Ultimate Australia (2012)

This trip is on the expensive side, but it is obvious that the American dollar doesn't buy too much in Australia. We put together a slideshow from photos taken during our trip. Although we did not see much sunny weather in either the Tasmania pre-trip or the first part of the main trip, we did get lots of good photo ops. You may see our show at http:www.youtube.comwatch?v=VQV9SeaCCQM. Our guide (Vince Haberfield) has led many trips and did a great job of keeping us going.

Traveler: Alan & Val Roehl from Green Valley, AZ traveled on April 15, 2012

I would highly recommend this trip if you want a very personalized and educationally rich experience. The trip is a cultural experience where you meet the people, learn about the history, get a real sense of the culture, food, geography, plants and animals and share in the experience of living in Australia. The trip leader was genuinely interested in sharing the glory of his country with us. All of the guides were exceptional and dedicated to making our trip a success. We stayed in centrally located hotels (except in the rain forest) and visited many different areas of this vast country. For me, a trip of a lifetime.

Traveler: Donna Miller from Hilton Head Island, SC traveled on March 24, 2012

Bad pacing. The norm was to arrive at a hotel late afternoon, have the whole next day to tour, then leave the next morning for the next destination. Either lengthen the trip andor omit Adelaide.
Consider adding Kangaroo Island (without Adelaide) with one or two nights stay.

Traveler: Larry Jensen from Beverly Shores, IN traveled on February 02, 2012

As with all of my trips with OAT the most important part of the trips start and ends with a great Guide . One who has the people skills but also knows the Lands we visit. With our guide Wayne Roberston We had the best of the best. He not only handled the day to day planding,but took great care of all the little things that come up when dealing with a group of people from different walks of life with different ailments and problems. He not only handled all issues that came up but handled them discrealty .
He went way out of his way to ensure everone did and saw every thing possible from arainging for the entire group to go to and enjoy a Rugby game to arranging a side trip for me the go cage diving with Great White Sharks at Port Lincon
Wayne trully knowes and loves his countries. and that came thru to us on this trip. Any one who takes this trip and and is LUCKY enough to have Wayne Roberston as thier guide is trully in for a trip of a lifetime. Thanks Wayne And OAT for another GREAT TRIP.

Tommy Emery

Traveler: Tommy Emery from Cincinnati, OH traveled on February 08, 2012

Our guide was very disappointing in her lack of knowledge of all aspects of her country.
Also there were no special surprises such as we've come to expect on other OAT trips: e.g., street donuts in Morocco, stopping to eat roasted rat in Vietnam, tasting homemade beer at a roadside house in Peru!

Traveler: Carolyn Schiesel from Mission Viejo, CA traveled on October 27, 2011

Way too much free time with nothing to do and nowhere to go due to the Christmas season. Most stores & restaurants were closed. We strongly recommend OAT not offer this trip during the Christmas/New Year season.

Traveler: Eva Cecil from Fort Myers Beach, FL traveled on December 20, 2011

Traveled Oct.22 - Nov 7,2011

Enjoyed the trip and had a great leader, Richard Davies. Had basically good weather, cool in most places but unfortunately did not see the sun set at Uluru
as it had rained most all of that day but it made for an interesting setting. The rain stopped so that we did enjoy our "sunset champagnesnacks". Australian cities have many large and well maintained parks and they are enjoyed by the local people. The hotelresort in Port Douglas was the most plush of the places we stayed, could have stayed there a couple more days. However, the sea life at the Great Barrier Reef (snorkel trip) must have been on vacation that day as they were mostly non existent but it was interesting walking around the Isle with a local guide. If you are prone to seasickness, this can be a rough trip out to the Isle from the mainland, it is about a 45 min. ride.

Cape Tribulation was very worthwhile. We even saw a cassowary bird just off of the road to Cape Trib from Port Douglas
they are not often seen. The rainforest walk with the owner of the property was exceptional - learned a lot about the inhabitants of the forest. As the afternoon was free, 4 of us plus our leader Richard took a driving tour with a local guide (not an advertised optional tour of OAT). It was well worth the cost - visited a modern Aboriginal community and visited with a local woman (she was a very respected member of the community. She explained some of their beliefs while we viewed a very interesting water falls and river. A great afternoon.

Sidney is a beautiful city. Would have liked to have spent a couple more days there as there is much to see and do. The Opera House is spectacular.

Be prepared for the prices of meals and if you want to buy gifts are high.

As usual the homehosted dinner was very good and with a very enjoyable family. This is a feature of OAT trips that we always look forward to.

Traveler: Marilyn and Don Ruch from Jamestown, CA traveled on October 22, 2011

I am very glad I took this trip, many other people have identified the highlights.

I disagree with the person who critiqued Maree Price. I think she is a wonderful tour leader. A Mama Grizzley in the best sense of the word. She watched out for people traveling on their own and tried to make a myriad of arrangements to address people's various interests. In Melbourne, I asked her about how I would get tickets for a show. Within an hour, she had gotten me the information. I wish OAT would let us know when things are onoff in various places we travel. It turns out that theateropera are mostly dark in Sydney and Melbourne around the holidays. (I was there in mid December.) I might have chosen another time for my trip if I had known that. Maree did get a private tour of the Sydney Opera House but an actual show would have been something else.

My two criticisms of the trip:
1) As an urban person I would have really liked more time in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. I would strongly advise people to fly in a couple of days early to Melbourne (remember jet lag) and remain at least a day longer in Sydney. I should have spent the day exploring Adelaide rather than going on the very expensive full day trip to Kangaroo Island.
2) I wish that there had been more information about Australian history and current sociopolitical economic situation. We really talked little about any of that. We learn a lot about the discovery and settlement periods but not much after that except for current explosion of mining.

A real high point was learning about the Flying Doctors and the On-line schooling for children in the Outback. More info about contemporary life in the Outback would also have been interesting also.

Traveler: Rachel Kahn-Hut from Oakland, CA traveled on December 08, 2011

This trip exceeded my expectations in all ways. Everyday was a trip in itself doing and seeing Australia to the fullest. Our travel guide LeAnne added so much value to the trip. She made the most of every situation for us by giving us handouts along with her narratives. Her enthusiasm was endless. She even brought a variety of cookies for us to sample on our hours long bus ride! Super trip, thanks LeAnne and OAT!

Traveler: Janice Mask from San Diego, CA traveled on October 19, 2011

Re: air travel. Make sure you have travel commitments in writing before you put money down. The salesmen work on commission and will sometimes shade the truth about travel arrangements. We got caught by nemerous errors of omission and never got the arrangements we thought we were promised!!!

Traveler: Peter Bowker from Naples, FL traveled on November 02, 2011

Today I was looking back at our 2008 Ultimate Australia and remember it with a great fondness and a desire to return to Australia. Vince Haberfield truly made that trip a great success for us. One of the best guides ever.

Traveler: Janice Hoftiezer from Valparaiso, IN traveled on March 22, 2008

ANOTHER ENJOYABLE, SUCCESSFUL OAT ADVENTURE

Vince Haberfield is one of the best guides of our four OAT trips. He brought the group together and made the trip fun. He was always upbeat, entertaining and excelled at problem solving.

His skills were challenged by the grounding of the Qantas fleet that forced a layover in Cairns. His and OAT's actions made the best of a bad situation and we are pleased with OAT's resolution, giving us one more reason to continue our OAT patronage.

We highly recommend the pre-trip to Tasmania and the post trip to New Zealand.

Ultimate Australia should be on the “must do” list of all OAT travelers.

Charles and Arlene Borman
Naples, Florida

Traveler: Charles Borman from Webster, WI traveled on October 12, 2011

Fellow travelers:Listen and you shall hear
All about the OAT tripf the year
Ultimate Australia-three weeks on the run
From Tasmanian mountains to the desert's hot sun
Rain forests,the outback,the reef and the ROCK
Kangaroos and koalas,the cattle, the flock
Aborigine culture,art,superstitions
Still upholding their lifelong traditions
The Flying Doctors,the School of the Air
Our eyes were agape at everything there
Pies and Pavlova,Barramundi and Brew
Exceptional STUART,OAT "boss" of our crew
The Sydney bridge ,its beaches and harbor bright
The incredible Opera--majestic and white
Even Qantas delays and minor glitches
A broken down bus and some last minute switches
Positive spirits made each day a pleasure
Nothing could stop us from enjoying each treasure
Architecture,history, mountains and shore
Australia is awesome to learn and explore
So all ye mates--experience sheer bliss
Ultimate Awesome Australia----a trip not to miss

Traveler: Barbara Brown from Longboat Key, FL traveled on September 29, 2011

My wife and I embarked on the Ultimate Australia trip on September 28, 2011. We thouroughly enjoyed the trip with our excellent Trip Leader Maree Price. It covers a large part of western Australia, and gives you a lot of time on the ground, since you fly to most locations. The hardest part of the trip is, of course, the sixteen hour flight from LA to Melbourne.
We found the Australian cities to be clean and friendly, with beautiful architecture. My favorite was Adelaide, a planned city of about a million people, one mile square, with wonderful parks and museums. There are free transportation options in most of the cities, so getting around is fairly easy. The excursion from Adelaide to Cleland Wildlife Park was a highlight, holding a koala, petting kangaroos, etc.
Other people have mentioned that Aus. is expensive, and I certainly agree with that. A lot of meals are not included, and the price for a main course alone in most restaurants averages about $30. There are some cheaper alternatives, but eating out is expensive. In Darling Harbor, Sydney, hamburgers were $17. We broke our rule about not eating at U.S. fast food places by eating at Hungry Jack (Burger King).
The included Great Barrier Reef trip from Port Douglas was enjoyable, but pretty crowded. There was a lot of fascinating coral, a few fishes and turtles, but the water was not really clear. I think going farther out in the GBR would be better, but it would take a whole day and probably increase the price.
The trip north to Cape Tribulation was really great, with walks on the beautiful beach and into the rain forest. Our cabin was under trees festooned with flying foxes(fruit bats),and the included meals here were excellent.
Sydney, the final part of the trip, is a large city with a small city feel. The people are very friendly and helpful. An evening at a performance in the concert hall at the Opera house was a real highlight. If you choose to do this, get your tickets from the hotel concierge as soon as you get to Sydney, or better yet, get them online before you go. The acoustics are so good, the "cheap" seats are still great, and you get a better view of the whole venue.
We chose the extension to NZ, and I would certainly recommend it. The country is beautiful and the people friendly. As it was spring, the mountains were covered with snow. Be prepared to layer up, as early October is still pretty cool. Milford Sound is fabulous.
We were a little apprehensive about the overnight stay on a farm, but all our fears were groundless. The people are used to guests, and it's very much like a B&B. Also got to meet some of their unusual animals. And great food!
This was our 11th trip with GCTOAT, and we count it as another "trip of a lifetime."

Traveler: Norman Robinson from Philomath, OR traveled on September 28, 2011

I loved Australia, but this OAT trip was really a vary uncomfortable and disappointing trip for three reasons: (1) It was very very rushed! (2) the "Great Barrier Reef" experience was a real bust -- poor at best; and (3) the trip leader, Maree Price, was a very controlling and tiring constant non-stop talker (especially over a loud-speaker on the bus), draining the energies of the group.

I have decided I will not take another OAT trip -- the OAT administration thought she was such a great leader!

Traveler: Daniel Rusthoi from Santa Fe, NM traveled on September 28, 2011

I have been on many OAT trips. Everyone was enjoyable. This trip was by far SUPERIOR..the travel guide was fantastic.He helped make reservations for Penguin Parade in Melbourne...answered all our many ? about the Outback, places and people. He personally walked me to the BRIDGE CLIMB ( after making the reservations for me) and got me into see a piano concert at the Opera House in Sydney. Made me an avid RUGBY FAN while in Auckland and..oh yes..in Port Douglas encouraged me to do a fabulous snorkle and dive trip. Our group was tons of fun..we all got along great. The 29 day trip was everything and more than I had hoped for. I am already planning my next trip for next year.

Traveler: Doris Rossi from Englewood, FL traveled on September 02, 2011

Great trip, fast moving and interesting mix of citiesnatureindigenous culture. High points: hiking a dry river bed in the outback with a leader of the Arunda Aborigines, helicopter flight over sacred rocks, purchasing Aborigine art, 'roos & koalas in the wild, rain forest lodge room with a glass wall smack up against all that glorious tropical vegetation! And...a performance of "Don Giovanni" at the Sydney Opera House. All this orchestrated by Vic Martin who has to be the best trip leader in the business, at home in the city or the bush, along side Aborigine leaders or botanists, rounding up strraggling snorklers or behind the barby.

Traveler: Judith Pepper from Dayton, OH traveled on September 17, 2011

Australia was the biggest surprise of any trip I had taken. I thought I knew what it was probably going to be like and was I surprised. It is a country comprised of many different aspects, i.e., from the beautiful countryside of Tasmania to the outback desert and Uluru, to the beautiful beaches and jungle areas of Port Douglas. How fortunate I am to have gone to Cape Tribulation. The animals we saw throughout the country were so wide and varied, from the endangered Tasmanian devil to the giant crocodiles. Sydney is the most beautiful city. There are, of course the usual sites, the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge there were are also lovely old buildings from the 18th century as well as new glass skyscrapers. This truly is a country of great diversity. I loved every minute.

Traveler: Joan Rudloff from Palo Alto, CA traveled on September 16, 2011

Ultimate Australia, with Tasmania as a pre trip and NZ as a post trip provided "the right stuff" to really sample what these countries have to offer.

Australia's history is rich; New Zealand offers beautiful scenery and wonderful hospitality as well. The contrasts from place to place will keep you wide-eyed. We had snow in Cradle Mtn. (Tasmania), walked in the derert at Uluru and sweated through the rain forest.

The pace on this journey is fast, but manageable. there are eight internal flights and 3 international flights. Thanks to our tour leader, Wayne Robertson, everything went like clockwork..

Evey trip has its highlights. In this case, there were many. Tasmania is beautifu and pastoral, giving an historical glimpse to what life was like in the early 1800's as surviving convicts landed. Current residents proudly tell you about the convicts in their family trees.

Toasting the sunset at Uluru was another gem of an experience. Despite the bush fires and haze, the evening is not to be forgotten.

Peering into the world of parrot fish and coral at the big reef is such a contrast to other locations. At each stop, we received briefings and felt ready to make the most of the experience.

As to advice: Please understand that average temperatures did not serve us as a guide. BRING LAYERS. It was an unusually cold spring.
Be an individual: each of us knows how we want to use our free time. Don't go with the crowd if your interests are elsewhere. Our guide was most helpful in this regard.

Be selective with add-ons: Try to decide ahead of time, using the internet to help with the decisions.

As to NZ: Some loved the adrenaline-soaked thrill-seeking adventures. We, personally, enjoyed walks in the woods and gardens (remember what I said about "doing your own thing". There are idyllic walks and gardens, not to mention breathtaking scenery.

Our leader, Wayne Robertson is a 5-Star member of the team. He is funny, honest, concerned about everyone. He steered us into adventures with the best value according to our interest. Always objective and inclusive.
What more can we say. If you think that Australia is nothing more than Wyoming with a British accent, think again. We count it among one of our premier traveling experiences.

Traveler: Theodore Brandley from Summerfield, FL traveled on September 02, 2011

I travelled with my 2 children and niece (ages 18-23) and we had a blast. I have been on 4 previous trips with GCT and several with Globus to Alaska and Europe. This time we wanted to do something different.
Besides all of the unusual fauna, Australia has a certain unique vibrancy. The Australians genuinely like people and are so out going and helpful. Ultimate Australia covers the big cities including Melbourne, Adalaide, and Sydney as well as the wild side: Uluru, the Out Back, Great Barrier Reef, and the Rain Forest.
Though there are a number of internal flights, Maree Price, our tour director took us through them almost effortlessly. I've never had a director who was so determined that everyone enjoy the trip. One of the very nice touches was a CD of Australian music she distributed to all of us. I find myself listening to it several times a week as I drive to and from work and on errands. Maree even set up a barbeque one evening in Alice Springs on an on your own dinner night.
The air travel was extensive, but excellent as Quantas really puts the American airlines to shame. They always feed you! This ends up covering about 4 of the lunches. It's also much easier to get through Australian airports.
Though we went during their winter, the weather was great. Most of the time it was in the 60's or 70's. We loved the break from the heat back home. Do check with your American connecting carrier ahead of time in order to avoid baggage fees. A number of the people with us evidently ended up paying them and should not have.
The accomodations, overall, were the best I've ever had outside the U.S. In Port Douglas (the Great Barrier Reef) the Sea Temple was one of the best resorts I have ever stayed at anywhere. We had a problem with a room in Alice Springs, but Maree quickly remedied the situation.
Australia is expensive. The $5 Subway foot long in America is the $8 to $10 footlong in Australia. I have been to a number of restaurants both in the U.S. and Europe and Australia was definitely pricey. It might be advisable to have your large meal at breakfast (the breakfasts were always very good) on the days that dinner is not provided and eat lighter at lunch and in the evenings. The excursions were also relatively expensive, but definitely worthwhile. We did Kangaroo Island, the walk about and the Uluru helicopter ride, as well as an opera in Sydney. There is also a great deal of shopping if one is so inclined. I bought a kangaroo leather hat at the Melbourne market, an aboriginee designed tie in Alice Springs, opal cuff links in Port Douglas, a Sydney Opera House T-shirt, hat pins and refrigerator magnets, all of which I am quite happy with. In summary , between the uncovered meals, the excursions, and souvineers I would say plan on spending an extra $1,000 to $1,500 per person.

Traveler: Chris Gad from El Paso, TX traveled on July 13, 2011

We had a wonderful time on recent OATS trip to Australia. Due to the size of the group we immediately developed intimacy & friendship with many mmebers of our group. The trip was well planned , & the tour guide was freindly & well informed.
We will certainly travel with OATS in future. & would highly recmmmend it to anyone wantlng to get most from your travel expenrence.

Traveler: Shabbir Bahora from Brentwood, TN traveled on August 03, 2011

This trip was more fun and even more interesting than we had anticipated. Although it is a blitz of Australia - cities, mountains, beach, wildlife preserves, outback, rainforest - it gave us a wonderful overview of the country. We had "done" the Ultimate New Zealand trip two years ago, and were pleased we had done them separately, as each country deserves more than a one-week pre- or post-tour.
Tasmania was beautiful, from charming Hobart to gorgeous Cradle Mountain. We saw lots of animals (do go "nightspotting" at Cradle Mountain to see them in the wild) and stopped at picturesque small villages on the way.
It would have been nice to have another day in Melbourne and in Adelaide, both full of history and good restaurants. Instead of the optional trip to Rabbit Island, we opted for a private guided tour of Barossa Valley, choosing our own vineyards.
We then flew to the Outback. A day and a half in Alice Springs is too much; it is dirty and the natives unpleasant. The drive to UruluAyers Rock was interesting, both from the sights of the outback and cattle stations and the Aussie music our guide played and got us singing. Our guide, Maree Price, is one of the all-time greats.

Urulu was more beautiful and impressive than anticipated; it was fun to see it at twilight with champagne and again at sunrise. Don't miss getting up to see the fabulous Southern Cross in the inky sky with thousands of other stars around, whether by sunrise rock-viewing or helicopter ride.
Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef were terrific. Although it was overcast so the waters weren't famously aqua, the WaveDancer team was so helpful, we were able to snorkle for the first time ever and go out with the marine biologist to see turtles, GIANT clams, lots of fish and coral. (Hint: buy a disposable underwater camera in the States for about a third of what they cost in Australia.)
As noted by others, the Sea Temple is the most luxurious lodging of the entire trip; their food is excellent too. It was there we ran into our guide from our New Zealand trip two years ago, Alan Keenan, leading a post-trip to Australia! 'Twas fun to see him.
The rainforest was, again, very interesting. The local guide, Neil, was great and could spot some insect or leaf 30 feet away and tell all about it. We were lucky to see a very, very rare cassowary bird.
Sydney was our favorite part of the trip: so clean, so beautiful, so historic, so friendly. (And so expensive.) We were ready to emigrate. The OAT tours were terrific, overall through various neighborhoods to Bondi Beach, and a private tour of the Opera House. The Vibe Hotel was crowded and not efficient at breakfast, though it was well located.
The best thing we did was to stay on for a few days after the tour and "do" more Sydney on our own, from riding the ferry to Manly Beach to seeing the excellent Maritime Museum and lunch at the fish market. Seafood in Australia is fabulous. The Rocks neighborhood deserves at least half a day.

Souvenirs: both the Victoria Market in Melbourne and Paddy's Market in Sydney are great sources for T-shirts at half the cost of elsewhere. The wildlife preserves sell beautiful mugs with historic botanical designs, well boxed for transport.

Traveler: Christie Austin from Pittsboro, NC traveled on March 18, 2011

Just completed Ultimate Australia, with Tasmania pre-trip and New Zealand post-trip, and it is a very worthwhile trip but rather expensive. Be prepared for price sticker shock, more so in Australia than in New Zealand. The Australian dollar, which in the past was worth about 60 US cents, is now roughly equal to the US dollar, and by the time you consider exchange fees, ATM charges or credit card surcharges (yes, 1.5 to 3%), you will be paying close to US $1.10 for Australian $1.00. That makes even simple meals, souvenirs and independent sightseeing attractions very expensive by US standards.

Tasmania was an unexpected delightful find, especially Cradle Mountain and its wildlife. Also strongly recommend the New Zealand post-trip, even if Christchurch is not included because of the tragic earthquake. (The Grand Chancellor Hotel, the tallest building in town at 26 stories which is on the verge of collapse, is where we stayed one week before!) Queenstown is beautiful (in good weather, which we were lucky to have -- be sure to take the gondola ride) and Milford Sound is spectacular. One highlight of the base trip was sunset at Ayers Rock (much better than sunrise) with champagne and snacks.

Have mixed feelings about the optional tour to Kangaroo Island while in Adelaide. Wildlife viewing was rather limited -- 15 minutes each at the sea lion and fur seal sites (30-minute stops, but the animals were a good 15 minutes away), and kangaroos were few and far between, either too far from the road to really see or the coach passed by too fast, although the Remarkable Rocks and bird of prey demonstration were very interesting. This tour was quite expensive ($320), a very long day (14 hours beginning at 6 a.m.), the island is quite large (we rode well over 200 miles), and we were put together with many other travelers, so there were 52 people on the coach -- so much for OAT's "guaranteed no more than 16-24 travelers"! We were also put together with other travelers on the included Milford Sound excursion, but that was fine because the large bus was very comfortable and had huge side and roof windows for great scenic viewing. In hindsight would have preferred to spend the extra money on the flightseeing return from Milford Sound to Queenstown (an option not mentioned in OAT's literature but available on the day of travel directly with the local tour operator), but there is also the possibility that option may not operate because of weather conditions.

Hotel locations were good, generally within walking distance of numerous sites, restaurants and shops. Sea Temple at Port Douglas was beautiful and could have spent an extra day there just relaxing. Lodge at Daintree Rain Forest was very basic -- lighting in the bathroom was unbelievably poor, so bring a flashlight for shaving or makeup. Vibe Hotel in Sydney has only been used by OAT since the beginning of the year but needs to get its act together -- baggage collection and box breakfast provision on departure day was a disaster.

Last, but certainly not least, was our Trip Leader, Richard Davies. Recognize you cannot choose your departure date by trip leader, but if you are lucky enough to have Richard, you are in for a real treat. This was my 22nd OATGCT trip and all the trip leaders, with one exception in Turkey, have been excellent, but Richard was definitely one of the best, if not the best, among all the trip leaders I have experienced.

Traveler: Richard Carlson from Arlington, VA traveled on January 22, 2011

This is an over-rated and overpriced trip. A lot of people who have not traveled anywhere else call it "a fantastic trip". Nothing is fantastic about this trip. If you want to visit Australia it is a good way of exploring this country. However, do not think you will get a good value for your money. You are traveling from a large crowded city to another. The food is not subsidized and so everything is very expensive and you will notice that most meals are NOT included. The only thing that was good was our tour guide who was knowledgable.

Traveler: Javid from Santa Monica, CA traveled on December 15, 2010

My hubby and I (first time OAT travelers) took this trip in September 2010. It was perfect. The ideal mix of activities, free time and travel. Without a doubt, our experience was superior because of our excellent trip leader, Richard Davies. We have traveled all over the world and Richard was the best trip leader we have ever encountered. He was always available to answer questions or assist with the needs of our group. Some of our travel highlights were: exploring Victoria Market in Melbourne (good place for souvenir shopping), home hosted dinner in Adelaide, optional cultural walk (definitely worth doing) in Alice Springs, shopping for Aboriginal art in Alice Springs (less expensive than Uluru area), Bojangles for dinner in Alice Springs and Red Ochre dinner (authentic Australia cuisine) in Alice Springs, sunset at Uluru, exploring Daintree Rain Forest (we did an optional night game walk which was great and also an optional Bloomfield Falls 4 wheel drive tour with Mike D’Arcy (D’Arcy of Daintree)-who was fabulous....knew so much about the area and history. What a great afternoon!). Can't begin to express how wonderful our time was at the Great Barrier ReefPort Douglas. The Wave Dancer crew really does things well on the Reef (snorkeling, glass bottom boat rides, tour of Low Isles, great snacks and lunch). Definitely rent a lycra suit from them (only $5). Bring your own underwater camera (they sell them, but very expensive). Sea Temple Resort in Port Douglas is the best hotel of the trip. The ultimate in luxury! Wish we had spent more time in Sydney...seemed to be so much to do there. We enjoyed the tours and also did the Bridge Climb on our own and a jet boat ride. All travel was seamless....only one delay due to weather in Cairns. All hotels were good (All Seasons Resort in Alice Springs is down at the heels but adequate.) All included meals were very good. Prices for everything are expensive. Best tip I can offer is refill your water bottles at the hotel each night. You won't be disappointed with this adventure....a perfect "taste" of Australia. Hope you get Richard for a trip leader!

Traveler: Paula Caplinger from Newport News, VA traveled on September 06, 2010

What a wonderful experience. Exceeded my expections by 1000%. Our guide Vic Martin was exceptional. His love of country and his extensive knowledge made our trip so much more than the brochures could ever describe. And you could tell he loved being a guide as he made our trip the best it could possibly be.. The rainforest and the reef were spectacular. And if you are an animal lover, nothing can compare to hugging a Koala and having a Kangaroo eat out of your hand. Come prepared for the prices to be high, but, hey, you are on vacation. There were plenty of inexpensive dining and shopping places to be found. Touring time and on your own time were perfectly balanced. The hotels were marvelous. If you are on the fence - go!!

Traveler: Mary Miles from Las Vegas, NV traveled on October 05, 2010

A friend referred me to OAT several years ago. It had always been my plan to travel to Australia once I retired though friends booked Ultimate Australia and I decided not to wait. Best decision I've ever made. Best time to travel, temps were in the low 70's in the south and high 70'slow 80's in the north. The trip encompassed the major highlights of the country from coastal regions to the outback and the magnificient rainforest. Our tour leader, Matt Bracher, was the best! He brought his country to life, sharing its history, songs, food, culture and issues and challenges. The pace was active as I preferred and the balance between guided and 'on your own' was just right. If you are looking to learn about this country, its history and current challenges while having fun and exploring with a small group, this is the trip for you. It was for me! Thanks OAT and Matt. This was the first of many future adventures.

Traveler: Mary Ann Monaco from Albany, NY traveled on May 02, 2010

This tour was fantastic and exceded expectaions.

1. Haing done several OAT trips before, I had high expectations for the tour guide and Matt Bracher surpassed them in every regard. His love of his country showed through out the tour. He provided a learning and discovery experience that will last a life time. He knew almost every local guide and driver on the tour and made them feel like old friends to us immediately. He always called ahead to our next destination to make sure all was good and provided us clear guidance on what to expect there. He researced numerous topics that were requested and shared a treasure trove of interesting and relevant materials on each locationcultureexperience. He also made special arrangements, such a wine tour of the Barossa Valley, including visiting 4 wineries (this should be added a routine option) and securing tickets for an evening performance at the Sydney Opera House. And the Opera House is as extrordinary inside, (like a cathederal to music) as it is outside ( a jewel in magnificent Sydney Harbor)! The Beethoven and Sibelius performaces were magnificent.

2.Each site on the tour was unique and awesome. The brochures and guide book from OAT, while accurate, hardly do justice to what you experience. We loved Melbourne (Melbin' to Aussies), as much as the rainforest in the Raintree Wilderness, or the Outback with its desert and historic Alice Springs or theReef Barrier. We visited Aboriginal points of interest including a school where we read with second graders. The visit to Ayers Rock at sunset with the changing colors on the rock were great. The home hosted dinner in Adelaide was the best I have experience with OAT.

3. Our whole group loved the spirit of teh country exhibited by all we came into contact. Frienldy,relaxed, lively and helpful. The local guides were fun and outgoing as were the drivers. If you want a taste of this sprit before going on the trip, try Googling a song by Judith Durham, "We Are Australian".

The dreaded flight from North America to Australia and return is a small inconvenience to endure for such an experience. The lodging accomodations provided through OAT were always good and usually great.

Traveler: John Conboy from Albany, NY traveled on May 02, 2010

We returned a week ago from the most amazing three week trip of Australia and New Zealand. Having only 12 travelers (and only 9 on the New Zealand portion) made it very personal. Our Trip Leader, Maree Price, was really excellent -- organized, patient, flexible, knowledgeable, and most important -- fun! Everything about this trip was first-rate -- the pace, the cultural experiences offered, the hotels (with the exception of the one in Alice Springs), the transportation arrangements, etc. We would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone. It offers a true snapshot of Australia, from the rain forest to the outback, and includes some amazing cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney. And New Zealand was awesomely beautiful, particularly the Southern Alps. This trip far exceeded our expections, which were high to begin with!

Traveler: Georgene and Vidal Falcon from Elizabeth City, NC traveled on March 18, 2010

Generally speaking, our trip to Australia was very good. The country is as big as the U.S. with even more diversity. The difference between life in a big city such as Sydney and life in the Outback at Alice Springs is astounding.
Here are a few travel tips to future travelers. Australia is hot, very hot! In fact, it is one of the hottest places on earth. We traveled during their summer season and it was 112 degress during the days we were at Alice Springs. Wearing a cobber (a jell filled body cooling neckwrap) helped save us from heat exhaustion. We also drank a lot of powerade and gatorade as the endless bottles of water were becoming boring. Luckily we wore specially purchased lightweight, sun and insect repellent clothes. A hat with a brim is a must at all times.
Furthermore, plan on spending a lot of money! Australia is outrageously expensive. Many meals are on your own and not only is it sometimes hard to find a restaurant, the prices will be through the roof. A cheeseburger and coke at McDonald's cost us $12 American. Most dinners cost us a minimum of $25 each.
A note on buying Uggs! My 19 year old daughter traveled with me on this trip and she had done all of her homework on the price of Uggs in the U.S. FIrst of all, Uggs refers to s style of footwear, basically a boot or shoe lined and trimmed with sheepskin. It is NOT a manufacturer. So what you will find in Australia is hundreds of stores that sell footwear labeled "Uggs" but not many of them are even made in Australia. Most are manufactured in Asia. So it really gets down to this: find a pair you like and try it on. If it cost less than what's available in the US, you've found a deal. Don't get bogged down that they don't look exactly like the ones in the U.S. They probably won't. By the way, baby Uggs ARE a real bargain. I only paid $15 a pair for several I bought there.
The best shopping day is your first day in Melbourne. It doesn't get better than the open market stalls there. Bargains galore. I wished we had bought more on that first day because prices kept getting higher as the trip continued and we got closer to Sydney.
Finally, I have to say that most all 16 of us on the trip were disappointed in the numerous cancelations in our itinerary. OAT definitely needs to tweak the trip here. As we were travelling over Christmas vacation we ran into a 4 day stretch where most attractions were closed. Australia celebrates Christmas, Boxing Day, and then the 2 day weekend all in a row. Our first traveling day we were supposed o go to a Wildlife Habitat to see the koalas. Since it was closed, we were dumped off at the beach and told to "have a look around" for a couple of hours! There were several occasions like this where an alternate itinerary should have been substituted. Also, there were too many meals on our own where we couldn't find restaurants open. Case in point, on New Year's Eve we walked to at least twelve restaurants before we found one that would seat our small party. Now the hotel we were staying at offered a New Year's Eve dinner but it was $175 each so naturally we passed. Again, OAT should have known about this ahead of time and made accomodations for all of us at another restaurant even if we were paying on our own.
Basically, this is a wonderful trip but it will be a truly spectacular one if a few of the above mentioned items are improved.

Traveler: Catherine from Danvers, MA traveled on December 21, 2009

The trip and guide, Maree, were excellent but since Australia is so big, too many plane trips and waiting in airports. Also, had so many drivers we were going crazy trying to figure out tips all of the time. Now if you don't mind these little inconveniences, you should have a great time.

Traveler: David from Gilmer, TX traveled on October 19, 2009

Australian comments for OAT

This trip was well beyond our expectations which were high as we have taken several other OAT trips. The scenery, variety of topography and experiences were outstanding. For us, the best highlights were Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Uluru, and seeing a performance at the Sidney Opera house, but every day was interesting, educational, fun and filled to the brim. Our terrific, high-energy guide, Mike, made sure there was never a dull moment. Like in the US, it is difficult to find things that are actually made in Australia. If you seek cheap memorabilia then the place to get it is the open market in Melbourne, but most of it is made in China. The best Aboriginal art can be found at the Cultural Art Center that is part of the Outback Cultural Tour, or from the streetlawn artists in Alice Springs. The shops there also have some. Similar art is available at Uluru, but is much more expensive. Nice T-shirts with scenes painted by an Australian artist and printed in Australia can be found in the shops in Alice Springs for $15-16. A few comments on the optional tours: Do go to Port Arthur in Tasmania, even if you have minimal interest in the penal colony. The site is very tactfully done and the setting is gorgeous as are the grounds and the trip there and back. We took a couple of short, but wonderful, hikes on the way back. Our group had mixed reviews of Kangaroo Island. Don’t go there expecting to see many kangaroos, wallabies, wombats etc. But you may see kangaroos in the wild on the bus ride to the ferry. You will see lots of seals up close and beautiful ocean scenery. The Remarkable Rocks are truly that. Some of our most interesting photos are from here. If you have time the last morning in Port Douglas, visit the nearby wildlife habitat center when it opens in the morning so you can follow the person feeding the birds and see them up close.

Traveler: Jane from Seneca, SC traveled on September 02, 2009

What a wonderful trip. Mike Buchanan our guide was fabulous! Our consent remark was "we need one more day"!! The time was much too short and there was so much to see. The fabulous highlights were Cradle mountain in Tasmania, Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reed, and Sydney. The OAT features lots of walking which is great to see the city and experience it. Our group was excellent for our motto was "if you are on time you are late!". Everybody showed up 10 minutes early!! All of the cities were fun to travel thru and see the sights. The only cons we can say is that when you are on the snorkel cruise - don't take time out for lunch... for you can eat anytime! but you can't snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef anytime!! The other con is that after spending 29 hours getting to Tasmania the last thing you want to do is get on another bus for hours and travel to another town to see the prisons. If you stay in Hobart and walk around the town and visit the museum you see a very good display of the prison system without going to Port Arthur. Can't say enough about Mike our guide. He was fabulous! Highly recommend this trip and the Pre trip to Tasmania and the Post trip to New Zealand. Also, forget going to Kangeroo Island...there is enough to do in Adelaide.

Traveler: John from Silver Spring, MD traveled on September 02, 2009

Ultimate Australia
April 11, 2009

“Australia is the world’s sixth largest country and its largest island. It is the only island that is also a continent, and the only continent that is also a country. It was the first continent conquered from the sea, and the last. It is the only nation that began as a prison. It is the home of the largest living thing on earth, the Great Barrier Reef, and of the largest monolith Uluru.”

“In short, there was no place in the world like it. There still isn’t. Eighty percent of all that lives in Australia, plant and animal, exits nowhere else. More than this, it exists in an abundance that seems incompatible with the harshness of the environment. Australia is the driest, flattest, hottest, most desiccated, infertile, and climatically aggressive of all the inhabited continents”

The above text is taken from the book “In a Sunburned Country” by Bill Bryson. I recommend you read this book on your return from Australia.

Our OAT trip to Australia began after a 14 hour flight to the coastal city of Melbourne and progressed to the Outback and then to the Tropical areas of Queensland with our last stop being Sidney. Our guide, Vince Haberfield, led us through this immense country with ease and a great sense of humor and showed us his respect for the Aboriginal people.

It is such a shock to go from the coastal areas, where most of the population is, to the great vast dry interior. Until you experience the interior and the peoples who populate it you cannot understand the Australian spirit. It amazed us how the Aboriginal people were able to survive in this hot, dry environment. Our first day in Alice Springs was very hot. We thought to ourselves “How are we going to walk in this hot weather and deal with the constant plague of flies in our faces”. Vince furnished us with fly netting for our heads. Thank you Vince!

Out of Alice Springs, the entire tour group took the optional Australian Outback Cultural Tour led by a man of Aboriginal descent. We were able to see special ceremonial and “dream time” sites. Many customs were not spoken about for many reasons. This reluctance of the Aboriginal people to speak of their culture and ways was very frustrating for us.

Our next stop was Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta rock formation. After a long bus ride from Alice Springs we explored Kata Tjuta and participated in a sunset viewing of “The Rock”. The next day we were able to walk around Uluru and feel its powerful draw. We were truly blessed in the interior with mostly cloudy skies and cool weather.

After our time in the Outback we traveled by plane to Port Douglas. Stepping off the plane was a true shock compared to the dry red desert interior. Our hotel was like an oasis with a huge beautiful swimming pool. The next day was our sailing trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Even if you do not snorkel the glass bottom boat gives you a wonderful view of the reef and a great day on the water. Dressing in the blue lycra suits (protection from poisonous rays) for snorkeling was the laugh of the day.

One side trip to be sure and take at Port Douglas is the Rainforest Habitat. It was truly an amazing experience. As Vince said you will see all the animals and birds that you should see in the actual rain forest. He was right!

From Port Douglas we proceeded to the oldest rainforest in the world at Cooper Creek Wilderness. Standing among the ancient fan palms and learning how the plant species have remained unchanged for tens to hundreds of millions of years was truly an awesome experience. Our hotel at this spot was unique with a beach, pool and rooms that were in the middle of the forest with fauna and flora all around us. Again we were lucky with weather and no rain.

Our last flight was to the wonderful city of Sidney. OAT saved the best for last! The tour of the harbor, opera house and the suburbs truly gave us a feel for this wonderful city. A free day gave us the opportunity to explore Sidney on our own.

We both decided that we could live in this city easily. The people of Australia are the most helpful, friendly, and outgoing people. They even speak English Australian style. They have a truly wonderful life style. They love their sport, coffee, eating out a lot and outdoor parks abound in every coastal city with people and families enjoying their day.

Don’t miss this wonderful trip.

Susan and Chris
“The Sisters”

Traveler: Susan from Charlotte, NC traveled on April 08, 2009

I took the Ultimate Australia trip in May 2009. It was fantastic, particularly because of our outstanding, knowledgeable, charming, generous, and good humored tour guide, Maree Price. The OAT trip itinerary is quite well planned - though I'm not a "jungle girl" and chose to stay behind in the lodge during our time in Cape Tribulation. Everyone else, however, loved the tropical rain forest. For me, the trip highlights were the cities (a feast for anyone interested in vernacular and colonial architecture) and, of course, Uluru and the outback. I took the Uluru helicopter ride, which had the added benefit of flying around the spectacular Kata Tjuta rock formation - perhaps more thrilling than Uluru itself. I recommend the helicopter option to everyone (be sure to sit facing the direction of the helicopter and by the window). The cruise through Sydney harbor was truly wonderful. And the hotel at Port Douglas is so magnificent you may not want to leave it! By all means, take advantage throughout the trip of the museums and galleries to see Aboriginal art. If you travel in our summer (their winter) bring a rain poncho and a warm jacket and layer your clothing for occasional use.

Traveler: Helaine from Urbana, IL traveled on May 20, 2009