On arrival at Brisbane International Airport you are met and transferred by private vehicle to Byron Bay via Point Danger Lookout (a drive of about 2 hours).
No activities have been planned and the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
You may wish to have a spa treatment arranged to help you work out any kinks from your long flight.
This morning you set off on a full day privately guided tour taking in the Byron Bay Hinterland and surrounds.
You board your luxury vehicle and cruise through the rolling green hills of the Northern Rivers region. Your destination is one of the many stunning waterfalls and rainforests of the area and the drive is spectacular. You visit a beautiful location for a gourmet picnic lunch, setting up while you wander the short walks that take in a platypus viewing platform, expansive views and wildlife. Enjoy the region’s best fresh produce for lunch accompanied by fine Australian wines and local beers and ciders. The afternoon takes in either a swim at a secret waterfall, a visit to the koala hospital and/or stopping off at a picturesque historical town that is full of bespoke shops and sweet cafes.
You have an early departure this morning and transfer by private vehicle to Brisbane Airport (about 2 hours). Here you check-in for your domestic flight to Adelaide - a flight suggestion will be provided.
On arrival in Adelaide you check-in for your onward flight to Kangaroo Island.
OPTION 1: Fly from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island on a private charter aircraft.
OPTION 2: Meet you private guide and spend time exploring Adelaide and surrounds. Fly from Adelaide to Kingscote Airport on the scheduled flight - flight to be advised.
On arrival on Kangaroo Island you are met and transferred by private car to your accommodation.
You are met this morning by your guide and embark on your touring (private basis, picnic lunch included) with a visit to Flinders Chase National Park.
Flinders Chase is a vast wilderness covering the entire west end of the Island and is home to kangaroos, wallabies, possums, goannas, echidnas, koalas, platypus and many birds including the rare Cape Barren goose.
You visit Rocky River, site of an impressive visitor centre interpreting many facets of the park and it’s history before progressing onto Cape du Couedic, home to one of the largest fur seal colonies in the world (numbers estimated in excess of 20,000). On the headland above is a beautiful historic stone lighthouse overlooking the Remarkable Rocks, huge natural granite sculptures carved by relentless winds, rain and salt from the Southern Ocean. The end result looks like a meeting of the minds of Henri Moore and Salvador Dali!
You return to your accommodation in the late afternoon.
The Dudley Peninsula which forms the east end of Kangaroo Island is a microcosm of the rest of the island. The north coast has hills rolling down to the sea and white sand beaches. Roadside vegetation forms an avenue overhead many of the narrow roads. Ice-age dunes and rugged limestone cliffs dominate the south coast, which is indented by high-energy beaches.
Start the day at Pennington Bay situated at the narrowest part of the Island. This Southern Ocean beach is a popular fishing and surf spot. Enjoy home-baked morning tea overlooking extensive wave-cut platforms and contrasting deep aqua water.
Travelling east you get endless views of the serene marine sanctuary which is Pelican Lagoon. Adjacent the lagoon is excellent kangaroo habitat and the tea-tree thickets harbour tammar wallabies sheltering from their constant predator - the wedge-tailed eagle.
The deep alluvial soils of Willson River overlying limestone are perfect for grapevines. The team at False Cape Wines have a newly opened cellar door experience overlooking well-established wines. You will sample their range of wines and then enjoy a local produce picnic overlooking the vines.
Cape Willoughby Lighthouse, established in 1852, stands tall on an exposed headland. Explore the lighthouse precinct and the granite canyon known as "Devil's Kitchen". This lighthouse shines a warning for sailors traversing the treacherous Backstair's Passage. The headland provides protection from ocean swells for Antechamber Bay. Take a walk on the long white sandy beach or seek the birds on the quiet backwaters of the Chapman River estuary.
End the day in Penneshaw which can be accessed via a 4WD trail known as Binney's Track. This runs adjacent to Baudin Conservation Park which provides habitat for a range of wildlife including glossy black-cockatoos, kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas.
Please ensure you take a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and your camera with you. Please also ensure that you wear comfortable walking shoes as some pathways can be slightly uneven.
You are met this morning by your guide and kick off your Island Life tour (private basis, including lunch) with a visit to Seal Bay.
This tour takes in a variety of landscapes across Kangaroo Island from the Cygnet River valley to the north coast, across the central plateau and down to the rugged South Coast.
You enjoy morning tea, including home‐made cakes before a walk down a country track through tall eucalyptus trees where koalas snooze overhead or wake briefly for a feed. You see some of the Islands most productive and diverse farming country, including sheep growing some of the world’s finest wool. You take a walk through the Australian bush where you look for wallabies extinct on the mainland, a kangaroo found only on Kangaroo Island, and learn about some of the unique Island plants.
Enjoy a delicious lunch in a private bush setting featuring some of the Islands fresh produce including local fish, salads and fine wines before continuing to the South Coast. At Seal Bay Conservation Park walk with your guide amongst sea lions on a beautiful sandy beach. Watch pups nursing, or playing in the surf, see bulls bearing scars from territorial fights, and learn of their unique breeding biology.
The remainder of the afternoon is spent exploring more of the south east region of the Island with destinations and experiences chosen to reflect seasonal opportunities.
At the conclusion of your tour you are transferred to the Kingscote Airport for the flight back to Adelaide - a flight suggestion will be made.
In Adelaide you are met by your driver, transferred to your accommodation and the evening is at your leisure.
Please ensure you take a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and your camera with you. Please also ensure that you wear comfortable walking shoes as some pathways can be slightly uneven.
You are transferred by private car to the airport for your flight to Cairns - a flight suggestion will be made.
In Cairns you are met and transferred by private car to your accommodation.
14:00 - You are met by a driver and transferred by private car to the Botanical Ark.
You spend time visiting the Botanical Ark gardens and learning about the philosophy behind the Botanical Ark project. You will have the opportunity to view stunningly beautiful plants and taste some very interesting and exotic fruits.
The Botanical Ark project commenced more than 24 years ago, as a subsistence farm and then more recently as a private ethno-botanical gardens. The owners travel to the tropical regions of the world collecting plants that indigenous rainforest cultures have and still use for their foods, spices, shelter, medicines, cosmetics, fibres, oils, dyes – in fact everything used in their everyday needs. The emphasis is on the link between the plants and peoples and the aim is to educate visitors to the real values of tropical rainforests and to help save some of these forests for the people who depend on them.
Enjoy a walk around this stunning property before enjoying afternoon tea.
At the conclusion of your tour you check-in to your accommodation and what remains of the day is at your leisure.
Today you travel to the Daintree Rainforest for a full day of private touring. Your day may run similar to the below.
Daintree, an area of ancient tropical rainforest spanning 120,000 hectares, making it the largest portion of tropical rainforest in Australia. Enjoy an interpretive walk through the longest and most luscious nature trail in the National Park. An unrivalled opportunity to witness the complex ecosystems in this World Heritage Area, finished off with a swim in the freshwater gorge.
At the Daintree Tea House, lunch has an exotic theme. The outside dining area is beautiful and exclusive, with views of the surrounding rainforest and continuous sounds of birds and nature.
After lunch you travel to the Daintree River for your Wildlife Cruise. The surroundings are full of opportunities to observe and photograph some of the most primitive forms of animal and plant life in the world. The cruise operator has the only solar electric vessel on the Daintree River. The clean, green, quiet machine greatly benefits our wildlife spotting privileges. Most days great bird life and crocodile activity is experienced .
You return to your accommodation in the late afternoon.
Today you are transferred to the Cairns Airport for your flight to Townsville - a flight suggestion will be made.
In Townsville you check-in for the scheduled helicopter flight, a short 30 minute flight to Orpheus Island.
On arrival staff will explain the activities on offer during your stay and tailor a programme to suit. A list of the activities available can be found at: https://www.orpheus.com.au/activities/
Today you fly to Sydney.
You return to Townsville on the scheduled helicopter flight and continue on to Sydney - a flight suggestion will be made.
In Sydney you are met by your driver and transfer by private car to your accommodation.
09:00 - You are met by your guide in the hotel lobby and enjoy a half day orientation tour of Sydney.
This is the perfect way to get your bearings, spending a half day with an experienced, passionate guides to introduce you to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The half day tour is just long enough to give you an overall understanding of the history, layout and major icons of Sydney - and leave you wanting to discover more! You will be introduced to Sydney’s colourful colonial and aboriginal history, show you the historic Rocks area, the stunning Harbour quarter around Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens and the Opera House, plus take you to favourite spots to get those killer photos of Sydney.
At the conclusion of your tour you have time to enjoy lunch - for your own arrangements and account.
~13:45 - Make your own way to the Sydney Opera House and enjoy a one hour private tour. Please check in at the Welcome Centre located on the Lower Concourse at least 10 minutes prior to your tour departure time.
14:15 - Private 1 hour Tour of Sydney Opera House.
At the conclusion of your tour the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Alternatively you could do an Express Bridgeclimb this afternoon instead of the Sydney Opera House Tour.
Sydney Opera House - Please note bags larger than a standard handbag will need to be cloaked on arrival and may be subject to a search before being cloaked. It is not possible to store suitcases or large backpacks within the Sydney Opera House cloaking facilities.
You meet your driver in the lobby for your private transfer to Sydney International Airport where you check-in for your homebound flight.
END OF ARRANGEMENTS
