Natural Wonders of Australia

Day 1 London, In-flight
Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® transports you from your front door to London Heathrow Airport and your scheduled Qantas or British Airways flight to Singapore.

Day 2 Singapore
On arrival in Singapore we check-in at the charming Concorde Hotel, a fine example of modern design with its use of light and huge atrium foyer. Its position on Orchard Road makes it ideal for the shopping that is a major Singapore attraction. The hotel has an excellent restaurant and there are many others in the area.

Day 3 Singapore
This morning our coach takes you on a short orientation tour, passing the famous Raffles Hotel and stopping briefly at the celebrated botanical gardens, at their freshest and finest in the morning. The remainder of the day will be at leisure.

Day 4 Singapore
A full day to further enjoy Singapore and there are several things to keep you occupied. Why not take advantage of the tax-free shopping facility at over 3,000 shopping outlets or have a close encounter with many endangered animal species at the award winning Singapore Zoo. You can also travel across to Sentosa Island to visit Underwater World where you can walk along an 83-metre transparent underwater tunnel to view hidden wonders of the deep, and perhaps continue to the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom and immerse yourself in the multicolour delights of thousands of fluttering butterflies.

Day 5 Singapore – Perth
A free morning for you to make further explorations in Singapore before our afternoon transfer to the airport for our direct scheduled flight to Perth. Following a late evening arrival we check-in at the Pan Pacific hotel where we stay for two nights.

Day 6 Perth
A day at leisure to explore this very green city’s many parks, elegant array of turn-of-the-century buildings and fine central shopping and restaurant area. You may wish to strol along the riverside to the jetty, where pleasure-craft depart regularly for Fremantle, to take the approximately two-hour cruise, passing the fabulous waterfront homes of Australia’s multi-millionaires. Fremantle’s old port is visited at the end and the town’s old-English colonial atmosphere is yours to enjoy before taking the fast and regular train service back to Perth later in the day.

Day 7 Perth, Bunker Bay
After a short driving tour of Perth we leave for Bunbury to visit the Dolphin Discovery Centre, which promotes conservation and research. Our fascinating visit includes many interactive exhibits and, if we are lucky, wild dolphins will make an appearance in the shallow sea adjacent to the centre. Later we skirt Geographe Bay to Dunsborough for a panoramic viewpoint before continuing to Eagle Bay for wine tasting at an award winning winery. Later we travel the short distance to Bunker Bay and the Quay West Resort, located on the Cape Naturaliste headland, where we stay for two nights.

Day 8 Margaret River
Our day is dedicated to the delights of the Margaret River region; renowned for its top-class wines and stunning cave systems. Not only do we enjoy tasting at two top wineries today, but we also visit the CaveWorks interpretive centre and explore the aptly named Mammoth Cave located below the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge. This 500m long cave offers a fascinating insight into not just the geology of the area, but also contains ancient bones and fossils, which continues to attract palaeontologists into this ‘time-capsule’. Later we return to Bunker Bay for our second night.

Day 9 Bunker Bay, Perth
We head to Busselton this morning, whose famous jetty of almost 2km in length used to be the loading point for hardwood export, but is now a popular tourist attraction with a train which runs from one end to the other. At the far end we take a tour of the marine observatory located 8 metres below the surface. Later we return to Perth for an overnight stay at the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Day 10 Perth – Darwin
Early morning transfer to Perth Airport for your direct flight to the Top End. On arrival into Darwin we transfer to the Holiday Inn Darwin; our hotel for the next two nights, and after settling in you will be able to stroll in the delightful tropical gardens that rim the curving shoreline opposite the hotel. Evening free to sample either the hotel’s excellent restaurant or one of the many in the city, where seafood, including the famous local barramundi, is a speciality.

Day 11 Darwin
Every day at high tide one of the most amazing examples of humans communicating with nature occurs at the end of Darwin’s esplanade as hundreds of fish from the deep enter the shallows looking for a free meal. Visitors feed them from the submerged end of a sloping ramp. Aquascene is open only at feeding time, which varies according to the tides. Today is free to explore the city and the harbour, twice the size of Sydney, with its scattering of sandy beaches. It is the playground of dolphins, sea snakes and turtles. A cruise can be recommended.

Day 12 Kakadu
We begin a three day safari into ‘Crocodile Dundee’ country with a voyage on the Adelaide River where, in the safety and comfort of our air-conditioned boat, we can watch huge crocodiles jumping high in the air to seize food being offered to them. We journey on into Kakadu National Park, home of the Aborigines for at least 25,000 years. This World Heritage Site belongs to them and traditions of rock painting have been passed on through the generations. We stop at the beautiful escarpment of Ubirr Rock and make the gentle climb past rocky overhangs and shallow caves that have afforded cool, habitable homes and where a rich legacy of paintings commemorate events, animals and spiritual fi gures. Aboriginal paintings are often superimposed, expressing the flux of time and celebrating the abundant resources here of fi sh, waterfowl, wallabies, goannas, echidnas and yams. Our hotel tonight is the Holiday Inn Gagudju Crocodile in the heart of Kakadu.

Day 13 Kakadu – Katherine
An early morning departure for Nourlangie Rock Art Site, a massive outcrop and place of major signifi cance to the Aboriginal people and their dreamtime. We continue to Cooinda for a boat cruise on Yellow Waters Billabong to observe the fantastic birdlife and saltwater crocodiles. As we wind our way through a narrow water channel bounded by banks of lush vegetation, an expert guide points out and describes the colourful species. Here is an opportunity to take memorable photographs. After the cruise we have lunch in Cooinda before continuing onto our overnight destination, Katherine, a township long important as being the fi rst site of running water north of Alice Springs. Here we stay at the Ibis Styles Katherine, whose tropical gardens contain a welcoming swimming pool.

Day 14 Katherine – Darwin
Another unforgettable experience begins with our visit to world-famous Katherine Gorge, where sections have been carved out by the river and separated by rapids. We take to the water, changing boats halfway to cross the rocks and enter the most spectacular section. After the cruise, we have time to inspect the National Park Display Centre or enjoy a walk in the Gorge Park. We return to Darwin and the Holiday Inn Hotel for the evening.

Day 15 Darwin – Alice Springs
Following an early morning transfer to the airport, we fly to Alice Springs. Upon our arrival we enjoy a brief tour of ‘The Alice’, immortalised by Nevil Shute, before transferring to the Doubletree by Hilton for an overnight stay.

Day 16 Alice Springs – Uluru
Today we set out for spectacular Kings Canyon, containing the ‘lost city’ with its strange buildinglike outcrops, and the lush palms of the gorge called ‘the Garden of Eden’. The canyon’s walls soar over 200 metres high, offering magnificent views from the rim. We continue to Uluru and the 5★ Voyages Sails in the Desert Hotel, our base for the next two nights. This evening we travel the short distance to Uluru, one of the most peaceful and other-worldly locations imaginable, and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset wash its rainbow colours over Uluru’s surface.

Day 17 Uluru – Kata Tjuta
Witnessing the sun rise on Uluru is our first breathtaking experience this morning, after which we tour its base, containing fascinating caves sacred to the Aborigines. In the afternoon we travel to the nearby Kata Tjuta, an equally impressive collection of smaller rounded rocks, known to the Aborigines as ‘many heads’. Mount Olga is higher than Uluru and the shaded valleys and pools are a delight to explore.

Day 18 Uluru, Cairns, Daintree National Park
The freshness of a new day is the most delightful time in the desert and with luck you will be rewarded with a magnificent sunrise. Later we fly to Cairns on the North Queensland coast from where we are transferred to Silky Oaks Lodge, the ultimate rainforest resort in the heart of the Daintree National Park and our base for the next three nights. From here we can explore the natural wonders of this region, a protected World Heritage Site, surrounded on all sides by forested hills. Dinner is at your hotel this evening.

Day 19 Great Barrier Reef
After breakfast, a highlight for anyone experiencing Australia’s natural wonders is a trip to the Barrier Reef. We depart this morning and enjoy a delightful cruise with lunch on board ship. At the Reef we can enjoy snorkelling or ride in a semi-submersible submarine. The richness of the coral and marine life as fish swim all around is unforgettable. We return to Silky Oaks for the evening and dinner.

Day 20 Daintree Naional Park
We leave after breakfast for a full day Cape Tribulation tour, which includes a cruise on the Daintree River followed by a guided walk through the rainforest at Marrdja Boardwalk or Noahs Creek walk. We have lunch at Myall Creek, a safe swimming haven all year round.
In the afternoon we walk along Southern Cape Tribulation Beach to view Cape Tribulation before returning to Silky Oaks. To lepidopterists, specialists in the classification and collection of butterflies, Daintree is a particular delight; as it is also to bird-watchers, who are likely to see the most colourful and exotic species.
Few could fail to be thrilled by the fauna and flora on display and at Silky Oaks, special care has been taken to ensure minimum disturbance to the local habitat.
Walks are a delight and you can sit on the terrace enjoying tea and communing with the universe, as unbound by time as the venerable salt-water crocodiles whiling away the centuries in the Daintree River’s mangrove swamps. Dinner this evening is at your hotel.

Day 21 Daintree National Park, Brisbane
After breakfast we travel to Cairns Airport for your flight to Brisbane. We transfer to the Royal on the Park for a two night stay. Both hotels are ideally placed to stroll out for a quick orientation of the city whose major sights are within walking distance. This is Australia’s third largest city and naturally there are some excellent restaurants, particularly those selling locally caught fish. The hotel itself offers high-quality informal dining.

Day 22 Brisbane
One of Australia’s finest wildlife parks is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, with over 100 of the cuddly animals in residence. You will be greeted by friendly kangaroos and wallabies and be able to see the native koala. We visit there and also give you free time in the city to shop and explore. There are a range of fashionable shops and fine restaurants.

Day 23 Brisbane, Sydney
We transfer to Brisbane Airport for your flight to Sydney, where on arrival you will be transferred to the Parkroyal Darling Harbour our hotel for the next three nights. From the hotel, it is a short taxi ride to the main shopping areas, which can also be reached on foot, as can the celebrated Rocks at Sydney Harbour itself. Tonight you have many splendid eating-out choices.

Day 24 Sydney
This morning we have arranged a tour to familiarise you with the city, including a stop at its famous Opera House. This afternoon we board a cruise vessel for a view of Sydney Harbour from the water. Departing Circular Quay, we pass the sumptuous homes of the rich, with gardens down to the water’s edge. The cruise takes us around Sydney Harbour and deep into the upper reaches of splendid Middle Harbour.

Day 25 Sydney
Today is free to enjoy all this fabulous cosmopolitan city has to offer – from the fine shops to the grand sweep of the botanical gardens curving their way along the waterfront.

Day 26 Sydney, In flight
We transfer to Sydney Airport for your direct scheduled Qantas flight to Bangkok or Singapore and onward direct scheduled flight to London.

Day 27 London
Arrival at London Heathrow Airport where our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan transport for your journey home to your own front door.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please note:
Uluru & Alice Springs will be visited before Darwin and Kakadu on the October 2012 departure only.
The stays in Perth have been reversed for departures in 2014 only. In summary; 1 Perth, 2 Bunker Bay, 2 Perth.
Visa requirement: an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required to travel to Australia.

Meal Option
20 breakfasts from £365 pp

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