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The Australian Grand Tour
There’s only one way to visit the land down under, and that’s to do it big.
OverviewOur Grand Tour explores five of Australia’s vast and contrasting states, its breathtaking landscapes and climates each unique and different from the last.
Starting in Melbourne, a city of great culture, we’ll explore on foot or by tram, with a visit to the beautiful botanical gardens. Leaving the metropolis and into the countryside, spot koalas and encounter the stunning highlights of the Great Ocean Road with breathtaking coastal views.
Adelaide is next, a picturesque city and our gateway to fascinating Kangaroo Island with our local guide, experiencing the huge diversity of natural bush life and spectacular birdlife; we’ll also stroll through a wild seal colony.
Arriving at Alice Springs, we travel along the Western MacDonnell ranges to Glen Helen where we follow the famous Larapinta trail on foot. Then Kings Canyon, the otherworldly hidden jewel of Australia’s red centre, bringing us to the iconic Uluru – Ayers Rock. Our journey continues to Darwin, to explore Kakadu National Park.
From the hot, dry desert we travel to Cape Tribulation’s moist green and lush rainforest. Taking to the water we can snorkel or dive at the remote and undisturbed coast of the Great Barrier Reef.
We touch down at another icon of Australia, Sydney. Stepping outside the city we discover the remarkable beauty of the Blue Mountains, a natural wilderness of untamed bush, spectacular rock formations and wildlife. Amidst the mountains we can reflect on this world class tour, feeling content in the knowledge that we have truly seen and conquered Australia.
*Please Note: This itinerary reflects our September 2012 tour only. Please refer to our Autumn 2011 / Spring 2012 brochure or ask for details of our 28 day March departure.
Holiday Information SheetAll Holiday Information sheets are in PDF format. You will need Acrobat Reader or a similar program to view these. To download Acrobat Reader visit get.adobe.com/reader.
Highlights- Trek to stunning highlights of the Great Ocean Road, including the eight remaining of the once twelve Apostles.
- Visit the fascinating Kangaroo Island with a local guide.
- The iconic and very spectacular Ayers Rock.
- Explore Kakadu National Park by way of a yellow water cruise.
- Experience the delights of Sydney with its neon city lights, glorious opera house and stunning harbour views.
OvernightMarch 2012: Outward flight (1), Melbourne (2), Apollo Bay (3), Adelaide (3), Glen Helen (2), Kings Canyon (1), Uluru (2), Alice Springs (1), Darwin (2), Daintree (3), Tablelands (2), Sydney (2), Blue Mountains (1), Sydney (1), overnight return flight (1).
September 2012: Outward flight (2), Melbourne (1), Apollo Bay (3), Adelaide (3), Glen Helen (2), Kings Canyon (1), Uluru (2), Alice Springs (1), Darwin (2), Daintree (3), Sydney (2), Blue Mountains (1), overnight return flight (1).
MealsHalf board with all breakfasts at hotels and 18 dinners and two lunches either at hotels or local restaurants.
AccommodationTourist class hotels throughout.
Travel- Flights operate to Melbourne and return from Sydney. Internal flights Melbourne–Adelaide–Alice Springs–Darwin–Cairns–Sydney.
- UK add-on flights from £85 return, British Airways.
- Upgrades: details on request.
- Travel in Australia is by air, road and boat. Arrival transfer c30mins.
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Weather Information Click here .
Diving on the coral reef was an amazing experience and the two young men who took us there and supervized us were very g...
The holiday to Australia was excellent very busy but that is what you want when you go so far.
Clive has been leading for Ramblers Worldwide since 1992, with over 210 tours on five continents. His regular destinations nowadays are Dubrovnik, France, Germany, Tuscany, and the Channel Islands.
