Australia Trip 2013

NEW HORIZON TOURS

Presents

AUSTRALIA
Oct.8 – Oct.20, 2013

Price: $4,169 (Double Occupancy);

Oct. 8/9: Depart USA via our International Carrier, crossing the International Dateline

Board and embark on our overnight international flight, crossing the international dateline, arriving in the morning at Melbourne.

Oct. 10: Arrival in Melbourne / City Tour / Welcome Dinner in a Historical Colonial Tramcar (D)

After clearing customs and immigration your local guides will meet you in the arrival hall. Transfer to the city by private coach. Melbourne is the heart of Australia’s classic south. The city has compelling appeal in its gardens, its history, its character and its charm. Inhabited by cultures from across the globe, Melbourne has a fascination in the mix of its cosmopolitan population who share passionately in the richness of this most dynamic and vibrant city. Trams Criss-Crossing the city, offering a leisurely way to appreciate its splendid streetscape. We will depart our hotel for an afternoon city tour. Melbourne is a modern, businesslike city that entices with its charm. While first impressions are of a peaceful place, set amidst picturesque parks and gardens, the lasting memories are of its dignity and grandeur. Melbournians’ fervor for the arts, and their fanaticism for sport, is celebrated year round. Highlights of your tour include; St. Paul’s Cathedral, Queen Victoria Market, Fitzroy Gardens, the Princess Theatre, the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, the National Tennis Centre (where the Australian Open is played), trendy Southbank and St. Kilda area, Port Melbourne, Crown Casino and the Royal Botanic Gardens. We will return to the hotel and have time to freshen up before our group Welcome Dinner. As a group we will take an evening stroll from our hotel to the Tram Stop so that we can board the Historical Colonial Tramcar. Dining in Melbourne is a fabulous experience, especially aboard a historical tram that has become the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. The glossy, burgundy restaurant on wheels is the first travelling tramcar restaurant in the world and ensures us a delightful innovative approach to dining. In the Tramcar restaurant you will cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, enjoying fine cuisine and drinking the very best of Australian wines. Lodging at the Rendezvous Hotel

Oct.11: Victoria’s Famous Great Ocean Scenic Road Tour/ 3-course lunch at Apollo Bay (B, L)

After breakfast, we will travel on our private coach to one of the world's most scenic roads, the Great Ocean Road. Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road presents some of the most fascinating and diverse coastal scenery that Australia has to offer. Your day extends from golden sandy beaches to the stark brutality of wave-torn cliffs backed by mountain ranges reaching skywards from the sea. This magical coast will inspire you as we journey through the seaside areas of Torquay, Lorne and onto Apollo Bay for a 3-course lunch. The powerful coastline provides opportunities to photograph stunning scenery such as the Twelve Apostles, Loch Arc Gorge and the London Bridge. The return journey starts at Port Campbell and travels through the township of Colac and Winchelsea. We will return to the hotel at approximately 7:30pm. Lodging at the Rendezvous Hotel

Oct.12: Leisure day to explore Melbourne or in the afternoon an take optional tour either to Philip Island to experience the infamous Fairy Penguin Parade and or go Wine Tasting in the Yarra Valley(B)

After breakfast, explore Melbourne on your own. You can take the City Circle Tram and the Orange Tourist Tram, which will offer you a leisurely way to appreciate Melbourne. You can escape to Lygon Street and visit its great Italian bakeries and cafes.

In the afternoon, you can continue your exploration of Melbourne on your own, or go one of the two optional tours: 1) visit wineries in the Yarra Valley to wine taste some of Australia’s Premier Wines, 2) or you can go on an optional tour to Philip Island to see the famous Fairy Penguins, and the Koala Conservation Center. Every evening at dusk, the world famous nightly ritual of the Penguin Parade occurs, with the Little Fairy Penguins coming from the sea, marching up to their nesting burrows in the sand dunes. From the beach waves to the sand dunes, the fairy penguins can almost be touched as they waddle to their burrows. Sunset at Summerland Beach has drawn millions of visitors to Phillip Island. It is the nightly ritual of these little flightless birds, which will enthrall you as you observe from the beach and the elevated boardwalk. In the Koala Conservation, experience wild koalas in their natural habitat and stroll through Aussie bushland, looking out for wallabies, echidnas, birds and other Aussie wildlife. Dinner is included in the tour. The tour will return to your hotel at approximately 11:30pm. Lodging at the Rendezvous Hotel

Oct.13: Arrive at the Tropical North Queensland city of Cairns, the hub of the Great Barrier Reef (B, D)

After breakfast, we will depart the hotel by private coach to the airport to board our airplane to Cairns (the hub of the Great Barrier Reef). On arrival at the Cairns airport you will be met by local guides and commence on a city orientation tour en-route to the hotel. The tourist capital of Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is a laid-back city whose population of 140,000 is constantly swollen by the flood of visitors who flock from all corners of the globe. Set on Trinity Inlet, which was named by Captain James Cook, on Trinity Sunday, 1770, the city is a must-see for all visitors. The reason is simple. Cairns has so much at its doorstep: the blue waters of the Coral Sea; the riches of the Great Barrier Reef; the flora of the tropical rainforests; the cool inland tablelands and a wealth of offshore islands. One of Australia's most remarkable natural phenomena’s, the Great Barrier Reef is blessed with the breathtaking beauty of the world's largest coral reef. The reef contains an abundance of marine life and comprises of over 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays and literally hundreds of picturesque tropical islands with some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Our first evening in Cairns, we will enjoy a Welcome Dinner, the excitement building, for our next day’s experience of the “World Heritage” Great Barrier Reef. Lodging at the Novotel Oasis Resort

Oct.14: Exploring the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef (Cruising /Snorkeling or Diving) (B, L)

After breakfast, we will depart by coach from our hotel to the Marina for today’s full day cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. From the moon, the Great Barrier Reef is the only living structure visible on earth; it is a national treasure and one of the true wonders of the world. The reef lagoon offers excellent swimming and snorkeling. For the more adventurous, SCUBA diving on Great Barrier Reef is amongst the best in the world, both introductory dives for the beginner and guided dives for the certified diver are available at an additional cost. Or you can choose to stay dry and explore the stunning reef with its brilliant coral and its colorful tropical fish, on a semisubmersible vessel. At the platform there is ample time to have an unforgettable snorkeling experience (all your snorkeling equipment and instruction is provided) on the Interactive Coral Viewing Vessel Tour. Lunch is included in today’s excursion. After our amazing day’s experience, we will return by coach to our resort. Lodging at the Novotel Oasis Resort

Oct.15: Kuranda Scenic Rail to the Aboriginal Village in the Rainforest / Koala & Wildlife Park (B, L)

After breakfast, we will board the Historic Kuranda Scenic Rail, which travel on a breathtaking rail journey up the mountainside, through long tunnels and over bridges spanning spectacular gorges in Barron Gorge National Park. We will stop at Barron Gorge to view the falls before arriving at Kuranda, the “Village in the Rainforest”. We have some time to explore this quaint village before a short journey brings you to Rainforest set in 40 hectares of gardens & rainforest. A number of unique activities await you. We will board the unusual amphibious Army Duck for a different look at the Rainforest. The Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers will perform for us a range of native dances in the Rainforest amphitheatre that reflects the humor and excitement of their culture. We will join the Dreamtime walk for an insight into ancient Aboriginal and Islander history. Then we will visit the Koala & Wildlife Park, (where you can hold a Koala for an added fee). We will then return to Kuranda and board the Skyrail Cableway, an experience which takes you above the canopy of the rainforest, making two stops along the way, allowing you to take a stroll or visit the CSIRO Interpretive Centre before arriving at Caravonica Lakes. The coach will be waiting to return you to your resort after a wonderful day in the rainforest. Lodging at the Novotel Oasis Resort

Oct.16: Arrive at Sydney, Guided City Tour/Opera House (B)

After breakfast, we will depart our hotel by private coach for our transfer to the airport for our flight to Sydney. On arrival at Sydney you will be met by local guides and commence a tour of the city. Sydney is Australia’s best known city. It was the first site of European settlement on the Australian continent – one vastly different from today’s cosmopolitan showcase. The city’s most famous landmarks include Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney Opera House and the Centrepoint Tower. With the harbor as the Sydney’s heart, the city is bounded by water to the north and west and fringed to the east by the extensive green parklands of the Botanical Gardens and the Domain. Sydney is an exciting and interesting city to experience. Touring the city you will feel Sydney’s enchantment, one of the world's most spectacular cities. The downtown portion of our tour will take us through “The Rocks” (Sydney's birthplace), the Opera House, the Harbor Bridge, Darling Harbor, and Chinatown. We will continue our tour, passing the Botanic Gardens and Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair for a photo stop of the spectacular harbor. Then onward to Macquarie Street passing the Parliament House, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and the cosmopolitan Kings Cross. We will continue to the exclusive suburb of Double Bay, and then onto the World Famous Bondi Beach, returning to the city via the trendy suburb of Paddington. We will visit the Sydney Opera House for a guided tour. The Sydney Opera House is considered by many to be one of the wonders of the modern world. You will join a guided tour of this magnificent complex, to learn the history of this grand structure and we will view one or more of the main halls (subject to availability). After dinner, you go on an optional “Rocks Pub Crawl” (Traditional Pub’s which date back to 1800’s). Lodging at the Grace Hotel

Oct. 17: “World Heritage” Blue Mountains National Park /Echo Point “Three Sisters Formation” /Featherdale Park (kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, little fairy penguins and where you can hold a koala) (B, L)

After breakfast, we will experience the spectacular “World Heritage” Blue Mountains National Park. This rugged and beautiful region forms part of the Great Dividing Range, linking the tropical north to the temperate south. We will pass by Homebush Bay, the site of the 2000 Olympics. We will stop at Echo Point and see the famous Three Sisters rock formation. We will travel through Katoomba, the heart of the resort region within the Blue Mountains National Park and discover the remarkable beauty of the park. We will go to the Echo Point Lookout, experiencing the ancient Aboriginal legends of the impressive the rock formation of the Three Sisters, and hearing about traditional Aboriginal Dreamtime tales interpreting the creation of local landmarks. You can take the Blue Mountain Scenic Skyway Ride. The ride is a great way to see the steep valleys, canyons and Three Sisters rock formation. Enjoy a short stop at the Cahills lookout for impressive mountain scenery. We will then visit Featherdale Wildlife Park, and if you would like, you can have your photo taken with a cuddly koala (additional park fee). You will see the local animals such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats, dingoes and the little fairy penguins. Lunch is included on this excursion. Lodging at the Grace Hotel

Oct.18: Explore Sydney at Your Leisure (Sydney Harbor Cruise/Harbor Bridge Climb/Sydney Beaches (B)

After breakfast, explore Sydney at your leisure, from Circular Quay you can go on a Sydney Harbor cruise, cruising past the city skyline with the Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge in the forefront, then returning to Circular Quay in time have lunch at one of the many local cafes nearby. In the afternoon, you can shop and explore the city on your own. You may wish to partake in an optional Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb, climbing the steel arch of the bridge to the top (439 ft) or take the pedestrian walkway to the South Pylon Lookout (290 ft), or just walk to the midpoint on bridge. You can take a Jet-boat ride, or take a ferry to the various world famous Sydney beaches or you can just walk around the city and wander through the colonial historical area of Macquarie Street and The Rock historical district. Lodging at the Grace Hotel

Oct.19: Explore Sydney at Your Leisure (Bondi Beach/Manley Beach); Group Farewell Dinner (B,D)

After breakfast, explore Sydney at your leisure, from the Circular Quay you can take a city bus to the World famous Bondi Beach (famous from Bay Watch) or to take a ferry to Manley Beach (where you can dive with sharks or walk through an underwater viewing tunnel at Ocean World) or take the ferry to the Taronga Zoo. We will we all regroup at our hotel, so that our private coach can take us to our Special Group Farewell Dinner. Lodging at the Grace Hotel

Oct.20: Homeward Bound, Cross the International Dateline and Arriving Home on the Same Day (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will be transferred by private coach to the airport for our international flight home, crossing the international dateline, and arriving home on the same day!!

Price Includes: The land portion is based on an exchange rate of 1AUD = $1.04 U.S., so at final payment time the price may go up slightly or may be reduced slightly.

· International round trip (non-stop) airfare - LAX to Melbourne (non-stop), Sydney to LAX (non-stop);

· Domestic airfare: Melbourne to Cairns; Cairns to Sydney; Airport transfers & airport assistance;

· 10 nights lodging accommodations: Sydney-4 nts; Great Barrier Reef(Cairns)-3 nts; Melbourne-3 nts;

· 9 breakfasts, each morning in our Australian hotel, 4 lunches & 3 special dinners;

· Private Coach with English speaking Driver & Guide;

· Melbourne City Tour & Welcome Dinner in the Historic Colonial Tramcar Restaurant;

· Victoria’s Great Ocean Road Tour & a 3 Course Lunch at Apollo Bay;

· Tropical Cairns Orientation Tour & Welcome Dinner; Great Barrier Reef Coral Viewing Semisubmersible Tour & Snorkeling;

· Historic Kuranda Scenic Railway, breathtaking rail journey through Barron Gorge National Park, viewing the Barron Gorge and its falls, arriving at Kuranda, the “Village in the Rainforest”; Enjoy the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers perform a range of native dances;

· Ride in an amphibious Army Duck in the Rainforest; Take a Dreamtime walk for an insight into ancient Aboriginal history;

· Ride the Skyrail Cableway, an experience which takes you above the canopy of the Rainforest;

· Sydney City Tour -“The Rocks” (Sydney's birthplace), the Harbor Bridge, Darling Harbor, the World Famous Bondi Beach & a special guided tour inside the Sydney Opera House; Homebush Bay, site of the 2000 Olympics;

· Tour the spectacular “World Heritage” Blue Mountains National Park, Visit Echo Point Lookout & the Three Sisters rock formation;

· Take the Cableway to view the impressive Blue Mountain scenery;

· Visit Featherdale Wildlife Park to see local animals such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats, dingoes and the little fairy penguins;

· Farewell Group Dinner in Sydney

· Single supplement is $1179.00

Not Included: Airline departure taxes (approx. $235) and fuel surcharge (approx. $680). Tips & gratuities are not included.

RESERVATION AND CANCELLATION POLICY

To confirm a reservation a $200 deposit is required. Final payment is due August, 22, 2013. Second payment of $500 is due January 30, 2013 and a third payment of $500 is due May 1, 2013. Cancellation more than 120 days prior to departure is $100; cancellation from 119 - 90 days prior to departure is $175; cancellation from 89 to 60 days prior to departure is $400; cancellation from 59 days to 46 days prior to departure is $600; cancellation within 45 days will have no refund unless a replacement is found and then a name change fee of $150.00 is required. There is a $15.00 charge for all returned checks.
Trip cancellation insurance is recommended and can be purchased from New Horizon Tours.

New Horizon Tours P.O. Box 765 Newbury Park, CA 91319-0765 (805) 499-SKii Fax (805) 498-1545

AUSTRALIA RESERVATION FORM – Oct.8 - Oct.20,2013

CST # (2031-736-40) ED

Name: ________________________________________ Date of birth: ______Male:Female:

(name as it appears on passport)

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________ZipCode:

Phone Number: _____________________Club/Organization:

Roommate Preference: ______Email:

Signature: _______________________________________________________________________________

I have read and agree to all terms under cancellation penalties. There is a $15.00 charge for all returned checks.

Snorer Non-Snorer Smoker Non-Smoker _____

MASTERCARD/VISA WELCOME: Add a 3% service charge on full payment.

Card:___________ Card # ______________Exp. Date: Amount$