ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. A step-by-step guide to your AAT Kings holiday

Transcription

1 ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW A step-by-step guide to your AAT Kings hoiday

2 2 Wecome Amazing destinations. Amazing experiences. We take you there. Dear Traveer, At AAT Kings, our goa, every day, is to bring Austraia and New Zeaand to ife. Our friendy, knowedgeabe and engaging team are here to hep and make your hoiday great. We share our passion and knowedge for Austraia and New Zeaand in ways beyond expected. And to hep you with your panning we ve compied this hepfu booket. We re sure it wi answer many of the questions you may have. We ve incuded the essentias of a you need to know before your hoiday. And some information on Austraia and New Zeaand aong with usefu expanations to ensure you get the most out of your hoiday. Sustaining and supporting the destinations we visit is of great importance to us at AAT Kings As such, we are dedicated to minimising the environmenta impact of our operations in any way we can. By choosing an AAT Kings Guided Hoiday or Sma Group Hoiday you wi be opting for one of the most environmentay friendy ways to trave ensuring the environment and communities we expore remain vibrant for future generations. We have forged strong reationships with indigenous communities throughout Austraia and New Zeaand who generousy bring their history, cuture and stories to ife for our guests as they trave with us. We are proud to work with the Anangu peope and we aso have the peasure of being abe to experience a Maori viage the Tamaki famiy Marae. At AAT Kings we wish you many memorabe hoiday moments and of course there s the peasure of making new friends who you can share these experiences with.

3 3 Before you go Baggage Aowance We are required by strict Government vehice weight reguations to enforce and adhere to these imits. If your uggage exceeds this imit, we ask that you make aternative arrangements for the excess to be forwarded to the termination point of your hoiday. Pease note we suggest you have whees on your suitcase, as there are certain paces where assistance is not avaiabe (e.g. airports, raiway stations and cruise terminas). A uggage and persona effects are at a times and in a circumstances at the risk of the participant. Luggage insurance is recommended. 76 X X X Luggage Aowance This is restricted to one medium size suitcase per person not exceeding 23kg (50bs) in weight and 76x46x52 cm (28.5x19.5x10 ) in dimension. Pease note: these aowances are for coach trave ony and may differ from your airine uggage aowances. Porterage is incuded on your Guided Hoiday. Hand Luggage Aowance Hand uggage shoud be one piece per person and sma and ight enough to fit under your coach seat or in the sma overhead compartment. If uggage does not fit comfortaby in the overhead uggage racks, it wi be stored in the coach uggage compartment whist in transit. Pease note that uggage with adjustabe hande and whees wi not fit in the overhead compartments and cannot be accepted as hand uggage. Checkist: have you got your...? Passport (for guests traveing overseas) Trave insurance Credit cards Money Airine tickets AAT Kings hoiday documents Camera Visas (if appicabe) Note: Do not pack your passport or money in your suitcase X

4 4 Before you go Start by writing a packing ist. What cothing to bring wi depend on your persona preferences, the destinations you are visiting and the time of year you are traveing. You shoud aso take into consideration the activities and outings you wi be going on. We generay recommend casua, ightweight, drip-dry cothing, which requires itte or no ironing. Laundry faciities are avaiabe at most of the paces we stay, however, take sufficient cothing to ast for about a week. Most peope dress casuay throughout the day, however, for the occasiona evening out, you might want to pack something a itte more forma. Pease be aware that the Outback can be quite dusty. If you are traveing in these areas, we recommend you avoid packing good white cothes and other coours which show up the dust easiy. A sma suppy of pastic bags for protecting cothing, camera or other items from dusty areas in inand Austraia coud aso be usefu. Beow is a ist of suggested items to consider when packing for your AAT Kings Hoiday: Cothing Underwear Swimsuit Good waking shoes & socks Sandas/thongs Seepwear Waterproof jacket Shirts/bouses Jeans/trousers Shorts/skirts Puover/cardigan Warm jacket Hat Genera Items to Bring Toietries Medications Portabe umbrea Insect repeent Fynet (obtainabe in Austraia) Camera and charger Trave sewing kit Trave aarm cock Trave sachets of washing powder Pastic bags for soied cothing Sungasses Handkerchief/tissues Sunscreen Water botte (with screw top id) Beach towe

5 5 Before you go Passport & Visas Depending on your nationaity, you may need to obtain visas for entry to Austraia and New Zeaand Pease check with your trave agent to make sure you have the necessary documents. Do not forget your passport and to make sure it is vaid. It is compusory to carry a passport for presentation at the port of entry and exit. Trave Insurance & Security It is essentia that you are constanty security conscious. Your most important possessions such as your passport, money and camera shoud be safey guarded at a times. Loss of such items coud disrupt your hoiday so ony bring your essentia vauabes aong. It is imperative that you are adequatey covered for Canceation, Curtaiment and Medica Insurance prior to your hoiday departure, and we strongy advise insurance against oss of, or damage to, baggage and oss of persona money. Heath and Vaccinations Again, pease ensure you have adequate Trave Insurance before you eave home. If you suffer from any form of iness, be sure to have an adequate suppy of medication before departing on your hoiday and keep this in your hand uggage. You must advise us, through your trave agent, of any important medica conditions you may have before departure. In most cases, vaccinations are not required uness you have recenty traveed through an infected area, in which case you shoud seek medica advice before traveing to Austraia and New Zeaand.

6 6 Before you go Credit Cards Most credit cards such as American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Diners Cub are accepted in Austraia and New Zeaand. Some optiona excursions cannot be paid by credit card. Your Trave Director or Driver Guide can advise you. Aways remember to guard your credit cards, even on hoiday. Aso: Check the expiry date of your credit card and the amount of credit avaiabe to you (do not forget any credit card purchases made just before you eave). Ensure you know your Persona Identification Number (PIN). We recommend that you commit your PIN to memory and do not write it down. Ensure that your credit card is kept in view at a times when paying for goods and services. Ensure that the tota amount of your purchase is entered on the saes voucher before you sign it. Retain a copies of saes vouchers unti you have verified them against your statements. Insist that a spoied saes vouchers be destroyed in your presence. Ony carry your credit card on you personay or in your hand uggage. Never eave your credit card unattended in your hote room, vehice or any other pace. Treat your credit card as you woud cash. Report immediatey the oss or theft of your credit card. Notify your bank you are traveing to avoid your card being canceed. Fying Hints Ensure you carry a your trave documentation in your hand uggage, which aso incudes camera, toietries, reading materia etc. For those traveing internationay, make sure you take advantage of duty free shopping, but check the current duty free imits that appy in the country of your destination. The onger fights can be made a itte more enjoyabe by wearing oose cothing, good comfortabe shoes as we as waking the aises reguary, eating sensiby and drinking penty of fuids (not acoho). Try to get some seep and upon arriva, adjust immediatey into oca time by waiting unti evening before seeping this shoud reieve the effects of jet ag. Eectricity (internationa visitors) The eectrica current in Austraia and New Zeaand is V AC 50Hz. Power pugs are fat and three-pronged so you may need to bring an adaptor if you are panning to bring any eectrica items.

7 7 Read this section if you are traveing on an AAT Kings Guided Hoiday Your Trave Director & Driver Guide On your AAT Kings Guided Hoiday you wi be accompanied by one of our professiona Trave Directors and an experienced Driver Guide throughout. An AAT Kings Trave Director is more than just a guide. They are seasoned and experienced traveers, especiay seected for their extensive knowedge of the regions you wi visit.they wi enrich your hoiday with informative commentary of the history, geography, cuture, fora and fauna of the region. They wi introduce you to your traveing companions and make you fee wecome. AAT Kings Driver Guides are fuy icensed, quaified and experienced professionas who are seected for their impeccabe driving skis and record. So you can reax and enjoy the sights. Accommodation At AAT Kings we pride ourseves on our superior hote and mote seection. Most of our hotes are centray ocated and cose to major attractions. As we trave from major cities to remote regions, the standards can vary, however you can rest assured that the hotes we have seected are the best avaiabe. A hote and mote rooms are cean and we serviced. Each room contains a private bathroom with toiet, shower and/or bath and vanity. Rooms aso often contain tea and coffee making faciities, STD/ISD phone, radio, mini bar and room service. Wherever possibe we seect estabishments which offer additiona faciities too, i.e. swimming poo, sauna, restaurants, bars and so on. Pease refer to the itinerary in your trave waet for information regarding accommodation at each stop. Meas On your AAT Kings Guided Hoiday you wi enjoy great meas with varied menus with oca speciaities. Breakfasts are à a carte or buffet-stye and comprise of cereas, fruit juices and cooked dishes eggs, bacon, sausages etc., toast, preserves, tea and coffee. Lunches, where incuded, are a mixture of picnic stye or specia buffet seection. Dinners are aways three-course meas, often with a choice of entrée, main course and dessert. Some dinners are à a carte and severa are buffet-stye offering a wide seection of food. Meas are aways accompanied by tea and coffee. Laundry Faciities Most of the hotes and motes we use offer a imited number of coin-operated washing machines and driers. Ironing faciities are aso avaiabe either in the hote aundry or an iron and ironing board wi be suppied to your room on request. Vehices AAT Kings has the most modern feet of coaches in which you wi trave. Our coaches offer the finest in uxury and comfort. Features incude air-conditioning, recining seats, arge panoramic windows, pubic address system, drinking water and uggage ockers which are pressurised to hep prevent dust entry. A our coaches in Austraia and New Zeaand have a toiet/restroom. For smaer parties, air-conditioned mini-coaches may be used. On some occasions these vehices may not be fitted with a toiet/restroom. A vehices in Austraia are equipped with a high frequency, Austraia-wide radio which is in contact with the Roya Fying Doctor Service and our base stations around the country. Porterage Hote porterage is incuded in the price of your Guided Hoiday. Seat Rotation on Vehices To enabe everyone the opportunity of enjoying window and front seats, guests change seats daiy during the course of the hoiday. Guest Comments Your feedback is important to us. Towards the end of your hoiday, your Trave Director wi hand out a comment sheet. We ask that you answer the questions, make any reevant comments and hand these back to your Trave Director. The comment sheets are seaed and returned to our Head Office. Every sheet is read and where necessary, reevant action is taken to rectify any probems.

8 8 Read this section if you are traveing on an Inspiring Journey Your Driver Guide On your Inspiring Journey sma group experience, you wi be accompanied by a quaified, experienced Driver Guide. Your Driver Guide is more than just a great driver. AAT Kings Driver Guides are seasoned, experienced traveers, seected by us for their extensive knowedge of Austraia. They are fuy icensed, quaified and experienced professionas who are seected for their impeccabe driving skis and record. Your Driver Guide wi enrich your hoiday with detaied, informative commentary about the history, geography, fora and fauna of the region whie driving you on your hoiday so you can reax and enjoy the sights. Accommodation At AAT Kings we pride ourseves in providing the best possibe accommodation in the remote regions visited on Inspring Journeys. Inspiring Journeys incude a diverse range of accommodation styes. Pease refer to the itinerary in your trave waet for information regarding accommodation at each stop. Reax and unwind in comfort throughout your journey, with each trip featuring the best accommodation avaiabe at every destination. On many journeys, you wi have the chance to stay somewhere truy remarkabe, whether it s an ecoodge in the heart of a pristine nationa park or a boutique hote in an idyic country town, these paces wi charm you with their unique heritage and unparaeed service. Laundry Faciities Limited aundry faciities are avaiabe on your Sma Group Hoiday, therefore it is advisabe to bring ight, practica cothing that can be washed periodicay, pus something warm to wear in the evenings. Laundry faciities normay consist of coin-operated washing machines and dryers. Meas On Inspiring Journeys much care is taken to provide heathy, hearty meas in remote ocations. On a Inspiring Journeys in Austraia, a hearty breakfast is incuded every day with some unches and many dinners aso incuded. Induge the senses with gourmet food, authentic oca produce and award-winning wines. We offer mutipe gourmet dining experiences and opportunities to try traditiona Indigenous meas. Whie many meas incuding buffet breakfasts and a farewe dinner are incuded for each Inspiring Journey, we aso provide you with the freedom to dine where you ike in seected destinations. Touches of uxury We ve thought of everything to make your journey as comfortabe as possibe. Trave in stye with fuy air-conditioned uxury coaches or 4WD vehices, and enjoy on-board compimentary drinks and snacks. Our coaches come with recining seats, and footrests, panoramic windows, and an on-board restroom, as we as phone chargers and free WiFi (coverage may vary in remote areas). We aso provide free arriva and departure transfers between designated airports and our hotes.

9 9 Read this section if you re traveing on an AAT Kings Short Break Your Driver Guide We consider our Driver Guides to be of the highest professiona standard and are proud of the reputation they have deveoped throughout the industry. They maintain an inherent interest in the Austraian environment and are keen to impart their knowedge to interested guests who desire not ony a hoiday but a earning experience as we. During each day s sightseeing you wi join a different schedued Day Tour, with a different group of feow traveers and Driver Guide. Your Driver Guide is more than just a great driver. AAT Kings Driver Guides are seasoned, experienced traveers, seected by us for their extensive knowedge of Austraia and New Zeaand. They are fuy icensed, quaified and experienced professionas who are seected for their impeccabe driving skis and record. Your Driver Guide wi enrich your tour with detaied, informative commentary about the history, geography, fora and fauna of the region whie driving you on your hoiday so you can reax and enjoy the sights. Accommodation Short Breaks offer you up to three standards of accommodation, aowing you the fexibiity to choose whichever category best suits your needs and budget. Our Superior category represents the finest accommodation avaiabe. Standard hotes are we ocated and offer a good standard accommodation and amenities. Budget category hotes offer service at affordabe prices. Laundry Faciities Most of the hotes used wi offer a imited number of coin-operated washing machines and driers. Ironing faciities are aso avaiabe either in the hote aundry or an iron and ironing board wi be suppied to your room on request. Meas On seected Short Breaks, hearty fu breakfasts are incuded to get your day off to a great start. We do not incude breakfast in our Northern Territory Short Breaks due to departure times. At unch and dinner you are free to do your own thing. You can choose where and when you want to eat, and discover some of our fabuous restaurants and cafés. However, on some occasions, we have incuded some specia unch and dinnertime dining experiences, such as buffet unch on the Great Barrier Reef or a barbecue dinner in the Red Centre. Vehices AAT Kings has a modern feet of coaches in which you wi trave. Our touring coaches, designed for vigorous off-road traveing in addition to highway cruising, offer the finest in uxury, comfort and safety. Features incude air-conditioning, recining coth seats, arge panoramic windows, pubic address system, drinking water and uggage ockers which are pressurised to hep prevent dust entry. Most of our coaches in Austraia have a toiet/ restroom (on some occasions, coach restrooms may be inaccessibe depending on operationa conditions). Seat Rotation on Vehices On our Inspiring Journeys to enabe everyone the opportunity of enjoying window and front seats, guests change seats daiy during the course of the tour. Guest Comments Your feedback is aways wecomed. Towards the end of your hoiday, your Driver Guide wi hand out a comment sheet and enveope. We ask that you answer the questions, make any reevant comments, pace the sheet in the enveope provided and hand these back to your Driver Guide. The comment sheets are returned to our Head Office in the seaed enveope. Every sheet is read and a summary is given to management, and where necessary, reevant action is taken to rectify any probems.

10 10 Genera information Budgeting This is a difficut subject to give advice on because the amount varies from person to person and a ot depends on how much you spend on shopping, entertainment, drinks and optiona experiences. Guided Hoidays, for exampe, are virtuay a incusive so you wi ony need money for refreshments, any meas not incuded, activities on free days and evenings, and persona expenses such as souvenirs etc. Optiona Experiences In addition to the sightseeing activities that are incuded in your hoiday price, there is a wide range of other exciting activities on offer. To assist you with panning your budget, with your fina documents you received a day-by-day itinerary incuding fu detais and costs of the optiona experiences avaiabe. Some optiona experiences can not be paid by cash. Your Trave Director or Driver Guide wi advise you. Note: AAT Kings operates some of the optiona excursions, but many are operated by third parties. AAT Kings accepts no iabiity where optiona experiences are operated by a third party. Pease remember that a optiona experiences are undertaken at your own risk. Tipping Whie it s not compusory in Austraia or New Zeaand, tipping is becoming an increasingy accepted practice in a areas of the service industry, but particuary in restaurants, bars and taxis. Pease fee free to tip your Trave Director or Driver Guide if you woud ike to. Photography Austraia and New Zeaand offer many wonderfu opportunities for photographers and photos are a great way to record your hoiday. Be sure to bring your camera and charger. To protect your camera equipment from dust, we suggest strong, seaabe pastic bags. Pre or Post Connections It is your responsibiity to reconfirm your own air, road, rai or any other pre or post connections. Re-Routing of Hoidays Decisions on this are made just prior to each hoiday taking pace and consideration is given to the conditions prevaiing at the time. In transit, if weather or unforeseen circumstances interfere with the itinerary, it is at the discretion of AAT Kings Head office operations team as to what arrangements are made. Phoning Home (Internationa visitors) Before eaving home on your hoiday, you can take steps to avoid returning home to an expensive phone bi: Check internationa caing and text rates. Disabe data roaming and consider a prepaid service designed for internationa traveers. An internationa ce phone and prepaid SIM card ets you stay connected and in touch with famiy and friends, and contro your costs at the same time.

11 11 Genera information Train Trave A number of our programmes offer the chance to incude a journey by train before or after your hoiday (e.g. The Ghan or the Indian Pacific). Rai trave in Austraia is modern and comfortabe with interstate train services incuding seeping berths, dining cars, iquor service, ounge cars, etc. Trave on these trains is on an independent basis. On arriva at your destination, arrangements are as per your itinerary. Acoho Acoho consumption is not permitted on our coaches, nor in some pubic paces in Austraia and New Zeaand. Smoking Government reguations prohibit smoking inside tourist coaches within Austraia and New Zeaand. Pease restrict smoking to the ampe stops en route. Pease be aware that smoking is not permitted in restaurants and other pubic paces in Austraia and New Zeaand, such as shops, art gaeries and museums. Drinking Water It is recommended that you carry with you penty of drinking water, particuary in the warmer cimates. Drinking water varies from region to region and cients shoud check with their crew for suitabiity of consumption. Drinking water is avaiabe on our coaches. Weekends and Pubic Hoidays Our tours operate during pubic hoidays and festivas around Austraia and New Zeaand, but occasionay minor changes to the standard itinerary may be required. Retai shops, banks, museums and other commercia businesses coud be cosed for business but your Trave Director wi ensure you are we advised in case of specia hoidays or pubic hoiday trading. Hotes wi operate normay. WiFi We are peased to offer free Wi-Fi on most of our coaches. Seect the AAT Kings network in the WiFi settings on your device and open your browser to access 100MB of data per 24 hrs. You wi need to ask your Trave Director or Driver Guide for the WiFi password. Socia Media Stay Connected! Join the conversation on socia media by foowing AAT Kings on Facebook, Instagram. Twitter or YouTube. Just search for AAT Kings. Be sure to use our hashtag #smiekings when you post photos from your hoiday. Fee free to eave a review on TripAdvisor as we. facebook.com/aatkingsaustraia instagram.com/aatkings youtube.com/aatkings twitter.com/aatkings

12 12 Austraia Expore. Connect. Smie. Discover the enchanting beauty and sou of Austraia. Your unforgettabe, effortess exporation is brought to ife by the Guided Hoiday experts, AAT Kings, who have been sharing their passion, unrivaed knowedge and exceptiona service with guests since Deve into the fascinating stories of the Anangu peope in the Red Centre and other Indigenous cutures in Austraia. Proud of our roots and the traditions of our peope, we enjoy showcasing their spebinding stories made possibe through the strong reationships we have forged with indigenous communities across this ancient and. Broome Kununurra Bunge Bunge E Questo Geikie Gorge DARWIN Litchfied Kakadu Katherine Gorge NORTHERN TERRITORY Daintree Atherton Tabeands Great Barrier Reef Port Dougas Cairns Mission Beach Hamiton Isand Monkey Mia Cora Bay Karijini WESTERN AUSTRALIA Kings Canyon Kata Tjuta Uuru Aice Springs SOUTH AUSTRALIA Rockhampton QUEENSLAND Noosa God Coast Fraser Isand BRISBANE PERTH The Pinnaces Margaret River Vaey of the Giants Wave Rock Kagoorie Cape Le Grand Coober Pedy Kangaroo Isand Finders Ranges The Barossa Mount Gambier ADELAIDE Great Ocean Road Crade Mountain Gordon River NEW SOUTH WALES Beechworth MELBOURNE TASMANIA Byron Bay Hunter Vaey Bue Mountains SYDNEY CANBERRA Launceston Freycinet Port Arthur HOBART VICTORIA

13 13 Northern Territory The heart of the Outback, Austraia s Red Centre is an intriguing pace, fu of cutura and spiritua significance. Here you wi find remarkabe natura features such as Uuru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Ogas), Kings Canyon, Pam Vaey and Standey Chasm, as we as historic Aice Springs. The Top End is a region with magnificent scenery, word famous natura and cutura attractions such as the Word Heritage isted Kakadu Nationa Park, and many crysta cear waterfas and swimming hoes. Top End & Darwin The Wet season spans from November unti Apri and is characterised by increased humidity foowed by monsoona rains and storms. Whie weather conditions at this time of year can restrict trave to some areas, the Wet Season is a stunning time to see the Top End. Waterfas tumbe, skies host incredibe ight shows, and the andscape turns a ush green. The Dry season (May to October), is characterised by warm, dry sunny days and coo nights. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Kakadu Nationa Park One of the most scenic parks in Austraia contains two kinds of widerness: the back soi food pains and paperbark agoons of the Aigator River System, and the rugged was of the Arnhem Land escarpment which is deepy indented with gorges, streams and waterfas. At the northern end of Kakadu is a series of shaow agoons and biabongs which attract thousands of water birds. Katherine Aong the Stuart Highway, known as the track, 310km south of Darwin is the town of Katherine and the spectacuar Katherine Gorge Nationa Park. Here, the cear river fows between towering, briianty cooured was to form one of the most fascinating river canyons in Austraia. Litchfied Nationa Park Litchfied Nationa Park, west of Batcheor in the Tabetop Range, is a huge sandstone pateau coaked with dry woodands and forests. Cose to the edge of the escarpment, springs bubbe into creeks that have their utimate destination within the rainforest vaeys beow, making spectacuar waterfas that fow throughout the year. Tiwi Isands We beieve you haven t seen Austraia s Northern Territory unti you ve seen the Tiwi Isands. The Isands are home to the Tiwi Peope, coasta isand Aborigina peope with permanent smies. A day tour wi provide you with an insight into the Tiwi Peope s cuture and ifestye and revea to you scenes sedom viewed by outsiders eaving you with a ifetime memory and a onging to return.

14 14 Northern Territory Red Centre, Ayers Rock & Aice Springs The Red Centre is a four season destination experiencing Summer (December-February), Autumn (March-May), Winter (June-August) and Spring (September-November) with arge variations in temperature from season to season. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Uuru (Ayers Rock) Known by Aborigines as Uuru, Ayers Rock is a pace of great cutura and spiritua significance. It is not a rock but a huge bed of arkose sandstone, deposited on the foor of an inand sea some 600 miion years ago. It is propery described as a monoith and is a word famous rock formation. Uuru was first sighted in 1872 and was given its Engish name after the then Governor of South Austraia, Sir Henry Ayers. Kings Canyon The spectacuar Kings Canyon is 100km to the southwest of Aice Springs. A cimb to the rim of the Canyon wi be rewarded with a view of the Lost City weathered rock which resembes the ruins of an ancient city and the Garden of Eden, a vaey where permanent waterhoes are overgrown with ancient cycad pams. Kata Tjuta (the Ogas) A tota of 36 domes make up the awe-inspiring Kata Tjuta (the Ogas). The taest of the domes, at a height of 546m, is some 200m taer than Uuru (Ayers Rock). AAT Kings offers day tours to Kata Tjuta incuding a wak into either the Vaey of the Winds or Wapa Gorge.

15 15 Queensand Righty deserving its reputation as the Sunshine State, Queensand is fortunate to experience a perfect tropica cimate. With over 1.7 miion sq km, it is one of Austraia s argest states with variety to match its series of distinct regions. From the ush coasta region, the mountainous Great Dividing Range and tabeands to the vast Outback, Queensand has many amazing sights. Brisbane With a popuation of over one miion peope, Brisbane is the capita city of the state of Queensand. Brisbane has a tropica cimate and was the host city for Word Expo in Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Cairns Lush tropica Cairns is the capita of the tropica north and has something for everyone. The Cairns coasta and regiona areas have their own unique beauty and draw visitors to Cairns a year round. Perhaps shop at the Pier or reax in one of the many cafés. It has aso the perfect base for exporing both the Great Barrier Reef and deightfu Kuranda Region. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Great Barrier Reef Spanning more than 2000km aong the north eastern coast of Austraia, the Great Barrier Reef is where you can enjoy the immense beauty, coour and richness of a truy natura underwater wonder. It is not a continuous barrier, but a broken maze of cora reefs and cora cays. The Reef is home to many diverse species of marine ife incuding 1,500 species of fish, 400 types of cora and 1,500 types of mousc. It can be expored on daiy cruises, by seapane, air charters and on specia heicopter fights. Kuranda The raiway ine from Cairns cimbs through 15 tunnes and superb scenery to Kuranda at the top of the Macaister Range, 34km from Cairns. Kuranda s picture postcard raiway station, decked out in tropica fowers and ferns is justy famous. Other attractions of this quaint viage on the edge of the Atherton Tabeand incude the coourfu morning markets with produce, cora arts and crafts. New South Waes, Austraia s most popuous state, is home to our argest city, Sydney. Its

16 16 New South Waes temperate cimate, with sunshine most days of the year, provides the idea environment for visitors to this spectacuar state. Sydney The capita of NSW and Austraia s odest and argest city, Sydney was estabished by Captain Arthur Phiip as a pena coony. The city grew in chaos for many years unti 1810 when Governor Macquarie set about restoring order and improving roads and communications. The city soon became a major shipping and trading centre for the southwest Pacific. Today, Sydney has the word s best natura harbour with 55 sq km of water catering for 4,000 vesses each year. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Bue Mountains The Bue Mountains, ocated 100km west of Sydney, are a popuar destination for Sydney-siders and tourists aike. The Bue Mountains take their name from the bue haze which ingers over the range, a resut of the fine mist of oi from eucayptus trees. Some of the most popuar attractions incude Echo Point where you can view the Three Sisters rock formation, the cabe car and the scenic raiway which show the spendour of the Jamison Vaey and the quaint town of Leura. Hunter Vaey Just 90 minutes north of Sydney ies the picturesque Hunter Vaey, Austraia s odest wine producing area. Nested amongst the exciting wineries are a fantastic spread of shops, restaurants and other attractions making the Hunter Vaey the most visited region in Austraia. Be amazed by the Hunter Vaey Gardens, home to the argest gardens in the Southern Hemisphere. Port Stephens Port Stephens, an easy two and a haf hour drive north of Sydney, is known for its nature and abundance of aquatic and and activities on its uncrowded sandy beaches, shetered bays and unspoit nationa parks. The resident popuation of 140 bottenose dophins has earned Port Stephens the tag of Dophin Capita of Austraia. Penty of dophin cruises are avaiabe each day and it s the premier spot aong the NSW coast for whae watching from May to November. Expore the majestic and amost surrea sand dunes of Stockton Beach - the argest coasta sand dune system in Austraia, a 32 kiometre stretch of sand with dunes that are at east 30 meters high. Canberra (ACT) Approximatey 3 hours from Sydney ies the nation s capita, Canberra. Here you find Austraia s Federa Pariament, the Austraia War Memoria and the Nationa Gaery of Austraia. The gaery boasts an exceptiona nationa coection and popuar internationa exhibits.

17 17 Victoria Victoria is our smaest mainand state, yet has the country s second highest popuation. Victoria s capita, Mebourne is recognised as the cutura capita of Austraia with its wide array of restaurants, shopping, entertainment and sports. Mebourne Mebourne is renowned for its fine food, fashion, sport and cuture, as we as its historic buidings and deightfu gardens. It is 5km inand from Port Phiip Bay, by the banks of the Yarra River and has a popuation of over three miion peope. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Great Ocean Road One of the word s great scenic coastine drives begins at Torquay, about 100km southwest of Mebourne and extends for over 300km. Visit the Great Ocean Road s most famous attractions incuding the Tweve Apostes, Loch Ard Gorge, Bes Beach and the seaside viage of Lorne, on an AAT Kings Great Ocean Road day tour. Heaesvie Sanctuary Heaesvie has been a popuar resort town for over 100 years. Its feature attraction is Heaesvie Sanctuary, set among the natura mountain forest. A of Austraia s distinctive fauna is on dispay here with many of the animas roaming freey. Phiip Isand A popuar ocation for Victorian hoiday-makers Phiip Isand is 140km from Mebourne on Westernport Bay. Phiip Isand s attractions incude its exceent beaches, the nighty Penguin Parade, the Koaa Conservation Centre and the Sea Rocks Sea Life Centre. Yarra Vaey A short distance from Mebourne is one of Austraia s premier wine growing regions, the Yarra Vaey. Some of the many superb wineries here are open to visitors for tastings and tours. AAT Kings offers an exceent day tour to the Yarra Vaey which visits three wineries and incudes unch as we as stopping in the Dandenongs for a ride on Puffing Biy, Austraia s odest steam train.

18 18 Tasmania Austraia s isand state is a treasure trove of things to do and see. With a temperate cimate and four distinct seasons, Tasmania is a word away from Austraia s tropica northern cimates. With pristine widerness areas and stunning historic sights, Tasmania is a beautifu state with something to interest everyone. Hobart An enchanting itte city buit around a beautifu yacht-studded harbour in the shadow of majestic Mt. Weington. A strong sea- faring favour and sense of the past gives Hobart an amost European air. This feeing is heightened in summer when Hobart gets penty of sparking bue days but temperatures rarey exceed 25 C. Many of Hobart s beautifu eary coonia sandstone buidings were erected with the sweat and bood of the unfortunate convicts who formed the majority of the first setters in Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Saamanca Pace When in Hobart, make sure you visit Saamanca Pace in Suivans Cove, the city s busting, waterfront heart. Life here in the 1830s was a about industry, but today this picturesque cobbestone square is a destination for food, art, shopping and music. Wander the gaeries and reax under the sun umbreas. Shop for fine Tasmanian craft in the Saamanca Market and dance outdoors in the courtyard of the Saamanca Arts Centre. Here Hobart s cutura ife meets its rich history. Port Arthur Port Arthur has been Tasmania s premier tourist attraction since it ceased operation as a pena settement in Even in the 1920s there were many visitors, fascinated by the taes of desperate convicts and attracted by the superb scenery of the Tasman Peninsua. In 1830, Governor Arthur chose the peninsua as the pace to confine those prisoners convicted of crimes in the coonies. About 12,500 convicts served sentences here between 1830 and Crade Mountain Set in the centre of western Tasmania, Crade Mountain provides exceent bushwaking, and photography. Visit Dove Lake, the starting point for the famed Crade Mountain/Lake St. Cair wak. Native animas can be seen feeding in the eary evening. Freycinet Nationa Park Freycinet is a spectacuar nationa park on Tasmania s east coast. It features cean white sands, rocky headands and granite peaks. There are many waking tracks through the park, with one of the most popuar being the track to the Winegass Bay ookout.

19 19 South Austraia Adeaide is the capita city of South Austraia and fifth argest city. Adeaide is cassed as one of the word s most convenient cities and boasts some of the word s best wine, food and environment. The host of many internationa events, Adeaide is known as Austraia s arts capita. It is aso famous for its internationay renowned wineries and as the word capita of opa, Austraia s nationa gemstone. Adeaide has carefuy preserved natura habitats and environments for its cherished fauna and fora, making it a perfect ecotourism destination. Approximatey an hour from Adeaide is the Barossa, the argest singe wine producing region in Austraia. It consists of thousands of hectares of picturesque, meticuousy maintained vineyards. Naturay, the Barossa is famous for its fabuous wines and gastronomic deights. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see The Barossa The argest singe wine producing region in Austraia consists of thousands of hectares of picturesque, meticuousy maintained vineyards. Naturay, the Barossa is famous for its fabuous wines and gastronomic deights. You can aso enjoy exceptiona views from the Menger Hi ookout or browse the arts, crafts and antiques avaiabe here. Kangaroo Isand The third argest isand off the coast of Austraia, Kangaroo Isand is a nature over s dream, with over 30% of the Isand dedicated to nationa parks. With extensive touring options and a variety of quaity accommodation, the Isand has an enviabe reputation as an exceent pace to see Austraian widife in its natura habitat incuding the word s argest breeding coony of sea ions. Reguar ferries and coach connections are avaiabe from Adeaide. Coober Pedy The word s opa capita, Coober Pedy is South Austraia s odest and argest opa mining town. The town s popuation is muticutura with over 50 nations represented. The opa veins here occur up to 30m beow the surface, but sma opas are often found oose on the ground.

20 20 Western Austraia Western Austraia is Austraia s argest state and in fact, the argest state in the word! Despite its size it has a popuation of ony 1.8 miion peope, the majority of whom ive in the capita, Perth. Western Austraia unique range of attractions aso contains some of the word s ast remaining frontiers. Perth Founded in 1829 and situated 18km up the Swan River on Austraia s west coast, Perth is fast becoming one of Austraia s most cosmopoitan cities. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Things to do, Paces to see Fremante Here you can discover the past with a stro aong the streets of terrace homes and historic buidings, or shop at the Fremante Markets which is open every weekend. There are aso penty of shops, gaeries, museums, restaurants and cafés to enjoy. Rottnest Isand Located just 25 minutes off the coast of Perth, this is Western Austraia s hoiday payground. With spectacuar beaches, history, coonia architecture and unique widife, Rottnest Isand is the idea day tour destination. The best way to visit Rottnest is by ocean-going ferry. Passengers departing Perth can aso enjoy a cruise on the spectacuar Swan River between Perth and Fremante. Choose between a standard return ticket or a range of incusive accompanied fu day packages. Broome Pearfishers have been diving into the waters of Roebuck Bay since the eary 1870s and a sma settement was founded in Broome went on to become the pearing capita of the word by 1910, with arge numbers of Japanese and Chinese businessmen taking contro of the industry. Today, Broome is a thriving town whose main industry is tourism, beef catte, fishing and pears. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa

21 New Zeaand Expore. Connect. Smie. Discover the enchanting beauty and sou of New Zeaand. Your unforgettabe, effortess exporation is brought to ife by the Guided Hoiday experts, AAT Kings, who have been sharing their passion, unrivaed knowedge and exceptiona service with guests since Deve into captivating cuture of the Māori in New Zeaand. Proud of our roots and the traditions of our peope, we enjoy showcasing their spebinding stories made possibe through the strong reationships we have forged with indigenous communities across these diverse isands. Bay of Isands Russe Whangarei Parry Kauri Park Hibiscus Coast Coromande Auckand Matamata Waitomo Caves Rotorua Huka Fas Taupo Mt. Ruapehu Napier Miford Sound Neson WELLINGTON Picton Benheim Buer Gorge Punakaiki SOUTH Kaikoura ISLAND Hokitika Treetop Wakway Arthur s Pass Franz Josef Gacier Christchurch Mt. Cook TranzApine Haast Train Thunder Creek Fas Twize Omarama Lindis Pass Arrowtown Queenstown Oamaru Mirror Lakes Wedderburn Te Anau Kapiti Coast NORTH ISLAND Fiordand Nationa Park Dunedin

22 22 The North Isand Auckand New Zeaand s argest city is aso referred to as the City of Sais, as it reportedy has the most boats per capita in the word. It is situated on a narrow peninsua between two harbours and buit around 49 vocanoes, thereby providing some spectacuar harbour views. It aso has the word s highest concentration of Poynesians. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Rotorua Rotorua s main attractions are the boiing mud poos, hot springs and geysers. This geoogica activity is due to the fact that the earth s crust is very thin in this area, aowing pressures from deep within the earth to be reeased to the surface. For many years, these features were used in everyday ife by not ony the Maori peope but aso the eary European setters. Rotorua, meaning the second ake, is aso of cutura significance, with one-third of the 70,000 strong popuation being of Maori descent. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Weington Weington has been New Zeaand s capita since 1865, when the seat of government was moved here from Auckand. As Weington is ony 2km wide, it is expored easiy by foot. Located between a beautifu harbour and roing green his, Weington has exceent shopping, professiona theatre and cafés and restaurants a cose to untouched nature spots. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa

23 23 The South Isand Franz Josef & Fox Gaciers The West Coast gaciers are some of the argest and most accessibe gaciers in the Westand Nationa Park. Franz Josef was named in 1865 in honour of the Emperor of Austria. The Fox Gacier was named in 1872 after an eary NZ Prime Minister, Wiiam Fox. Lake Tekapo The turquoise coour of the ake is due to fine partices of rock, caed rock-four, hed in suspension in the gacia met water which feeds it. The Church of the Good Shepherd stands beside the ake and was buit in 1935 from stone and oak. Not far from the church is a bronze sheepdog statue, a tribute to these animas which heped to deveop the pastora farming country in this area. Lake Wakatipu & Water Peak Queenstown is situated on the shores of picturesque Lake Wakatipu, the third argest ake in New Zeaand. During the god rush days many steamships coud be seen on the ake, transporting stakehoders from point-to-point. Now, ony the vintage TSS Earnsaw remains. This statey Lady of the Lake sti makes trips across the ake to drop cients at Water Peak, where there is an od coonia homestead and sheep station. Miford Sound Accessed from the resort town of Te Anau, Miford Sound is surrounded by was that rise 1,200m from the sea. One of the most striking and famous features of Miford Sound is the 1695m high Mitre Peak. The region s annua rainfa is amongst the country s highest, receiving 5-6m each year. Te Anau The serene deep waters of Lake Te Anau make up the argest ake in the South Isand and second argest in New Zeaand, and are bordered on its western shore by ush virgin forest. The resort town of Te Anau, the gateway to the fiords, ies nested on the edge of this beautifu ake, with a spectacuar backdrop of Mt Luxmore and the Murchison mountains. The fascinating Te Anau caves system offers a charming underground adventure. This tour takes you to a mysterious underground word of rushing water before drifting in sient darkness beneath the uminous shimmer of thousands of gowworms. Christchurch The South Isand s argest city and the Engish city of New Zeaand, Christchurch is known for its beautifu gardens and the tree-ined Avon River which runs through it. Eary setters wanted to ca the river The Shakespeare. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa

24 24 The South Isand Queenstown Nested on the shores of Lake Wakatipu is scenic Queenstown, surrounded by the mighty peaks of the Southern Aps and the Remarkabes. During the winter months (Jun Sep) the Remarkabes are home to some of the word s most spectacuar skiing. Coronet Peak, the centre of this skiing mecca, offers dry powder snow and the best faciities to match. During the warmer months (Nov Feb) this winter wonderand transforms into a summer hoiday resort town. Queenstown is recognised as the adventure capita of New Zeaand and there are penty of things to do on the water, in the air and on the and! Queenstown aso has a wide variety of reaxing activities incuding wine trais, art trais, museums, shopping, restaurants and cafés to enjoy. Annua Average Weather Patterns Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max ( C) Max ( F) Min ( C) Min ( F) Rainfa Maori Pronunciation (Cheat Sheet) The Maori peope are the origina setters in New Zeaand whose migrations are thought to have preceded European settement by some years. Isoated from outside infuence unti European discovery, the Maori deveoped a unique cuture comprised of highy deveoped socia and rituaistic customs, and as a race, they dispayed a great dea of courage. Maori art refects the Poynesian origins of the peope, but it has a distinctive and unique form. Wood carving, intricatey designed, was the principa expression, but weaving, stonework and tattooing became highy deveoped. The Maori anguage is sti spoken, particuary by the North Isand Maoris, but there are many who have never earnt to speak their native tongue. Educators and the Maori peope have been aware of this shortcoming, and the anguage is being incorporated into the curricuum of an increasing number of secondary schoos. Athough Maori was not a written anguage before the coming of the white missionaries, it is a anguage rich in the traditions of both egend and poetry, which payed primary roes in Maori ife. Some Maori words and phrases can be tricky to pronounce correcty, so we have incuded a cheat sheet for you on how to pronounce some common Maori words, phrases and names: Kia Ora...Key Orra Kiwi...Key Wee Paihia...Pie Here Punakaiki...Pun A Kai Key Rotorua...Row Ta Ru A Tamaki...Tum A Key Taupo... Tow Poh Te Anau... Tee Are Now Te Puia...T Poo Ya Waitangi... Why Tang Ee Waitomo...Why Toe Mo Wanaka... Won A Ka Whakarewera...Fu Ka Ray Wa Ray Wa