Ultimate Australia Small Group Adventure
Australia: Melbourne, Alice Springs, Uluru, Great Barrier Reef, Palm Cove, Sydney
• Explore in a small group of 16 travelers maximum (average group size of 13)
• International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements
• All land transportation and 3 internal flights
• Accommodations for 15 nights
• 30 meals—15 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 8 dinners
• 17 small group activities
• Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader
• Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters
• 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next adventure
Itinerary
DAY 1 • Depart U.S.
Fly from the U.S. to Melbourne, Australia.
DAY 2 • Cross International Date Line
Continue your flight to Melbourne, losing one day en route as you cross the International Date Line (which you regain when you fly back home).
DAY 3 • Arrive in Melbourne, Australia
Arrive in Melbourne, where you’ll be joined by fellow travelers, including those who took our Undiscovered Tasmania: Hobart, Cradle Mountain & Launceston pre-trip extension.
Jazz Corner Hotel or similar
DAY 4 • Melbourne
This morning we’ll explore Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens with an Aboriginal guide. Then we’ll tour Melbourne’s highlights, including its famous lanes and arcades, St. Paul’s Cathedrals, and the expansive Federation Square. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner.
B,L,D—Jazz Corner Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Melbourne •
Mornington
Peninsula
Visit a wildlife sanctuary on the Mornington Peninsula and learn about the conservation efforts being made here. Then, head to Heronswood Garden for lunch before exploring more on the peninsula’s highlights.
B,L—Jazz Corner Hotel or similar
Activity Level:
Pacing: 6 locations in 16 days
Physical requirements: 1 overland drive 7.5 hours long and 3 internal flights of up to 4 hours each. You must be able to walk 2-3 miles unassisted and participate in 4-6 hours of physical activities each day
Flight time: Travel time will be 19-27 hours and will most likely have one or two connections
View all physical requirements at www.oattravel.com/aua
DAY 6 • Melbourne • Optional Dandenong Ranges tour
Explore Melbourne independently today. Perhaps you’ll take a boat ride on the Yarra River from Princes Walk, or you may venture to Dendy Street Beach in Brighton to soak up the sun. Tonight, take a tram to a local restaurant for dinner.
B,D—Jazz Corner Hotel or similar
DAY 7 • Fly to Alice Springs • Controversial Topic: Is Australia failing young Indigenous Australians? • Old Telegraph Station
Fly to Australia’s Alice Springs, located in the Red Centre of the continent and visit the old Telegraph Station. Later, meet an indigenous elder who will discuss the Controversial Topic of Australia’s 60-year-long forced assimilation policy that removed indigenous children from their homes.
B,L—DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs or similar
DAY 8 • Alice Springs • Simpsons Gap & Standley Chasm • Outback barbecue
Travel to Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm, and learn about their significance to indigenous populations. This evening, we’ll visit a sustainable living center in the heart of the Outback to learn about local customs and share a barbeque dinner under the stars.
B,D—DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs or similar
DAY 9 • Overland to Uluru • Sunset Viewing
Drive to Uluru (Ayers Rock), an imposing formation that has been the indigenous people’s spiritual site for at least 20,000 years. Later, toast to the beauty of our surroundings as we watch the sun set over this 650-million-year-old monolith.
B,L—Desert Gardens Hotel or similar
DAY 10 • Uluru sunrise viewing • Visit Kata Tjuta
If you wish, you can rise early this morning to revisit Uluru in the light of dawn. Later, our group will continue exploring the area together.
B,D—Desert Gardens Hotel or similar
DAY 11 • Fly to Cairns • Palm Cove
Fly to Cairns and transfer to Palm Cove to begin our explorations of the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s lush Pacific Coast.
B—Peppers Beach Club or similar
DAY 12 • Palm Cove
Enjoy a day at leisure in Palm Cove. Tonight, gather in the hotel’s restaurant for a 2-course barbecue dinner.
B,D—Peppers Beach Club or similar
DAY 13 • Cruise to Great Barrier Reef
• Grand Circle Foundation visit: Coral Nurture Program
After a visit to the Coral Nurture Program, a Grand Circle Foundation site working on solutions to coral bleaching, we’ll board a catamaran for a cruise to Michaelmas Cay, a low-lying coral reef island and national park. Enjoy the day swimming, snorkeling, or viewing the reef from a boat.
B,L—
DAY 14 • Daintree Rainforest walk
Discover the flora and fauna of the Daintree Rainforest and learn about climate change and human interference here from members of a local family that operate an eco-tourism lodge within the rainforest.
B,L,D—Peppers Beach Club or similar
DAY 15 • Fly to Sydney
Fly to Sydney, then enjoy an orientation walk.
B,D—Rydges World Square Sydney or similar
DAY 16 • Sydney • Sydney Harbour
ferry ride • Sydney Opera House
After exploring the highlights of Sydney by motorcoach, join locals on a ferry ride around Sydney Harbour. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, whose distinctive architecture has made it the city’s signature attraction.
B,L—Rydges World Square Sydney or similar
DAY 17 • Sydney
Discover Sydney on your own. You might take the ferry across the harbor to Manly, stroll along Circular Quay, or simply enjoy this “walkabout” city. Tonight, enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
B,D—Rydges World Square Sydney or similar
DAY 18 • Return to U.S.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or begin your New Zealand: Auckland, Queenstown & Milford Sound Cruise post-trip extension.
B
2025 Departure Dates & Prices
Small Group Adventure only
Months That You Pay in Full Prior to Your Final Payment Due Date (90 days prior to your departure date)
Additional departure cities are available. Call for details.
$500perperson. Charlotte
Single Supplement: FREE. Single accommodations are limited. If single rooms are full, ask about our Roommate Matching Service.
GOVERNMENT TAXES AND FEES The following government taxes and fees are now included in your airfare price. Government and other authority taxes and fees: September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 USD applies per passenger, per flight segment (maximum charge per trip—$5.00 USD one-way, $10.00 USD round trip). A flight segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) of up to $18 per passenger. Federal Domestic Flight Segment Fee of up to $3.70 USD applies per passenger, per flight segment (defined as a takeoff and a landing). U.S. or International Departure and Arrival Charges of up to $200 USD may apply depending on itinerary. On select itineraries that include the purchase of a pre- and/or post-trip extension, U.S. or international departure and arrival charges of up to $300 USD may apply. Call for details. Standard Policies and Terms & Conditions apply; see www.oattravel.com/tc for details. See www.oattravel.com/disclaimers for full policy details. Every effort has been made to publish this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors.
Make your final payment by check within 120 days
Good Buy Plan savings are calculated based on total reservation cost. For more information, visit www.oattravel.com/gbd