Amazing Australia

Judy, one of our Vacation Specialists, took a trip to Australia last spring, and I thought I’d share her trip with you:

Judy flew Northwest from Appleton to Los Angeles then from Los Angeles to Brisbane she flew Quantas. The flight was comfortable and offered several meal services and many entertainment options to make the long flight fly by.

After the long flight, travelers could refresh in a changing area located in the airport! This washroom area could be used for travelers arriving in the morning after a long flight, so that they can clean up and change clothes to start their first day touring and adjust to the time change. The showers had disposable towels.

Upon arriving in Brisbane, Judy transferred by motor coach to the Brisbane River for a leisurely cruise which gave her a unique view of the city. She disembarked at the South Bank Parkland which is located in the heart of the city. South Bank is the entertainment hub of Brisbane with more than thirty restaurants, cafes and bars.

The next day, Judy traveled by Quanta’s from Brisbane to Sydney. Upon arrival she transferred by HOTELBUS to her first big Australian adventure - the Bridge Climb (www.bridgeclimbe.com). On this tour you climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge while learning the inside workings of the bridge and taking in breathtaking views. The climb takes about 3 ½ hours and is not for the faint at heart, but Judy says it is totally worth it – an AMAZING and a totally rewarding experience!

In Sydney, Judy stayed at the BLUE Sydney; A Taj Hotel www.tajhotels.com. This boutique hotel is located at the Wharf in Woolloomooloo (say that ten times fast!), in the heart of a luxury marina area with great restaurants. The hotel’s 100 guest rooms all are unique and no two rooms are the same. Each is decorated with very modern décor and have great water views. The building is World Heritage listed and in the bar area you can see that the building has been left in its original form.

To experience Sydney by water, Judy boarded the MV Sydney, a Captain Cook dinner cruise, departing from Circular Quay area www.captaincook.com.au. This was the ultimate dining experience with white glove service and fine food; this cruise would be a great way for you to end your trip or to celebrate a special occasion. Captain Cooks offers an array of tours. Judy took a “hop on and off” tour which takes you to seven famous harbor attractions. Stops include Darling Harbor-Pier 26, Circular Quay, Fort Denison, Taronga Zoo, Shark Island, Watsons Bay and Luna Park.

Judy made a stop at Costello’s Opal Center www.opaldiscovery.com. Costello’s is a specialist retailer of Australians precious gemstones such as Black, White Opals, and Sea Pearls etc.

The next tour was of the Sydney Opera House www.sydneyoperahouse.com. Judy took a newly offered tour called the Opera House Essentials Tour, which gave the entire history of the Opera House -from conception to current renovations. An interesting fact – the Opera House was projected to be completed in 3 years and it actually took 16 years to complete and was funded by lottery. Amazing!

Judy recommends stopping by the Waterfront Restaurant www.restrocks.com. It’s located at Campbell’s Cove in the historic Rocks area and specialized in the finest and freshest seafood. The building was built in 1788 and is World Heritage listed. While she was there, Judy dined outside on the terrace and enjoyed amazing views of the harbor and the Opera House. She says the food was OUTSTANDING.

To explore Sydney by land, Judy took a half day city tour with APT www.aptouring.com.au, which was packed full of information about the city. Stops included:

• Darling Harbor - a horseshoe shaped bay on the west side of the city, offering attractions including Sydney’s Aquarium, Star City Casino, Chinese Gardens, National Maritime Museum, wildlife world and many waterside restaurants.
• Bondi Beach - Australia’s most celebrated beach – where people watching is as much fun as surfing and sunbathing. Its located six miles from the city and offers a promenade popular for jogging, rollerblading, and water sports.
• Paddington - Oxford and High Streets are home to the fashion district. This area features boutiques, cafes, and shops surrounded by Victorian terrace homes.
• Sydney Olympic Park - built to host the 2000 Olympic Games, it’s now used as waterfront urban parkland and hosts festivals and concerts.

To maximize your Sydney experience, you can purchase a See Sydney and Beyond Card (www.seesydneycard.com) which gives admission to 40 of Sydney’s most popular attractions. The card can be purchase with or without the transportation. Available in 1, 2, 3 or 7 day options with costs ranging from $75.00 to $300 depending on the length and transportation. Children’s rates are also available. This is a great value to families and anyone wanting to make the most of their Sydney experience.

Judy also took a full day tour called the Blue Mountain Deluxe Tour, with a company called Eco Adventures Tour (www.ozeco.com.au). Stops included:

• Featherdale Wildlife Park - where visitors can enjoy breakfast and have some private time with a koala bear! Visitors can take a self guided tour of the wildlife park which includes kangaroos, emus, wombats, dingoes, and many types of birds.
• Blue Mountain Canyons - featuring beautiful views of Govett’s Leap and scenic Cliff Drive.
• Jamison Valley - a rainforest, where visitors can travel on the world’s steepest rail, ride a huge gondola, and wander through the rainforest on some of the many walkways built within.
• Euroka Valley – visitors can witnessed wild kangaroos grazing or partake in bird watching.

After all that excitement, Judy journeyed back to Brisbane and visited the rainforest covered mountains of the Lamington National Park and spent the night at the O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (www.oreillys.com.au). Lamington National Park is World Heritage listed and is the largest sub-tropical rainforest in Australia. The O’Reilly family has been welcoming guest since 1926 and offers a range of guest rooms to cater to all tastes including their most recently opened two bedroom two bath villas with a fully equipped kitchen, living room with fireplace, large deck with private spa and magnificent views of the rainforest. She went on two different hikes that the O’Reilly’s offered - The Tree-Top Walk offered a close up view of the rainforest canopy and its wildlife. On the Guided Night Walk, hikers could view the nocturnal animals and their famous glow-works.

Australia is an amazing country and offers something for everyone!