Top 10 reason to travel with your alumni association:
- Travel with fellow alums
- Exciting itinerary especially designed for young alumni
- Superior or first class hotels at great rates
- Reward for your hard work
- Reliable quality programs with many great experiences included
- Network and bond with former classmates and young alums - make friends for a lifetime!
- Save 40% on cost over 'do-it-yourself packages'
- Perfect balance between arranged itinerary and free time
- Experiences that will broaden your world view and provide and advantage in today's global job market
- Once-in-a lifetime experience!
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Day 1 & 2: Los Angeles - Sydney - Cross the Dateline
With the setting sun before us, fly over the Pacific and across the Equator to that “Wonder Down Under”… Australia, the world’s largest island and last frontier. We actually skip to the next calendar day by crossing the International Dateline.
Meals: In-flight
Day 3, 4 & 5: Sydney, Australia
Land in Sydney, the sophisticated city built on one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. The Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge— both remarkable feats of design and engineering— vie with each other for the title of best-known landmark. On today’s Port Jackson Harbor Cruise we see the largest single-span bridge in the world and tour the spectacular performing arts complex in the unique Opera House beneath its white curving roofline shaped like sails. Then stroll along sailors’ haunts of the historic “Rocks” area where British colonists first landed in 1788. Get to know all your new traveling companions tonight at our Welcome Dinner. Tasty Aussie specialties are served up with that famous “Down Under” hospitality.
Enjoy leisure days meandering through art galleries and smart boutiques or sipping coffee at an Oxford Street café. Visit the Australian Museum rich with Aboriginal Artifacts or sun-worshippers may frolic in the waves on nearby surfer beaches known the world over. Other possibilities are excursions to the Blue Mountains or Hot Air Ballooning over the famous.
When the sun sets over Sydney, the lights go on all over town. Your only care is choosing whether you prefer theater parties featuring the best productions from Broadway or London’s West End or attending an Opera or ballet performance. Then mingle with the Sydneysiders at their favorite pub or nightclub in King’s Cross.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Breakfast
Day 6: Sydney - Uluru (Ayers Rock) & The Olgas
“G’day mate” – morning flight to Australia’s red center. Ayers Rock is one of the world’s greatest monoliths and is over 600 million years old. We’ll hike along the base of the Rock to see Aboriginal paintings depicting ancient myths and legends. Aborigines have the longest continuous cultural history of any group of people on Earth - dating back some 65,000 years. “Dreamtime” is Aboriginal Religion and Culture.
Later walk along the Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Experience the awesome red glow of Uluru at sunset from our desert oasis.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Kings Canyon & Uluru
Journey into the rugged outback to the Kings Creek Camel and Cattle Station with free time to check out your camel riding skills. Continue on to Watarrka National Park in the rugged outback. Enjoy breathtaking views as we walk along the Kings Canyon rim including tropical pools in the “Garden of Eden” and beehive rock formations of the “Lost City.” Then venture to the red desert sand of the canyon floor and learn about bush skills or try out your boomerang throwing skills.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8, 9 & 10: Cairns - Great Barrier Reef Excursion
Fly to the tropical coast and Cairns, where the hospitality is as warm as the year-round sunshine. Explore secluded inlets along coconut palm-fringed beaches, laze in the sun and gather seashells by the seashore. This fun, laid-back town shares tropical latitude with Tahiti and is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.
On our next day, transfer to the Reef Fleet Terminal and board Reef Magic’s Catamaran destined for the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, where we spend at least five hours. Upon arrival at 'Marine World,' we’re given snorkel equipment and our friendly crew assists with free snorkel lessons. The Glass Bottom Boat is another magical way to experience the reef and is excellent for non-swimmers. We can also see the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef without getting our feet wet in the Fish and Coral Viewing Observatory, located underwater on the lower level of Marine World. A hot/cold sumptuous seafood and tropical fruit smorgasbord lunch will be served as well as complimentary morning & afternoon tea, coffee and cakes. Return to shore for more leisure time in tropical Cairns.
>Kick back and relax on this next free day or join today’s optional excursion as we board the Kuranda Scenic Railway and journey through jungles and steep gorges, and past spectacular waterfalls of the Tablelands. Free time to have lunch and explore the quaint rainforest village of Kuranda. Perhaps consider a visit to Koala Gardens to cuddle a koala, hand feed kangaroos and encounter a large variety of Aussie wildlife in their natural habitat. Then board Skyrail- the world’s largest gondola cableway, and glide just meters above the rainforest canopy to enjoy sights that were once strictly for the birds. Also visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Park’s fascinating display of Aboriginal culture and dreamtime, a fun and educational insight in to the indigenous lifestyle. Farewell buffet dinner tonight back in Cairns and time to watch yet another spectacular sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Breakfast & Lunch, Breakfast & Dinner
Day 11: Homebound Flights from Cairns
Go for a little more beach time or visit “Wild World” to see a few of the locals… kangaroos, wombats, cockatoos and crocodiles. Say final farewells before flying east across the Pacific. Regain the day you lost as we cross the International Date Line.
Meals: Breakfast, In-flight
Important Information for Intra-Australian Flights: Domestic flights in the South Pacific are not included in land price, because it is more economical to purchase these in conjunction with your international flights. The following domestic flights are required for this tour: Sydney to Ayers Rock on Day 6, Ayers Rock to Cairns on Day 8. AESU will be glad to assist with making all flight arrangements for you.
Personalize your trip - extend your stay:
Want more time in Cairns to explore the Great Barrier Reef more or go white-water rafting on the jungle rapids? We can arrange it! The choice is yours with extra hotel nights in Cairns starting from $80 based on double occupancy.
