Aboriginal artist , Outback , Australia
ASIA & SOUTH PACIFIC
Milford Sound , New Zealand Great Barrier Reef , Australia
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 • Melbourne , Australia At your hotel in Melbourne , meet your fellow travelers , including those who took our optional Undiscovered Tasmania pre-trip extension .
Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne or similar
DAY 4 • Explore Melbourne • Koorie Heritage Trust visit
Visit Koorie Heritage Trust to learn how the land on which Melbourne was built has changed over time , and discover the art installations that aim to teach visitors about the local Kulin peoples . Later , enjoy a Welcome Dinner .
Meals : B , L , D | Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne or similar
DAY 5 • Melbourne • Optional Dandenong Ranges tour
Enjoy time on your own today , or experience the tranquility of the Dandenong Ranges on an optional tour .
Meals : B | Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne or similar
DAY 6 • Alice Springs • Old Telegraph Station • School of the Air
Fly to Australia ’ s Alice Springs , a quintessential Outback town , and visit the old Telegraph Station . Then , stop at the Alice Springs School of the Air , a school dedicated to enhancing the learning experiences of children in remote Australian areas .
Meals : B , L | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs or similar
DAY 7 • The Outback • Outback Camping experience
En route to our overnight Outback camping experience , stop at Simpsons Gap and Finke River before arriving at your private campsite for views of the sun setting over the horizon .
Meals : B , L , D | Private Tented Camp
DAY 8 • Outback • Kings Canyon • Ayers Rock ( Uluru )
Tour the walking trails of Kings Canyon on the way to Yulara , just outside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park .
Meals : B , L , D | Desert Gardens Hotel or similar
DAY 9 • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park • Ayers Rock ( Uluru )
Discover Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and its rock formations . Later , watch the sun set over Ayers Rock ( Uluru ), an Aboriginal spiritual site for over 20,000 years .
Meals : B , L | Desert Gardens Hotel or similar
DAY 10 • Optional Scenic Helicopter Flight • Cairns • Port Douglas
Choose to take an optional scenic helicopter flight out over Uluru and Kata Tjuta . Then , fly to Cairns , and transfer to Port Douglas .
Meals : B | Oaks Port Douglas Resort or similar
DAY 11 • Port Douglas • Mossman Gorge • Controversial Topic : Coral bleaching
After looking for crabs and sea snails with spears at Cooya Beach , visit Mossman Gorge , gateway to Daintree Rainforest . Outside the hotel , a marine biologist will discuss the Controversial Topic of mass coral bleaching events .
Meals : B , L , D | Oaks Port Douglas Resort or similar
DAY 12 • Port Douglas • Cruise to the Great Barrier Reef
Board a catamaran with a marine biologist to the outer reef for swimming , snorkeling , or viewing the wonders of the reef .
Meals : B , L , D | Oaks Port Douglas Resort or similar
DAY 13 • Port Douglas • Optional Best of Australia ’ s Wildlife tour
Enjoy a day of independent discoveries or join an optional half-day tour featuring the best of Australia ’ s wildlife .
Meals : B | Oaks Port Douglas Resort or similar
DAY 14 • Sydney Set off on a flight from Cairns to Sydney . You ’ ll arrive in Sydney early this evening with some time to explore the city independently .
Meals : B | Novotel Sydney Darling Square or similar
DAY 15 • Sydney • Sydney Opera House Enjoy a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House and a walking tour of the historic Rocks District .
Meals : B , L | Novotel Sydney Darling Square or similar
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www . oattravel . com / azo 95