Trafalgar Tours Australia New Zealand

Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

TRAFALGAR TOURS OFFERS THREE DISTINCTIVE VACATION STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Understanding that every destination and everyone is not the same, Trafalgar offer three styles of vacation for you to choose from.  Each vacation choice has been carefully designed so you truly experience the destination, learn about the culture and see the world through the eyes of the locals.  Trafalgar's goal is to ensure you have the perfect vacation experience.

Free and Easy

Free and Easy touring with Trafalgar Tours specially desgined, free and easy vacations.  It’s the perfect balance between superbly organized sightseeing scenic drives and time to explore on our own.  Enjoy longer stays in each exciting destination, offering you the chance to really absorb the atmosphere of the beautiful places you visit. 

We offer you an array of exciting activities to enhance your vacation, giving you the freedom to decide which ones you want to join in on and those you don’t.  Spend the significant amount of free time in each destination exactly how you want.  Shop for new season fashion along uber-cool Chapel Street in Melbourne, explore the major sights of each lively city, relax on the world famous beaches or take advantage of the sightseeing and other exciting excursions we organize for you.

Discovery Tours

Australia and New Zealand are lands of many contrasts.  From Australia’s breathtaking coastlines, to its sprawling Red Centre; or the wonderful lush country side to the magical fjords of "the land of the long white cloud", at Trafalgar, we will ensure you see all this and everything in between.  Trafalgar’s Australia and New Zealand Discoveries present a range of first class, all inclusive escorted tours, allowing you to take in all the amazing sights, sounds and smells of these awe-inspiring countries.

Discoveries offer an unforgettable journey exploring the history, culture and traditions of Australia and New Zealand.  Choose from 10 perfectly designed itineraries ranging from 11-day tours to 24-day tours, all of which are accompanied by one of Trafalgar’s experienced Tour Directors who will bring each destination to life.  You’ll be chauffeured in style and comfort onboard luxury coaches, stay in firs class hotels in perfect locations, dine on delicious meals to arouse your taste buds and enjoy sightseeing with expert local guides.

A La Carte Touring

Explore, absorb and fall in love with some of the South Pacific’s most fascinating cities, resorts and scenic wonderlands with Trafalgar’s A La Carte Touring program.  Tailor-make your ideal vacations by incorporating a first class A La Carte Touring option to your Australian and New Zealand experience.  The program includes the perfect mix of mini-stay style vacations and stopover options designed to complement an already amazing adventure.

You will have the chance to escape to the colorful Great Barrier Reef, stand in awe of the Three Sisters found in the picturesque Blue Mountains, wander the chic streets of Melbourne and so much more.  The A La Carte Touring program offers you the freedom and choice of an independent vacation with the benefit of an escorted tour.  Enjoy the chance to mix and match the fantastic vacations together or include them as an additional extra to your Trafalgar tour – it’s your holiday, your choice!

Australia Travel

Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Australia's Diverse Ecosystems

There's more to Australia than Crocodile Dundee and putting shrimp on the barbie. It's actually an incredibly diverse country. From cosmopolitan cities, to the immense expanse of the Outback, to the sub-tropical Gold Coast, Australia is a world in a country. Here's a closer look at some Australian states and territories and the unique highlights of each.

South Australia. Home to Australia's picturesque wine country, South Australia enjoys a moderate climate year round. The lovely town of Adelaide, known as "The City of Churches," attracts travelers with a wealth of cultural events and the unspoiled natural habitat on Kangaroo Island.

Northern Territory. Visitors can experience tropical, crocodile country in the north of this large territory and the heart of the Outback in the South. Its most famous attraction is Ayres Rock, said to embody the spirit and strength of the ancient Aboriginal culture.

Queensland. Also known as Australia's Sunshine State, Queensland boasts the captivating Gold Coast, including the Great Barrier Reef. Visit Brisbane, one of Australia's fastest growing cities, and enjoy the tropical rainforests surrounding Cairns, the gateway to the reefs.

New South Wales. Home to the Pacific's pearl city, Sydney, New South Wales enjoys a subtropical climate and a wealth of natural resources.

Victoria. The smallest of the states, Victoria is also Australia's most populous. The capital city of Melbourne combines old European elegance and new-world style.

Tasmania. Known as the "Apple Isle," the abundance of lakes, mountains, beaches and waterfalls make this tiny island appealing to travelers. Initially a prison island, Tasmania is also infamous for the rare marsupial wolf that calls it home-the Tasmanian Devil.

Information obtained from Globus Journeys.

To view Globus Australia vacations, click here.

Australia Travel Tips

Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2011

When you are planning a vacation to Australia and the South Pacific, please remember that Australia is an island the size of the U.S.A. It is wider across than the distance from New York to Los Angeles but has a population of only 20 million people.

Passports and Visas

A valid visa is required for all people wishing to travel to Australia. Visitors of all nationalities (except Australian and New Zealand passport holders) must obtain a visa prior to arrival.

Atlas will issue your Electronic Visas complimentary when you book a tour vacation with us.

Currency

The Australian unit of currency is the Australian dollar.

Credit Cards & Traveler's Checks

Exchange facilities can be found at all international airports and foreign currency or travelers’ checks can be exchanged at banks and large hotels. Normal bank opening hours are from 9:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Thursday and 9:00am to 5:00pm on Friday. All major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, banks and most stores.

Goods and Services Tax

All goods and services purchased in Australia are subject to a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is usually included in the displayed price. You may apply for a refund on the GST but only on goods costing A$300 (GST inclusive) or more, bought from the same store no more than 30 days before you leave Australia, which are to be taken with you as hand luggage or worn onto the aircraft upon your departure. Further information is available from Australian Customs upon arrival.

Electricity

The electricity current in Australia is 220–240 volts; AC 50Hz. The Australian 3-pin power outlet is different so you will need an adapter socket. Check your appliances to see if there is a 100–240v switch. If not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240v or 110v shavers are usually found in leading stores.

Climate

Australia is largely a temperate island destination. The seasons are the opposite to the seasons in North America. Some areas of Northern Australia experience a tropical climate, so be prepared for pleasantly warmer weather.

Shopping

Australia is a true shopping heaven. All major cities have extensive shopping facilities with malls, arcades and specialty shops selling a wide range of home-produce and international products. In the last few years Aboriginal art has increased in popularity. Duty-free shopping can be enjoyed in every capital city and international airports.

Fine Food and Wine

If you’re passionate about fine food and wine, you’ll fall in love with Australia. Fresh seafood is widely available. For something unique, try ‘fusion’ food, combining the best flavors from Asian, European and Australian cuisine. Australian wines are renowned throughout the world.

Tahiti

Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2011

Tahiti and Her Islands are what you've always imagined the South Seas to be - an idyllic getaway from the stress of the modern world, resembling heaven more than earth. The palm-fringed beaches of Bora Bora are the perfect launch into the striking coral reefs, abundant with colorful marine life. Moorea's deep and spectacular bays are surrounded by green-covered mountains that rise from the bottom of the sea, and the panorama from Belvedere Lookout is breathtaking. Tahiti, the largest island, is for the person who wants to try a little of everything that the modern and natural worlds have to offer.

On all the islands, you can spend endless days snorkeling and diving, or swimming side-by-side with turtles and manta rays. Feel the cooling breeze in your hair as you parasail or jet ski. Check out the local markets for original art, pearls and wooden carvings. Sample fine dining with influences from France and the South Pacific, and stay in accommodations ranging from exquisite beachside resorts to intimate bungalows. No matter which island you visit, you'll find the same untouched environment that inspired the great paintings of Gauguin, and countless others.

Fun Fact: In Tahiti, it’s common for women to walk around with a fragrant white blossom called tiare, the island’s national flower, behind one’s ear. However, the placement of the tiare is very telling, so couples take note. Placing the flower on the left side means you are taken, and the right side means you are available.

The Authentic Side of Australia

Posted on Monday, June 20, 2011

If you’re looking for something “authentic,” a place that has meaning in other people’s lives, and might bring some new meaning into yours – Northern Territory’s Uluru (Ayers Rock,) is a magical destination.

In the red centre of Australia, not far from legendary Alice Springs, Uluru is so much more than a big rock.  In fact, big doesn’t begin to describe it.  Uluru is actually the summit of a buried sandstone hill and as much as two-thirds of it may be hidden beneath the surrounding plain.  The world’s largest monolith, it rises 1,141 feet from the desert floor, is 2.2 miles long and nearly six miles around.

Uluru figures prominently in Aboriginal creation myths and its power is tangible.  Local Anyang guides speak reverently as they lead visitors past caves, rock art and sacred sites.  Over thousands of years, the continent’s earliest residents recorded their beliefs and stories in the stone as well as in artworks exhibited in galleries, art centers and museums.  A UNESCO World Heritage site, Uluru is truly spectacular, especially at down and sunset as the rock glows red against the deep blue sky.

Click to view our featured Australia tours