City Chic and Tropical Retreat

10 nights from $2175pp (land only – 4 star/First Class) – A savings of $300 per person
10 nights from $2915pp (land only – 5 star/Deluxe) – A savings of $600 per person

Book now and receive FREE nights in Australia*

Highlights

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Hotels

Pricing

Terms & Conditions

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Highlights

Destinations
Melbourne, Cairns

Your Itinerary Includes

Round trip private airport transfers
5 nights Melbourne
Yarra Valley tour
Savannah Walkabout Wildlife tour
Lanes and Arcades Walking tour
5 nights Cairns (First Class) or Port Douglas (Deluxe)
Great Barrier Reef tour
Tablelands, Waterfalls and Spanish Castles
Highlander Food Trail tour
10 breakfasts 7 lunches

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Day-By-Day Itinerary

This itinerary can be fully customized; to tailor this package to your specific requirements please call one of our travel specialists at 1-800-22-SWAIN.

Day 1 Fly USA to Melbourne

Day 2 Cross The International Dateline

Day 3 Arrive Melbourne
On arrival into Melbourne you will need to clear customs and make your way through the main arrivals hall from where you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.

At first glance, Melbourne may resemble any other modern city with its skyline full of concrete and glass. However, if you look a little closer, you’ll find the real Melbourne, a city of unique charm. There are the clanging trams (street cars), swanky boutiques, friendly taxi drivers, Australian Rules Football, fickle weather and ‘BYOB’s’, by the hundred.

Day 4 Yarra Valley Wineries
Renowned for its quality wines, specialty foods and breathtaking scenery, the Yarra Valley is the ideal place to enjoy a day away from the city. Visit several wineries for tasting, and enjoy a superb lunch overlooking magnificent scenery.

Visit the wineries home to some of Australia's greatest wines. Here, winemakers will welcome you to taste their award-winning wines. You will find everything in the Yarra Valley from world-class Methode Champenoise sparkling wines to classic Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and more.

Day 5 Savannah Walkabout Wildlife
We depart Melbourne at around 9.30am to travel just 45 minutes to the west to the bushland of You Yangs Park. The park is home to a large and healthy population of wild Koalas, which we research and monitor to ensure the best possible sightings. We take a very easy walk through the gum trees, searching for koalas, wallabies, kangaroos and birds in their natural setting. Your Nature Guide will point out plants and features of interest, explain some of the history of the area and, where possible, introduce you to known, named koalas that are part of our research project.

The area we walk through is of great significance to the local Aboriginal People of the Wathaurong Tribe. The granite rock formations of the You Yangs staged huge meetings of Aboriginal People from all over South-eastern Australia. Many signs of their occupation still remain. Though we will not be meeting any Aboriginal People on this tour, we act with the knowledge, consent and support of the Wathaurong Community.

Leaving the You Yangs, we travel just 10 minutes south to Serendip Open Range Sanctuary, where we are immediately amongst wild kangaroos and native birds. Our picnic lunch is served here, in an open-air setting, and includes delicious Australian 'Billy tea'. Your Nature Guide will explain the history and recipe for the traditional tea of the Swagmen.

We drive, then walk through the gum trees, across grasslands and sometimes over a dry lake bed in search of wild mobs of kangaroos. They are wild and secretive, and we often walk quietly along kangaroo tracks, using trees and bushes as shelter. Sometimes we find them before they see us, and we can watch completely relaxed kangaroo social behaviour. Other times they find us first, and we enjoy the magnificent sight of a wild mob hopping, fast and powerful but silent as ghosts through the gum trees. We also look out for curious Emus, and take a short walk to the billabong, home to large populations of waterbirds.

Day 6 Lanes & Arcades Walking Tour
Have you ever been to a city and wondered what all the fuss was about? Or wasted time trying to find that cool local café you were told of, then ended up missing everything? Melbourne's arcades and laneways hide many of these answers. Join this indulgent morning walk through Melbourne's beautiful back streets, and become orientated in the life of the city that locals love.

Discover local designers and specialty retailers that often are only found in the city. Some of the quirkiest cafes, independent designers, street art, architecture, and historical tales are found in these walkways, there is something for everyone, locals and visitors alike. Morning tea is included as well as lunch with a glass of wine.

Day 7 At leisure, Melbourne
At your leisure to explore the very cosmopolitan city of Melbourne. The many attractions of the city vary from the spectacular parklands and gardens that surround the city, to the museums and festivals that are a continuing part of the city life. Excellent restaurants are on every corner and cater for every taste in the world.

Day 8 Fly Melbourne to Cairns
Transfer to the airport by private vehicle for your onward flight. On arrival you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.

The heart of the tropical north, Cairns offers great access to reef and islands and is a perfect base for exploring the wider region. With 600 day tours departing the city daily there is plenty to do.

Day 9 Great Barrier Reef tour
A trip to the Tropical North would not be complete without experiencing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Day trips operate from Cairns and Port Douglas with transfers available from Palm Cove and surrounds. Depending on departure city, vessel options include sailing catamarans from Cairns to large catamarans that leave from Port Douglas that have their own platforms on the outer reef.

Day 10 Railway, Kuranda, Skyrail and Tjapukai
You will be transferred to Freshwater Railway station to meet your host who will run through the days schedule. Once on board the train, sit back to enjoy the scenic journey through tunnels and past waterfalls to Kuranda.

On arrival, you are taken to Birdworld (optional extra cost), followed by some leisure time to explore the village & markets before meeting your host back at the Skyrail Terminal. Marvel at the spectacular views as you glide silently above the rainforest canopy. There are two stations en route where you can alight to walk through the rainforest to scenic lookouts.

Skyrail ends at Caravonica Lakes where we have a buffet lunch at the Boomerang Restaurant. Next, enter the Tjapakai Aboriginal Cultural Centre – you will be personally escorted by an Indigenous guide during your time at Tjapukai. There are stage shows, movie theatres, craft demonstrations and an Aboriginal Village – to mention just a few of the attractions that provide an insight into Aboriginal culture and history. Meet with your host again at around 4.00pm for your return to your accommodation.

Please note, a fuel levy of A$2 per person will apply – this will be collected by Downunder Tours on the day of your excursion.

Day 11 Tablelands, Waterfalls and Spanish Castles
Enjoy a full day out taking in the magnificent Cairns Highlands, waterfalls, rainforests, Paronella Park (Spanish Castle ruins) – one man's inspiration and dream, and also the finest new rainforest attraction; the MaMu Canopy Boardwalk.

The day begins with a scenic drive to inspiring Paronella Park, where we enjoy a guided tour of the Spanish Castle ruins, set in a rainforest by Mena Creek Falls and a delicious morning tea. We then travel up the Palmerston Highway to the region's newest rainforest experience, the MaMu Canopy Boardwalk. Here your driver/guide will take you on a series of magnificent boardwalks and viewing platforms which traverse the canopy level of the World Heritage Wooroonooren National Park. The experience culminates as you walk out onto the cantilever overlooking the Johnston River Gorge providing the most spectacular views of this untouched region.

Mungalli Falls in our next stop, where you enjoy lunch while taking in the tranquil setting. The picturesque Millaa Millaa Falls will inspire a photograph or two, before visiting the infamous Giant Curtain Fig Tree. We then continue to Lake Barrine for an informative Wildlife Cruise. From here, we return to Cairns via the Gillies Range, which overlooks the breathtaking beauty of the Mulgrave Valley. Arrival back in Cairns is approximately 6.00pm.

There is a fuel surcharge of AU$2 per person payable direct to Down Under Tours on the day of travel.

Day 12 The Highlander Food Trail Tour
Food Trail Tours provide an amazing tropical food and wine day tour to the nearby Cairns hinterland, which we locals call the Atherton Tablelands. Your tour visits small producers and private properties where you are able to interact with local people.

Your day is co-ordinated and everything is included, so time is not wasted ordering things and waiting to be served. Experienced guides entertain you throughout the day, providing information about our history and sights you are seeing as well as taking you to both the wet tropics and dry tropics.

Food Trail Tours takes you behind the scenes on informative plantation tours, where you get under trees and into farm sheds and learn about gourmet food production. You visit two tropical fruit wineries, a gourmet coffee producer, a cheese factory and a macadamia plantation.
The day is a paddock to plate experience where you are able to interact with local growers and processors. There are numerous opportunities to taste the foods, purchase commercial products at the farm gate, or have them sent home.

The tour includes everything: a generous tropical seafood lunch, plantation tours and tastings as well as morning and afternoon tea. We also cater for people with special dietary needs.

Day 13 Fly Cairns to the USA (Via Brisbane)
Transfer to the airport by private vehicle for your departure flights.

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Hotels

For more information about the hotels visited in this itinerary please click the hotel name below.

City	Standard	Superior	Deluxe	Luxury

Cairns	-	Pacific International	-	-

Port Douglas	-	-	Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas	-

Melbourne	-	Rydges	The Langham	-

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Pricing

To determine pricing for your tour select the appropriate travel season and desired accommodation level from the table below.

	Standard	Superior	Deluxe	Luxury
Reference #	-	SWSP13256	SWSP13394	-

4/1/10-3/31/11	-	$2175	$2915	-


Single Supplement

4/1/10-3/31/11	-	$1090	$1675	-


Add International Airfare

Routing: LAX-CNS-MEL-LAX

4/1/10-4/30/10				$1395

5/1/10-6/8/10, 7/24/1-9/21/10				$1095

6/9/10-7/23/10, 11/1/10-12/6/10				$1495

9/22/10-10/31/10				$1795

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Terms & Conditions

*Prices are per person/twin share in USD and exclude international airfare. Based on travel between 4/1/10-3/31/11. Blackout dates and/or surcharges apply for travel 12/20/10-1/6/11. If adding international air as listed above, US and Foreign Govt. taxes and fees of up to $110, Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18 and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 are additional. Space is limited and all tickets must be issued no later than 5/13/10. Flights, hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Prices listed include complimentary night(s). *Valid for stays in select cities only (Cairns/Port Douglas, Melbourne); when staying a select number of nights, receive an additional night with our compliments. All package prices listed reflect all discounts/savings/free nights. Prices remain subject to change without notice. Conditions apply. CST2012413-20

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