Page 8 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – May/June 2018

AAA
TM
Experience the Vast Dimensions of
Australia and New Zealand
By John T. Garcia
Kiwis and kangaroos. Sydney and Christchurch. The Outback and glaciers. From iconic wildlife and nature to brilliant architecture, created both by humans and nature, a visit to Australia and New Zealand will provide visitors plenty of both. And one of the best ways to experience the Land Down Under is through a 20-day AAA Members Choice Vacations journey.
The adventure begins in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Your first full day in Australia will be spent exploring the Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can explore on your own, go snorkeling, walk the shores of a small island on the outer reef or just relax. There will also be a presentation by a marine biologist.
The next morning you can explore Cairns on your own or simply soak in the surroundings. But did we mention there is a Skyrail Rainforest Cableway in Cairns? It will provide you with a bird’s-eye view
of Barron Gorge National Park. In the afternoon,
a trip to Hartley’s Croc Farm gives visitors an up-close encounter with crocodiles in their natural habitat. Pathways take you through rainforests and woodlands to see wild birds, reptiles and wallabies.
From Cairns, you will fly to Melbourne. Here you will see Fitzroy Gardens, known for its historical and horticultural significance, or take an optional tour of Phillip Island, home of the world’s largest colony of little penguins.
After Melbourne, it’s off to central Australia and the serenity and far-reaching landscapes of the Outback. Your first stop will be Alice Springs and, upon landing, you will meet an Aboriginal group, Drum Atweme, musicians comprised of at-risk youth from the local community.
The following day it is off to Uluru, the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock. Learn how Uluru and Kata Tjuta were formed and their relevance to Aboriginal culture. Watch an unbelievable sunset as Uluru changes colors and you toast the end of the day with champagne.
Get in your last looks of Uluru as you fly to Sydney,
where you will have dinner in the Darling Harbour restaurant area. On your first full day in Sydney a local resident will join you for a driving tour of the city’s landmarks before you disembark for a walking tour through The Rocks, one of Sydney’s oldest districts. You will then learn about one of the most iconic Australian landmarks, the Sydney Opera House, with a guided tour of the facility.
The afternoon is yours to explore with a Sydney ferry pass which allows guests to visit various destinations around Sydney Harbour on a high- speed boat. You can hop off and visit the beaches of Manly and Watsons Bay, the Taronga Zoo or historic Fort Denison. Or just stay on board and relax during a narrated cruise around the harbor.
You’ll have another day to explore Sydney on your own, so maybe you’ll head up to the top of the Sydney Tower Eye for the view from above or visit the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium for the view from below.
Say farewell to Australia as you fly to Christchurch, the oldest established city of New Zealand. Devastated by a series of earthquakes in
2011, the Garden City is rebuilding, and visitors will see that in a tour highlighting the area’s magnificent gardens and park district.
From Christchurch you will head into the mountains and cross river gorges to arrive in the Franz Josef Glacier region to experience a living glacial landscape in a temperate environment. Depending on the weather, you might opt to see this region from a bird’s-eye view.
On the way to Queenstown, watch as the landscape changes from rugged mountains to rainforests and coastlines. Dinner upon arriving
in Queenstown will be at the Skyline Restaurant, accessible via a cable car up the mountainside. The next day, enjoy a drive down to Milford Sound and you’ll see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights in New Zealand.
Leaving Queenstown, you’ll stop at a 19th- century gold rush settlement and also tour one of New Zealand’s famous wineries before arriving at Mount Cook, the country’s most famous national park. You can hike, take an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting) or relax in the splendor.
The next day you will head back to Christchurch and visit a working farm where you will watch
a sheep-herding dog at work followed by a sheep-shearing demonstration. Later that day you will have dinner with a New Zealand family in their home as they share their culture and traditions.
After breakfast the next morning, depart New Zealand and head back to the States with plenty of memories of your adventures.
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MAY/JUNE 2018
Now!