Australia

G''DAY and welcome to down-under, where winter is summer and summer is winter. Australia is a land of contrasts and surprises. It is the world's smallest continent and largest island, a new frontier and the oldest land on Earth. Home to familiar western cultures along side aboriginal. Experience them all beginning in Sydney one of the world's most dazzling, vibrant harbor-side cities. Discover the natural difference of Australia in its nature preserves. Move on to the Hunter Valley, Adelaide and Australia's finest wine regions. Learn about Australian wines directly from the vintners who will be your hosts. Choose favorite wines and bring your knowledge advantage home. New Zealand is a land of awesome scenery, where Europeans followed Maori by a thousand years to blend heritages today. Auckland, the city of sails, will introduce you to this green oasis of the southern seas, host of the America Cup. Rotorua is the home of Maori culture and a geothermal wonderland. Mountains and sheep abound and did you know about New Zealand's wines? You will before you depart for home.

Australia Wine Tour
Australia Wine, Food, and Culture Tour
…with optional extension to New Zealand
August 17 - 29, 2007

Australia only, crossing the international date line
From $ 4,569 excluding US domestic air

• Round-trip air via Air New Zealand from Los Angeles to Sydney and in Australia to Adelaide.
• Optional 5-day extension tour to New Zealand available for an additional $1,140.
• All prices per person double occupancy.
• Add on air from other USA cities available upon request.

Sydney

• Three nights lodging in Sydney at a 4 star Hotel
• Walking tour of the Rocks, historical area full of restaurants, entertainment venues, and specialty shops
• Tour of Darling Harbour including a wine reception featuring a selection of various Australian wines
• Tours of the famous Sydney Aquarium, the Sydney Opera House, and a cruise on Sydney Harbour
• Special lunch at the world famous 'Doyles on the Beach' restaurant at Watsons Bay
• The blue Mountains Nature and Adventure Tour with lunch and wine
• Leisure time to explore Sydney

Hunter Valley Wine Region

• Two nights lodging in a Hunter Valley Resort
• Private wine tasting at four wineries
• Horse drawn carriage tour of Hunter Valley
• Wine tutorial, grape stomp and lunch at a Hunter winery

Adelaide, the wine capital of Australia

• Two nights lodging at a 4 star Hotel in Adelaide. Lots of leisure time to explore Australia's 5th largest city including the central market
• Three nights lodging at a 4 star Barossa Valley Resort
• Tour of the Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale wine regions with visits to Leasinghams, Penfolds, Saltram Wine Estates, and at least 7 other wineries

Included in the price of $4,569

- Round-trip air from Los Angeles, all lodging accommodations, most entrance fees, services of tour guides
- Premium wine tours and tastings listed
- Full breakfast daily, 7 lunches, and 3 dinners
- All ground transfers and private deluxe coach for the tours specified
- 4WD vehicle for Blue Mountains tour
- Air taxes with the exception of a local $25 New Zealand departure tax
- Goods and services tax of 10% in Australia and 12.5% in New Zealand
- Issuing of electronic visa for Australia
- Sight seeing and entry fees as per the itinerary
- 24 hour toll-free emergency contact

5 Day Optional Extension to New Zealand's North Island (Christchurch, Mt. Cook, and Waipara Valley): from $ 1,140 per person, double occupancy

- 2 nights Christchurch, local sight seeing
- Whale watching cruise, 1 night Hanmer Springs
- Waipara Valley for wine tasting, and overnight at Mt. Cook
- Transfers
- 4 breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 dinner
- Goods and Services tax
- Transportation by private coach with guide

Day 1 - Friday
YOUR TOUR TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BEGINS

Day 2 - Sunday
G'DAY - WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA
When you arrive at Sydney you will be met and transferred to your Hotel. A dazzling, vibrant city, Sydney is built around one of the world's most beautiful harbors, with scores of sparkling beaches within easy reach of center city. Situated on Sydney Harbor, The Rocks is the site of Australia's first European settlement. Colorful streetscapes and elegantly restored buildings house a wide variety of restaurants, entertainment venues and specialty shops.

Accommodations: ALL SEASONS PREMIER MENZIES HOTEL, SYDNEY

Sunday - WALKING TOUR OF THE ROCKS
Rocks Historical Walking Tour brings alive the story of the first settlement of Sydney entertaining you with stories of rascals, rats and restoration. The tours are conducted by friendly and enthusiastic guides. The tour is a 90 minute tour. The guides are animated and excited about their product.

SYDNEY AQUARIUM & Darling Harbor
Travel by coach to Darling Harbor where you will have the opportunity to tour through the Sydney Aquarium, one of the largest and most spectacular Aquariums in the world. You will learn about the Great Barrier Reef. Nowhere else in the world will you find a larger collection of Australian aquatic life- over 650 species, including the Great White Shark.

Day 3, Monday (Breakfast & Lunch) Morning Sydney
The morning is yours to explore Sydney. Sydney is a vibrant city brimming with exciting things to see and do - the following are some suggestions: Taronga Zoo – a comprehensive collection of Australian and exotic animals in a superb natural bush land setting, with stunning city and harbor views. Sydney Opera House - one of the great modern wonders of the world, an international centre for the performing arts, and a dynamic symbol of Sydney. Australian Museum - discover Australia's natural history and cultural diversity. Experience the essence of this land at the outstanding Indigenous Australian's - Australia's First Peoples exhibition. The Art Gallery of New South Wales - one of Australia's finest art collections, and the largest permanent collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art. The Rocks - just minutes walk from the sweeping sails of Sydney's famous Opera House, at the foot of the Harbor Bridge. The Rocks today has some of the city's finest restaurants and cafes, museums, galleries, unusual shops, a thriving street market and innovative weekend entertainment. Sydney's Darling Harbor - one of the world's great waterfront destinations. Darling Harbor is a constant focus of activities and entertainment. With a harbor front shopping centre, an aquarium, the Monorail, the world's largest movie screen, an indoor family theme park and a year-long program of events, Darling Harbor is a unique part of the Sydney experience.

AFTERNOON IN SYDNEY
Sydney truly is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with its spectacular harbor setting, and bustling downtown area and an exciting blend of architecture. This is a very special tour designed to give you a feel for this great city by showing you more than just the normal must-see 'tourist sites'. We will get behind the scenes to some fascinating city and suburban areas. Your driver is a very experienced private guide able to answer questions and discuss things of interest, with the knowledge and flexibility to cater for most interests. A special feature of the tour, a 2 course seafood lunch at the world famous 'Doyles on the Beach' restaurant at Watsons Bay (seafood chowder followed by 'fish & chips'). At the completion of the city tour, board a luxury sailing catamaran to enjoy a leisurely cruise of magnificent Sydney Harbor. Your cruise ends at Circular Quay by 5pm, from where you make your own way to your hotel.

Day 4 – Tuesday (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
BLUE MOUNTAINS NATURE ADVENTURE TOUR
Explore the park, keeping an eye out for Koala's and the many other animals and birds who call this tranquil sanctuary home. You will see breathtaking scenery, ancient rainforests, spectacular waterfalls and mountain streams. Walk along canyon trails, or perhaps sip a glass of champagne from atop a secluded rock at the end of a winding bush track, and listen to the sound of silence. The Blue Mountains offer all this and more, and what better way to enjoy it than with your own private guide who will provide a totally unique experience, combining the things you simply must see, with special things of interest to you. See the Three Sisters, ride the world's steepest railway (if you dare. At own expense) & explore the quaint stores in Leura village. Naturally your tour includes a superb lunch with classic Australian Wine, and any entrance fees. This is a tour to remember - a delightful day! Returns 6:00pm. Dinner included tonight at the Ednas Table for Native Degustation, with wine.

Day 5, Wednesday (Breakfast and dinner)
800am HUNTER VALLEY 'THE WINE TOUR'
This morning you will leave Sydney behind you as you head toward one of Australia's famous wine regions, Hunter Valley. You will visit at least 3 wineries, including the world famous Rothbury Estates. Crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the drive through the Northern suburbs will treat you to magnificent views of the Hawkesbury River. Along the way to Hunter, we will stop to walk historic and quiet Wollombi and try the local speciality - Dr Jurds Jungle Juice (own expense). Our first stop in Hunter Valley will be at Petersons Champagne House for champagne tasting and morning tea. For lunch, we suggest the popular Harrigan’s Irish Pub. After lunch, the tour will continue to McGuigan Cellars who have been in the wine industry for more than fifty years. It has a wide range of red and white wines. We will also visit McGuigans Valley Cheese company and sample its many types of cheese.

Further tasting’s include a visit to Rothbury Estate, and if time permits a visit to the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company. Then we head for the Hunter Valley Resort where you will overnight and enjoy a 3 course a la carte dinner with wine at the Resort.

Accommodations- The Resort is nestled among its own vineyards, incorporating a beautiful restaurant, wine tasting cellars, and the Hunter Valley's largest winery. During your stay, you can take a tour of the winery. This tour is followed by a private wine tasting with compliments of the resort, where cellar master wines are presented, tasted, then discussed. All rooms have queen size beds and another double sofa bed, or two twin beds. Recreational facilities at the Resort include heated spa, swimming pool, tennis, table tennis, volley ball, mountain bikes and walking tracks. Other facilities nearby (additional cost may apply) include horse riding, hot air ballooning, and 4 wheel drive tours.

Day 6 – Thursday (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
8:00am Full day to Enjoy HUNTER VALLEY
Today is about experiencing the fun of the Hunter Valley. Included today is a tour by horse drawn carriage. You will be able to absorb the magical views and fresh country air of Hunter Valley Wine Country. There will also be a walking tour of a vineyard & winery. During this stroll guests learn about the history of winemaking in Australia and around the world. You will also be given a wine tasting and tutorial with lunch, which is a practical look at the art of tasting wines including different styles, different techniques and what to look for in terms of palate, bouquet, and color. With your knowledge of wines at a new high, there is but one final experience required to totally cap-off the winemaking experience, grape stomping. You will enjoy a 3 course a la carte dinner with wine included at the Resort tonight.

Day 7 – Friday (Breakfast)
7:00am Sydney to Adelaide
This morning you will bid farewell to your hosts as you travel back to Sydney where you will catch your flight to Adelaide. Home of a million-plus people, cafe society, designer shopping, and vibrant nightlife, Adelaide is what a city is meant to be. Framed by parklands, hills and sea, it's green, wide and welcoming. Vintage Adelaide is also the wine capital of Australia. Six out of ten glasses of Australian wine are made within three hours' drive of the city, many on its doorstep. It's where you're twenty minutes from the serenity of the Adelaide Hills or from a terrace on a beach watching the sunlight sparkling on the sea.

Day 8 – Saturday (Breakfast)
After breakfast, you will have a 90 minute walking tour of Adelaide’s central market after which you will go to the National Wine Centre of Australia. The afternoon is a time for leisure to explore Adelaide. Opportunities abound include the South Australian Museum which has the largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts in the world. The nearby Mt Lofty Ranges offer another natural experience to enjoy, from seeing native animals close-up at Cleland Wildlife Park, to picnics and day bushwalks at Belair National Park, to rock climbing at Morialta Falls Conservation Park. Or go to the Adelaide Hills, famous for arts and craft villages.

Day 9 – Sunday (Breakfast & Lunch)
Adelaide / Mclaren Vale / Barossa valley
This tour offers the best of the wines and hospitality in the Clare Valley, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale Wine region. Day one of this 3 day visit to this region commences with a brief city highlights tour, then heads through the Hills to the McLaren Vale region, where we visit several wineries and meet the makers. Accommodations for the next three nights will be at a 4 star resort in the Barossa Valley. This resort is set in a natural amphitheatre, overlooking the confluence of Jacob Creek and the North Para River. It is located in an area that exemplifies the Barossa Valley, at the doorstep of the historic township of Tanunda and many famous boutique wineries. This 4-star resort is an hour drive from Adelaide.

Day 10 – Monday (Breakfast & Lunch) Barossa Valley Wineries
Today we meet wine producers at some of the more renown Australia wineries and some of the small private producers not available to the public. Lunch and tasting will be at the Saltram Wine Estates in Angaston. Morning winery visits and tastings will be at Kies Family Wines at Lyndoch, or Langmeil Winery, Tanunda or Grant Burge wines, Tanunda. After the lunch tasting, tastings will be at Penfolds Wines, and/or Jacob’s Creek.

Day 11 – Tuesday (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) Clare Valley Wineries
The final day allows us to leisurely explore Clare Valley. Highlights include visits and tastings at Tim Gramp wines in Leasingham, Lunch and a tasting at Skillogallee wines, or Leasingham wines in Clare, and an afternoon tasting at Taylors wines.Tonight you will enjoy a farewell dinner at the resort supplemented with local wines.

Day 12 – Wednesday (Breakfast)
COACH BAROSSA VALLEY TO ADELAIDE AIRPORT
This morning will leave Adelaide behind you as you travel back through the Barossa to Adelaide Airport, where you will catch your flight to Sydney and home. You’ve come a long way, think seriously about the additional 5 day extension in New Zealand. It’s a different world from Australia!

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