Essential Downunder Travel
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You want your dream trip to be relaxing and exciting. Luxurious and adventurous. You want a perfectly planned itinerary that makes your dreams come true - within your budget. A week in a Tahitian "over-the-water" bungalow? Horseback riding in Tasmania? Both? We can make it happen! Here are six honeymoon dreams we made come true for other couples (price based on cost at the time the trip was taken).

Rocks 'n Reef - a 16 day Tour of Australia


This honeymoon started in a charming hotel in Sydney's historic Rocks district - interesting shops, great waterfront dining, and real Aussie pubs and wine bars! They visited the Sydney Aquarium and took a ferry across the harbor.

From Alice Springs (in the center of Australia) they took a 3-day excursion to Ayer's Rock. Traveling in a 4WD small-group tour, they saw rugged mountain ranges, a 130 million-year-old comet crater, canyons and cattle country before arriving at Ayer's Rock Resort. They toured the Olgas and had a morning hike of the base of Ayer's Rock.

In Australia's "top end," they had a daytrip to the Aboriginal "Tiwi Islands" and learned about "bush tucker" and native culture. Tiwi paintings and batik were available for purchase directly from the artists. Then, they had an exciting 3-day camping trip into the Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. Billibongs, crocodile spotting, Aboriginal rock art, and fabulous wetlands are part of this tour. In the permanent campsites, all meals are cooked in the bush. It was the dry season, so there were no worries about getting wet!

The honeymoon ended with 5 fabulous nights at a Great Barrier Reef resort. Dunk Island offers bird-filled rainforests, tennis, aerobics, a gym, swimming pools, water skiing, para sailing, tube rides, skydiving, reef trips, sailing, and fishing. Breakfast and dinner were included.

Rocks, Reef & Rainforests- 17 day tour


This honeymoon started in Sydney's historic Rocks, where they stayed in one of Australia's oldest pubs, now a charming hotel. They climbed the Harbor Bridge and visited the city's beaches and shops using their Explorer pass.

Then it was off to Alice Springs, where they rode a camel to dinner out in the bush! The next morning they took a large coach tour to Ayer's Rock and the Olgas, then flew to Cairns. Like the couple on the "Rocks 'n Reef" tour, they also chose Dunk Island - but saved money by taking a launch to the island rather than flying.

After their Reef relaxation, they visited central Queensland, staying several nights in a rustic mountain lodge that has evening and morning animal and bird-spotting walks. Their stay included all meals and touring. Their final 2 nights were in Brisbane, where they visited the Australia Zoo, home of television's famous Crocodile Hunter.

A 16 day Outback Adventure …plus a Great Barrier Reef Luxury Retreat


This honeymoon began at a charming inn near Sydney harbor. They climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, toured the Opera House and dined at a romantic restaurant there. On a 4WD daytrip to the Blue Mountains, they saw koalas and kangaroos.

Then they flew to Ayer's Rock, where they toured the Olgas, enjoyed the famous "Sounds of Silence" dinner under the Milky Way, and rose early the next morning to see the sunrise on Ayer's Rock, with Aboriginal guides.

They flew to Darwin and for a 3-day tour to the World Heritage wilderness of the Kakadu. They enjoyed a wildlife tour of the floodplains, saw ancient Aboriginal rock art, and stayed in a hotel shaped like a crocodile!

Next was Cairns for a 4WD tour of the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest before the grand finale -- 5 nights at the intimate luxury resort of Bedarra. All snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, meals and drinks, fishing, and other activities were included. A launch was available to take them to a nearby island where activities included golf, tennis, squash, horseback riding, and tandem sky diving. "We were treated like the king and queen here," she said.

Alps and Diving: 8 days in New Zealand and Australia


This couple started in New Zealand's adventure capital, Queenstown, in a lovely lakeside lodge before their coach trip to Milford Sound. There, they boarded a small ship for an overnight cruise of this amazing fiord. In Milford Sound, the mountains rise sharply from the seas, their steep sides filled with ferns and waterfalls. Late that afternoon, they kayaked among dolphins and New Zealand fur seals.

Then it was off to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. After a brief visit in Brisbane, they flew to one of Australia's top dive sites, Heron Island. Their 5-night package included all meals -- and snorkeling right on the reef, as this is one of the few resorts actually built on the reef itself.

Australian-to-the-max -- plus a South Pacific Island - in 24 days


This couple started their honeymoon by relaxing on a 4 night cruise of the Great Barrier Reef. Their ship stopped at various ports for land touring and islands for snorkeling.

Then it was off to Darwin for a 3-day tour of national parks in a 4WD small-group tour. They visited wetlands, Aboriginal rock paintings, waterfalls, and waterholes while staying each night in comfortable lodging.

In Australia's "red center" they explored in their own 4WD rental vehicle. Since this was the dry season, there were no concerns about getting bogged! They saw Alice Springs, Glen Helen, Kings Canyon, and Ayer's Rock.

Then they flew south to Kangaroo Island - the best place in Australia to see wildlife… in the wild! This island, a short flight from Adelaide, has spectacular coastal rock formations, kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, goannas, and fantastic birdlife. They toured with naturalists and stayed in B&Bs where their Aussie hosts lavish home-cooked meals on their guests. One evening, they saw fairy penguins emerge from the sea and enter their burrows.

After taking the Barossa Valley Wine Train to Australia's premiere wine growing area, they flew to the Cook Islands for 4 nights of total relaxation on white sand beaches among the palm trees, in their beach bungalow unit.

 


Karolyn Wrightson
South Pacific Destination Specialist    Premiere Aussie Specialist  ●  Kiwi Specialist    Queensland Specialist  ●  Victoria/Melbourne Specialist    Outback Specialist    Matai (Fiji) Specialist  ●  Tasmania Specialist    Cook Islands Specialist    New South Wales Specialist    South Australia Specialist    Recommended by National Geographic Traveler in 2004

 
 

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