SYDNEY MARATHON TOUR PACKAGE SEPTEMBER 2007


SYDNEY
5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS (4 star accommodation)


DAY 1 ARRIVE SYDNEY

Arrive into Sydney ex flight from LAX. You will be met and transferred to your hotel by your driver.
Accommodation: Amora  Jamison Hotel  5 nights

DAY 2 SYDNEY – HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Discover all the highlights of this vibrant city. See bustling cosmopolitan suburbs, enjoy spectacular harbour views and visit famous Bondi Beach. Pass through the historical Rocks area and Circular Quay. Morning tea stop at famous Bondi Beach (own expense). View the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and visit Mrs. Macquarie's Chair. Travel through Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross and Double Bay. Stop at 'The Gap', the heads of the Harbour for photo opportunities.
Remainder of day at leisure.

DAY 3 SYDNEY - MARATHON, EVENING DINNER (D)

This morning make your own way across the Bridge for the walk over to North Sydney for the starting point of the Sydney Marathon.
Later this evening, please make your own way to the Nick’s Seafood Restaurant for this evening’s Post Celebration Dinner.

DAY 4 SYDNEY – FULL DAY BLUE MOUNTAINS TOUR (L)

Depart this morning, traveling in luxury 4WD, see the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge, before enjoying a memorable wildlife park visit. See koalas, kangaroos up close plus friendly dingoes - and yes, even pat the koalas!
Explore historic Richmond before traveling deep into the Blue Mountains. Enjoy morning tea in the bush surrounded by wildlife, sample “bush Billy Tea” and hear the stories. In 4WD’s, experience the real back country with magnificent cliffs, canyons and world heritage wilderness. Stretch your legs if you like with a short bush walk. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch. See the renowned Three Sisters plus Australia’s Grand Canyon.
On route see the spectacular 2000 Olympic Games site. Return directly to all Sydney hotels after a fantastic Blue Mountains Wildlife Day!

DAY 5 SYDNEY – DAY PERIOD BRIDGE CLIMB

This morning you will have to make your own way to Sydney Harbour Bridge for climbing. You get a real overall sense of Sydney from the harbour and Opera House, across to the coastline and right out to the Blue Mountains. Climbing in the day has a vibrant, bustling, energetic feel.
In every direction you look you're bowled over by an awesome view of the world's most beautiful harbour. Nothing else in Sydney gives you this breathtaking perspective.


DAY 6 DEPART SYDNEY

You will be met by your driver and transferred to airport for your flight to Cairns.

POST MARATHON OPTIONAL CAIRNS PACKAGE September 2007
4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS (4 star accommodation)


DAY 1 ARRIVE CAIRNS

On arrival into the Cairns you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel located in Palm Cove. (approximately a 20 minutes)
Accommodation: Novotel Rockford Palm Cove  4 nights

DAY 2 FULL DAY RAINFOREST TOUR (L)

The 19km (12 miles) trail follows country that ranges in hiking difficulty from easy flat land to undulating country. The World Heritage Listed Wooroonooran National Park is located in a valley between the two tallest mountains of Queensland, Mt. Bartle Frere (1622m) and Mt. Bellenden Ker (1592m), and is a short drive south of Cairns. Aborigines used the trail for thousands of years, as later did gold prospectors.
This rainforest contains refuge areas where some species of wildlife and plant life exist unchanged for millions of years. You will experience spectacular scenery every step of the way. After lunch on some large rocks in the middle of the East Mulgrave River, you can revitalize yourself in the crystal-clear freshwater swimming holes.
The marvellous rainforest locations we visit are remote and we seldom meet other hikers. Frequently encountered animals include colourful parrots, butterflies, kingfishers, wild pigs and occasionally, the king of the rainforest, the Cassowary.


DAY 3 FULL DAY GREAT BARRIER REEF CRUISE (L)

Exploring the Great Barrier Reef will be the most memorable day of your life. The Michaelmas Cay Cruise offers a wide range of activities including snorkelling, scuba diving (both certified and first time beginner), semi-submersible coral viewing, coral cay scientific tours, nature walks among a bird sanctuary, live musical entertainment and a glass of champagne on the homeward sail, lunch and morning and afternoon teas.

DAY 4 PALM COVE, EVENING – TJAPUKAI BY NIGHT (D)

Day at leisure
In the evening you will transfer to Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, where different strands of indigenous life are exhibited, performed, and learned.
Experience Tjapukai by Night. This powerful cultural presentation includes a spirit welcome and lakeside fire ceremony followed by a buffet dinner and performance by the world famous Tjapukai Dancers.

You will be transferred back to your hotel.


DAY 5 DEPART PALM COVE

Transfer from the hotel to Cairns airport for the flight to LAX or Melbourne.



POST MARATHON MELBOURNE PACKAGE September 2007
4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS (4 star accommodation)

DAY 1 ARRIVE MELBOURNE (D)

On arrival to Melbourne airport you will be transferred to the hotel for quick check-in and then you will be transferred for your early dinner at Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.
Dining in Melbourne can be a fabulous experience, especially aboard the fleet of historical trams that have become The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. These glossy, burgundy restaurants on wheels are the first travelling tramcar restaurants in the world and ensure a delightful innovative approach to dining. As they cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, diners can enjoy our fine cuisine and drink the very best of Australian wines or make a selection from our fully stocked bar at a fully inclusive price. The atmosphere is cosy, the service friendly and the decor as inviting as the colonial period these trams reflect. The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant officially commenced operation in August 1983 and has since become a star attraction and tourist symbol for the city of Melbourne. Dining aboard the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is not only a culinary delight, but also a trip into a little piece of Victoria's history.
After dinner you will be transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Radisson on Flagstaff Hotel 4 nights

DAY 2 MELBOURNE - PHILLIP ISLAND

This morning is at leisure to explore town on your own and have lunch of your choice. Afternoon, you will be picked up at the hotel by your coach driver and depart for one of the most popular tours from Melbourne. Every evening at dusk the Little Penguins come from the sea at Phillip Island. From the waves-across the beach-to the sand dunes-the fairy penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. Sunset at Summerland Beach has drawn millions of visitors to Phillip Island. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthral you as you observe from the beach and the elevated boardwalk.

DAY 3 MELBOURNE – SAVANNAH WALKABOUT (L)

We depart Melbourne at around 9.30am to travel just 45 minutes to the west to Serendip Open Range Sanctuary, where we are immediately amongst wild kangaroos and native birds. Often our entrance is heralded by the screeching of Cockatoos or the chattering of Honeyeaters. After a short walk to meet the kangaroos, we begin our special Safari Drive around the Sanctuary to see emus and huge wild mobs of kangaroos. We stop often to enjoy the antics of the animals, and disembark for short walks to the billabong (home to large populations of waterbirds) and through the gum trees.
Before lunch we visit a protected population of wallabies and get close to some strange Australian birds. Our picnic lunch is served in an open-air setting at the Sanctuary, and includes fruit and cakes, coffee and delicious Australian "Billy tea". Your guide will explain the history and recipe for the traditional tea of the Swagmen.
Leaving Serendip, we travel just 20 minutes further west to the bushland of Brisbane Ranges National Park. The park is home to a large and healthy population of wild Koalas, which we research and monitor to ensure the best possible sightings. We take a very easy walk through the gum trees, searching for koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and birds in their natural setting. Your guide will point out plants and features of interest, explain some of the history of the area and, where possible, introduce you to known, named koalas that are part of our research project.
The area we walk through is of great significance to the local Aboriginal People of the Wathaurong Tribe. Freshwater lakes and billabongs nearby provided a rich food source for them, and some signs of their occupation still remain. Your guide will share their knowledge with you. Though we will not be meeting any Aboriginal People on this tour, we act with the knowledge, consent and support of the Wathaurong Community.
We return to Melbourne at about 6pm.

DAY 4 GREAT OCEAN ROAD (L)

You will be picked up this morning for your full day tour to The Great Ocean Road.

Starting 100km south west of Melbourne the Great Ocean Road works its way along the stunning coastline of Victoria's south-west. Recognised as one of the world's most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road stretches for over 300 kilometres, from Torquay, just south of Geelong, to Warrnambool. For most of the distance the road hugs the coastline.
Torquay is a popular surfing spot and the Road leads past a collection of surfing and swimming beaches. Between Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay the road features the beautiful contrast of the ocean beaches on one side and the forests and mountains of the Otway Ranges on the other. The Otway Ranges stretch from Anglesea to Cape Otway and offer beautiful hills, waterfalls, excellent walking tracks and picnic spots. At Apollo Bay the Great Ocean Road leaves the coast and winds through the rainforest of Cape Otway.
The Great Ocean Road returns to hug the coastline along the entire length of the Port Campbell National Park. This stretch offers dramatic coastal scenery, with the road twisting and turning. Along this stretch of the Great Ocean Road is an amazing collection of rock sculptures such as 'The Twelve Apostles' - huge stone pillars looming out of the surf - and 'London Bridge', a rocky promontory arch carved out by the sea.
Lunch at Apollo bay


DAY 5 DEPART MELBOURNE

Transfer from the hotel to Melbourne airport for your flight to LAX. Please be waiting outside your hotel for the transfer.


              

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