THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK MUSIC, THEATRE, ART & FOOD NOVEMBER 24 DECEMBER 5, 2019 TOUR LEADER: STUART BARRIE

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1 THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK MUSIC, THEATRE, ART & FOOD NOVEMBER 24 DECEMBER 5, 2019 TOUR LEADER: STUART BARRIE

2 THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK MUSIC, THEATRE, ART & FOOD Tour dates: November 24 December 5, 2019 Tour leader: Stuart Barrie Tour Price: $9,950 per person, twin share Single Supplement: $2,930 for sole use of double room Booking deposit: $500 per person Recommended airline: Qantas or United Maximum places: 20 Itinerary: New York (11 nights) Date published: November 19, 2018 Overview Enjoy the best of the Big Apple on our popular 12-day residential style tour to New York, a regular feature of the Academy Travel program. We have carefully designed a range of experiences to please all the senses. This includes the very best in opera, symphony concerts, musicals and drama, some of the world s top art and history museums, and a selection of the city s best restaurants. The tour takes place over the Thanksgiving period, a festive time for Americans, and one where the streets of New York are also a little less busy than usual. Accommodation is in spacious premier plus rooms at the Warwick Hotel on 54th Street in midtown Manhattan. The location is within walking distance of Carnegie Hall, the theatres of Times Square and the Museum of Modern Art. It is also close to the Lincoln Center, Central Park and the Rockefeller Center. US expert Stuart Barrie has led many tours to New York and will provide background information on performances and walking tours. Expert art historians and docents will conduct some gallery visits. There is also plenty of free time to relax and for individual sightseeing. Your tour leader Stuart Barrie is a social historian with strong interests in modern history, and in particular Europe and the USA in the twentieth century, and lately modern architecture, especially the residential architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. The development of his latest interests arose from the intersection of the Bauhaus Movement and the Prarie style of architecture developed by Wright. Stuart has a BA from Macquarie University and a MComm from the University of NSW and has been leading tours for over 30 years. He started working for a leading coach tour operator in the mid 1980 s leading tours throughout the UK, Western Europe and into the then Soviet Republic and Eastern Europe. His passion for tour leading led him to be a founding director of Academy Travel and he has led over 20 tours for Academy. Enquiries and bookings Exceeded my expectations, so many places were ticked off my wish list. The group was lovely and Stuart was a great tour leader. Feedback from Stuart s Frank Lloyd Wright: Los Angeles to New York tour, October For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Jamal Fairbrother at Academy Travel on or (outside Sydney) or jamal@academytravel.com.au

3 Eight outstanding performances Each year we offer a carefully selected line up of live performances, spanning operatic and orchestral classics, jazz, quality drama and Broadway musicals. These will be chosen from the season as details become available. Currently, our performance schedule includes: The smash-hit Musical Hamilton, based on the life of New York founding father Alexander Hamilton A top-flight opera at by one of the world s premiere opera companies The Metropolitan Opera at their home, the Lincoln Center A concert by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at the Lincoln Center s David Geffen Hall A performance at the world-famous Carnegie Hall. The 125-year old venue is steeped in tradition and boasts excellent acoustics George Balanchine s The Nutcracker by the New York City Ballet, a highlight of the city s holiday calendar since 1954 The Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall an American icon since the 1920 s A new production of a stage play from the Broadway season. We often wait to see reviews before deciding which stage play to include An evening of jazz at Jazz at the Lincoln Center Three Highlight meals Dine in elegant spaces and explore New York s food scene. Degustation dinner at the Michelin three-star restaurant Eleven Madison Park Lunch at the Michelin two-star restaurant The Modern, inside the Museum of Modern Art A traditional all-american Thanksgiving lunch at one of New York s leading restaurants Art, Architecture & History A carefully selected sightseeing program, ranging from European Old Masters to cutting-edge contemporary arts, with expert guidance. A private out-of-hours viewing of the Museum of Modern Art with a museum lecturer An excursion to Philip Johnson s Glass House in New Canaan, Conneticut Curator-led tour of The Cloisters, the Metropolitan Museum of Art s exquisite medieval collection on the northern tip of Manhattan Charming small galleries, including the Frick Collection and The Neue Galerie Architectural walking tours of Midtown, Downtown and Chelsea, featuring Beaux-Arts, Art Deco and Post-Modern masterpieces

4 Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D. Begin the tour relaxed In order to enjoy performances and get the most from sightseeing we suggest you plan to arrive in the United States a few days before the tour commences. Above: a classic example of Art Deco architecture, the Chrysler Building is considered by many contemporary architects to be one of the finest buildings in the world Below: the legendary Carnegie Hall; and Gustav Klimt s celebrated portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer is the centrepiece of the Neue Galerie, but it is just one of several world-class works in this delightful small museum Sunday November 24 Arrival Flights from Australia arrive in New York in the late afternoon. In the early evening, we gather for drinks in the hotel bar. (If you have arrived early we suggest you take the AIA harbour cruise today. Academy Travel can arrange bookings.) Monday November 25 Downtown Carnegie hall We begin our exploration of New York s unique history and architecture in the Downtown area, where the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam was founded in the 17th century, as well as Wall Street and the heart of the financial district so central to New York s rise. Sights include the 9/11 Memorial, the Woolworth Building, and New York City Hall. We have a welcome lunch at a leading downtown restaurant. The afternoon is free. This evening we kick off our performances in style at the legendary Carnegie Hall. The venue has superb acoustics and a long tradition of outstanding performances. (B, L) Venue: Carnegie Hall Program: To be advised Performers: To be advised Tuesday November 26 Museum Mile Metropolitan Opera Today we visit two stunning museums on the Upper East Side. The Neue Galerie, specialising in German and Austrian art, has become a must see after the famous acquisition of Gustav Klimt s Woman in Gold. Not far away is the Guggenheim Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright s last architectural masterpiece. We will inspect the building and tour the collection. From the Guggenheim, we make our way into Central Park, one of the greatest achievements in urban landscape architecture, and take in many of the unique but often missed features designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. This evening we head to the Metropolitan Opera at the Lincoln Center to enjoy a performance from their season. (B) Venue: Lincoln Center Opera House Program: To be advised Performers: To be advised

5 Wednesday November 27 Midtown Hamilton This morning we have a lecture and then explore some of the Art-Deco architecture of New York s Midtown district, including the Chrysler Building, the United Nations and the Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Terminal. We ll also go to the Top of the Rock and get the best view of New York from the top of the Rockefeller Center. This evening we make our first trip to Broadway for the smash-hit musical Hamilton, the hottest show in the city. The musical tells the story of the dramatic life of New Yorker and founding father Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the US treasury. It s an unlikely topic for a musical, but its incredible popularity is proof of Broadway s never-ending inventiveness, as well as the ground-breaking nature of its score and casting. (B) Venue: A Broadway theatre Program: Hamilton Performers: To be advised Thursday November 28 Thanksgiving in New York We celebrate Thanksgiving today, beginning with the Macy s Parade, New York s biggest event and the world s biggest parade, with spectacular floats and displays to bring a smile to all age groups. We then feast on a traditional American Thanksgiving banquet at one of New York s leading restaurants, with turkey and all the trimmings. For those who wish to walk off lunch, we will take an optional stroll through the brownstones of Brooklyn Heights and across the Brooklyn Bridge in the late afternoon. (B, L) Friday November 29 New Canaan ny philharmonic Today we travel north by train to visit Philip Johnson s stunning Glasshouse in the town of New Canaan, Connecticut. Actually, an estate comprising several buildings, this iconic example of 20th-century architecture was created between 1949 and the 1980s. Johnson is a key figure in American architecture, and a visit to his estate is a great day trip to break up our stay in New York. We stop for a lunch break in New Canaan before returning to New York, where the Black Friday sales are in full swing! We return to the Lincoln Center for an evening with the New York Philharmonic. (B) Venue: David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center Program: To be advised Performers: New York Philharmonic Above: fall colour over Central Park; and Grand Central Terminal, the nation's most iconic, and certainly its most beautiful, train station Below: You never know who you will meet at the Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade Saturday November 30 Chelsea Jazz This morning we stroll the High Line, a beautiful urban park situated on a former elevated rail line through the chic Chelsea

6 and Meatpacking districts. After free time in Chelsea Markets, we visit the newly re-opened Whitney Museum of American Art. This evening we enjoy a performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center in their magnificent auditorium overlooking Central Park. Their program will be released in September. (B) Venue: Jazz at Lincoln Center Program: To be advised Performers: To be advised Above: an unexpected touch of green in the city - the Chelsea High Line Below: the Met Cloisters - the Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world; and the sumptuous Morgan Library, home to countless precious manuscripts, spanning millennia of human history Sunday December 1 Frick collection Broadway Play For early risers, there is the chance to witness a gospel church service in the Harlem neighbourhood and tour some of the sights in northern Manhattan. Later in the morning, we visit the Frick Collection, one of the world s finest house museums. In his lifetime Pennsylvania entrepreneur Henry Clay Frick assembled a collection of European Old Masters paintings, furniture and decorative arts of the very highest quality, today displayed in his former Fifth Avenue mansion. After lunch, we return to Broadway this afternoon for a matinee performance of a stage play, selected from the best of the season. For those feeling like an evening adventure, there will be an additional option to explore Brooklyn s Dyker Heights, where New York s most incredible Christmas light displays are to be found. (B) Venue: A Broadway theatre Program: A stage play, to be advised Performers: A stage play, to be advised Monday December 2 The Met & a Degustation Today we spend the morning at The Cloisters, the Metropolitan Museum of Art s medieval department, located on the northern tip of Manhattan. We then travel to the Museum s main campus, where you can select from the 50 departments presenting outstanding art from pre-history to the 20th century and from all corners of the globe. This evening we enjoy the dining highlight of the tour a degustation dinner at Eleven Madison Park, a Michelin three-star restaurant regularly ranked in the world s top 10. (B, D) Tuesday December 3 Great Libraries New York Ballet This morning we visit the Morgan Library, containing an exquisite collection of extremely rare manuscripts and books, and take a tour of the magnificent New York Public Library, as well as Bryant Park, Herald s Square and the Empire State Building area. This evening we return to the Lincoln Center for a favourite of the New York holiday season George Ballanchine s arrangement of Tchaikovsky s The Nutcracker, which has been performed to the delight of young and old annually since (B)

7 Venue: David Koch Theater, Lincoln Center Program: The Nutcracker Performers: New York City Ballet Wednesday December 4 Museum of Modern Art The Rockettes A highlight of our tour is this morning s private tour of MoMA, New York s famous Museum of Modern Art. A museum lecturer guides us through the museum s greatest works before the doors open to the public. We then have lunch at The Modern, the elegant two-star Michelin restaurant located in the Museum of Modern Art. In the afternoon, we ll attend a performance of the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, showcasing dance and choreography at Radio City Music Hall since Tonight, we continue the Christmas cheer by witnessing the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, the traditional start of Christmas in New York and a major event in the city. (B) Venue: Radio City Music Hall Program: Christmas Spectacular Performers: The Rockettes Thursday December 5 Departure Before we farewell New York, our final morning is free for those interested in squeezing in some extra shopping or additional sights. In the mid-afternoon there is a transfer to JFK airport for those departing New York. (B) Images right: New York s famous Museum of Modern Art is home to works from Picasso, Warhol, Matisse, Lichtenstein and more; the stately Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, all decked out in its finest holiday bling; and New York's annual musical holiday stage show the Radio City Christmas Spectacular!

8 The Warwick Hotel Our four-star hotel is very conveniently located in midtown Manhattan, on 54th Street. We have booked premier-plus grade rooms. These are large and comfortable, each with modern amenities. The hotel is within walking distance of many of New York s most popular attractions. The hotel has just completed a major renovation. Moving around NY To get to performances in the evenings we will use a private coach, taxis or walk. Some of our daytime travel from site to site will also be in taxis. Taxis are much faster than coaches and give us total flexibility in the program. On one or two occasions, we will also use the city s subway system. Please note that there is a moderate amount of walking on this tour. Above: The Warwick Hotel on 54th Street Below: Three Flags, a 1958 painting by American artist Jasper Johns held in the Whitney Museum of American Art; and Manhattan from the Top of the Rock observatory photo taken by a previous tour participant in 2015 visa requirements In order to enter the United States all travellers are now required to complete an online form, the US government s Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (or ESTA). Full details are available at In making the application you will need details of your arriving flight to the USA and also need to provide the name and address of the first hotel we are staying at: The Warwick Hotel 65 W 54th St New York, NY 10019, USA Phone: The cost of the ESTA is currently USD $14 and you should receive an authorisation immediately. Print a copy of your ESTA and carry it with you on your flight.

9 Tour Price The tour price is $9,950 per person, twin share (land content only). The supplement for a single room is $2,930 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure a place on the tour. Final program and second deposit Once the full and final performance program is released in early 2019, you will be asked to pay a second deposit of $1,500 per person to cover the cost of tickets. At this point you will have a 14-day period to withdraw from the tour with a full refund of all monies paid (including initial deposit) if you do not find the range and standard of performances satisfactory. Tour Inclusions Included in the tour price 11 nights accommodation in premier plus rooms at the Warwick Hotel in midtown Manhattan All breakfasts, and selected lunches and dinners in hotels and local restaurants Land travel by air-conditioned coach or taxi as required Best available tickets to eight performances of opera, classical music, drama and a Broadway musical Services of Academy Travel expert tour leader All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary Expert local guides at selected sites Extensive background notes Tips for all services stated as included in the itinerary Not included International airfares, taxes and surcharges (see below) Travel insurance Visa costs Meals not mentioned in itinerary Expenses of a personal nature Air travel OPTIONS For this tour we recommend Qantas or United who have regular flights to New York. Please contact us for further information on competitive Economy, Business and First Class airfares. Taxi transfers between airport and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers. Enquiries & bookings For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Jamal Fairbrother at Academy Travel on or (outside Sydney) or jamal@academytravel.com.au Fitness Requirements of THIS tour GRADE ONE It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you instead to consider carefully your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour. Participation criteria for this tour This Grade One tour is appropriate for travellers in good health with good mobility. You should be able to comfortably participate in up to three hours of physical activity per day on most days, including walking at an easy pace, sometimes on uneven terrain, climbing stairs and standing in galleries. You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 2-3 kilometres at a moderate to slow pace with only short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and museums negotiate stairs and escalators get on and off a coach with steep stairs unassisted move your luggage a short distance if required A note for older travellers If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, it is likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. You may have to miss certain activities and may not get the full value of the tour. Before submitting your booking form, please contact Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition. Weather on Tour The weather in the northern United States in November is cool, but not unpleasant. It is the end of autumn, so it can be a little changeable. Expect daytime temperatures to range between 10 and 18 degrees. Evenings may become colder, requiring a warmer jacket and scarf. November is one of the drier months (about 65mm on average), but a weather-proof jacket and umbrella are always recommended.

10 About Academy Travel Each year Academy Travel organises around 60 journeys to Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia and the Americas, each focusing on a distinctive historical, artistic or cultural theme. The aim of every Academy Travel journey is to combine the pleasures of independent travel with the benefits and shared enjoyment of a group. Academy Travel is an Australian-owned travel company, founded in The company s staff includes both academic experts and travel professionals with over two decades industry experience. We also have our own office in Rome which organises our tours in Western Europe. This means we have direct control over the selection of hotels, restaurants, coaches and local guides, guaranteeing superior quality. Great itineraries Academy Travel works hard to create itineraries that provide a balanced experience walking tours, museum and gallery visits, live performances, city and countryside. We re proud to be constantly innovating, from opening up new destinations, creating tours around festivals and special exhibitions, to providing unrivalled depth in our residential tours. Like-minded groups Over the years we ve been in operation, we ve developed a loyal band of Academy Travellers, some of whom have travelled with us more than 10 times. They say the small groups (maximum 20, average 17) and distinct themes of our tours attract like-minded travellers and create a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Long stays Feedback from our clients consistently tells us that creating itineraries with three and four-night stops, or even longer, is far more appealing that rushing from place to place. Wherever possible, we plan our tours around a limited number of stops, making your travels more relaxed and more meaningful. Special Events A private viewing of the Sistine Chapel? Tickets to a sold-out concert by the Berlin Philharmonic? A worldfamous art fair? Access to private homes and gardens? Behind-the-scenes visits? Many of our tours feature access to places and events that are usually not offered on most group tours. Expert tour leaders We work closely with a team of academically qualified and highly experienced tour leaders. They don t just rattle off the facts they help us plan our itineraries and, on tour, freely share their deep knowledge and genuine passion. Most of our tour leaders are still teaching at an advanced level and many are still undertaking academic research. Years of experience Academy Travel was founded in 2004 by a team with decades of prior experience in small group travel. On average, our tour leaders have over 11 years experience, some with 25 or more years. To ensure quality, we have our own office in Rome, Italy and a network of trusted suppliers around the world. ACADEMY TRAVEL TAILORED SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS info@academytravel.com.au academytravel.com.au

11 TO SUBMIT YOUR BOOKING: Complete form on screen. Simply click in the box to fill in your details and press Tab to progress to the next box. Save the completed form and it to us. Or print the form, complete the fields and send it back to us. Name of tour: Departure date: A Your details This is my first tour with Academy Travel I have previously travelled with Academy Travel PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 Your title (Ms, Mrs, Mr, Dr etc): Your full name (as it appears on your passport): Your title (Ms, Mrs, Mr, Dr etc): Your full name (as it appears on your passport): Preferred first name: Date of birth: Preferred first name: Date of birth: Postal Address: Postal Address: State: Postcode: State: Postcode: Phone - Area code: Phone: Phone - Area code: Phone: Mobile: Mobile: Passport number: Expiry date: Passport number: Expiry date: Frequent flyer number(s) Seating (Aisle or window) Frequent flyer number(s) Seating (Aisle or window) Name of next of kin (not travelling with you): Name of next of kin (not travelling with you): Relationship to you: Contact number of next of kin: Relationship to you: Contact number of next of kin: PROOF OF IDENTITY Please provide a photocopy of the photo page of your passport together with this booking form. ROOMING PREFERENCES I am travelling: on my own with a friend or family member. Name of friend or family member (if not passenger 2) I/we would like: a room for sole occupancy a twin-bedded room a double-bedded room B Your special requirements MEAL REQUIREMENTS/ALLERGIES Please indicate below if you have any special dietary requirements. Appropriate meals will be requested for you on all flights and group meals based on this information. PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 I do not have any specific dietary requirements or allergies I have the following specific dietary requirements/allergies I do not have any specific dietary requirements or allergies I have the following specific dietary requirements/allergies MEDICAL CONDITIONS Please indicate below if you have any serious health issue that may affect your travel insurance coverage, your physical capacity to undertake some activities on tour or may otherwise need to be considered by the tour leader/manager during the tour. PASSENGER 1 PASSENGER 2 I have no specific medical condition that Academy Travel needs to know about Academy Travel needs to know about the following medical condition(s) I have no specific medical condition that Academy Travel needs to know about Academy Travel needs to know about the following medical condition(s) Level 1, 341 George Street Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: or (outside Sydney) ACADEMY TRAVEL

12 BOOKING FORM C Your travel plans I/we wish Academy Travel to arrange air travel from Australia. Economy Class. Premium Economy Class. Business Class. I/we will organize our own air travel. I/we are undecided about air travel. Please contact us to discuss the available options. I plan to leave Australia before the tour commences. Planned departure date: I intend to take part in the extension tour offered in the itinerary (if applicable). I/we plan to undertake additional travel before/after the tour and would like Academy Travel to organise this (please describe destinations and length of stay required below). To discuss your travel arrangements please contact the travel consultant for your tour. You can also enquiries to info@academytravel.com.au. D Your acceptance of booking conditions PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND SIGN BELOW DEPOSITS A deposit of $500 per person is required to confirm your booking on a tour. Final payment of the tour fee, insurance and any additional travel will be due 60 days before departure. CANCELLATION FEES If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply: More than 60 days before departure: $500* days before tour start: 25% of total amount due days before tour start: 75% of total amount due 14 days or less before departure: 100% of total amount due *This amount may be credited to another Academy Travel tour within 12 months of the original tour you booked. UNUSED PORTIONS OF THE TOUR We regret that refunds will not be given for any unused portions of the tour, such as meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights or transfers. TRAVEL INSURANCE Academy Travel requires all participants to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. We offer a comprehensive policy with a reputable insurer if required. PASSPORT AND VISA A valid passport is required for all international travel. If you do not hold an Australian passport you may require a re-entry permit. Some countries require a visa to be issued before you depart Australia. We will advise you of all passport and visa requirements, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet passport and visa requirements before you depart. WILL THE TOUR PRICE CHANGE? If the number of participants in a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates Academy Travel reserves the right to amend the advertised price. If this occurs you will be given the option of canceling your booking and obtaining a full refund. If an Academy Travel tour is forced to cancel you will get a full refund of all monies paid. WILL THE ITINERARY OR AIRLINE CHANGE? Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of Academy Travel make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to make slight amendments to daily itineraries. We will inform you of any changes as soon as they occur. FINAL PAYMENT Full and final payment for the tour, airfare travel, insurance and any additional travel you book is due 60 days before departure. Payment may be made by bank deposit, cheque, cash or credit card. Please note there is a surcharge for payments made by credit card. Academy Travel reserves the right to decline the booking or terminate the holiday of any traveller. I/we accept the conditions on this booking form I/we have read the information about the physical requirements of the tour in the detailed itinerary and confirm that I/we are able to meet these requirements. Date: AUTHORISATION By submitting this booking form, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions above and on our website, and the inclusions and non-inclusions listed in the detailed itinerary for the tour. E Deposit payment f How did you hear about this tour? A non-refundable $500 deposit is required for each person listed on this booking form. Please indicate which method you have chosen to pay your deposit: Number of passengers: Amount of deposit: $ Paid directly by cheque (Please make cheques payable to Academy Travel) Paid by credit card (Please complete details below) MasterCard Visa American Express Card Number: 3 or 4 digit security code: Expiry date: Please select where you first heard about this tour: I receive the Academy Travel tour program I receive the Academy Travel weekly s I saw an advertisement online please specify I saw an advertisement in please specify I attended a lecture at... please specify Searching the internet please specify A friend recommended Academy Travel tours Other... please specify Name on card: Amount: $ AUTHORISATION Date: By submitting this booking form you are authorising us to charge the cost of deposits for booking on this tour. No further charges will be made without your prior authorisation. g SEND Please send your completed booking form to: Academy Travel GPO Box 5057 Sydney NSW 2001 Or info@academytravel.com.au or fax it to (02) Additional booking forms can be downloaded from our website: academytravel.com.au /18 ACADEMY TRAVEL TAILORED SMALL GROUP JOURNEYS info@academytravel.com.au academytravel.com.au