Taking in the best of the east coast, this 9 day introduction to Australia combines three of the country’s most exciting cities with a taste of its Aboriginal heritage, and a chance to visit the Great Barrier Reef.

Day 1: Saturday, August 22 Depart Santa Cruz’s Museum of Modern Art for our scheduled transfer to San Francisco International Airport    Qantas Airlines

QF 50 Non-stop service from SFO departs at 9:00 PM arrive Melbourne 5:30 AM 

Day 2: Sunday, August 23 – Cross the International Dateline

Day 3: Monday, August 24 – Arrive Melbourne, Australia 

Welcome to Melbourne! After clearing arrival formalities, you will be met and escorted to the waiting coach. Enjoy a city sights tour en route to the hotel. Melbourne is Australia’s cosmopolitan and sophisticated lifestyle capital, discover Melbourne’s past and present. The drive will take in the central business district with its eclectic architecture, past the 170 million dollar Victoria Arts Centre. View Captain Cook’s Cottage in the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens with avenues of huge English elms planted along gently contoured lawns. Pass by the Botanical Gardens and observe the hustle and bustle of the famous Queen Victorian Markets. Here you will have time to grab a bite to eat (own expense) and wander the stalls. Continue the tour taking in views of the Shrine of Remembrance and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The tour concludes at your hotel.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Melbourne – Superior Room (3 nights) with full breakfast and porterage

Day 4: Tuesday, August 25 – Melbourne Laneways and Phillip Island

Today you will experience a fantastic combination of two tours: one introducing you to the fabulous hidden laneways and arcades of Melbourne and the other, a popular Penguins Tour to Phillip Island. It’s a long day of touring but well worth the experience!

In the morning, you will be collected by coach and transferred to Federation Square where you will meet your local guide and embark on a casual walking tour of the hidden laneways and historic arcades of Melbourne. You will have the opportunity to meet the designers, learn more about how they approach their craft, plus there will be time for a little shopping or a coffee in what is Australia’s largest labyrinth of cobblestone laneways, and art deco arcades.

You will have lunch and then be collected for your second part of your tour.

Depart Melbourne following the Yarra River through the leafy southeastern suburbs and rural countryside, before arriving at the bridge to Phillip Island. On the island, stop off at Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island

Koala Conservation Centre: Come “face to face” with Koalas in their natural habitat. Explore the treetop boardwalks and troll through the woodlands, home to many animals including wallabies, echidnas, bats and birds.

Churchill Island Heritage Farm: Journey back in time and explore the heritage and tranquil scenery. Wander the old homestead and experience daily heritage farming activities including cow milking, sheep shearing and working dog demonstrations.

Phillip Island Nature Park: Witness the nightly ritual of the fairy penguin parade. Hundreds of little penguins emerge from the sea and waddle resolutely up the beach to their nests. The parade takes place like clockwork a few minutes after sunset each day. Enjoy a more personal viewing experience, limited to 190 people, along with a commentary from an experienced ranger.

 We will have dinner at a local restaurant before heading back to Melbourne.

Day 5: Wednesday, August 26 – Yarra Valley Day Tour – Wine and Beer Tasting

Under an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is famous for its wine, fresh food and breathtaking scenery. The place where Victorian wine-growing started, the Yarra Valley is now home to over 55 wineries, most of which offer cellar door tastings and sales. Many are as serious about food as they are about their harvest, matching the wine they make with local produce in local restaurants located in beautiful vineyards. The Yarra Valley is richly endowed with some of the most beautiful countryside in Victoria.

Our first stop will be Coldstream Brewery, the home of the Shivering Man, enjoy a beer tasting experience of boutique beer and cider. Learn how Coldstream Brewery accomplishes the delicate process of brewing premium beers and ciders and taste many of the delicious products fresh from the tap in the new brewery bar.

Then it’s onto Rochford Winery. Located in the heart of Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Rochford Winery offers breathtaking panoramic view of the Great Dividing Ranges. Rochford Winery is synonymous with innovative events, food, wine and the glorious beauty of Yarra Valley. The winery showcases a restaurant, cafe with patio, cellar door, retail shop, wine club, art gallery and expansive natural amphitheater and observation tower. Enjoy a wine and cheese tasting experience.

Our next stop will be for lunch and a wine tasting experience at De Bortoli Winery & Restaurant, set on top of a hill overlooking the picturesque vineyards.

Finally you’ll end the day with a stop at Fregusson Winery and Restaurant. The picturesque vineyard lies among rising hills at the northern end of the Yarra Valley. Fergusson Winery’s specialty is classic French grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy a wine tasting experience and then head back to Melbourne.

The tour will conclude back at your hotel. Dinner is on your own, ask us for nearby suggestions.

Day 6: Thursday, August 27 – Melbourne to Cairns to Port Douglas.  Aboriginal Cultural Experience

After breakfast, we will be transferred by private coach to the airport and fly to Cairns.

Depart on Jetstar Airlines #946 at 10:20 AM arrive Cairns at 1:40 PM.

Upon arrival in Cairns, we will be met by our local guide who will assist with our motor coach transfer to our Port Douglas Hotel, approximately 1 1/2 hours drive.

Accommodation: Oaks Resort Port Douglas – Hotel Room with Garden View – 3 nights with daily full breakfast and porterage.

Day 7: Friday, August 28 – Quicksilver Cruise to Great Barrier Reef

For your experience of a lifetime, Quicksilver’s friendly crew will take you to the renowned Agincourt Reef, a jewel-like ribbon reef on the very edge of the Great Barrier Reef. From the spacious activity platform, discover an underwater world filled with a dazzling kaleidoscope of color and brilliance.

You can choose to dive, snorkel or stay dry in the comfort of a semi-sub. Watch the fish feeding from the unique underwater viewing platform and observatory. Tropical Smorgasbord lunch included.

Day 8: Saturday, August 29 – Full Day Kuranda Tour Scenic Rail, Rainforestation & Skyrail

Experience one of the most unique rail journeys in Australia steeped firmly in Australian Pioneer history.

Rising from sea level to 328m, the journey to Kuranda winds its way through World Heritage protected tropical rainforest, past beautiful and spectacular waterfalls and into the awesome Barron Gorge. Only minutes away from Barron Falls the train journey comes to an end at beautiful Kuranda Station.

Rainforestation is a nature park boasting 40 hectares of gardens and forest set admist World Heritage areas.

Skyrail experience offers a truly unique perspective of Australia’s World Heritage listed Tropical Rainforest as you glide just meters above the pristine rainforest canopy before descending to explore the forest floor at the Red Peak and Barron Falls.

Day 9: Sunday, August 30 – Port Douglas – Cairns to Sydney.     Dinner Cruise on Sydney Harbour

After breakfast at our hotel, our private motor coach will transfer us to the Cairns Airport for our flight to Sydney.

QF #923 departs Cairns at 1:40 PM arrive Sydney at 4:35 PM.

On arrival, our local guide will meet and greet us with a private transfer to our hotel.

Accommodation: 4 nights Amora Hotel Jamison – Deluxe Room with daily breakfast and porterage.

This evening, take a 10 minute stroll from our hotel to the King Street Wharf, where we’ll board our Dinner Cruise of the Sydney Harbour.
Includes 3 course a la carte dining, upper deck seating and entertainment. The cruise is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Day 10: Monday, August 31 – Sydney City Sights and Opera House Tour

Explore the past while enjoying the present of Sydney. Half day city coach and two walking tour highlights:
Sydney Opera House- Private behind the scenes tour, Historical Buildings, Colonial History – The Rocks Walking Tour, Stunning Architecture, Macquarie Street, Parliament House, The Mint and Hyde Park Barracks, Kings Cross, and Bondi Beach.

Day 11: Tuesday, September 1 – Sydney’s Blue Mountain Day Trip to Scenic World

En route, visit Fetherdale Wildlife Park for a memorable and unique experience in a natural and well established bush setting. Featherdale has one of Australia’s largest private collections of Australian animals including Koalas, kangaroos and wallabies, wombats, fairy penguins and Australian reptiles.

Continue to the World Famous Blue Mountains, named for their distinct blue haze, a result of eucalyptus oil evaporating from millions of gum trees. We enjoy lunch at a local favorite restaurant with a view of the Tree Sisters.

Our Unlimited Discovery Pass offers unlimited experience on the Railway, Skyway, Cableway and Walkway.

Scenic Railway – Discover the thrill of a 52° (128%) incline in open terrain riding the steepest passenger railway in the world.

Scenic Walkway – Experience walking under the canopy of an extraordinary temperate rainforest.

Scenic Cableway – It is the steepest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere. Disembark the Cableway directly onto the Scenic Walkway to experience temperate rainforest.

Scenic Skyway – Glide between cliff tops with panoramic views of World Heritage landscapes on the Scenic Skyway. This 720 meter journey provides the best views of Katoomba Falls, The Three Sisters and Jamison Valley. 

Day 12: Wednesday, September 2 – Sydney  Enjoy a full day of independent activites

Explore Sydney on your own.

Day 13: Thursday, September 3 – Sydney to San Francisco, CA  Qantas Airlines

Breakfast at your leisure. Private motor coach transfer to Sydney Airport. Board our non-stop flight to San Francisco.

QF #73 departs Sydney at 7:55 PM arrive SFO at 4:15 PM on Sept. 3, 2020

Upon clearing US Customs and Immigration, we will return to Santa Cruz on our scheduled private transfer. 

Terms & Conditions:

Pricing

Double Occupancy: $6271 per person

Single Supplement: add $1484 per single 

International and Intra- Australian Airfare Included.

Travel Protection is additional

$500 Nonrefundable Deposit + Travel Protection to secure your reservation.

Final Payment due May 15, 2020

Price is per person, based on single or double occupancy. Terms and conditions apply and are available for inspection at Pacific Harbor Travel. Taxes and fuel surcharges are set by the airlines and local jurisdictions and are subject to change prior to departure.

Transfers between Santa Cruz and the airport (at scheduled times) listed lodging, transfer to and from listed destinations, designated meals and listed attractions including guide services are included. Other expenditures are the responsibility of the traveler. Hotels are subject to change, but will be equivalent to those mentioned in the itinerary.

Important Reservation Information:

Travel Protection Plan

Although our quotation does not include the cost of a Travel Protection Plan, we strongly recommend clients purchase this protection. If passengers would like to purchase the Travel Insured Protection Plan, there will be an additional cost of $506.00 per person based on double occupancy or $644 single, payable with the deposit.

If you choose not to purchase Travel Insured International’s Insurance Plan, you will incur penalties for changes and cancellations. Travel Protection Payment is due with first deposit. The Waiver Fee does not cover any single supplement charges which arise from an individual’s traveling companion electing to cancel for any reason prior to departure. the single supplement will be deducted from the refund of the person who cancels.

Passports and Visas

It is the responsibility of each tour participant to obtain a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for six months after your date of arrival into Australia. If you are holding a passport issued by a country other than the United States, it is your responsibility to check with the consulate of Australia for entry requirements.

An Australia Tourist Visa is required for USA citizens, we will obtain this for you.

Payment Schedule

At the time of booking a $500.00 non-refundable deposit plus the Travel Protection Plan (if selected) is required for each participant. The final payment is due by May 15, 2020.

Cancellation Penalties and Change Fees

If you choose not to purchase Travel Insured International’s Insurance Plan, you will incur penalties for changes and cancellations. Please ask to see the full schedule of fees.

Pacific Harbor Travel, Inc.
519 Seabright Avenue, Ste 201
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

831-427-5000
1-800-435-9463

CST# 1014242-10