Itinerary

Nov. 6: ARRIVE SYDNEY
(Dinner)

On arrival in Sydney, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in. The afternoon is free to relax or roam around town. In the evening we head to Darling Harbor for a welcome dinner at Jordon's, a superb restaurant with spectacular views of the harbor and the city.

Accommodation: Grace Hotel - 4 star*


Nov. 7: SYDNEY SIGHTSEEING
(All Meals)

After a buffet breakfast we spend the morning in Sydney on a guided tour, which includes the picturesque Royal Botanical Gardens, the Conservatorium of Music, Art Gallery and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, stopping for spectacular views of the Opera House. Then it’s back to the city’s commercial center, Darling Harbor and Chinatown before heading for Kings Cross and the exclusive suburbs of Double Bay, Rose Bay and Watson’s Bay for a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean from The Gap before returning to the city and Circular Quay to join a scheduled luncheon cruise.

We enjoy lunch in one of the most spectacular and relaxed venues imaginable. Sydney is built on one of the world’s largest and most beautiful harbors. From the decks of a luxury cruise ship, we view the magnificent Opera House, Fort Denison and the spectacular Sydney skyline. The tour terminates at Circular Quay after the cruise. (Seafood Buffet Lunch included on Harbor Cruise.)

Following the lunch cruise, we return to the hotel, or you may choose to explore the city on your own, and return to the hotel independently.

This evening we enjoy a 3 course set dinner at the hotel. Following dinner we go to the historic Sydney Observatory at the Rocks, a spectacular site for astronomy and for views across the inner harbor.

View the stars and planets through our telescopes (weather permitting), as well as learn about the universe, experience the 3-D space theater and view the astronomical and meteorological objects on display. In addition to the observatory guide, Dr. Doyle will also give us an introduction to astronomy.

Following the visit to Sydney Observatory we return to the hotel.

Accommodation: Grace Hotel - 4 star*

 
Nov. 8: SYDNEY to COONABARABRAN
(All Meals)


Meet your coach driver for your overland tour through New South Wales, and to Coonabarabran, known as the "Australia's Astronomy Capital." On the way, we pass through the Hunter Valley region, New South Wales' premier wine growing area, stopping for lunch along the way.

Traveling Distance:    286 miles/460 km
Traveling Time:          6.5 hours

Coonabarabran is a friendly country town of around 3,000 people. With Dr. Doyle at the helm, we visit Siding Spring Observatory, Australia's foremost optical astronomy research center and home of the giant 3.9 m mirror Anglo-Australian telescope. Professional astronomers from around the world come here to research our solar system and beyond. We visit the observatory during the day and make fascinating discoveries in the Exploratory Center.

Dinner either at hotel or local restaurant. Evening astronomy session with local astronomer and Dr. Doyle.

Accommodation: Country Gardens Motel & Matthew Flinders Motor Inn - 2.5/3 star*

 
Nov. 9: COONABARABRAN to NARRABRI
(All Meals)

After a 45-minute drive, we arrive at the Warrambungle Region, a place of natural beauty. We enjoy a bushwalk amongst the spectacular scenery and ancient volcanic remnants of Warrumbungle National Park, encountering wildlife up close and personal. At night we marvel at the stunning southern skies and begin to understand why Coonabarabran is known as "Australia's Astronomy Capital." After visiting the Warrambungles, we continue onto Narrabri, stopping for lunch along the way.

Sandwiched between the rugged, blue mountain country of the Mt Kaputar National Park and New South Wales' northwest plains, Narrabri is at the center of a major cotton-growing district. The Park Mountains, which are snow-gum, draped basalt plugs were thrown up by volcanic action about 20 million years ago. The older buildings and churches of Narrabri are a time capsule of the late 19th century when the town took substance.

During our stay at Narrabri, we visit the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), at the Paul Wild Observatory, which houses an array of six 22-m antennas used for radio astronomy. Collectively, CSIRO's radio astronomy observatories are known as the Australia Telescope National Facility, with the facility supporting Australia's research in radio astronomy.

Dinner either at hotel or local restaurant. Evening astronomy session with Dr. Doyle.

Accommodation: Comfort Inn Mid-Town Motel & Club Motor Inn - 2.5/3 star*

 
Nov. 10: NARRABRI to BRISBANE
(All Meals)


After a full breakfast we board our coach, continuing through New South Wales and into Queensland, arriving in Brisbane in the late afternoon. We have lunch along the way.

Traveling Distance:    315 miles/507 km
Traveling Time:          7 hours

After checking into our hotel, you can spend your free time exploring the city at leisure. As the capital of Australia's second largest State, Brisbane combines the atmosphere of a friendly country town with the vitality of a modern, growing city. Brisbane sits on the banks of the meandering Brisbane River, and lies just a few degrees south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

We dine this evening in a local Brisbane restaurant.

Accommodation: Citigage King George Square - 4 star*

 
Nov. 11: BRISBANE to CAIRNS
(All Meals Sunlander Train)


After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to the Brisbane Railway Station to begin our train journey to Cairns, departing at 08:55 am.

Traveling Distance:    1,041 miles/1681 km
Traveling Time:          1 night (32 hours)

We see the Queensland coastline unfold, relishing the comfort of a traditional train service with excellent meals taken in the dining car. We spend the night in overnight sleepers, and enjoy astronomy lectures in lounge and club cars. All sleeping berths are fitted with overhead reading lights, washbasins, fresh crisp linen, stationery packs and toiletries.

Comfort, flexibility and a great social atmosphere have made The Sunlander one of Australia's great journeys between Brisbane and the Tropical North.

Accommodation: Train - Queenslander Class - one of the true highlights of the journey.

 
Nov. 12: BRISBANE to CAIRNS
(Breakfast & Lunch on Sunlander Train; Dinner at Hotel)


We continue today travelling through Mackay, Townsville, Innisfail and arriving in Cairns around 4:15 pm. Upon arrival into Cairns we transfer to our hotel.

Dinner at the hotel. Evening astronomy lecture with Dr. Doyle.

Cairns is the heart of the Tropical North, and provides an ideal base for exploring the rich and varied treasures of this region. Tropical North Queensland is a vast region stretching from reefs and islands, through coastal wetlands to mountains, tablelands and grassland and, of course, the Great Barrier Reef.

Accommodation: The Lakes Resort Cairns - 4 star (Two bedroom apartments)*

 
Nov. 13: CAIRNS to KURANDA to AMAROO
(All Meals)


After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and travel to Caravonica Lakes. We collect our Skyrail tickets, and join our one-way Skyrail journey to the village of Kuranda. Once aboard the Skyrail, you will be amazed as we glide silently over the rainforest canopy. There are two stations along the way where you can get off and enjoy a walk through the rainforest. There are spectacular lookouts and views as well as a visit to the CSIRO Interpretive Center where we learn about special plants and animals that inhabit this unique environment.

Upon arrival in the rainforest village of Kuranda, we have leisure time to explore the village and browse the shops and markets.

AMAROO
After the Kuranda visit, we make a short transfer to Amaroo - our home for the next two nights; a tented Camp which is being built especially for the eclipse. AMAROO is an Aboriginal word meaning "beautiful place", and it most certainly is. Amaroo offers one of the best locations for viewing the eclipse. The pristine 50 acre property, at the top of a ridge, has unobstructed 360 degree views and almost no man-made structures nor any lights in view. Backing onto a World Heritage Rainforest, there is a spectacular sunrise over the Barron River. There are also great hikes in the forest and canoeing on the Barron River.


At Amaroo we will enjoy an out-of-hotel experience in a gorgeous setting with comfortable camping, hot showers, an indigenous flavor, great food, activities and entertainment.

Amaroo is located within a few miles of the centerline of the zone of totality. From our location on a ridge, we will see the eclipse for just over two minutes.

Dinner at Amaroo Tented Camp. Evening astronomy and telescope viewing with Dr. Doyle.

Accommodation: Amaroo Tented Camp*. Deluxe tents with cots; tents arranged in small groupings; hot showers; lighting; communal dining and activity area; wi-fi internet access; stage and entertainment area with entertainment at night.

Nov. 14: AMAROO - ECLIPSE DAY
(All Meals)

Totality will occur at 6.40 am with the Sun 14 degrees above the horizon. Totality will last just over two minutes at our location

16° 47' 57.8" S
145° 36' 19.0" E

After the Eclipse viewing, the remainder of the day and evening are at your leisure to enjoy our activities and surrounds of the spectacular rain forest site.

Accommodation: Amaroo Tented Camp*

Nov. 15: CAIRNS - GREAT BARRIER REEF CRUISE
(All Meals)

We depart early in the morning and travel down the hill to the Cairns Marina to join our Great Barrier Reef cruise. (Bags will be delivered to the Lakes Resort Hotel, and stored until we return at the end of the day.)

We board the Ocean Spirit Catamaran for a full day at the Great Barrier Reef. We spend four hours on the reef at Michaelmas Cay - a picturesque reef cay where coral gardens abound with marine life, surrounding a protected seabird sanctuary. Included in the cruise are morning and afternoon tea, a buffet lunch, snorkeling lessons, use of snorkeling equipment, informative ecological presentations by Marine Biologists, tours on semi-submersible boats, guided nature tours, liveAustralia Solar Eclipse music entertainment on the homeward sail to Cairns. Not a bad wrap-up for an exciting trip.

Upon return to the wharf, we transfer to our hotel to check in. In the evening we go to town for our final dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation: The Lakes Resort Cairns - 4 star*

Nov. 16: Fly Home or Join the OUTBACK EXTENSION
(Breakfast)

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Cairns airport. If you are on our Outback Extension, you fly to Ayers Rock. If not, then you board your flight for Sydney and back home.

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