Day 1 Fly USA to Melbourne (Via Sydney)

Day 2 Cross the International Dateline

Day 3 Arrive Melbourne

Your driver will meet you after you have collected your luggage and cleared Customs & Immigration. Transfer to your city hotel by private car. 

At first glance, Melbourne may resemble any other modern city with its skyline full of concrete & glass. However, if you look a little closer, you'll find the real Melbourne, a city of unique charm. There are the clanging trams (street cars), swanky boutiques, friendly taxi drivers, Australian Rules Football, fickle weather and 'BYO's', by the hundred (restaurants to which you bring your own liquor or wine). Add to this, Melbourne's traditional virtues of tree lined boulevards, glorious parks, elegant buildings & imposing Victorian Banks & Churches, and of course the giant Melbourne Cricket Ground and you'll have some idea of the city.

Melbourne has become a polyglot society with a huge diversity of cultures, Italian, Greek, East European, Middle Eastern and Asian. This diversity is reflected in the food styles, the lifestyle, and even the language spoken in the street.

Day 4 Savannah Walkabout

A one day cultural and nature tour where you may see and learn about native animals and plants both in the famous open-range grasslands of Serendip Sanctuary on the Western Plains and in the bushlands just outside Melbourne. We search for kangaroos, koalas, bird life and discover a rich Aboriginal heritage.

Departing from your city hotel, we travel the short distance to the western plains of Victoria - one of the largest volcanic plains on earth. Open grasslands stretch in all directions with the occasional extinct volcano or ancient mountain range rising steeply out of the plain.  There is a distinctly 'Australian' feel about the region. Our first stop is Serendip Sanctuary, an open range reservation for rare and endangered indigenous wildlife of the Western Plains. Run by the National Parks Service, Serendip plays a pivotal role in the conservation of some of Australia's rarest birds, including the Bustard, Brolga and Cape Barren Goose.  Seek out the large free-range mobs of our tallest kangaroo, the Eastern-grey and family groups of the world's second largest bird, the Emu.  
                                         
We have a bush lunch before travelling to the You Yangs Regional Park, to walk a wide Savannah of grass, bush and wetlands searching for kangaroos and koalas. The park has a large population of wild Koalas and we very rarely miss out on sighting a number of these delightful creatures, we also visit places of importance to the Aboriginal people of the region.

This is a very special small group experience with knowledgable and passionate local guides who work in conjuction with the Victorian Government to study the Koala's in the national park to help better understand these amazing animals.

Days 5-7 At Leisure, Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia's second largest city (after Sydney), but is second to none when it comes to fashion, festivals and Sport. Set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay, the city itself is laid out in a large rectangle. She boasts a lively, cosmopolitan pulse, sitting on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about three miles from the bay. Visitors come for its shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Residents stay for its cultural diversity, passion for the arts and enviable sports calendar. Melbourne is renowned for playing host to a number of nationally and internationally recognized events each year including the Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam, the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix and the ever impressive two mile horse race - the Melbourne Cup. A major event in Melbourne spreads an addictive buzz through the city streets and you can be sure that locals and visitors alike will embrace the energy surrounding it.

Explore the famous laneways and arcades of the city, catch a tram to trendy Southgate, rub shoulders with locals at the Queen Victoria market or take in a show at the ornate Princess Theater. For a break from the hustle and bustle, cruise along the Yarra River or head out to one of the many beautiful beaches just outside of the city. Go in search for the unique Australian animals like Koalas, Kangaroos and the Little Penguins, and see them in the wild just an hour or two outside Melbourne. Explore one of the premier wine regions in Australia exporting wines to the U.S to find your blend in Yarra Valley. It is the closest winery to any major Australian city, just an hour out of the city but world's away from the bustling streets in this very vibrant city.

Day 8 Fly Melbourne to USA (Via Sydney)

Your driver will meet you in the lobby/driveway area and drive you to the airport via private vehicle for your departure flight.

Complete the short form below and you will be contacted by one of our destination specialists to book your Australian vacation.

*Prices are per person/twin share in USD and include international airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco on United Airlines. All travel must be completed by June 30, 2009. Depart from New York for just $700 more. U.S and Foreign Government taxes and fees of approximately $150 are additional. Blackout dates may apply to travel during holiday and local special event periods. All flights and accommodation remain subject to availability. Conditions apply. CST#2012413-20

*This offer is valid on flights to Sydney or Melbourne, Australia from Los Angeles or San Francisco on United Airlines between April 1, 2009 and June 30, 2009. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. All reservations must be made by April 30, 2009. Depart from New York for just $700 more.