HOLIDAYS Outback Christmas 8 s n $2250 per person, twin share leisurely pace departing Thurs 22 December 2016 1300 1500 50 www.cotaholis.com.au
Includes Transfers from your home Air-conditioned luxury coach travel En-suited motel accommodation Cooked breakfasts, dinners & most lunches Sightseeing and entrance fees Highlights Mungo National Park and Walls of China White Cliffs opal town Lunch at Tilpa Hotel on the Darling River Banrock Wetlands with Lunch Itinerary 1 Adelaide to Mildura Thurs 22 December 2016 This morning we depart Adelaide on board our comfortable air-conditioned coach for our journey via the Riverland of South Australia to Mildura. After a stop for morning tea we continue to Banrock Station, which is situated near Lock 3 at Kingston on the Murray. Banrock Station is an award winning complex, committed to producing fine wines as well as developing an amazing wetlands of over 900 hectares. Enjoy views over the wetlands with a delicious light luncheon comprising of warm chicken salad or Farmers Market quiche, accompanies by Wattle seed scones with Quandong jam and cream with tea and coffee. An informative and entertaining talk on the wetlands follows before we take a walk on the boardwalk trail with bird viewing "hides" allowing close up sightings of the varieties of bird life which have returned to the area. Species including Black Swans, Pelicans Swamp Hens, as well as many species of Ducks, Ibis, Spoonbills, Heron, Egrets have returned making this a true nature lover s paradise! We continue via Renmark before crossing the Murray River into Victoria to the oasis city Mildura for our overnight stop. Dinner and overnight: Mildura 2 Mildura Mungo National Park - Menindee Fri 23 December 2016 This morning after breakfast we again cross the Murray River this time into NSW. We take the outback track to Mungo National Park. On arrival at the Interpretive Centre at the Park we learn legends of the dreamtime period and as well see the amazing evidence of ancient camp fires and fossils which are among the 40,000 relics that have been found here. In 1974, the discovery of remains which have become known as the Mungo Man created worldwide interest. The bones which have been dated as 62,000years old have completely changed the original theory on the evolution of man-kind. Later we visit a historic shearing shed made from local pine, put together without the use of one single nail! We continue to Pooncarie for lunch at the hotel before continuing to Menindee situated by the inland Menindee lakes system. Tonight dinner is at the historic Maidens Hotel, Menindee where Burke stayed and dined at the Maidens Hotel, which was called the Pain s Hotel in 1860. Dinner and overnight: Menindee
3 Menindee - Wilcannia White Cliffs Satur 24 December 2016 This morning after breakfast we travel along the Barrier Highway to Wilcannia which is situated on the Darling River. From Wilcannia we follow the sandy track to one of Australia s most unique outback settlements, White Cliffs. One of Australia s earliest Opal Fields. It s hard to believe this tiny town was once home to 5000 people in its prime! White Cliffs is Australia s greatest source of the rare white opal. After lunch we begin a sightseeing tour of the town and see Australia s first experimental solar power station. Most of the homes in White Cliffs are built underground which allows residents to gain some relief from the intense summer heat recorded in this area most years. Dinner and overnight: White Cliffs Underground Motel 4 Christmas Day White Cliffs XMAS LUNCH Light dinner Sun 25 December 2016 This morning we continue a fascinating look of this unique township where opals were first discovered in 1892. There are thousands of hillocks of earth dug up and discarded in the quest for opals. We also visit a fascinating underground photo gallery during the morning. We return to our accommodation for a wonderful Christmas lunch served in the underground restaurant where a great celebration and traditional Christmas lunch will be served including ham, chicken and seasonal vegetables. It s always a cool 23oC right through the summer in this unique White Cliffs restaurant. This evening a light dinner will be served. Dinner and overnight: White Cliffs Underground Motel 5 White Cliffs Bourke via Tilpa Mon 26 December 2016 To after breakfast, we tour into the remote outback to the settlement of Tilpa situated on the banks of the Darling River. Here at the local Tilpa Pub, we enjoy a stop for lunch. We continue travelling following the Darling River to arrive in historic Bourke for our two-night stay. Dinner and overnight: Bourke
6 Back O Bourke Tues 27 December 2016 This morning after breakfast and a relax after our journey along the Darling, we begin an informative tour of the unique and possibly the most well-known outback township of Bourke. The town name has become part of the Australian language Back O Bourke meaning a long way out into the bush. We begin a tour of the towns historic cemetery which is the last resting place for one of Australia s most loved men Fred Hollows, who gave sight back to so many people. Henry Lawson also participated in the funeral of an unknown person who was the subject of the best story, The Union Buries its Dead a classic tale from the western frontier. We also see the old historic London Bank, Post Office, Police Station and Court House. A picnic lunch will be provided along the way. Dinner and overnight: Bourke 7 Bourke to Broken Hill Wednes 28 December 2016 This morning after breakfast we depart Bourke ad tour south to Cobar. After a stop for an early lunch break we continue along the Barrier Highway and later join the Cobb Highway to Wilcannia. Our tour then travels along the Silver City Highway to Broken Hill for our overnight stay. Dinner and overnight: Broken Hill 8 Broken Hill to Adelaide Thurs 29 December 2016 This morning after a short city sights tour of Broken Hill we depart and travel the Barrier Highway to Yunta. After a stop for refreshments we continue to Burra for a lunch break. After our stop here we continue to Gawler before arriving back in Adelaide later this afternoon.
BOOKING CONDITIONS Bookings A $300 per person deposit is due within 7 s of confirmation in order to secure your booking. Full balance is due no later than 8 weeks prior to departure. For bookings made within 6 weeks of departure full payment is due within 48 hours. Fares All fares are quoted in Australian Dollars. Fares include transport, entrance fees & cruise fares as per itinerary plus services of a driver/guide. Credit card payments for our tours will incur a 1.9% credit card fee. Itineraries and costings are subject to change without notice. Accommodation Accommodation is based on twin share. Single rooms are available on request and a single supplement of $390 is payable at time of booking. Please note on some departures accommodation in remote areas may be shared between several properties due to restricted availability. Cancellations For cancellation within 12 weeks of departure - 50% of fare will be charged. For cancellation within 6 weeks of departure - full fare will be charged. Travel insurance We strongly recommend that passengers purchase travel insurance. Special requirements When booking please advise your consultant if you have any special requirements you would like to be provided. This includes dietary requirements and if you require any assistance with mobility. In some cases you may require a suitable travelling companion to provide assistance. All dietary requests will be forwarded to pre booked meal providers on tour. Luggage Please ensure your main luggage does not exceed 20kgs in weight. An overnight bag of up to 8kgs may be taken on board in addition to your suitcase. Coach Government regulations prohibit smoking on board coaches within Australia. Ample comfort stops are provided en route. Passengers are required to alternate seating on the coach through the duration of the tour. All outback tours are subject to weather and road conditions. If at the time they are not be suitable for travel, changes may need to be made to the itinerary. Groups travelling together may be able to arrange a special pick up and drop off on some tours. Included meals breakfast dinner lunch