Australia: Natural Wonders

I arrive at the and go through customs formalities.
Car rental from Adelaide to Adelaide
Despite being a big city, Adelaide is relaxed and pleasant, surrounded by green parks even in the driest months, with spacious squares and avenues. The Italian community is the second largest after the English one and gives the city a vaguely Mediterranean atmosphere.

You have a day available. How to make the most of it? Here are some suggestions: - 7:40 SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS. Start your day at Glenelg Beach and take a dolphin spotting excursion, such as the "Daily Swim with Dolphin" cruise (7:40-11:15) by Temptation Sailing. Dolphins are almost always seen, but in November there can be hundreds. You can reach Glenelg by tram from the city center. - 10:00 SHOPPING. If you are a shopping enthusiast, there is nothing better than the famous Rundle Mall, a pedestrian area with department stores, boutiques, shopping centers, and the historic Adelaide Arcade. Don't miss JamFactory, an atelier, gallery, and shop showcasing the best of Australian design. Explore Rundle Street and Ebenezer Place, the city's artisan oasis. - 12:30 LUNCH AT ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET. Since 1870, Adelaide Central Market has been the epicenter of South Australia's culinary culture. It's a lively place full of cafes, pastry shops, cheese shops, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stalls, meat, fish, and all local products. Locals frequent Lucia's Fine Foods, Sunmi's Sushi, and Zed's Café, but there are many other restaurants to choose from. - 13:00 ART ATTACK. Explore the Art Gallery of South Australia on North Terrace. The gallery, dating back to 1881, houses one of Australia's best art collections. You can also have lunch in the beautiful café. An alternative is the Samstag Museum of Art at the University of South Australia, featuring works by South Australian artists from 1970 onwards, but especially a beautiful collection of Aboriginal bark paintings. - 14:00 ADELAIDE OVAL. It's unlikely that you are a fan of cricket or Australian rugby, but Adelaide Oval is an institution in the city and you can climb onto the roof with a safety harness, suspended 50 meters above the field. - 17:00 WINE TASTING. Just a 15-minute drive from the city, you'll find the famous Penfolds Vineyards and Magill Estate (closes at 18:00). - 18:30 HAPPY HOUR. Head up to the 8th floor of an old bank to the 2KW Bar and Restaurant, the perfect place to relax with a drink. Great view of the city. - 19:30 DINNER TIME. For something different, try Africola in the East End, near Rundle Street. If you like contemporary Thai cuisine, try Golden Boy, also in the East End. - 21:30 NIGHTCAP. For a final evening drink, we recommend the bars on Peel Street and Leigh Street. If you haven't had dinner yet, you'll find a wide choice of ethnic restaurants here: Moroccan, Indian, Spanish, Mexican, Korean, Serbian, etc. etc.

The boats to Kangaroo Islands leave from the pier of Cape Jervis, about a one and a half hour drive into the wild Australian nature. The cruise lasts about 45 minutes.
The third Australian island after Tasmania and Melville Island has spectacular coasts and forests, and an impressive variety of animals: kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, platypuses, penguins, seals, sea lions, and sometimes even whales passing by. Despite being one of the main Australian tourist destinations, it is still remarkably wild.

You can start your visit to Seal Bay with a memorable walk on the beach among the sea lions (at a safe distance!). With a bit of luck, you will see some lazy koalas resting on the ancient eucalyptus trees. In the western part of the island, explore Flinders Chase National Park with a walk in search of kangaroos, wallabies, and the numerous varieties of birds; from August to November, the park is covered in wildflowers, a fantastic sight. At Cape du Couedic, around the impressive Admirals Arch cave, over 10,000 southern fur seals rest, and you can also see the curious rock formations of Remarkable Rocks, perched on the cliff above the turbulent waters of the ocean.

If the ferry is booked for the afternoon, take some time to visit the rest of the island. Transfer to Penneshaw and depart on the ferry to Cape Jervis (last ferry at 7:30 pm, but be careful of the darkness. It is dangerous to drive a regular car at night). Continue along the Southern Expressway and arrive in Adelaide late in the evening (approximately 110 km).

Flight to Darwin, car rental from Darwin to. Approximately 150 km east of Darwin is Kakadu National Park, one of the most spectacular wilderness regions in Australia, twice recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its nature and Aboriginal culture. The Aboriginal people, who have inhabited Kakadu for thousands of years, are the park's owners and share in its management. The dry season is the best time for animal sightings, but the period of heavy rains, from November to March, is equally spectacular. Some sites may be inaccessible and animals less visible, but the vegetation is in full bloom and offers a unique spectacle.

Day available to visit the Bowali Visitor Centre, near the town of Jabiru, and admire the Aboriginal rock paintings at Ubirr Rock (40 km from Jabiru, 80 km round trip). In the afternoon, visit the various billabongs, the rock paintings at Nourlangie, Muirella Park, etc. In the afternoon, transfer to the south and the possibility of taking a cruise on the Yellow Water, near Cooinda along the Kakadu Highway.

In the early morning, I continue heading south. Don't miss a dip at Gunlum Falls, a series of 15 natural pools made famous in the Crocodile Dundee movies. I arrive in Katherine in the afternoon (260 km / 4 hours).. Approximately 3000 square kilometers of territory enclose the Edith Falls, ideal for swimming, and Nitmiluk, the Aboriginal name for Katherine Gorge. Katherine Gorge is a great encounter with spectacular nature: the narrow and long rock fissure is navigable from April to November. Suddenly, you find yourself immersed in silence, broken only by the sound of birds. The blue sky becomes more and more distant, while the shadow of the sheer walls makes the air even cooler. It is divided into 12 different canyons separated by rapids, which are spectacular during the rainy season from November to April. At the Visitors Centre, you can find information about excursions, cruises, and various activities (such as canoeing) related to this splendid park. This is the land inhabited by the Jawoyn people, who are happy to share their culture through unique experiences. Nitmiluk is the Aboriginal name for Katherine Gorge and it means "the place of cicadas," which originates from the onomatopoeic sound "nit nit nit" produced by their song.

Morning available to explore the park and its gorges. Departure towards Darwin, heading north along the Stuart Highway. If time allows, stop at Litchfield National Park with its numerous waterfalls. (Approximately 330 km / 4.5 hours). Flight to Cairns, car rental from Cairns to Cairns. Located a 25-minute drive north of Cairns, Palm Cove is a peaceful destination with long palm-fringed beaches and melaleuca trees. It offers numerous cafes, boutiques, and a variety of water sports.

Free day, We recommend the visit/excursion, A couple of hours north of Cairns, in Daintree and Cape Tribulation, civilization disappears and gives way to the oldest rainforest in the world. After passing Port Douglas, the road runs along beautiful deserted beaches; you continue to Daintree, amidst an astonishing diversity of flora and fauna and different ecosystems. Take a river cruise on the Daintree River to spot (and photograph!) crocodiles with a naturalist guide. Enjoy a tropical lunch in the rainforest. The forest extends all the way to the beach at Cape Tribulation. Continue to Mossman Gorge. Take a guided walk with a qualified guide in this ancient natural wonder full of culturally significant sites. Make sure to bring your swimsuit so you can fully enjoy the beautiful pool surrounded by lush rainforest.

Free day, We recommend the visit/excursion, With an extension of over 2,300 km along the eastern coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef offers an abundance of unique experiences in the world. Swim among the splendid coral formations, giant clams, rare whale species, and six of the seven species of marine turtles in the world. Not to mention the over 1,600 species of fish that populate this aquatic paradise. Whether you have a passion for scuba diving in the depths of the ocean or prefer to bask in the sun on the soft sand of an island.

Free day, We recommend the visit/excursion, KURANDA, SCENIC RAIL & SKYRAIL TOUR - Transfer to Freshwater station and departure at 8:50 for the village of Kuranda. The train climbs through the Kennedy Mountains along the Barron River Gorge, passing through fifteen tunnels, waterfalls, and ancient rainforests. Stop at Barron Gorge Falls. In Kuranda, free time to visit the "Village in the Rainforest" with its numerous attractions, especially the Heritage Market. Lunch not included. We recommend visiting the butterfly park, a garden where hundreds of colorful butterflies live and fly. At the designated time, take the Skyrail cableway, which glides silently over hectares of intricate rainforest. Stop at an intermediate station for a fascinating and informative walk in the heart of the forest and a visit to the visitor center that illustrates the animal and plant life of the area. The descent ends at the Smithfield Terminal.

Rientro a. Flight to Uluru / Ayers Rock. Car rental from Ayers Rock to Ayers Rock

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects the spectacular rock formations known as Ayers Rock and the Olgas. Uluru/Ayers Rock is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking natural wonders on Earth; equally mesmerizing is the cluster of round rocks of Kata Tjuta/the Olgas. If you are traveling between May and October, make sure to pack appropriate clothing. The nights and mornings can be quite cold, so it is important to have warm clothes in your suitcase, especially if you plan on activities at sunset or sunrise. We recommend the visit/excursion, New and evocative art installation in the Red Center desert. Approximately 50,000 stems light up after sunset for about a kilometer, a short distance from the resort, with the silhouette of Uluru in the background, creating enchanting atmospheres. Designed by English artist Bruce Munro, it is powered exclusively by solar energy, thanks to approximately 3,290km of optical fibers. There are several opportunities to admire it: - Field of Light base pass: includes transfers and entrance to walk along the various paths, informative brochure. Departure possible 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours after sunset - duration approximately 2 hours. - Field of Light Star Pass: includes transfers and entrance to walk along the various paths, access to an elevated panoramic area, English-speaking guide, drinks and sandwiches, informative brochure. Departure 30 minutes before sunset - duration approximately 2 hours (children from 6 years old and up). - A Night at Field of Light: includes transfers and entrance to walk along the various paths, English-speaking guide, drinks and canapés on top of a dune to see the structure light up, three-course Aboriginal dinner, cultural performance, informative brochure. Departure 1 hour before sunset - duration approximately 4 hours (children from 10 years old and up). Advance booking is required.

Flight to Sydney. The most Australian of Australian cities, with its surroundings, is a true microcosm of the country. Sydney is the only city in Australia to have a tangible sense of history in the Rocks neighborhood, a unique city that goes beyond the wonderful bay, but reveals its true soul in the neighborhoods and beaches of the suburbs, with a cosmopolitan and sophisticated population and the highest number of Aboriginal people.

Free day, If you have little time to discover Sydney, here are some ideas: - 9:00 THE CLASSICS reach Circular Quay and observe the traffic of incoming and outgoing ferries. Take a look at the famous Sydney Opera House (you can also visit the interior, but you have to book). Then continue to the Royal Botanic Gardens to the panoramic point called "Mrs Macquarie's Chair". From here you can take the perfect photo of the bay with the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Follow the walk along the bay to the Art Gallery of NSW, an introduction to Australian art. - 11:30 PANORAMAS Return to the city center and go up to the observation deck of the Sydney Tower Eye for a beautiful 360° panorama of the city. - 12:30 ZOO or AQUARIUM? If you haven't seen the local fauna yet, head to Darling Harbour to visit the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium or the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo. A ferry can take you to Taronga Zoo. - 14:30 BONDI BEACH Take a train to Bondi Junction, then with a bus from the Bondi Junction Interchange reach Bondi Beach and have lunch on one of the most famous beaches in the world! Take a walk on the beach or, if you have time, try the coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee (about 2 hours). - 18:00 HAPPY HOUR AND DINNER AT THE ROCKS The Rocks, the historic district of the city, is ideal for an aperitif and dinner. Try The Argyle for a drink. - 20:00 SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Why not try an evening at the opera in this spectacular theater? - 22:30 SKY-HIGH COCKTAILS End the day spectacularly with a final drink at the 360 Bar overlooking the city skyline and try The Glenmore for the bay view and a Rooftop Royale cocktail.

Free day. We recommend the visit/excursion, The scent of millions of eucalyptus trees that cover the Great Dividing Range near Sydney envelops the mountains in a bluish haze: hence the name Blue Mountains given to these mountains that the first settlers believed to be impassable. Millions of years ago, the Blue Mountains were a sandstone plateau over 1000 meters high, which rivers, wind, and rain have carved, creating a picturesque landscape of gorges and cliffs, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the most famous peaks are the Three Sisters, and in the forest, there is a living fossil: the Wollemi pine, which already existed during the time of the dinosaurs.

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