RASC ECLIPSE TOUR TO AUSTRALIA - NOV 2012
A cultural tour of Australia

Day 1: Nov 02: Arrive Sydney
Upon arrival in Sydney, Meet and Greet by our representative and transfer by luxury coach to the Menzies Hotel.
Afternoon at leisure. Evening visit to the Sydney Observatory.
Overnight: The Menzies Hotel, Sydney (3 nights)
http://www.sydneymenzieshotel.com.au/

Day 2: Nov 03: Sydney
Morning tour of Sydney to include Manly, Darling Harbour, Milsons Point for a spectacular view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Then join a relaxing buffet luncheon while cruising the magnificent Sydney Harbour on board Captain Cook Cruises. Visit behind the scenes at the World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House, one of the world's "must-see" attractions. Afternoon, go through the historic Rocks area, the colourful Royal Botanic Gardens visiting The Gap and enjoy stunning views. Stop at the world-famous Bondi Beach and enjoy the spectacular scenery. (B, L)

Day 3: Nov 04: Sydney
Day at leisure to explore Sydney or join an optional tour of either Blue Mountains or a Bridge climb Tour. (B)

Day 4: Nov 05: Sydney / Ayers Rock (flight 3.40hrs)
Transfer for your flight to Ayers Rock. Afternoon enjoy and exclusive Olgas and Sunset Tour where lie the 36 immense and weathered rock domes of Kata Tjuta, which were thought to have once been a single rock many times the size of Uluru. We embark on a guided walk into Walpa (Olga) Gorge. Marvel at the sheer walls that flank you as you enter the magnificent gorge. Some of the plants you will see here are so rare that they are only found among these rocky domes.
Overnight: Desert Gardens Hotel (2 nights) (B)
http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/desert/

Day 5: Nov 06: Ayers Rock
Rise early and enter Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to witness the changing colours of Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunrise and see the desert come to life. Afterwards, travel to the waterhole of Mutitjulu at the base of Uluru for a guided walk, on which you’ll view ancient cave paintings and also learn about the Aboriginal legends of Kuniya Tjukurpa (Python Dreaming). PM free. Evening we take a ride on the sand dunes, Sounds Of Silence – a path takes you to an uninterrupted, three hundred and sixty degree view of this vast landscape. Here you enjoy a selection of delectable canapés. With a BBQ feast of authentic Australian delicacies examples include barramundi, kangaroo, emu and crocodile, bush salads and classic desserts, complemented by Australian wines. (B, D)

Day 6: Nov 07: Ayers Rock / Alice Springs (Drive 441kms / 5.30 hrs)
Drive through desert scenery between Ayers Rock Resort and Alice Springs. Your Driver/Guide will provide comprehensive commentary of your surrounds as you pass through the rugged scenery of the outback. View Atila (Mt. Conner) along the way.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Alice Springs (B)
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/aspbd

Day 7: Nov 08: Alice Springs / Darwin (flight 1.55 hrs)
We tour the sights of 'The Alice' including the School of the Air which provides an educational service for children living in remote areas. Stop at the historic Telegraph Station and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.Learn how this marvelous facility operates to provide a 'mantle of safety' to the people of the outback. Visit the Alice Springs Reptile Centre where you will see unique Central Australian reptiles such as the Perentie lizard and Thorny Devil. Conclude with a panoramic view of Alice Springs and the surrounding ranges from the top of Anzac Hill before boarding our flight to Darwin.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Darwin (1 night) (B)
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/drwmsDarwin

Day 8: Nov 09: Darwin / Kakadu (Drive 255kms 3.40hrs)
We depart the tropical city of Darwin and enter the World Heritage Site of Kakadu National Park. Covering some 20,000 square Kms, Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park. Kakadu’s vast wetlands and ancient escarpment are home to one of Australia’s largest and most diverse bird populations, and carry outstanding natural and cultural significance. Afterwards, join a wonderful guided cruise on famous Yellow Water billabong. As you cruise, keep an eye out for wildlife that inhabits the billabong and its surrounds, including crocodiles. Then travel to Nourlangie Rock to view a variety of ancient Aboriginal rock art.
Overnight: Gagudju Crocodile Holiday Inn, Kakadu (B, L)

Day 9: Nov 10: Kakadu/Darwin (Drive 255kms 3.40 hrs)
Continue by coach for Ubirr to see superbly preserved Aboriginal rock art. Located on the Arnhem Land escarpment, Ubirr has been added in its own right to the World Heritage List because of its anthropological and archaeological value. After enjoying lunch, stop in at Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre. Here, you have the opportunity to learn about the wildlife, seasonal changes, various animal groups and local Aboriginal and European history of the region. Fun interactive displays help to explain ecological processes that occur in the wetlands.
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Darwin (1 Night) (B, L)

Day 10: Nov 11: Darwin / Cairns (Flight 3.45hrs)
Transfer for your flight to Cairns. Upon arrival in Cairns, transfer to our hotel. Balance of the day free.
Overnight: Rydges Tradewinfds Hotel, Cairns (5 nights) (B)
http://www.rydges.com/hotel/RQTRAD/Rydges-Tradewinds-Cairns.htm

Day 11: Nov 12: Cairns
Today you will have the experience of a lifetime; Quicksilver's wave piercing catamarans and friendly crew will take you to a reef at the very edge of Australia's Continental Shelf, to an underwater world that is a dazzling kaleidoscope of colour and brilliance... Agincourt Reef, a magnificent ribbon reef where you can experience first hand the magic that is the Great Barrier Reef. Choose to dive, snorkel, or stay dry and explore the stunning reef from the comfort of a Quicksilver semi-sub, just one meter underwater. Watch the fish feeding from Quicksilver's unique underwater viewing platform and underwater observatory, or fly in a helicopter over the reef. All activities are optional. (B)

Day 12: Nov 13: Cairns
Day free as we prepare for tomorrow’s early morning departure for viewing the eclipse. (B)

Day 13: Nov 14: Cairns (Eclipse Day)
An early start this morning as we drive to Oak Beach for the 2012 Solar Eclipse which is at approx 6.39am. After viewing the eclipse we drive back to Cairns. Balance of the day is free. (B)

Day 14: Nov 15: Cairns
Make your visit to Kuranda a memorable. We are transferred to the railway station to board the Kuranda Scenic Rail. This breathtaking journey, on one of the world's most scenic train routes, will take you through hand-hewn tunnels and across bridges with amazing views. Stop at Barron Gorge to view the falls before arriving at beautiful Kuranda station. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the "Village in the Rainforest". Optional visits to the Heritage Markets, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Birdworld or the Kuranda Koala Gardens before we e board the Skyrail for the world's most beautiful rainforest experience. Glide over the Rainforest canopy. (B)

Day 15: Nov 16: Depart Cairns
After an incredible journey getting both the Australian landscape and history with viewing the eclipse, we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight home o join in the optional extension to cover another part of this unique country. (B)

Optional Extension: Melbourne – Canberra - Sydney

Day 15: 16th November Cairns / Melbourne (Flight 3.25hrs)
Transfer to the airport for flight to Melbourne. Upon arrival at Melbourne, transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Melbourne (2 nights) (B)
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/melfs?rpb=hotel&crUrl=/h/d/6c/1/en/hotelsearchresults

Day 16: 17th November Melbourne
Morning tour of Melbourne. Experience the beautiful architecture of the most famous landmarks including the Melbourne Town Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, Victorian Parliament, Flinders Street Station and Federation Square. Visit the beach and café cultures of St Kilda and Williamstown and drive past the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Tennis Centre Melbourne University and the Fitzroy, Royal Botanical and Flagstaff Gardens
After the tour there may be an opportunity to visit the Astronomical Society of Victoria. The Society attracts people with astronomical interests, from a wide range of ages and with a wide range of abilities and interests. The Society was founded in 1922 and celebrated its 85th birthday in 2007. It has a Membership of approximately 850 people and is the largest such organisation in Australia and the southern hemisphere. http://www.asv.org.au/ (B)

Day 17: 18th November Melbourne / Canberra
(Drive 800kms / 8.30hrs 8hrs)
Depart for Bendigo, a city that provides a great snapshot of Australia's rich gold history. Tour the underground Central Deborah Gold Mine, take a short tour on the talking tram and learn about the discovery of gold and subsequent boom. Visit Chinese Museum to learn about migration of Chinese to the goldfields and Bendigo pottery - Australia's oldest operational pottery works.
Continue for Canberra - the name Canberra comes from a local aboriginal word meaning "meeting place", a fitting title. Canberra is the home of a long list of attractions: Parliament House, The War Memorial, The National Gallery, The High Court of Australia, The Questacon Science Centre, Mount Stromlo Observatory, The Telstra Tower, Lake Burley Griffin, the list goes on and on.
Overnight: Novotel Hotel, Canberra (2 nights) (B)
http://www.novotelcanberra.com.au

Day 18: 19th November Canberra
Morning tour of Canberra with a visit to Mount Stromlo followed by the National Gallery which has 70,000 works featuring many contemporary Aboriginal artists, and is well known for its blockbuster exhibitions and permanent gems such as Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles. The Sculpture Garden will introduce us to many exciting works by Australia's foremost sculptors. Later we visit the Parliament, if in session, the National Portrait Gallery, the Australian War Memorial, National Botanic Gardens, etc. (B)

Day 19: 20th November Canberra /Parkes
(Drive 295kms 4.20hrs)
Drive to Parkes. Upon arrival we visit the Parkes Observatory - a radio telescope observatory. It was one of several radio antennas used to receive live, televised images of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969.
The primary observing instrument is the 64-metre movable dish telescope, second largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the first large movable dishes in the world (DSS-43 'Deep Space Station'-43 at Tidbinbilla was extended from 64 m to 70 m in 1987, surpassing Parkes). After its completion it has operated almost continuously to the present day. The dish surface was physically upgraded by adding smooth metal plates to the central part to provide focusing capability for centimetre and millimetre length microwaves. The 18m dish antenna in the foreground of the photo was transferred from the Fleurs Observatory (Mills Cross) in 1963. It was used as a transmit uplink antenna in the Apollo program and has been abandoned since early 1980s.
The telescope has an altazimuth mount. It is guided by a small mock-telescope placed within the structure at the same rotational axes as the dish, but with an equatorial mount. The two are dynamically locked when tracking an astronomical object by a laser guiding system. The success of the Parkes telescope led NASA to copy the basic design in their Deep Space Network, with matching 64 m dishes built at Goldstone, Madrid and Tidbinbilla.
Overnight: Coachmans Hotel, Parkes (1 night) (B)
http://www.coachman.com.au/

Day 20: 21st November Parkes / Dubbo
(Drive120kms 1.30hrs)
Today we drive to Dubbo. Upon arrival we visit the Sliding Spring Observatory. Some of the world's best-known color images of galaxies and nebulae were created by astronomer David Malin using the observatory's 3.9-meter Anglo-Australian Telescope and adjacent 1.2-meter U.K. Schmidt Telescope. We'll tour both instruments as well as several of the smaller telescopes operated by the Australian National University, including the 2.2-meter Advanced Technology Telescope. Weather permitting, we'll spend the evening viewing the magnificent southern skies with members of the Astronomical Society of Coonabarabran at a dark-sky location within the shadow of SSO.
Overnight: Comfort Inn Blue Lagoon, Dubbo (1 night) (B)
http://www.comfortinnbluelagoon.com.au/

Day 21: 22nd November Dubbo / Sydney
(Drive 408kms 5.30hrs)
We drive to Sydney today with a visit to the popular Taronga Western Plains Zoo home to large animals like elephants and antelopes.
Overnight: The Menzies Hotel, Sydney (1 night) (B)

Day 22: 23rd November 2012. Depart Sydney
As our tour culminates we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. (B)

Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Nov 02, 2012
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner) Services of local English speaking guide Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary International airfares Within Australia airfare & taxes Insurance & Visa fees Tips / Gratuities
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Main Tour Nov 02-16, 2012 Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement Nov 02, 2012 US $ 4320 US $ 1650 Payment Plan for Main Tour: 1. $ 750 deposit paid now (at the time of booking) 2. $ 750 2nd installment to be paid on or before July 10, 2011 3. $ Balance amount to be paid on or before March 10, 2012 Optional Extension Nov 16-23, 2012 Group Sizes Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 25 – 44 US $ 1800 US $ 1650 20 – 24 US $ 2075 US $ 1650 15 – 19 US $ 2350 US $ 1650 10 – 14 US $ 2860 US $ 1650
Estimated International Airfare - International Airfare is NOT Included
International airfares based on current fares are: (Airfares are subject to change) Ex Vancouver $ 1935 per person Ex Toronto $ 2375 per person
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 44 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.