I will be flying off to Australia in a few days. This is the first time I’m taking a tour organized by a travel agent since my trip to Italy several years ago. Since Italy, I have been traveling with Don on our own plans and arrangements.  This time, I will be traveling with my family, so it would be less of a hassle going with a tour group.

I actually feel quite relaxed since everything is organized by the travel agent. I don’t even need to do much research, except to find out the exact temperature in Australia. This is the only piece of information that is specifically important for someone who has extremely low tolerance for cold like me. It’s only a short 7 Day-6 Night trip to Sydney and Melbourne. The itinerary looks great with wide coverage of interesting places in these two cities. However, it will probably be a hectic trip with only five days to travel through so many places.
Two days will be wasted in the plane by flying at night and reaching Australia in the morning. In other words, I must make sure I will get a very good night sleep in the plane so that my energy level allows me to fully admire the beautiful city of Sydney.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Kuala Lumpur  – Sydney

Ø  Depart by flight to the largest metropolitan city in New South Wales – Sydney.

Day 2: Arrive Sydney – City Tour – Harbour Cruise

Ø  Arrive Sydney, taken on a city tour featuring Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross-Rocks area. View the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge.

Ø  Board the Sydney Harbour Cruise which will take you around the beautiful Sydney harbor.

Day 3: Blue Mountains & Scenic Railway – Featherdale Wildlife Park – Star City Casino

Ø  Blue Mountain – Australia’s natural wonders, stretching over one million hectares of inspiring mix of rainforest, canyons, tall forests & heath lands. Blue Mountains is made famous by the characteristic blue haze over the deep canyons!

Ø  Ride on the world’s steepest Railway and enjoy a walk through the beautiful rainforest. Ride the Scenic Cableway to view the magnificent valley.

Ø  Visit Echo Point in Katoomba. Breathe in the fresh mountain air and marvel at the majesty of nature. Iconic views of the Three Sisters.

Ø  Visit Featherdale Wildlife Park, the largest private collection of Australian native fauna and more than 200 species of birds.

Ø  Tonight enjoy the buffet dinner in the Star City Casino, where you can try your luck.

Day 4: Melbourne – City Tour – Victoria Market – Chadstone Shopping Centre

Ø  Depart by flight to the Garden state of Victoria and Capital City – Melbourne.

Ø  Arrive Melbourne; city tour includes Capital Cook’s Cottage at Fitzroy Gardens, visit Shrine of Remembrance and St. Patrick Church.

Ø  Time to explore the famous Victoria Market.

Ø  Chadstone Shopping Centre offers everything from toys to clothes and shoes at discount prices. Seek out the best bargains or just enjoy the atmosphere of this shopping adventure.

Day 5: Great Ocean Road – Geelong

Ø  The Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s great coastal drives with dramatic scenery, striking contrasts and magnificent vista around every corner. Admire views of the Melbourne skyline and Port Philip Bay from the West Gate Bridge.

Ø  See the pretty seaside town of Lorne and the surfing mecca of Torquay, home to some of Victoria’s magnificent surf beaches, including the world famous Bells Beach.

Ø  Discover the legends of “The Shipwreck Coast at Port Campbell National Park“. See the Twelve Apostles, as well as Loch Ard Gorge and the famous rocky span of London Bridge.

Ø  Enjoy a sumptuous Buffet dinner at Smorgy Restaurant.

Ø  Overnight stay at Geelong.

Day 6: Queenscliff – Ferry to Sorrento – Winery – Warrook Cattle Farm – Phillip Island – Penguin Parade

Ø  Geelong is Victoria’s second largest city, located just inside Port Phillip Heads. Wander past the famous and colorful bollard characters. Geelong’s waterfront is a real crowd pleaser with restaurants, gardens and plenty of public art.

Ø  Queenscliff is an historic bayside town and home to fishermen’s cottages. Board the ferry to cross the bay to Sorrento.

Ø  Visit T’Gallant Winemakers, is the birthplace of Australian Pinot Grigio, the flinty, lemony, pear flavoured wine. Experience the rich and vibrant among the working winery and vineyard. Sample some of the best wine.

Ø  Visit Warrook Farm, a working sheep and cattle property. Participate in the day’s activities, sheep shearing, sheep dog show, cow milking and whip cracking.

Ø  Phillip Island, one of the last remaining corners of the world where you can see fairy penguins in their natural habitat. Every evening group of fairy penguins returns from feeding at sea and waddle up to their burrows in the sand dunes.

Day 7: Melbourne – Kuala Lumpur

Ø  Depart by flight back to Kuala Lumpur with happy memories!