. Port Douglas, 70 kilometres north of Cairns, is one of the closest towns to the Great Barrier Reef – at low tide it is possible to walk to the edge of the reef from Four Mile Beach. The township was settled in 1877 as the main port for the Palmer River goldfields. Today it is a centre for professional and amateur fishermen, and is a popular, lazy resort town.

Hotel: Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas – 5* .

Full breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast a Quicksilver coach will pick you up from your hotel for your transfer to Marina Mirage Port Douglas, the departure point of your cruise. At 9.30am board Quicksilver’s 45.5 metre high speed wavepiercing catamaran to commence a full day cruise. Travel in air-conditioned comfort to a spacious reef activity platform moored in protective lagoons at the renowned Agincourt Reef, on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Quicksilver has facilities to enable both swimmers and non-swimmers to experience this stunning reef world. Explore the reef from the comfort of a semi-submersible, the underwater observatory or by snorkelling. A range of optional activities are available including up to two dives for certified divers, and novices can experience the magic of scuba with a qualified dive instructor or an Oceanwalker helmet dive. Also available are guided snorkelling tours with a marine biologist and scenic helicopter flights over the reef (all optional activities at own expense). Enjoy lunch on board. Cruise concludes at approximately 4.30pm, at which time hotel drop offs will commence. ***Please ensure you take with you on your cruise: swimwear, hat, sunscreen, shirt for sun protection, beach towel, camera, cash or credit card for purchases. *** Please note that there is No Local Guide included today

Hotel: Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas – 5*

*********TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE**************

Meet your private coach at the hotel for an early morning departure at approximately 400am. You will be treated to a BBQ style breakfast at the Palmer River Roadhouse. Then on to our private viewing spot off of the Mulligan Highway. An exclusive spot that will feature a tent, complimentary beverages, and portable restroom facilities.

Eclipse viewing starts.

5:44am
Start of Partial eclipse
6:38:03am
Start of TOTAL ECLIPSE
6:40:07am
End of TOTAL ECLIPSE
7:40 am
End of Partial ECLIPSE
**If it is your pleasure to view the Eclipse from the beach at the Hotel, then your morning will be open for your personal arrangements. After the eclipse, board your private coach to return to the hotel. Remainder of the day at your leisure to exchange eclipse photos, or explore the unique Village Markets of Port Douglas. Tonight enjoy a Gala Eclipse Celebration Dinner at local Restaurant !

Hotel: Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas – 5*

Full breakfast at the hotel. Meet your Local Guide at the hotel then board your private coach to commence a Full Day Kuranda Rail, Skyrail and Tjapukai tour. Transfer to Freshwater Railway Station to board the 8.45am Kuranda Scenic Railway for a journey to the village of Kuranda. Enjoy spectacular views as the train travels through 15 hand cut tunnels and past spectacular waterfalls. Stop at Barron Gorge to view the falls before arriving at Kuranda Station. Free time (Short amount) is available to explore the “Village in the Rainforest”. Board Skyrail at the scheduled time advised by the driver, and glide above the rainforest canopy to Caravonica Lakes. Take a short walk to the fascinating Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. Enjoy lunch before being greeted by an indigenous guide who will escort you through the park to discover this ancient culture through theatres, stage shows and demonstrations. Tour concludes at your hotel back at Port Douglas.

Hotel: Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas – 5*

You will be transferred to Cairns Airport for your morning flight to Ayers Rock. Arrive into Ayers Rock prior to 1:00pm and transfer to your hotel. Visit the Cultural Center and Maruku Arts & Crafts Cooperative. Take a guided walk to Mutitjulu waterhole. See cave paintings and hear the legends of Kuniya Tjukurpa. Tour the base of Uluru and learn about the geology and flora of the region on the Mala Walk. Explore Kantju Gorge, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and the changing colors of Uluru at sunset. Overnight in Ayers Rock.

Hotel: Sails in the Desert Hotel – 5*

Rise early and witness the day’s first light at Uluru. As the sun rises, travel to the giant domes of Kata Tjuta. Join a guided walk into majestic Walpa (Olga) Gorge. Marvel at the sheer walks that flank you as you enter the gorge. Travel to Kings Canyon. Overnight in Kings Canyon.

Hotel: Kings Canyon Resort – 3*

Day 11- Nov 18, 2012 Kings Canyon—Alice Springs (B)
Join a guided walk to the rim of Kings Canyon (requires a good level of fitness), or take the easier canyon floor walk. Depart for Alice Springs. Upon arrival , enjoy a town tour of “The Alice” including the Old Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill where you have panoramic views of the township and the rugged MacDonnell Ranges. Visit the School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base. Overnight in Alice Springs.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza hotel – 4*

After breakfast, transfer to Alice Springs Airport for your flight to Melbourne. Transfer to your hotel and overnight in Melbourne.

Hotel: Langham Melbourne Hotel – 5*

Enjoy a day at leisure in cosmopolitan Melbourne. Perhaps join an optional tour and ride on Puffing Billy followed by wine tasting in the Yarra Valley or tour along the famous Great Ocean Road to see the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge. Overnight in Melbourne.

Hotel: Langham Melbourne Hotel – 5*

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