Wednesday, February 21, 2007

BOOK AUSTRALIA AND RECEIVE 2 NIGHTS FREE!

Book a 10 night (or more!) holiday to Australia and/or New Zealand with Ambercrombie and Kent through Romantic Planet Vacations and you will receive 2 luxurious nights in Sydney absolutely FREE! This very special offer valid for travel in April and May is open to the first 30 eligible bookings.

The Four Seasons is one of Sydney's most prestigious hotels. Vibrant and elegant, the hotel is stunningly situated overlooking Sydney Harbour in the historic Rocks district.

Offer includes:
-2 FREE nights in a Deluxe Harbour View Junior Suite at the Four Seasons Sydney
-Executive Club Privileges
-Full Breakfast Daily
Valid for all new bookings made from 19 February 2007 for travel between 01 April - 31 May 2007. Accommodation is subject to availability. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other special offer or promotion. Valid for FIT bookings only. Airfares not included.

CLASSIC AUSTRALIA PACKAGE
DAY 1: Arrival - SydneyArrival into Sydney and private transfer to the hotel, where rooms are available for immediate occupancy. The afternoon is at leisure.Overnight: Park Hyatt Sydney.

DAY 2: Sydney City Sights and Sailing – B,LThe morning begins with a walking tour of Sydney’s historic Rocks area known for its narrow cobbled streets and convict buildings, before continuing onto the world-renowned Sydney Opera House for a private tour. See the city from a different perspective in the afternoon on a private yacht charter. Enjoy the harbour’s spectacular scenery including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the many lovely homes built around this magnificent harbour while relaxing on the deck soaking up the sun and the fresh sea air. If the weather is warm enough enjoy a swim before a picnic lunch. Akorn can also organise tickets to performances at the Opera House, subject to schedules. Overnight: Park Hyatt Sydney

DAY 3: Sydney Ecotour to the Blue Mountains - B, LToday’s full day Ecotour travels westwards across the coastal plain to the Great Dividing Range and the Blue Mountains National Park to unlock a piece of Australia many don’t know exists. Visit ancient Aboriginal sites and outstanding lookouts, see magnificent rock formations and unusual plants and wildlife. Look over the magnificent Jamieson Valley and the Three Sisters. Lunch is at Lilianfels Country House Hotel. Before returning to Sydney drop into a hidden valley to seek out the many kangaroos that graze in the wild (conditions permitting). Return to Sydney passing the Olympic 2000 site, or for the ultimate in luxury, take a helicopter flight back. Overnight: Park Hyatt Sydney

DAY 4: Sydney - Ayers Rock with Dinner in the Desert – B, DFly Sydney to Ayers Rock, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Tonight enjoy a "Sounds of Silence" dinner in the desert. As the sun dips behind the many domes of Kata Tjuta, enjoy fine Australian beverages and delicious outback canapés, while listening to the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo. After dinner the lanterns will be dimmed and perhaps for the first time, hear the sounds of the great Outback. Wind gently rustling through the desert oaks, the chipping of a bat, the haunting howls of dingoes (wild dog) in the distance or - just the sounds of silence. An astronomer will introduce the heavens of the southern skies and point out the Milky Way gleaming amongst an array of planets, stars and constellations. View the stars clearly visible in the desert sky through an onsite telescope before returning to the hotel.Overnight: Sails in the Desert

DAY 5: Ayers Rock - The Mystery of Uluru and Kata Tjuta - BIt is an early morning start to view the magnificent colours of Ayers Rock at sunrise. With a circumference of 8 kilometres, the Rock is sacred to the local aboriginal tribes, and during a walk around the base with your Aboriginal guide, see hallowed sites and view paintings of ancient Aboriginal tribal myths before returning to the hotel. This afternoon drive into the desert to visit the “Olgas”, a series of massive, vividly coloured domed rocks rising from the plains. Enjoy a walk through one of the many valleys and learn a little about the unique desert flora and fauna of Central Australia. Continue onto "Sunset Strip" to see the sun setting on magical Ayers Rock. Drink a toast the beauty of the desert and the "Rock" as the colours change from reds to oranges to pinks. Return to the hotel. Overnight: Sails in the Desert

DAY 6: Ayers Rock – Darwin and the wetlands of Kakadu – BFly Ayers Rock to Darwin. Meet your guide on arrival and climb aboard the 4x4 to head down “The Track” to the town of Humpty Doo. The first stop is Fogg Dam and the surrounding wetlands to see the many water birds that congregate in the dry season. Then travel across the Marrakai Plains past the Mary and Adelaide Rivers and across the Jabiluka floodplains to Ubirr to view the Aboriginal rock art that spans 23,000 years of seasonal occupation. The view from the top of the rock provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. Overnight: Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn

DAY 7: Kakadu - Rainforest, waterfalls and rock formations – B, LTravel south through the South Alligator Valley to the less visited section of the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park known as the stone country. Visit the gorgeous Gunlom Falls and perhaps hike to the top of the waterfalls to explore the beautiful rock pools. They offer spectacular views of the Arnhem Escarpment. After a picnic lunch walk through the surrounding monsoon rainforest before returning to the hotel. Overnight: Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn

DAY 8: Kakadu – Darwin, Lagoon Cruise and Aboriginal rock art – B, LBegin the day with a private early morning cruise on the famous Yellow Water wetlands and see the area’s myriad bird life and the awesome saltwater crocodile. After breakfast at the hotel visit the nearby Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre for an insight into the lifestyle and culture of the traditional owners of the park. Continue on to Nourlangie Rock to see ancient Aboriginal Rock paintings depicting mythological stories of the “Dreamtime”. After lunch return to Darwin stopping at the Mamukala wetlands, an important nesting place for the pied goose, then across the floodplains of the South Alligator River arriving in Darwin in the early evening. Overnight: Carlton Darwin

DAY 9: Darwin - Palm Cove, Massage or spa in the tropics- BFly Darwin to Cairns. On arrival into Cairns you will be met and transferred to your accommodation where your room will be available for immediate occupancy. Enjoy a special spa or massage treatment this evening. Overnight: Angsana Resort & Spa

DAY 10: Palm Cove and the Great Barrier Reef – B, LThis morning transfer to Port Douglas and board "Quicksilver" for a cruise to Agincourt Reef lying within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the World Heritage area. This ribbon reef is renowned for its excellent year-round water clarity and coral formations. It is the only ribbon reef on the very outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef to be visited by a day cruise. The Agincourt Reef lagoon is ideal for swimming and snorkelling and the scuba diving is amongst the best in the world. During the day enjoy a beautiful buffet lunch. Sunbake, snorkel, dive or view the reef up close from the underwater observatory – the choices seem endless. After returning to Port Douglas transfer to the hotel. Overnight: Angsana Resort & Spa

DAY 11: Palm Cove - At Leisure for options - BToday is at leisure for an array of optional activities. Overnight: Angsana Resort & Spa

DAY 12: DepartureDepart Cairns. Private transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Alternatively, extend your stay with a 3 night package of complete indulgence to Lizard Island, an exclusive resort situation right on the Great Barrier Reef. Travel in style on a charter plane from Cairns, and spend your time snorkelling, diving, deep sea fishing, beachcombing or bushwalking.

Please contact us for more details.