GROUP DEPARTURES

Best of Australia

February 19 thru
March 24, 2008

35 days

Each year a dozen or more of our Mardi Gras guests ask us to design our idea of the perfect four or five week dream vacation to Australia. Often we are suggesting similar itineraries and our guests end up staying in the same hotels and meeting other Mardi Gras passengers on the pre-arranged day tours. This year we’re making it even easier to plan by outlining five full weeks covering the country from coast to coast, top to bottom which we believe is truly the “Best of Australia”.

Of course it includes the flagship packages for VIP Mardi Gras and Tropical Recovery, but it also incorporates other celebrations in Alice Springs and the renown Fringe Festival in Adelaide. We’ve selected some of our favorite 4-star hotels and included special touring to introduce you to each destination. The 35 days culminate with a relaxing 9-day self-drive package across the scenic and friendly island state of Tasmania.

We realize many guests would love to experience it all but are limited by time restraints or may not have a particular interest in an area. Recognizing this we have packaged each destination into convenient modules so you can pick and choose what would create your “Best of” itinerary.

Considering the quality of the accommodations and all of the itinerary inclusions, the package price is an extremely good value. So... you’ve always dreamed of discovering Australia and this is your perfect opportunity!

Land rate for complete 35 day package - $6050 double, $9380 single

Estimated International and Domestic air – $2295 plus taxes

Tue, Feb 19 - Melbourne in Style package. Vibe Savoy Hotel, executive king room (4 nights)

Wed, Feb 20 – Morning city tour with Yarra River cruise. Evening Colonial Tramcar dinner, late seating

Thu, Feb 21 – Optional Sunrise Ballooning and/or evening Phillip Island Premium Penguin Parade

Fri, Feb 22 – Optional Savannah Walkabout Wildlife Experience

Sat, Feb 23 – Mardi Gras VIP package. Quality Cambridge Hotel, deluxe room (9 nights)

Sun, Feb 24 – Morning hospitality desk orientation. Afternoon Azure Harbour Party overlooking the opera house

Mon, Feb 25 – Spank-a-Yank Welcome Dinner at Yippiyiyo

Tue, Feb 26 – Optional day tours. Evening Australian wine tasting

Wed, Feb 27 – Optional evening Sydney by Diva tour, $95

Thu, Feb 28 – Optional day tours. Evening special Mardi Gras event to be determined

Fri, Feb 29 – Afternoon International Gay Harbour cruise

Sat, Mar 1 – Parade viewing stand. MARDI GRAS party

Sun, Mar 2 – Recovery parties

Mon, Mar 3 – Tropical Recovery package. The Lakes Resort & Spa, one bedroom (5 nights)

Tue, Mar 4 – Full day gay Great Barrier Reef charter with lunch

Wed, Mar 5 – Beach party at Turtle Cove Resort

Thu, Mar 6 – Optional day tours

Fri, Mar 7 – Optional day tours

Sat, March 8 - The Outback Packagein Alice Springs - Lasseter’s Hotel Casino Alice Springs, deluxe room (1 night), Afternoon "Town Like Alice" tour. Evening "Alice IS Wonderland" gathering

Sun, Mar 9 – Desert Gardens Ayers Rock, standard room (1 night). Evening "Sounds of Silence" dinner

Mon, Mar 10 – Sunrise Aboriginal tour of Uluru

Mon, Mar 10 – Go West Package in Perth- Medina Grand Perth, premiere one bedroom (3 nights)

Tue, Mar 11 – Full day Rottnest Island Discovery with lunch

Wed, Mar 12 – Optional day tours

Thu, Mar 13 – Adelaide Fringe package. Chifley on South Terrace, deluxe room (3 nights).

Fri, Mar 14 – Full day Barossa Valley wine tasting and Hahndorf tour with lunch.

Sat, Mar 15 – Optional day tour to Kangaroo Island

Sun, Mar 16 – Taste of Tasmania package. Full-size automatic rental car for five days, Hotel Grand Chancellor premiere room (2 nights).

Mon, Mar 17 – At leisure to explore the Tamar Valley wine region

Tue, Mar 18 – Drive to Cradle Mountain via Ashgrove cheese factory. At Cradle Mountain, Lemonthyme Lodge treetop cabin (1 night)

Wed, Mar 19 – Drive to Strahan. Accommodation at Strahan Village waterfront executive room (2 nights)

Thu, Mar 20 – Full day Gordon River Wilderness Cruise, premium upper deck

Fri, Mar 21 – Drive to Hobart via Lake St. Claire and Russell Falls. Drop rental car in Hobart. Old Woolstore, 1 bedroom apartment (3 nights)

Sat, Mar 22 – Salamanca Market and Historic Port Arthur tour

Sun, Mar 23 – Full day Bruny Island Adventure with lunch

Mon, Mar 24 – Transfer to the airport for your return flight home




INDIVIDUAL MODULE PRICING

Double

Single


Melbourne in Style (Feb 19-23)
Package includes 4 nights Vibe Savoy Hotel executive king room, roundtrip airport transfers, city tour with Yarra River cruise and Colonial Tramcar dinner late seating.

Land rate: 595 960
    Extra nights Vibe Savoy

90

180

Mardi Gras VIP Package (Feb 23-Mar 3) – See Mardi Gras details

Tropical Recovery (Mar 3-8) – See Tropical Recovery details


The Outback (Mar 8-10)
Package includes 1 night Lasseter’s Hotel & Casino Alice Springs deluxe room and 1 night Desert Gardens Ayers Rock standard room, afternoon Town Like Alice tour, evening Alice IS Wonderland gathering, Sounds of Silence dinner at Uluru, sunrise Aboriginal tour of Ayers Rock and all airport transfers.
Land rate: 625 865
    Extra nights Lasseters Casino 80 160
    Extra nights Desert Gardens

155

310

Perth, Go West (Mar 10-13)
Package includes 3 nights Medina Grand Perth premiere 1 bedroom, roundtrip airport transfers and full day Rottnest Island Discovery with lunch.

Land rate: 425 695
    Extra nights Medina Grand 90 180


Adelaide Fringe (Mar 13-16)
Package includes 3 nights Chifley on South Terrace standard room, roundtrip airport transfers, full day Barossa Valley wine tasting and Hahndorf tour with lunch.

Land rate: 460 795
    Extra nights Chifley on South Terrace

110

220

Taste of Tasmania (Mar 16-24)
Package includes 5 day full-size automatic car with taxes, collision damage and unlimited kilometers, 2 nights Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston premier room, 1 night Lemonthyme Lodge Crade Mountain treetop cabin, 2 nights Strahan Village waterfront executive room, full day Gordon River Wilderness Cruise premium upper deck, 3 nights Old Woolstore Hobart one bedroom apartment, Salamanca Market and Historic Port Arthur tour, full day Bruny Island Adventure with lunch and airport transfer at departure.

Land rate: 1375 2345
    Extra nights Grand Chancellor 90 180
    Extra nights Old Woolstore 95 190



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