The Great Australian Wine Tour

Transcription

1 Day 1: Depart the U.S. The Great Australian Wine Tour Day 2: Lose a Day Crossing the International Dateline Day 3: Welcome to Sydney, Australia! Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the World and the most cosmopolitan city in Australia. It is endowed with a sparkling harbour, fabulous beaches and a sunny Mediterranean climate. Sydney is the "best city in the world" according to readers of Condé Naste Traveler magazine and Travel & Leisure Magazine. It was also the site of the Olympic Games in the year From its convict origins as the first European settlement in Australia, it grew up to become the country's largest and most exciting city. Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the World and the most cosmopolitan city in Australia. It is endowed with a sparkling harbor, fabulous beaches and a sunny Mediterranean climate. It is your major gateway to the State of New South Wales and the rest of Australia. Sydney is also the location of Goway's main office in Australia, which is only a phone call away to be of further service to you. On arrival you will be met by a local representative of Goway Travel and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the morning at leisure. This afternoon make your way (walking 5 minutes) to Circular Quay for your afternoon cruise on magnificent Sydney Harbour. See spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour ridge, Fort Denison, and the bays and inlets that dot the Harbour. This evening get together for a Welcome to Australia Wine and Cheese Reception. Accommodation: Sydney Harbour Marriott: Opera House Club Room (2 nights) Guests will be pre-registered for immediate check-in.

2 Day 4: Sydney City Sights - Opera House Koala & Wildlife Park This morning enjoy a city highlights tour visiting the historical Rocks area, where the first Fleet landed in 1788 to establish Australia's first European settlement. Observe examples of early architecture and the beautiful sandstone buildings, made out of the same rocks, which give this area its name. Continue on your tour through cosmopolitan Kings Cross, exclusive Rushcutters ay, Double ay and famous ondi each. This afternoon, depart the heart of the city for an outback experience. Located only 40 minutes from Sydney, step into life in the Outback to an authentic Australian sheep station nestled amongst the gum trees. You will be met by stockmen on horseback, with stock whips cracking as they ride their horses at full gallop. Watch the kelpie sheep dogs muster the sheep, learn how to throw a boomerang and listen to the stockmen tell yarns of the bush while enjoying some illy tea and damper. Transfer by coach to the Australian Wildlife Park. See many native animals including dingoes, wombats, crocodiles, and exotic birds. There will be opportunities to feed the kangaroos and be photographed with a lovable Koala. Day 5: Sydney Hunter Valley Wineries, L This morning travel by coach to the Hunter Valley via Cessnock, the gateway to the Pokolbin Wineries and Hunter Valley. With over 7000 acres of vineyards, the Hunter Valley is credited with being one the finest wine regions in the world. Join us for a food and wine feast as we show you the carefully selected highlights of this famous area. e treated to magnificent views of the Hawkesbury River and see remains of the convict built roads winding into the Hunter Valley. Visit Wyndham Estate where a magnificent lunch with wine tasting is included. Conclude your day enjoying wine tasting at McGuigan s before arriving at your hotel. Accommodation: Hunter Valley Resort (2 Nights) Day 6: Hunter Valley Wineries Tour This morning, travel to one of the oldest established family wineries, Tyrell s Winery, for a tour and tasting of their classic light reds and whites, continue on your tour to Lindeman s en Ean Winery, which is part of the Penfolds winery, the most successful Australian export winery. The Lindeman s winery in the Hunter Valley is a small boutique winery, and a special attraction is the winemaking museum, lovingly collected by this unique family. We will also have lunch at Lindeman s., L

3 Day 7: Hunter Valley Sydney Adelaide This morning you coach to Sydney airport for your flight to Adelaide. On arrival you will be met by a local representative of Goway Travel and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy at your own leisure. Take a stroll along historic North Terrace or the banks of The Torrens River through to the otanic Gardens, or relax in the comfort of your hotel. This evening we dine at the Red Ochre Grill. The Red Ochre is internationally recognized as the definitive leader in contemporary Australian cuisine. We pride ourselves on promoting Australian produce and indigenous ingredients. Drawing on the foods and cooking styles that make up multicultural Australia today, our chefs continue to deliver the uniquely Australian taste sensation that has seen the Red Ochre enjoy unparalleled exposure and success. Every dining occasion at the Red Ochre is an adventure... and every dish becomes a conversation piece. Accommodation: Sebel Playford Hotel (4 nights) Day 8: Full-Day arossa Valley Wine Tour The arossa offers everything you'd expect from Australia's most famous wine region. Winemakers waiting to share their secrets at the cellar door; landscapes etched with manicured vineyards; passionate food producers proffering their wares at country markets; and grand chateaux surrounded by ornate gardens. And it's all just an hour from Adelaide. The region owes much of its appeal to the European peasant farmers and English free settlers who made the place home from the 1850s. You'll get a taste of their rich cultural legacy in superb arossa specialty foods, dozens of festivals and events, historic architecture, and inspiring arts and antique galleries. After breakfast, you will begin a personally escorted journey which includes a city orientation tour. We travel through the scenic Torrens Gorge to the arossa Valley. The Torrens Gorge is a natural chasm carved out of the Adelaide Hills by the River Torrens.

4 We travel over the Jacobs Creek along the arossa Way to a private tasting at Peter Lehman wines; we will taste some of the wine styles the arossa is famous for such as Riesling, Semillon and Shiraz. We visit Wolf lass wines for another tasting in their new state of the Art winery. We stop for Lunch at Salter s Restaurant. One of the arossa's many gems, Saltram Estate and Salter s Restaurant provide exquisite arossa cuisine matched with a range of superb Saltram wines. Here we enjoy Salter's 4 course degustation menu, complete with perfectly matched wines. After a guided walking tour through the historic winery and cellars, we complete our day with a tasting in the underground cellars, including the fortified wines for which Seppelt is so famous before traveling back to Adelaide. After lunch we continue on to Seppeltsfield. With a history spanning over 150 years, this incredible winery is the last stop on our arossa Valley Tour. Day 9: Adelaide: Sightseeing This morning, you will tour of Adelaide s Central Market and Haigh s Chocolate Factory. The Adelaide Central Market is Adelaide's unique cultural and food attraction and is always a hive of activity where South Australia's unique, gourmet, and organic produce is offered for sale. The tour includes a behind-the-scenes' walking tour conducted by a food specialist. Visit various stalls and talk with producers and retailers of some of South Australia's most unique produce. Following our visit to the market, we continue on to Haigh s Chocolate Factory. Our informative guided tour takes us on a stimulating journey of the factory from the beginning of the process with the raw beans through to the deliciously tasty and highly addictive finished products. After our tour we will have the opportunity to indulge in succulent handmade chocolate treats and rich aromatic coffees. This afternoon is at your leisure. This evening we tour Penfolds Magill Estate and enjoy an exquisite dinner. Located only 15 minutes from the city centre, the Penfolds Magill Estate experience includes a 1-hour guided tour with a Wine Educator and a 5-course degustation dinner menu with wine pairings. The entrance fee to the Estate is included in your tour.

5 Day 10: Adelaide McLaren Vale, L, D Travel into the picturesque Adelaide Hills to Piccadilly, the home of Petaluma winery. Take time to explore this famous winery then travel to the ridgewater Mill for lunch and tasting of their fine wines along with a selection of the top wines produced in the Adelaide Hills. The Adelaide Hills region has 17 wineries and is situated just east of Adelaide, 400 meters above sea level. Here the moist, cool yet sunny climate and favorable soils and slopes produce finely flavoured, long lasting sparkling and table wines. We continue on our journey and travel into the McLaren Vale Wine Region to experience the hospitality and taste the fine wines produced in this region. The McLaren Vale wine region is home to over 50 small to middling wineries. The region is described as the middle palate of Australia, producing lovely soft full flavoured reds. We visit the Coriole Winery. Coriole s cellar door is a beautiful little ironstone cellar surrounded by magnificent views and gardens. They produce an outstanding range of wines, olives, olive oils and cheeses with some exceptional wines styles unique to their winery. This evening dine at The Victory Hotel overlooking the city lights of Adelaide before returning back to the hotel. Day 11: Adelaide Melbourne Following breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for our short flight to Melbourne. On arrival in Melbourne, we are met by a local representative of Goway Travel and transferred by private coach to the Yarra Valley. The balance of the day is at leisure. Accommodation: Chateau Yering (2 Nights)

6 Day 12: Yarra Valley Late this morning we visit De ortoli Winery. This winery has been one of the Valley's great success stories. The wines are beautifully handled and the cellar and restaurant complex are extremely polished, this professionalism showing in the entire range. These wines come from both the Yarra Valley and Riverina areas. Following lunch at De ortoli, we visit one of the many boutique wineries set in picturesque countryside on our journey to Domain Chandon, Australia's home of Moet and Chandon. Producing premium sparkling wine from the classic varieties of Chardonnay. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir still wines are also available. One of the highlights of visiting this winery is being able to sit outside, admire the view and sip a glass of Champagne while enjoying a plate of gourmet goodies before returning to our hotel. Day 13: Yarra Valley Mornington Peninsula This morning we leave the Yarra Valley and head south to The Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula is famous for its fine wineries, restaurants and as a popular vacation destination. Fishing, boating, horse riding, bushwalking, historic parks, food and wine festivals and charming nearby towns of Portsea and Sorrento combine to make the Mornington Peninsula one of the most exciting visitor regions in Australia and Peppers Moonah Links Resort is perfect resort from which to base your exploration. The balance of the day is at your leisure. Accommodation: Moonah Links Resort (3 Nights) Day 14: Mornington Peninsula Phillip Island This morning is at leisure until we are picked up by our private coach and taken to Phillip Island. This afternoon we drive to Phillip Island where our first stop will be the Koala conservation Centre. Stroll through bushlands and experience koalas in their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Centre. Meet koalas face to face on our treetop boardwalks. This centre is dedicated to koala research and conservation. Our next stop is The Nobbies. Not far from our final destination, is The Nobbies - a magnificent headland with boardwalks and lookout points offering spectacular coastal views. The highlight of The Nobbies is the chance to view Australia's largest colony of fur seals, located 1km offshore. For a closer look, we visit the Nobbies Centre. The centre features state-ofthe-art animal viewing technology via a camera positioned on Seal Rocks that can be steered by visitors to zoom in on their favourite seal. We have an early dinner at The Nobbies before continuing on to our final destination, the Penguin Parade where we witness the nightly ritual of the little penguin parade. Hundreds of little penguins emerge from the sea and waddle resolutely up the beach to their nests. The parade takes place like clockwork a few minutes after sunset each day.

7 Day 15: Mornington Peninsula: At Leisure Today is at your leisure to enjoy the facilities of your resort. You may wish to rent clubs and enjoy a round of golf, or take advantage of the resorts spa facilities and treat yourself to a relaxing massage. Day 16: Mornington Peninsula Melbourne This morning we make our way to Melbourne. Prior to arriving at our hotel we have a city tour viewing cathedrals, parks, gardens and historic landmarks such as Captain Cook's cottage. Accommodation: Crowne Plaza (3 Nights) Day 17: Melbourne Today we are taken on a guided eco-tour which gives us quality time to learn about wildlife and enjoy the wide open spaces of Australia. Get close to kangaroos, koalas and abundant birdlife - in the wild. Venture into "real Australia" to see wild kangaroos, koalas and abundant birdlife. Learn about native animals and plants in the open-range grasslands and billabongs of Serendip Sanctuary and in the bushlands of a nearby National Park., L Walk amongst large free ranging "mobs" (groups) of wild kangaroos. Spot emus, wallabies, cockatoos and other unique Australian wildlife. Visit open forest that is home to a large and healthy population of wild koalas. Our Koala Research Project ensures that on most days we have multiple sightings of these delightful creatures. During your journey your guide will share with you the great significance of the Western Plains to Aboriginal People. Your tour includes a hearty bush lunch with illy Tea. Day 18: Melbourne Our last day in Melbourne is free to enjoy at leisure. This evening we enjoy a "Farewell to Australia" dinner at one of Melbourne s leading restaurants. Day 19: Depart Melbourne Transfer to the International airport for your departure flight. Arrive in the U.S. Tour Offered Exclusively y: Call: (480) info@celebrationsinternationaltravel.com For more information on Culinary Tours, visit