Australia - Come say G'day

SYDNEY & CAIRNS - 8 Days / Tour Code H25
SYDNEY EXPLORER & BLUE MOUNTAINS - 4 Days / Tour Code H7

Sparkling SYDNEY is one of the world's great cities. Few sights equal that of Sydney's skyscrapers silhouetted against the waters of the Harbour at full moon. Nor, tingling with marine activity, is it less exciting by day. A comparison to San Francisco, despite no cable cars and less hills, is inevitable - to the detriment of neither city. For Sydney has its own special flavor, an appealing blend of the 19th and 20th centuries, a vigorous yet not overly crowded activity, clean streets and largely unpolluted skies. A fun city to explore, Sydney offers wonderful walks, exhilarating Harbour views from the decks of ferry boats, numerous bus and rail rides that take you, inexpensively, to every part of the city and its suburbs, challenge yourself by climbing Sydney's Harbour Bridge - and at least one memorable evening at the Sydney Opera House. If adventuring on your own is your thing, you'll have a real ball.

Outside of Sydney explore areas steeped in history and rich in natural beauty. Breathtaking beaches and coastlines: The superb coastline of glorious, unspoilt sand beaches extends the length of New South Wales offering unbeatable swimming, surfing, sailing and fishing as well as coastal walks and drives with many scenic lookout points. Sheltered bays are patrolled by our famous Aussie surf lifesavers with designated areas for swimming marked by flags.

Real Australia outback: The Living Outback provides a unique Australian experience that brings the visitor in contact with the ancient and spectacular landscape of the Outback. Discover a network of rivers and lakes, astonishing wildlife and meet the Aussie characters who are the spirit of this red land. The desert habitat favors many animal and plant species: a mob of big red kangaroos moving across the setting sun at Sturt National Park, a flock of ibis rising from the Menindee Lakes and emus racing across the Mundi Mundi Plains. It's little wonder that art galleries and bush artists abound out here. The Living Outback is one of those rare experiences that taps into the very essence of the Australian heritage. A journey here will not only fill your photo album but, more importantly, touch your soul.

Snow-capped ski fields: In winter (June to October) the ski resorts at Thredbo, Perisher and Mount Selwyn come alive. The ski resorts have fast-paced action for experienced skiers and gentler slopes and classes for the novice. Family skiing and cross-country skiing are also excellent. Apres-ski entertainment at all resorts offers action of a different kind. Not everything comes to a stop when the snow melts - you can enjoy the village atmosphere, night spots and log fires at any time. In summer, Kosciuszko National Park is perfect for bush walking, mountain biking, trout fishing and horse riding. Take one of the special mountain bike trails or walk on 'the roof of Australia'.

Aboriginal culture: You can see ancient rock carving, hand stencils and special places of cultural experience and outback nature tours throughout the State and around Sydney including the Harbour foreshores and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Aboriginal music, dance and performance are other ways to appreciate this culture while art and artefacts are available to see and buy in many galleries in New South Wales as well as in local Cultural Centres.

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