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Oz in 14 days!
"This review is on the package holiday offered by Kuoni named “Australian Highlights”. It can be found in their 2002 long haul brochure. A fourteen-night stay in the largest island on earth that offers many of the wonders that the country has to offer, from large cities to the red centre and the vast barrier reef. We have always wanted to visit Australia and decide that we were going to try to pack in as much as possible into the three weeks annual holiday that I get each summer. We looked at lots of brochures and finally settled on Kuoni because they offered the best mix of things that we really wanted to see. Other packages may suit your particular taste but our feeling was that this particular one was right for us.
First of all let us try to get this holiday in context. We are trying to see as much of Australia as possible in two weeks. It does not need to be said that you could easily spend two weeks in each of the centers that I will mention and still be a long way off exploring what everything that they have to offer. Most of us have limited holiday time so this package tries to give you a flavour of the country and what it has to offer. Having returned from the holiday I think that it does a very good job and leaves you wanting to revisit this splendid country and the only danger with this is that you may find yourself hooked on Australia and spend inordinate amounts of time in economy class aircraft seats for the rest of your days!
An outline of the package on offer shows that you will visit Melbourne (3 nts), Alice Springs (1 nt), Yulara (Ayers Rock 2 nts), Cairns (3 nts) and Sydney (3 nts). You fly between centers on Quantas domestic flights, the only exception being Yulara, which is reached by coach from Alice Springs. Accommodation is three star and above and there is breakfast most days and either lunch or dinner on half of the days. Return airfare from the UK is included in the price as well as transfer from UK domestic airports to Heathrow. You are met by chauffeur driven limo from each airport and provided with a voucher for return by taxi to the airport to meet your next flight. There are stopover options for Singapore and Fiji on either the outward or return journey. We chose to extend the trip with three nights in Auckland and three nights in Singapore on the return leg of the journey.
I have to say that the flights were comfortable and on time. We had 12 flights and all were on time and nothing was mislaid or lost during the entire journey. Quantas air and ground staff were friendly and welcoming. The hotel accommodation in Australia was excellent, as was the food provided. The tours mentioned are day tours that are running in each centre. You are touring independently so it is up to you to ensure that you are on time for any pick up or tour departure. You are not part of a group and will be with different people each day. There is a need for punctuality and some organisation on your part but it is important to remember to relax as you are on holiday after all. A local company handles the Australian accommodation and tours, AAT Kings, and I have to say that they are a model of dependability and organisation. If you like things to go like clockwork then this is the company for you.
On arrival in Melbourne you have time to relax and recover before the first activity which is a five course meal on one of the city’s tram cars which has been converted into a restaurant. The food and service are excellent and you are transferred from and to your hotel by taxi. We found this to be a wonderful introduction to the city as well as a way of getting our bearings. The next day is taken up with a tour of the city, which introduces you to the wonders of Melbourne. The afternoon has a tour to a cattle station, koala sanctuary and finally Philip Island to see the little penguins as they return from the sea after a days fishing. All of these tours are included in the price of the holiday and you are picked up at your hotel for each one and returned to your hotel in the evening. At first this seems a little too protective but you soon realise that you have a lot to cram into two weeks and are glad that these pickups exist.
The next day you take a little steam train called Puffin Billy up through the Dandenong valley and visit a wildlife park where they have many of the native birds and animals on display. The train was actually used as a method of transport years ago and the views from it as it winds its way through the trees are fantastic. The wildlife sanctuary includes a guided tour so that you can ask all the questions you ever had about any of the native animals. The highlight of the day for us was the birds of prey demonstration, which was excellent. You have the evening at leisure before your flight the following day to Alice Springs.
You fly to Alice Springs via Adelaide with just enough time to have a look around the airport and a cup of coffee. You get to Alice at noon and are transferred to your hotel. The evening has a tour of Alice which includes the original site that gave the town it’s name, The Royal Flying Doctor Service base, the School of the Air and Anzac Hill which overlooks the town and gives you the best view of the desolation that lies beyond the town boundaries. The School of the Air is where the kids on the cattle stations who are too remote to attend normal school get their education. This is conducted via radio and correspondence materials. It is a joy to visit and a really worthy enterprise, which covers a huge area of the outback.
You transfer from Alice to Ayers Rock Resort or Yulara by coach the next morning. The journey is 470KM but as the road has only two turns you find that you are there before lunch. It is possible to fly but you would miss a journey that really brings home the vast emptiness of the outback and sets in perspective the distance between towns and settlements in this country. After checking into your hotel you are off to walk through the valley of the winds. This is an escorted walk and brings you up close and personal with the desert and the massive rock formation that is the Olgas. After the walk you watch the sunset over the rocks and then have a traditional outback barbecue. It is a long but wonderful day and well worth the effort. I defy anyone to come up with a more picturesque setting than the valley of the winds. It really has to be seen to be believed. You are surrounded on three sides by the red rocks of the Olgas with a spectacular view of the lush green valley on the fourth side.
The next day is an early start to watch the sunrise over Uluru (Ayers Rock). After the sunrise you have time to climb the rock if you wish or visit the Aboriginal cultural centre before taking an escorted tour of the base of the rock and finally returning to your hotel for a well earned rest. The evening is another trip to Uluru, this time to watch the sunset on one of the most breath taking natural monuments on earth. I did climb Uluru but only after discovering that the local people do not have any religious objections, they are concerned for insurance reasons as they own the entire park and are responsible for you while you are there. It is very steep and should not be attempted unless you are reasonably fit. The view is definitely worth the effort.
Next stop is the city of Cairns, a two and a half-hour flight across the desert to the West Coast. Cairns is a beautiful city built along the waterfront. There is an excellent night market here where you can pick up those souvenirs for the people back home. Your first trip is to the Great Barrier Reef on a full day outing that takes you to a pontoon moored out on the reef. There are opportunities for snorkeling and optional diving as well as an underwater observation deck and semi sub. The day is spent in the natural splendor of the surroundings before returning to the city in the evening. Be warned that the ship can be quite bumpy and it may be an idea to have some sea sickness relief before the journey. It takes just short of an hour to reach the pontoon and lunch is served on the pontoon at around two o clock.
The following day you will take the railway up to Kuranda. This is a village in the rainforest, where arts and crafts are in ready supply. You ride the railway through the forest and some spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside are available. Time at leisure to explore Kuranda before taking the sky lift back to the valley below. This is a sort of gondola type ski lift that makes it way over the forest. The view is brilliant for those with a head for heights. Once safely back in the valley you visit an Aboriginal cultural centre where you will learn about the native Australians. The show includes dancing and music as well as the chance to throw spears and boomerangs, learn to play the didgereedoo or how to survive on the native food available in the bush. This is really excellent and is owned by the local tribe and really is an excellent showcase for their culture.
Next day it’s off to Sydney for the final leg of the journey. Sydney is magnificent and you don’t need me to tell you of the delights of the harbour or the beauty of the opera house. The tours included are of the city sights with harbour cruise and a day in the Blue Mountains. The mountains are to the north east of the city and feature the famous Echo Point and the Three Sisters rock formation. Another natural wonder in this country of wonders. With time at leisure you may want to visit Darling Harbour, which comes alive at night and offers a vast array of shopping and eating options. The thing about Sidney is how easy it is to get around. You stay in the heart of downtown and can walk to all of the most interesting areas. You are just a stones throw from the Rocks, an area famous for its restaurant and nightlife as well as cute little antique and bookshops.
It is easy to walk up onto the bridge and we did this at night, walking all the way across and back just to savor the scene below. On the tour to the Blue Mountains you will visit the beaches at Bondi and Manly as well as stopping off at various scenic spots around the city. Bring lots of film, as you will need it in this beautiful city.
Overall I have to say that we loved this holiday and that everything went really well from check in on the first day to picking up our bags at the end of the holiday. Even if you don’t use Kuoni please go to Australia. It really is a wonderful place.
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