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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).
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Rocks 'n Reef - a 16 day Tour of Australia |
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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.
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Rocks, Reef & Rainforests- 17 day tour |
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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. |
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A 16
day Outback Adventure …plus a Great Barrier Reef Luxury Retreat |
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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. |
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Alps
and Diving: 8 days in New Zealand and Australia |
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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. |
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Australian-to-the-max -- plus a South Pacific Island - in 24 days |
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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. |
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Karolyn Wrightson
South
Pacific Destination Specialist
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Premiere Aussie Specialist
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Kiwi Specialist
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Queensland Specialist
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Victoria/Melbourne Specialist
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Outback Specialist
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Matai (Fiji) Specialist
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Tasmania Specialist
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Cook Islands Specialist
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New South Wales Specialist
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South Australia Specialist
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Recommended by National Geographic Traveler in 2004 |
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