EXPLORING AUSTRALIA (PX2012)

Day 1:
Arrive in Cairns, Australia. G’day and welcome to Australia! Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 2:
Cairns. Great Barrier Reef Excursion. Board a fast catamaran for a CRUISE to Green Island, one of the many tropical islands on Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. Here you can choose to SNORKEL, take a GLASS-BOTTOM BOAT TOUR, or walk through the island’s cool rainforest. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. You might consider upgrading to a full-day excursion to the Outer Barrier Reef. In the evening, consider a unique experience at the famous Flames of the Forest, where you enjoy tropical dining in an actual rainforest and authentic Aboriginal culture through storytelling and music (operates seasonally). Or, consider a sunset cruise followed by a delicious dinner at a waterfront restaurant. (B)

Day 3:
Cairns–Darwin. This morning, enjoy a special visit to CAIRNS TROPICAL ZOO for your chance to meet Australia’s native animals. You’ll also enjoy breakfast in the park, a talk by a wildlife keeper, and will have the opportunity to have your picture taken with a koala! Afterward, you may choose to join our optional trip to Kuranda via the old scenic rail route. See magnificent scenery, lush rainforests, and twisting waterfalls from the comfort of a restored, historic mountain train. For the return journey you may choose to take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Or, take a tour to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park—a fascinating portrayal of Aboriginal culture, dance, and folklore. Then, fly to the top end of Australia to Darwin, famous for its strategic importance during WWII. (B)

Day 4:
Darwin–Kakadu National Park. Today, see giant termite nests on the way to KAKADU NATIONAL PARK. Explore parts of nearly 7,300 square miles of unspoiled waterways with a rich heritage of Aboriginal culture and stop at the Bowali Visitor Centre to learn about Kakadu’s habitats. CRUISE waterways where you may view crocodiles, and walk ancient trails to see Aboriginal rock petroglyphs. An optional light-aircraft flight over the park should not be missed. Dinner tonight is at your hotel. (B,D)

Note:
During the wet season (December through April) it can be difficult to see crocodiles in the wild.

Day 5:
Kakadu National Park–Darwin. Depart your hotel this morning and stop at WINDOWS ON THE WETLANDS VISITOR CENTRE, an interactive display of Kakadu fauna. Return to Darwin for sightseeing. See the elegant colonial architecture of the city’s historic buildings that survived Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Visit the splendid BOTANIC GARDENS and beautiful East Point, an area rich in WWII memorabilia. Also visit the ART GALLERY to view fine collections of Aboriginal art. (B)

Day 6:
Darwin–Alice Springs–Ayers Rock. During a brief stop in Alice Springs, enjoy a visit to the SCHOOL OF THE AIR to learn how education services are provided to children living in the vast Outback. Then, visit the OLD TELEGRAPH STATION to discover how the locals live in this remote area and to learn the history of how the early settlers developed communication. On to Anzac Hill, a tribute to the war heroes of Australia and New Zealand. Afterward, fly to Ayers Rock. Travel to a popular lookout to enjoy views of the magnificent Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), a geological splendor of some 30 brilliant monoliths. There is time to take photos before returning for a TOUR around the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and to “Sunset Strip” for a drink, canapés, and to witness the changing colors of the rock. (B)

Day 7:
Ayers Rock–Alice Springs. For an unforgettable experience, rise early for an optional camel ride to watch the sunrise at Uluru. Then, fly to Alice Springs and visit the ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE to appreciate how medical service are provided to those in remote regions. The afternoon is at leisure. You may want to visit the Desert Park to learn more about the flora and fauna of the Australian desert. Tonight, enjoy a unique Aussie experience—an OUTBACK BARBECUE that features a meal of typical campfire fare, fascinating tales of the Outback, and Aboriginal folklore. (B,D)

Day 8:
Alice Springs–Ghan Train. This morning, enjoy free time to relax. Later, a highlight of your vacation begins as you board the GHAN TRAIN for an overnight journey that offers a fascinating perspective of the Outback. (B,L,D)

Day 9:
Ghan Train–Adelaide. Arrive in Adelaide for a city tour along the wide tree-lined streets and well-manicured gardens. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Day 10:
Adelaide. The day is at leisure. You may choose a full-day trip to Kangaroo Island, one of the world’s last unspoiled habitats. (B)

Day 11:
Adelaide–Barossa Valley–Melbourne. Today, drive to the BAROSSA VALLEY with its Bavarian villages, baroque Italianate chateaux, and stunning vineyard scenery. Breathe in the beauty of the Adelaide Hills in the leafy greenness of the quaint yet charming villages. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch and sample some of Australia’s premium wines at a LOCAL WINERY. Later this afternoon, fly to Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city. (B,L)

Day 12:
Melbourne. Today’s tour includes landmarks such as Parliament House and the Shrine of Remembrance, a tribute to Australia’s war heroes. Visit beautiful FITZROY GARDENS and then drive past the lush Royal Botanic Gardens. You’ll soon discover the differing architectural influences of this city as you see the Victorian Arts Centre and other buildings of significance. For a unique dining experience, join an optional outing on board a historic tramcar restaurant as it winds its way through the streets of Melbourne. Later this afternoon, drive to Phillip Island to see a PENGUIN PARADE from an exclusive viewing platform. (B,D)

Day 13:
Melbourne. Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this multicultural and cosmopolitan city. Dine at a local restaurant and immerse yourself in Melbourne’s passionate food and wine scene—or walk along Chapel and Brunswick Streets, famous for great shopping. Take a trip outside of town to sample award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley or drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the “Twelve Apostles.” (B)

Day 14:
Melbourne–Hobart. Fly to Hobart, Tasmania, home of the famed Tasmanian Devil. (B)

Day 15:
Hobart. Excursion to Port Arthur. Today’s tour of the scenic Tasman Peninsula features the blowhole, the Devil’s Kitchen, and the Tasman Arch coastal formations. Visit PORT ARTHUR, where the first convicts arrived in the 1830s. A guided tour of the Penal Settlement shows you the ruins of the 4-story penitentiary and the model prison—grim reminders of Australia’s days as a penal colony. Also included is a short stop at a nearby WILDLIFE SANCTUARY to see the famous Tasmanian Devil, the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial. (B)

Day 16:
Hobart–Sydney. Today, fly to Sydney, the largest city in Australia. The afternoon is at leisure for you to discover this exciting and beautiful city on your own. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for optional activities. (B)

Day 17:
Sydney. Today, explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Travel to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair in the city’s BOTANICAL GARDENS for a great photo opportunity of the harbor, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. Then, take a guided tour of the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a visit to one of the country’s leading OPAL COMPANIES to discover how the beautiful gems are mined. You will also take a CRUISE on Sydney Harbour that highlights this bustling waterway and will tour the world-famous BONDI SURF BATHERS’ LIFE SAVING CLUB and enjoy a lifesaving demonstration! Along the way you will also see some of the city’s original suburbs and the historic Rocks area, home to Sydney’s original convicts. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 18:
Sydney. Enjoy a full day at leisure. Perhaps join our optional excursions to the Blue Mountains or to Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s leading wine-growing regions. You can even climb to the top of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge! Your Tour Director will help you make the most of this exciting city. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner at a waterfront restaurant with fantastic views of the highlights of Sydney. (B,D)

Day 19:
Sydney. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Don't miss our current specials: Save $500 Per Couple On Globus 2012 Tanzania Tour   Admire herds of elephant as they thunder across the savannah grasslands, see a pride of lions lounging in the sun, and witness the free spirit of the birds flying overhead. Highlights on this tour include Tarangire National Park, with the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. With its permanent water source, it's a great place to see elephant, eland, zebra, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, and more. Lake Manyara National Park is home to the world's largest concentration of baboons and over 400 species of birds. Also visit Serengeti National Park, Tanzania's largest park and home to the "Big 5"—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. Ngorongoro Crater, which is technically a caldera, offers you the best possibility of seeing the rare black rhinoceros. This trip offers you not only amazing opportunities to see wildlife, it also gives you a chance to get an insight into the local culture. Visit a local Maasai village to learn about this semi-nomadic tribe. Also, visit Olduvai Gorge, where remains of hominids and fossilized hominid footprints were discovered—providing new facts into human evolution. Terms & Conditions: Book a 2012 Globus Tanzania: The Savannah & Beyond vacation (QZ) to receive $250 off per person. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between September 7, 2011 and September 25, 2012 for travel in select months of 2012. Not combinable with other offers, Second Tour Discount, Big Savings for Small Groups and Book Early & Save and Journeys Club Repeat Traveler benefit. Applies to new 2012 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Globus Year Round Discounts - SAVE up to 10% Globus Year Round Discounts   Young Traveler Discounts         With Globus, travel is definitely a family affair. Young travelers ages 8-17 receive a 10% discount on the land-only portion of their Globus vacation. 10% off Young Traveler discount based on the full land-only cost of the tour. Does not apply to Avalon Waterways. To receive the Young Traveler discount, the age of the traveler must qualify at commencement of services. Discount is applicable to any accommodation. On Monograms, children of all ages are welcome. Discount for Repeat Travelers         Journeys Club members can save 5% on any 2012 Globus vacation. This is on top of other great member benefits, including exclusive deal alerts throughout the year, unique travel accessories, and special partner discounts and benefits.  Must be a Journeys Club member at the time of booking to receive 5% discount on the land-only portion of Globus, Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon Waterways core tour, package or cruise, not including extra night accommodations, extensions, taxes/fees, tips and supplements. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 10, 2011 and December 31, 2012 for travel commencing by December 31, 2012. Must have traveled within the last five years of your booking date to receive discount. Journeys Club discount is not available retroactively. Applies to new 2012 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Second Tour Discount         It pays to travel more often! Book two Globus vacations traveling in the same year and receive 5% off the land portion of your second tour. And if you take three tours, you save 5% on each of your next two. Discount on the land-only portion of core tour, not including extra night accommodations, extensions, taxes/fees, tips and supplements. Does not apply to Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon Waterways. Multiple tours must travel within the same calendar year and must be booked at the same time. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 10, 2011 and December 31, 2012. Discount is calculated off the least expensive tour. Not combinable with any other offer or discount. Offer reliant on space availability, and applies to new 2012 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Book Early & Save         With Globus, planning ahead pays off. Book your 2012 Globus vacation and pay in full 9 months or more prior to your departure and save 10% off the land-only portion of your tour. Requires payment of per person non-refundable deposit at the time of booking and full payment a minimum of 9 months prior to 2012 departure date. Discount based on land-only portion of core tour, not including extra night accommodations, extensions, taxes/fees, tips and supplements. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 10, 2011 and March 31, 2012. Does not apply to Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon Waterways. Not combinable with any other offer or discount other than the Journeys Club repeat traveler benefit. Offer reliant on space availability and applies to new 2012 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Triple Room Reduction         You can also save when three people travel together and share accommodations. Refer to the itinerary pages for the specific reduction per tour. Triple room reduction available on most Globus tours, but check tour itinerary pages for availability and reduction amounts. Also applies to most Cosmos Tours and Monograms packages—check tour/package dates and prices for details. Does not apply to Avalon Waterways. Big Savings for Small Groups        Traveling with family and friends has always been rewarding, and now the rewards can really pile up. Small groups of 5, 6, or 7 can save 5% per person off the land-only portion of Globus vacations. And don't forget: in groups of 8 to 15, one person travels at half-price; in a group of 16+, one person travels free. So, bring others along and multiply the fun—and the savings! Traveling party of 5, 6 or 7 must travel from same origination point and must be advised at the time of booking. Discount on the land-only portion of core tour, not including extra night accommodations, extensions, taxes/fees, tips and supplements. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between August 10, 2011 and December 31, 2012, for travel commencing by December 31, 2012. Does not apply to Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon Waterways. Not combinable with any other offer or discount other than the Journeys Club repeat traveler benefit. Not combinable with other group allowances. Travelers already traveling at a discount, such as children, do not count toward the party total. Offer reliant on space availability, and applies to new 2012 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.   Avoid the Single Room Supplement        We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/11/2012 - 10/1/2012	$8,839
9/25/2012 - 10/15/2012	$8,929
10/9/2012 - 10/29/2012	$8,929
10/23/2012 - 11/12/2012	$8,929
11/6/2012 - 11/26/2012	$8,929
12/4/2012 - 12/24/2012	$8,929
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Globus Disclaimer - Indicates that this departure and vacation is available for 2012 early booking. Book and deposit to lock in an early guaranteed price and save 10% on the land-only price. Booking must be made and under deposit between June 29, 2011 and September 13, 2011 for travel between April 1 and December 31, 2012. All tours will be open for 2012 bookings in the Fall of 2011. Vacation upgrades and/or additions will not be available for early booking, as well as, any extra pre- or post-night pricing until the Fall of 2011. With the exception of Journeys Club discounts, future travel promotions are not applicable and are not retroactive on early bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Applies to new 2012 bookings only. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

Price Details US
Dates and Prices do not include air travel.Participation in this tour requires purchase of the following flights from Globus, not included in pricing: (1) roundtrip air from your U.S. gateway and intra-tour air segments, starting at $3516 (based on Los Angeles, departure in March, 2012); or (2) intra-tour air segments only. Required intra-tour air segments are: Cairns/Darwin; Darwin/Ayers Rock; Ayers Rock/Alice Springs; Adelaide/Melbourne; Melbourne/Hobart; Hobart/Sydney; Sydney/Auckland; Rotorua/Dunedin. When planning your trip, please allow two extra days before tour date for travel between the USA and the South Pacific. Air prices were effective on August 10, 2011 and their availability is limited. At the time you purchase your tour, air prices may be higher. Prices based on double room occupancy.Single Room Supplement: $1800Triple rooms are not available.Extra Nights per person in Cairns:in single room $231; in twin room $104.Extra Nights per person in Sydney:January 1-25: in single room $298; in twin room $159.January 26-29, April 2-October 7, December 14-24: in single room $267; in twin room $125.January 30-April 1 & October 8-December 13: in single room $249; in twin room $136.December 25-December 31: in single room $571; in twin room $302.2013 prices and itineraries are subject to change. Details will be available in August 2012.

Related Tours
PXE|Add Fiji to Your Vacation

Save $500 Per Couple On Globus 2012 Tanzania Tour

Globus Year Round Discounts - SAVE up to 10%

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour's average rating:

Thanks for voting !

(4 out of 5, Based on 1 ratings) Write a review.

 

The most recent reviews for this tour:

---

Thanks for voting !

Chaas rated this tour a 4 on 8/8/2011 12:43:42 AM and says:

"Our travel agency recommended this tour when we told her that we wanted to see as much as possible in about 3 weeks.  It was a wonderful experience.  The accomodations and included meals were good quality.  Several meals includes wine.  The Ghan train trip was AMAZING.  Overall a great way to see lots of Australia.
"

Related Travel Articles

• Travel Improves Your Health
• Sydney Opera House: One of the World's Most Iconic Buildings
• Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010
• About Trafalgar Tours
• PERSONALIZE YOUR HONEYMOON - STRESS-FREE - WITH MONOGRAMS
• Touring Australia and New Zealand
• Royal Caribbean Cruises for 2011
• Fascinating Sydney, Australia
• Collette Exporations: Small Group Travel...Big Experiences
• World's Greatest Rail Journeys
• Culinary Cruises 2011
• Toms Shoes Coupons : perfect travel shoes
• Family Travel: Exploring the World Together
• Places to Travel in October
• UNESO World Heritage Sites
• Where Can Globus Take you in 2012