Get your trip off to a chilled out start in the stunning Whitsunday Islands, where relaxing, working on your tan & having a good time is all you need to think about! As you make your way south enjoy a good 'ol Aussie 'knees-up' at a farmstay and get friendly with koalas and kangaroos! En route to Sydney you'll learn to surf in Coffs Harbour, shop the day away or swim 'til your soaked through at trendy Byron Bay before experiencing Sydney & its icons on this 2 week adventure. For departures from October 2012, check out the "Sunsets and Surf (Start Whitsundays)" tour.
| Length: | 14 days |
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| Accommodations: | Resort, Country Homestead, Eco Lodge, Hostel, Surf Village, Hotel as per itinerary
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| Meals: | Dinner, Breakfast as per itinerary
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| Sightseeing: | East Coast, including Sydney, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Noosa, Fraser Island & The Whitsundays |
| Transportation: | Modern Coach |
Depart for AustraliaFly over the international date line on your way to Australia.
The WhitsundaysMeet up with the other Contiki travellers and your Tour Manager out on stunning Daydream Island in the famous Whitsundays. Soak up the island’s crystal clear waters and white sands. Tonight, get to know your group and your crew over dinner. Kick back into the island lifestyle and try some of the local beer – it’s good!
The WhitsundaysAfter an included continental breakfast, the first day is free to enjoy the picture-perfect Whitsundays. If you’re keen to explore further afield and see the UNESCO listed Great Barrier Reef first hand, choose our optional trip to the Outer Barrier Reef. Our fun Local Guides will kit you out with snorkel gear and show you around this natural wonder. Otherwise, slow the pace down, kick back and make the most of the fantastic facilities available at the resort. Go for a rainforest walk, swim in the pool, get into some beach or water sports, try your hand at fish-feeding, catch a film at the big outdoor cinema or laze about on the beach. On the second day, get away from it all with our optional day sail. Check out some of the Whitsunday’s 74 islands from the boat - you’ll soon understand why this region is so famous. Experience what is known as one of the top ten beaches in the world, the uninhabited Whitehaven Beach. Swim off the boat and play beach volleyball or cricket with the local skipper and crew before enjoying a tasty lunch and a few drinks on the way back to Daydream Island.
The Whitsundays to FarmstayToday you head back to the mainland, plug in you ipod or chat with friends as we drive through scenic Mackay, with countryside full of vibrant green vegetation and sugar cane plantations. Continue down the Capricorn Coast and head inland to an authentic country homestead, right in the heart of Queensland’s cattle country, for our overnight stay. During our time at Langmorn, a working cattle station, you’ll experience a taste of real Aussie country life. The owners will show you around the enormous property in a behind-the-scenes look at daily life on the farm. Taste local hospitality tonight as your welcoming hosts pile your table high with a hearty roast beef and vegetables (like you've never tasted before) followed by an indulgent home made decadent desert. Later, have a go at whip cracking an authentic leather stock whip under night lights before heading back inside for traditional Aussie bush dancing. Have some fun and a giggle with some evening karaoke. See if you can spot the 'Southern Cross' amongst a chandelier of stars, a constellation only visible in the southern hemisphere & featured on the Australian flag.
Farmstay to Fraser IslandAfter breakfast we drive back out to the coast and jump on board a ferry. Enjoy the cruise out to famous Fraser Island, where we’ll stay at an eco-lodge for our time here. Each cabin has its own kitchenette and living room, as well as a balcony – perfect for hanging out and listening to the sounds of the bush surrounding your lodge. If you're done with the pool and spa, you could take a stroll along the sand, check out the busy crabs on their evening march up the beach or the fish that dart amongst the jetty pylons. Make yourself comfortable on the beach and take in a unique sunset over the water near the Jetty Hut. Tonight, grab a bite to eat at one of the resort restaurants, then grab your dancing shoes and use the coloured chalk to write on the walls of the popular Dingo Bar.
Fraser Island to NoosaExperience a slice of paradise on Fraser Island this morning. This UNESCO World Heritage listed site is the largest sand island in the world and is 800,000 years old. Packed with around 40 fresh-water lakes, lush rainforests and diverse wildlife, Fraser Island lives up to its amazing reputation. There’s a regular shuttle from our accommodation down to the main resort area so you can take off and explore at your own pace. If you want to get a taste of the island action, there’s also the option of jumping on 4 wheels on a 4WD adventure through the island’s sandunes, rainforests & freshwater lakes. Our Local Guide will show you some of the island’s best spots and hidden treasures – make sure you keep your camera handy - this is one of Australia’s most beautiful regions. Once we’re back on the mainland, Noosa is up next. It’s a trendy beach resort town. Have a chat to the locals and maybe get to know a surf lifesaver tonight at your included dinner at Noosa Surf Life Saving Club. Later if you want to take it up a level, head out into the town & explore Noosa by night.
Noosa to Surfers ParadiseThere’s time to explore Noosa this morning so take a stroll through the shops or sunbathe and swim at the beach before we make our way south. We also stop off in Brisbane today. You’ll get a feel for the capital of Queensland’s laid-back atmosphere when we have a look around town. Tonight we pull into legendary Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast’s party hot spot and home to some of the best surfing beaches in the world. Grab some of your new friends and join the party atmosphere of Surfers tonight. With loads of restaurants and buzzing nightlife, there’s something for everybody. Head to the happening Orchid or Cavill Avenues, where clubs and bars line the street or shoot some pool at the pub.
Surfers ParadiseWith a free day, hang out among the bronzed bodies, bikini babes and surfer dudes on the golden sands. Check out what Surfers is most famous for, the three kilometers of gorgeous natural beaches. Kick back and spot some locals showing off their talents in the waves. If you want to get amongst the action there’s so much happening in Surfers Paradise you are spoilt for choice. You could head up into the Hinterland Mountains on a 4WD trip, visit South Stradbroke Island on a kayaking safari or spend all day at Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's Zoo, Australia Zoo. For adrenaline-junkies, there’s an optional tandem skydive or Tiger Moth biplane flight, where you can get your thrills and an amazing bird’s eye view over the Pacific Ocean and myriad of rivers and estuaries that make up the area. Our hotel is only a short walk from both the beach and downtown Surfers Paradise so you could also hit the shops – Surfers has some great places to shop and a huge outlet mall for bargains, so get some tips from your Tour Manager on where’s best to head.
Surfers Paradise to Byron BayThis morning, we visit the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, where you’ll get up close to Australia’s amazing native animals. Cuddle a koala, feed the kangaroos and see wombats, emus, crocodiles, dingoes, Tasmanian devils and colourful birds. You can feel good about doing this too, as our visits to this not-for-profit organisation go towards the sanctuary’s animal hospital and help over 4000 injured animals every year. Next up: cross the Queensland/New South Wales state boarder to one of Aussies not-to-be-missed spots - gorgeous Byron Bay. With a laid-back lifestyle, cute little shops, organic food, alternative therapies and around 30km of pretty beaches, it’s a must see. Byron Bay is situation on a marine park also known for its incredible marine life. Head out to Cape Byron, the mainland Australia’s most easterly point and see the local pod of dolphins and if you’re lucky the seasonal humpback whales. Grab some lunch back in town and maybe take a swim at the beach. There are loads of other things on offer here too, like a sea kayaking adventure where you catch up with a family of dolphins at Wategos beach, their curiosity often brings them right up next your kayak, and snorkeling at Middle reef home to turtles, rays, corals, eels, starfish and sharks.
Byron Bay to Coffs HarbourThis morning you’ll wake up to more good times in Byron Bay. Maybe head to the beach for a swim or a wander round town before it’s time to leave the chilled out atmosphere behind after lunch. Later, there’s more beach action. Tonight we’ll stay in Coffs Harbour, home to surf beaches, fishing and banana plantations. This is a chance for a unique experience with our overnight Special Stay experience – we’re staying at a Surf Village! This afternoon it’s time for an awesome Aussie experience - hit the waves & learn to surf with some professional instructors as you have a go at surfing! Join some of the coolest people on the planet as you get involved with Australia's beach culture. It’s a fun way to learn how to surf as our professional local instructors show you just how it’s done. Our cabins are right on the beach, so soak up the surf vibes, top up your tan and relax by the open fire under the stars tonight.
Coffs Harbour to SydneyThis morning, chill out on the coach and chat with your travel buddies as we head south. We pass the iconic Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, before heading to Port Macquarie for lunch. Relax & spend a last few hours with your travel buddies… it’s a chilled out day before reaching Sydney. From the high-energy downtown area to its popular beaches, Sydney has something for everyone. Get familiar with the city on a sightseeing tour with your Tour Manager. First up, we head into the historic Macquarie Street district, before we make a stop at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, a famous sandstone seat carved by convicts where you’ll get an overview of the glistening harbour. You’ll soon understand why this is one the world’s most beautiful harbour cities. See the sails of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House and the iconic Harbour Bridge. We will pass the iconic ‘Coke Cola Sign’ and cruise along ‘the Strip’ of Kings Cross, and hear stories of the underbelly of Sydney’s Red Light District.
Finish SydneySay a final farewell to your new friends as your trip ends this morning.
All these highlights along with city sightseeing are included in your tour price!