On arrival this morning, clear customs and immigration and exit into the Arrivals Hall where you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel, an elegant Victorian bed and breakfast. (A city centre hotel can replace this bed and breakfast if requested.)

This afternoon you are joined by a local guide for a tour of Melbourne sights at your leisure.

You are met in the hotel foyer by our local guide for a tour of the sights of Melbourne.

Mid afternoon, you set off on an adventure to Philip Island to see the wonderful Fairy Penguins. You are met in the hotel foyer at 1.00PM by your guide for your excursion to Phillip Island. Tour the scenic Mornington Peninsula and visit two boutique wineries for tastings. This relatively new region produces excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The cellar staff are a wonderful source of information on Australian wines.

Then skirt Westernport to Phillip Island, tailoring your activities on the island to suit your interests. If time permits you can take a walk to a bird hide to watch waterfowl, or visit a Silver Gull rookery at the Nobbies, or call in at the Koala Conservation Centre. Your final destination is the famous Penguin Parade where you watch the Little Penguins come ashore at dusk. Dinner is on Phillip Island and is an opportunity to sample some of Australia’s fine seafoods (own expense). Your return to Melbourne is later evening.

You are picked up from your hotel at 10.00AM by your guide and travel 1.5 hours from Melbourne into the Victorian countryside. Today you will see free range Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Emus, and watch Koalas in their natural habitat. You will also be introduced to a breeding program to release a variety of bird species which were once common on Victoria’s volcanic plains. Enjoy a day with your naturalist guide and discover the Australian bush and the animals that inhabit it. Cross the Werribee Plains, part of one of the world’s largest volcanic provinces, to visit Serendip Sanctuary. Here drive around the perimeter road offering excellent opportunities to see the mobs of kangaroos, small groups of Emu's and a variety of waterfowl. Stop to walk through the bird hides with opportunities to look out over the Sanctuary’s extensive wetlands and inspect breeding colonies.

Enjoy a picnic lunch is at the Sanctuary before driving further west to the Brisbane Ranges National Park. Here you are guaranteed to see Koalas in their natural habitat and your guide will describe the research in the Park which has provided much of the knowledge of this fascinating creature. After the tour, return to the hotel approximately 4.45PM.

You are transferred to the airport for a late morning flight to Cairns in sunny, warm North Queensland. On arrival, you are transferred to a beautiful rainforest lodge.

The lodge rests on the edge of the spectacular Mossman River Gorge. From here you can walk into the World Heritage listed Daintree National Park, the oldest living rainforest on earth. It’s a time capsule of primitive plants and birds of paradise, a place where new species of flora and fauna are discovered every year. Settle into your treehouse chalet with the forest so close you can touch it.

During your stay, join guide walks, river cruises or order a picnic hamper and find your own private peace in the rainforest. Kayak down the Mossman or swim in the private pool by the lodge. The crystal clear billabong is perfectly safe.

You are picked up from the lodge this morning and transferred to Port Douglas to board the Quicksilver Catamaran.

From the moon the Great Barrier Reef is the only living structure visible on earth, it is a national treasure and one of the true wonders of the world. The friendly crew will take you to a reef at the very edge of Australia’s Continental Shelf, to an underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour and life. The reef lagoon at Agincourt offers excellent swimming and snorkeling areas, quality snorkeling equipment is provided free of charge and the Marine Biologists on board can introduce you to a whole new world. For the more adventurous, SCUBA diving on Agincourt is amongst the best in the world, both introductory dives for the beginner and guided dives for the certified diver are available, both incur an additional cost. Or you can choose to stay dry and explore the stunning reef world one metre underwater from the semi-submersible vessel or an underwater observatory. Tropical smorgasbord lunch and morning and afternoon teas on board the Wavepiercer are included. After a day of fun and sun return to Port Douglas and transfer back to your hotel by approximately 5.00PM.

Your Australian wildlife safari begins with a short, drive west from Port Douglas into the mountains to our home property for an interpretive rainforest and wildlife walk. 'Thylogale' (our home property) is one of those magical places on earth where man and wildlife share land and live together in a respective and harmonious relationship. The safari spends most of the morning here in the rainforest where a plethora of mammals, birds and reptiles are observed. One of the many highlights of your day is an unforgettable morning tea or coffee break held in the rainforest with the company of this free living wildlife

Departing Thylogale, your day continues with a four wheel drive excursion through the secluded wilderness of the Mount Lewis State Forest. This stunningly beautiful rainforest dates back to the evolution of the flowering plants on earth. Much of the flora found here is indicative of Australia's link with the ancient landmass of Gondwana. It is also one of the few remaining protected habitats for some of our more endangered species, including the Southern Cassowary. The coolness of this mountain wilderness provides us with an excellent locality for a barbecued lunch of reef fish and salads.

In the afternoon another short drive further west delivers us into a vastly different ecosystem with it's own wildlife and charm. The dry, stark reality of the open eucalypt forest of the Australian outback is a distinct contrast from the closed wet tropical rainforest of the morning experience.

A number of open forest birds and mammals can be seen here as once again we negotiate a four wheel drive track leading us down to the tranquil beauty of the Mitchell River.

The finale of the day is a refreshing cup of tea held under the shade of towering paperbarks on the banks of this idyllic river. Departing the Mitchell River we head for home and usually have you back at your hotel around 5 p.m.

You fly today to the beautiful city of Sydney.

On arrival, you are transferred to your hotel in the famous Rocks area of Sydney.

You are collected from the hotel by an excellent local guide for a short tour of the city and its history. Travel then through the suburbs and up into Ku-ring-gai Park. Here, explore some of the Aborigine sacred sites learning about this unusual people, their history and their presence in Australian society. You will do some leisurely bush walking seeing wildlife and some of the exotic and unique birds that live up here. You then continue with a drive through some of the beautiful neighborhoods on your way to Palm Cove for lunch. You return to Sydney and your hotel later afternoon.

The last day of your trip – go slowly and take in the sights, shopping – postcards!

Relax, people watch at Darling Harbour in one of the ourdoor cafes for lunch.

Your last evening in the city, you might want to take in a performance at the Sydney Opera House (please inquire to schedules). It is recommended to arrange tickets prior to your departure from the U.S.

You are transferred to the airport for your afternoon flight home, arriving back into North America across the dateline this same day.