14 DAY Down South & Outback OXDSMU-8

Transcription

1 14 DAY Down South & Outback OXDSMU-8 This tour visits: Australia Time to get down south and outback. A trip with the perfect mix of jaw- dropping scenery, masses of wildlife, cool cities and out-of-the-way spots, you re bound to get a true taste of the Land Down Under. Add to that waterfalls and lakes, Aboriginal art, subterranean homes, dingo fences and the unforgettable Uluṟu, and this two-week adventure will knock all others out of the park.

2 The Bucket List More Inclusions Stay underground in Coober Pedy Guided hike of Kings Canyon View the magic of the Flinders Ranges Make your own wine in Coonawarra Paint your own souvenir boomerang Visit Grampians National Park Hike to the base of MacKenzie Falls Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta Visit a kangaroo orphanage in Coober Pedy Experience sunset & sunrise over Uluru 12 Apostles & the Great Ocean Road 13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 6 dinners 11 nights in hotels, motels, hostels & lodges, 1 night in a swag, 1 night underground Entrance fees to national parks Modern air-conditioned vehicle with free Wi-Fi Awesome Topdeck Crew Trip Itinerary Day 1 - Melbourne to Port Campbell (Great Ocean Road) Welcome to your Topdeck trip - meet your travel buddies and hit the road. If you've seen a car commercial, chances are you've seen the Great Ocean Road. With mere metres between road and water, hairpin bends and epic views out every window, today you'll join the list of five million people to do this road-of-passage each year. Before putting rubber on the Great Ocean Road, we'll spot koalas in the wild and lunch in a seaside village. This afternoon is all about the Twelve Apostles, aka the Stonehenge of Australia. Tonight chill out and get to know who you're travelling with. -Coastal lookouts -12 Apostles & the Great Ocean Road - Dinner Day 2 - Port Campbell to Grampains From one natural wonder to another, we'll explore the 167,000 hectares of The Grampians - a mecca for hikers and rock climbers. More than just a place to get geology goosebumps, you'll be standing on sacred ground, with 80% of Victoria's Aboriginal rock art on show. Meet the traditional land owners, whose ancestors were scratching and dabbing their Dreamtime stories onto rock long before the Pyramids of Egypt were conceived. Then paint your own story onto a boomerang. Dinner with the crew tonight. -Paint your own souvenir boomerang

3 - Dinner Day 3 - Grampians to Mt Gambier Next up: MacKenzie Falls, the largest waterfall in Victoria. It's no Niagara, but flowing water is guaranteed year-round - a rare promise in a country that's 40% desert. Then, the Northern Grampians for one last panorama shot where #natureporn trends with views to Mount Williams, the highest peak in the park and third-highest mountain in Victoria. Tonight, after a walking tour, get a slice of history as you get some shut eye in Old Mount Gambier Gaol. -Pinnacles Walk -Hike to the base of MacKenzie Falls -Gaol history walking tour Day 4 - Mt Gambier to Adelaide Stroll through the Valley Lake conservation area and learn about the pre-human flora and fauna existence. Snap madly away on the camera as you spot a Skippy. Hot tip: don't go to hug one. Before kicking on to Adelaide, check out the Blue Lake (depending on what time of the year you visit, the lake changes colour) and the Umpherston Sinkhole. Because no South Australian voyage is complete without wine, we get to concoct our own potion as we stop at Wynn's Coonawarra vineyard. Chin chin! -Make your own wine in Coonawarra Day 5 - Adelaide You've made it to one of the world's coolest cities (according to Lonely Planet). Today's a free day for the adventurous to spend the day slurping noodles in the Adelaide Central Market, or take a tram to the seaside village of Glenelg. Day 6 - Adelaide to Flinders Ranges There are more wineries around here than flies on a sheep. On our way to the Clare Valley, we'll stop at the Barossa Reservoir Whispering Wall - there's a time and a place for confessions. This isn't it. There is a classic Aussie pub at the end of the road today. - Dinner

4 Day 7 - Flinders Ranges Flinders Ranges National Park has everything. From mountains to gorges and creeks to rivers, you're lucky you get to play in it today. Take a hike to Wilpena Pound - a natural amphitheatre about three times the size of Uluru. Chill off with lunch by the pool. -Wilpena Pound guided walk - Lunch - Dinner Day 8 - Flinders Ranges to Coober Pedy Destination: Coober Pedy. Where locals live in homes carved deep underground to escape the heat. Along with these subterranean houses, this place is know for another little gem. Opals. 75% of the world's opals come from here. We'll take a mine tour to check it out. Then: time to meet the orphans of the kangaroo world and learn more about how abandoned joeys are nurtured back into the wild. Cute! -Opal mine tour -Visit a kangaroo orphanage - Dinner Day 9 - Coober Pedy to Alice Springs It's time to cross the gemstone littered and soft grounds of the Moon Plain up the middle of Australia. Then, check out the world's longest Dingo Fence (good thing there's a gate) and truck on past some very remote roadhouses before crossing the border into the Northern Territory. That resort pool is just what the doctor ordered. Day 10 - Alice Springs to Uluru We're hitting the red ground running as we take to the road and head into Yulara (the gateway resort to Uluru) for lunch. It's off to the breathtaking Uluru in the afternoon for a guided tour, and a glass of bubbles as the glow of sunset morphs through 50 shades of red. Tonight hone your Aussie BBQ skills and cook your own steak (or veggie burger). Welcome to the outback, mate. -Mt Conner -Uluru sunset drinks & snacks

5 -Dinner Day 11 - Uluru (Kata Tjuta National Park) Start your day with a big bowl of 'oh my god' thanks to a breathtaking sunrise back at Uluru. Follow in the footsteps of the traditional owners of this sacred World Heritage site with a full base walk, where you can escape the crowds and check out hidden waterholes. Keep watch for wedge-tailed eagles, spinifex hopping mice and thorny devils. Optional activities today include a scenic flight over the rock or a camel ride. Later, join an optional meditative dot painting class in the Aboriginal Art Markets and give yourself a free astrology lesson, stargazing at the endless Southern night sky. -Sunrise over Uluru -Uluru base walks -Anangu Visitor centre -Guided walk by your rew Optional activities: -Scenic flights -Camel ride in the outback Day 12 - Uluru to Kings Canyon After a hearty breakfast, we spend a few hours back in the National Park. This time get ready for some soul searching as we venture into the heart of sacred Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) and walk amongst the 36 red sandstone giants through the Valley of the Winds. After a drive into Watarrka National Park, live the life of a jolly swagman as we sleep under the stars in custom swags. Cue campfire stories and marshmallows tonight. Please be aware that in winter months (May-Sept), nighttime temperatures can drop to near 0 degrees, warmer clothing will be required for the night sleeping in the swag. Please note that the twin / double / or single upgrade is not applicable to the Overnight Swag Night at Kings Canyon. -Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta Day 13 - Kings Canyon to Alice Springs Get your hiking boots on! This morning we start with the hardest part of the famous Rim Walk in Kings Canyon, aptly named 'Heart Attack Hill'. But believe us, it's worth the effort. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is the real deal and the most famous canyon in Australia. Think age-old

6 cycads, eroded dome shapes, a visit to The Lost City - and that's not even the best part. The sheltered valley and waterhole of the Garden of Eden make today even more awesome. After a picnic lunch, we'll board the coach back to Alice Springs. -Guided hike of Kings Canyon -Garden of Eden walk Day 14 - Alice Springs (West Macdonnell Ranges) Wake up. Rub eyes. Get ready for an excursion out amongst the Western MacDonnell Ranges. Our stops include the peaceful Simpsons Gap and the impressive Standley Chasm. It's back to Alice Springs to grab a late lunch and explore the town centre. -Standley Chasm -Simpsons Gap Accommodation You will use a variety of multi-share accommodation, which may include hotels, hostels, motels, cabins, an overnight boat and even a traditional Maori marae! The number of people in a room varies depending on the type of accommodation. To keep costs down accommodation is based on a four-share, same sex basis. The 'More Inclusions' section of this document details what type of accommodation is used for our overnight stops. If you are travelling with a friend and require twin or double accommodation, this is available at a small extra charge and can be requested at the time of booking. Optional Activities On all trips we have arranged extra activities that we think will enhance your travel experience, but you have a choice as to whether or not you will participate. These are not included in the cost of your trip. They are usually organised on a group participation basis and should be taken into consideration when budgeting your spending money. None of the Optional Activities on your trip are operated by Topdeck, nor do they form part of your contract with Topdeck for your trip. Topdeck arranges the activity as an agent of the local supplier. Should you participate in any Optional Activities your contract will be with the local supplier and their conditions will apply. Please note: while we make every effort to keep these prices as accurate and up-to-date as possible, they are subject to change and in rare circumstances the actual price may vary slightly to what is published here. Australia - Uluru

7 Scenic Helicopter Flight from $150 AUD Camel Rides $80 AUD Meals Your included meals are detailed in the 'More Inclusions' sectio n of this document. Breakfasts are included each day (except on the first morning). A typical breakfast consists of cereals with milk or yoghurt, bread, a range of spreads, and fruit juice, tea or coffee. It is rare to get a hot breakfast, though on some occasions it may be available. Included evening meals will be combination of those prepared by the Topdeck Road Crew, local restaurants and places in which we stay. If you have any dietary requirements we will make every effort to cater to your specific needs as long as you advise your travel agent or Topdeck Trip Consultant when you book. But please be aware that although we will do everything in our power to arrange it, we cannot guarantee that every restaurant we use will be able to cater to all dietary needs. We also cannot cater for tastes or dislikes, as most of our included evening meals feature a set menu. No Tip Necessary Your Topdeck crew never expect tips themselves and will not ask for any; that s not what friends do! We also know how much tipping can cost you. So go ahead, spoil yourself with the money you will save by travelling with Topdeck (just don t forget Mum s souvenir). Topdeck Travel App Our travel app has landed! With a range of awesome features including a Currency Converter, Budget Tracker, Check-In tool and Social Timeline you can plan your trip like a pro. Think of it like your very own Topdeck Trip Leader, always on call with the latest info, weather, maps and city guides to give you the trip of a lifetime, all in the palm of your hand. Please note: The Topdeck Travel App should only be downloaded once you have booked onto your trip. You will not be able to log in unless you have a Topdeck Booking Reference Number. Get it for iphone Get it for Android Passenger safety One of the best parts of travelling is experiencing the nightlife and entertainment each city has to offer. However, amidst the fun and excitement, it s important to be aware of your surroundings and personal safety as well. Before you hit the road with us, it s important to be aware of the following: When you re on a night out, remember to avoid walking alone, particularly through deserted areas like beaches and back streets. Always stick together, take a taxi where possible, and keep a note of your accommodation details so you can find your way back to your fellow

8 Topdeckers if you become separated. In some countries, alcoholic measures can be considerably larger than what you may be used to. Try to keep track of what you re drinking, and if you see one of your trip mates looking a little worse for wear, take them back to your accommodation. Be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers and never leave your drink unattended. It s also important to be aware that what you might consider harmless flirting may be interpreted differently in some countries. Be yourself and have fun, but don t be naïve, and be mindful of the signals you are sending out so that you don t find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.