17 DAY FULLY INCLUSIVE TOUR
MONDAY 17th JUNE TO Wednesday 3rd july
Australia’s fiery Red Centre is the spiritual heartland of the Outback. It is a living breathing cultural landscape as old as time, with fascinating geological landforms, pockets of lush growth around its many watering holes and an abundance of unique wildlife. Marvel at the magnificence and ever changing colours of Uluru and be enchanted by the soaring rock domes of Kata Tjuta, 500 million years in the making.
Mildura, Southern Flinders Ranges, Port Augusta, Woomera, Coober Pedy, Uluru, Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), The Field of Light Exhibition, Alice Springs Sightseeing Tour, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Western MacDonnell Ranges, Devils Marbles, Tennant Creek, Mataranka Thermal Pools, Katherine Hot Springs, Kakadu National Park, Nourlangie Rock, Darwin, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Litchfield National Park.
FLIGHT
Darwin to Melbourne
CRUISES
Katherine Gorge Cruise
Yellow Water Sunset Cruise
Adelaide River Jumping Croc Cruise
Darwin Sunset Cruise
MULTIPLE NIGHT STAYS
2 nights in Coober Pedy, Yulara and Katherine
3 nights in Alice Springs and Darwin
Twin Share Room First Tour:
$10,375 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 2 - 10 Tours:
$10,275 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 11 - 20 Tours:
$10,225 per person
Twin Share Room Repeat Traveller 21+ Tours:
$10,175 per person
Single Room Supplement:
$2,190 per person
Deposit: $800 per person
As a thank you for travelling with O'Shannessy's Quality Tours, you will automatically receive a saving on the total tour price for your second and subsequent tours.
In most cases, O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours will match single travellers who wish to twin share, with another single traveller of the same gender.
However, if this is not possible, you shall be provided with single accommodation at the twin share fare (no additional cost).
O'Shanessy's Quality Tours are now providing travel insurance through Nib Insurance.
Travel insurance is not compulsory, however the Australian Government (see www.smarttraveller.gov.au) recommends all travellers no matter where you are going, obtain comprehensive travel insurance from a reputable provider at the time the balance of the tour is to be paid. It may enable you to claim back the cost of your tour if you are unable to travel or must cancel at late notice.
Always read the PDS provided, to ensure the cover meets your needs.
MELBOURNE TO MILDURA
Welcome to our tour through the fabulous Red Centre and Top End. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. We stop enroute for morning tea before continuing to Donald for lunch. This afternoon, we cross the Wimmera Plains and travel through the Victorian Mallee to Mildura for our first night away.
OVERNIGHT: Best Western Chaffey International Motor Inn, MILDURA
RIVERLAND TO PORT AUGUSTA
Today we drive along the Riverland from the Sunraysia to Renmark in South Australia to Morgan, once a very busy maritime port. Leaving the Murray, we head for the Southern Flinders Ranges calling at historic Burra (classified by the National Trust). This afternoon we take the scenic drive through the North Mount Lofty Ranges to Port Augusta.
OVERNIGHT: Standpipe Golf Motor Inn, PORT AUGUSTA
PORT AUGUSTA - WOOMERA - COOBER PEDY
We start our journey north on the Stuart Highway to Pimba, before detouring to Woomera. Until 1982, Woomera was a prohibited area for travellers. These days, we are welcomed with an interesting Visitors Centre. The town was built by the British and Australian Governments as the headquarters for the Maralinga and Emu Field - nuclear rocket and atomic bomb test sites. After lunch, we rejoin the Stuart Highway and drive to Coober Pedy to check into our two night’s accommodation.
OVERNIGHT: Desert Cave Hotel, COOBER PEDY
EXPLORING COOBER PEDY
We start the day with an opal-cutting demonstration and town tour, including an inspection of an opal mine, an underground house or “dug out” and a church. Did you know that the Coober Pedy Golf Course is the only golf course in the world with reciprocal rights to St Andrews in Scotland??!! We’ll also have time for some retail therapy for anyone interested in opals. We have time to purchase lunch before we head to the nearby “Kanku - Breakaways Conservation Park” - a stunning natural landscape that has featured in a number of movies such as Mad Max 3, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Ground Zero. Returning to town, we have some free time to relax, or perhaps some more opal shopping.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Desert Cave Hotel, COOBER PEDY
COOBER PEDY TO YULARA
An early start for a travel day as we head for the border and into the Northern Territory. At Erldunda, we turn west onto the Lasseter Highway to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park. There is an air of excitement in the coach as we are draw closer to Uluru. Upon our arrival, we check in to our accommodation before heading to Sunset Strip to enjoy the spectacle of the changing colour of Uluru as the sun sets behind us. Dinner will be a little later this evening at the Resort.
OVERNIGHT: Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel, YULARA
ULURU AND KATA TJUTA
We have a magical day in store. Ayers Rock is located in the World Heritage Listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It rises 348 metres from the desert floor and has a girth of 9.4km. It’s the world’s most famous monolith with at least two thirds of the Rock lying beneath the surface. We spend some time at the Cultural Centre and take a drive around the Rock, stopping for photo opportunities. Lunch today is available from the hotel or one of a number of restaurants and cafes in the Yulara Shopping Village. Early afternoon we visit the nearby Olgas, called by the Aboriginal people Kata Tjuta. Here we can take a walk into the beautiful and overwhelming Mount Olga Gorge. Returning to the resort, we enjoy dinner. But our day isn’t over yet as we are in for a special treat – a unique outback experience. We will be seeing internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro’s once in a lifetime staging of The Field of Light. This is the biggest Field of Light exhibition to date and it is held at Uluru. We have the chance to wander through 50,000 slender stems crowned with frosted-glass spheres that will bloom as darkness falls over Australia’s spiritual heartland. This display is for a limited time, making the experience that much more memorable.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Voyages Desert Gardens Hotel, YULARA
YULARA TO ALICE SPRINGS
This morning you have the opportunity to view Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Yulara from the air. We reserve several planes for an unforgettable 40 minute Scenic Flight of the area. This flight is at patrons own expense and is highly recommended. After breakfast we say farewell to Uluru and rejoin the Lasseter Highway, through sand dune country, past Mt Connor to Erldunda where we stop for our lunch break. This afternoon, we head north crossing the Finke River and enjoy the ever-changing scenery as we near Alice Springs.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
EXPLORING ALICE SPRINGS
Welcome to “The Alice”! We begin today with a view of Alice Springs from Anzac Hill. From here we can see the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, the Stuart Highway, the Todd River, the Ghan Line and the prominent city buildings. We take a virtual journey into 'The World's Largest Classroom' which will leave us enlightened and inspired as we visit the School of the Air. The film and guide presentations reveal stories about the school and its students, sharing a distinctive history, outback lifestyle and world-renowned innovations of this uniquely Australian school. Next we visit Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). We hear the incredible history of one of the largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations in the world. Using the latest aviation, medical and communications technology, the RFDS delivers extensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency service to those who live, work and travel throughout Australia. We enjoy some free time this afternoon to relax or go for a swim. We have a special evening planned tonight. Just 15 minutes out of Alice is Earth Sanctuary - a World Nature Centre at Quandong Homestead. We will enjoy a mouth-watering bush BBQ with music and entertainment and experience the spirit of the outback through stories of the aboriginal dreamtime. We will even learn how to cook a swagman’s damper! After dinner we can relax around the camp fire before heading back to the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
WESTERN MACDONNELL RANGES
We have a great day in store as we explore the majestic Western MacDonnell Ranges. The natural beauty in this area is outstanding! Our first stop is a visit to the monument of the Reverend John Flynn, founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Next we can stretch our legs at beautiful Simpsons Gap. We continue the scenic drive to Standley Chasm with its towering walls, before heading back to Alice Springs. Just north of town, we visit the Old Telegraph Station for a tour and lunch. The Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. It was stablished in 1871 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide along Australia’s Overland Telegraph Line. This not only connected Australia’s population centre’s with the north of the country, but it also connected Australia up with the undersea telegraph network of the British Empire.
OVERNIGHT: Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, ALICE SPRINGS
ALICE SPRINGS TO TENNANT CREEK
After our break we depart Alice Springs and continue on the Stuart Highway calling at Ti Tree Creek and historic Barrow Creek. Later this afternoon we spend some time at the “Devils Marbles” before arriving into Tennant Creek.
OVERNIGHT: Bluestone Motor Inn, TENNANT CREEK
DALY WATERS - MATARANKA
We have an early start this morning as we begin travelling to what is termed the “Top End”. We lunch at Daly Waters Pub, a well-known spot for many of the air personnel who served in the Pacific during World War II. Our afternoon break is at Mataranka where we have plenty of time to enjoy the fantastic mineral pools - so bring your bathers! The last leg of our journey today is to Katherine where we settle into our accommodation.
OVERNIGHT: Knotts Crossing Resort, KATHERINE
KATHERINE GORGE
We have a more leisurely breakfast this morning before making our way to Katherine Gorge. We can look through the Visitors and Interpretive Centre before our cruise. Within the Nitmiluk National Park are 13 separate gorges of the extended system through which Katherine River flows. Sheer walls of sandstone dotted with ancient Aboriginal rock art surround the crystal waters of the Katherine River where freshwater crocodiles can be seen along the banks with flowering orchids and lilies. This afternoon is at leisure - or perhaps an option is to visit to the Katherine Hot Springs. Sit back and relax in the beautiful thermal pools. The bubbling natural spring has a constant temperature of approximately 25-30 degrees Celsius. Used by many as a way of healing, we can let our muscles unwind after a hard morning of cruising!!
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Knotts Crossing Resort, KATHERINE
KAKADU - YELLOW WATERS CRUISE
Today we travel to the old gold mining town of Pine Creek then join the Kakadu Highway into the Kakadu National Park. At Cooinda, we enjoy a cold luncheon, then have some free time to relax before, late afternoon boarding our magical Yellow Water Sunset Cruise. Nowhere else will we see such a concentration of so many species of diverse wildlife than here, including Brolgas, Egrets, Jabiru and hopefully Crocs! Following our cruise, we return to the lodge for dinner.
OVERNIGHT: Cooinda Lodge Kakadu, KAKADU
KAKADU TO DARWIN
Our touring this morning includes Nourlangie Rock. After our walk to view the aboriginal art, we drive to Jabiru for our morning break. Here we have the opportunity to take an optional scenic flight over the incredible escarpment and Kakadu National Park. This flight can be booked with your Tour Director who will have further details for you. Please note optional flight is subject to availability and is at your own expense. We stop for lunch on the way to Adelaide River where we join the Jumping Croc Cruise for some close encounters with the resident salt water crocodiles! We then drive into Darwin for our next three nights accommodation.
OVERNIGHT: Doubletree by Hilton Esplanade, DARWIN
EXPLORING DARWIN
Today we take in the sights of Darwin. Many people aren’t aware of the importance of Darwin during World War II so we’ll look at the city as it is today and also learn about the involvement and history of the bombings of Darwin. The present city centre was established in 1869 and contains many of its remaining historic buildings such as the Old Court House and Government House. We see the new Parliament House built on the site of the Darwin Post Office bombed during the war, the port area plus the many other fascinating sights of Australia’s northern gateway. Our tour concludes at Stokes Hill Wharf with a visit to Flying Doctor Service and Bombing of Darwin tourist facility - two iconic stories in the Royal one iconic location! Lunchtime now and Stokes Hill Wharf is a great location for a break. Returning to our hotel, we have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the resort facilities – perhaps a dip in the pool or some retail therapy. Our day isn’t over yet though! This evening’s dinner will be aboard the “Spirit of Darwin”. It is a great way to see Darwin from the water.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement
OVERNIGHT: Doubletree by Hilton Esplanade, DARWIN
LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK
We spend the day touring Litchfield National Park. This National Park is very understated and offers an unforgettable day out. We travel through Batchelor to Florence Falls and admire the Magnetic and Cathedral Termite Mounds, some standing 16 feet (5 metres) high. We enjoy lunch at the Litchfield Café and have some free time at nearby Wangi Falls. This is a most relaxing area, perhaps take a swim or a walk. This evening, we will make our way to Cullen Bay for dinner together as we watch the sunset.
OVERNIGHT: Doubletree by Hilton Esplanade, DARWIN
DARWIN TO MELBOURNE
After three wonderful nights in Darwin, it’s time now to head for home. We’ll transfer to Darwin Airport for the return flight to Melbourne. Upon arrival, our chauffeurs will be waiting to transport us home with many interesting stories to tell of our fantastic holiday in the Red Centre and Top End.
Lunch at own expense and arrangement / refreshments on flight
Complimentary Chauffeur Driven Transfers
Victorian passengers from Greater Melbourne, Bendigo, Torquay, Ballarat, Geelong, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, Phillip Island and selected areas of Gippsland will be picked up from home in a private chauffeured vehicle by one of our professional drivers.
For Victorian passengers not within this pick up zone, or our interstate passengers a quote can be provided for home pickup in extended areas. At the end of your tour, you will be safely returned home with memories of a sensational tour.
Luxury Touring Coaches
Our full size, 3 axle luxury coaches have only 32-36 passenger seats allowing you even more personal space and extra leg room. Our coaches are fitted with comfortable reclining seats with aisle arm rests, foot rests, seat belts, panoramic windows with blinds, refrigerator for passenger use, restroom, climate control air conditioning and Road Cam monitors which display the road ahead in real time. Each coach has a second door for easier entry and exit and touchless hand sanitizer dispensers at each entry to help keep everyone safe. Our coaches have full air suspension delivering a smooth and
quiet ride which also allows us to lower the coach closer to the ground, making boarding and disembarking even easier.
Flight
Economy flight from Darwin to Melbourne
Tour Directors
Dedicated O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach crew (tour directors) on board to ensure your travel experience is memorable.
Best Available Quality Accommodation
Ensuite motel accommodation each night.
Attractions
All tours and interest venues as per itinerary.
Meals
All full cooked breakfasts, morning teas and lunches most days and two course restaurant dinners daily.
5 lunches at your own expense as per itinerary.
No Hidden Extras
O'Shannessy's Quality Tours are fully inclusive.
Receipt of payment of funds will be taken as acceptance of O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours conditions of travel for this tour. Prices include GST and all taxes.
Deposit is fully refundable until 61 days prior to departure date.
Balance due on invoice approximately 60 days prior to departure.
Cancellation within 60 days of tour departure date No Refund
On or after tour date departure No Refund
If a tour is cancelled for any reason by O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours before the departure date, all passengers will be offered the option of transferring to another tour of their choice, hold the funds in trust for a future tour or a full refund. There is no time limit as to when this must be used. If a lockdown is implemented while a tour is in progress, our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and ensuring that we get each and every one of them home safely, and therefore we treat every situation individually. The Australian Government (see www.smarttraveller.gov.au) recommends all travellers no matter where you are going, obtain comprehensive travel insurance from a reputable provider. It may enable you to claim back the cost of your tour if you are unable to travel or have to cancel at late notice. Always read the PDS provided, to ensure the cover meets all of your needs. We are able to provide travel insurance through Nib Insurance. If you would like a quote please call our office toll free on 1800 354 352.
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If you have any questions regarding our tours or services, please phone or email us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you!
All our tours are fully inclusive, and we guarantee there will be no hidden entry fees, transfers, accommodation or meal costs whatsoever. All of our tours are priced with departure from Melbourne.
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours are famous for unparalleled levels of customer service, and that is why our customers come back time after time – we promise to strive to give you the highest level of comfort at all times. Travel by our own state of the art luxury coach. Features include comfy reclining seats for a maximum of 32-36 passengers with plenty of leg room to stretch out. Arm and foot rests, seat belts, panoramic windows with blinds, refrigerator for passenger use, Road Cam screens which display the road ahead in real time and an onboard rest room. A second door for easier entry and exit, a hands-free hand sanitizer dispenser onboard and full air suspension for a smooth, quiet ride.
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours has no association or affiliation with Designer Tours based in Gippsland – or its owners/operators.
O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours, ABN 66 737 871 247 is a distributor of nib Travel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd (nib), ABN 81 115 932 173, AFSL 308461 and receives a commission for nib products purchased through O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours. O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours acts
as an agent for nib and not as your agent. O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours cannot give advice about nib products, and any factual information provided is not intended to imply a recommendation or opinion about nib products. Before you buy, please read the Product Disclosure Statement, Financial Services Guide and Target Market Determination (TMD) available from us. If you have a complaint about a nib product, see the Product Disclosure Statement for the complaints process. This insurance is underwritten by Pacific International Insurance
Pty Ltd, ABN 83 169 311 193.
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