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7 Days
$1,100 pp twin share
$1,300 sole use

+ applicable rail fare

 

Day 1 - Friday

Business Class Tilt Train Brisbane to Mackay.

Day 2 - Saturday (B, L, D)

On arrival you will be greeted by your host Col Adamson who will take you to breakfast at Sea Eagles Resort at Salonika Beach, followed with a visit to Hay Point Coal Port, the largest bulk loading port in the world. We continue on to The Mill for some souvenir shopping before taking in the Mackay City Heritage Tour, driving past one of the largest collections of Art Deco buildings in Queensland, including stops at the Botanic Gardens, lunch at the Lighthouse restaurant over looking the Reef Marina & a guided tour of the Pine Islet Lighthouse and the Mackay Harbour Marina complex. Check-in to White Lace for a 2 night stay.

Day 3 - Sunday (B, MT, L, D)

Breakfast before we depart for the Platypus & Rainforest Eco Safari to Eungella National Park. Travelling through the picturesque Pioneer Valley, with thousands of hectares of sugar cane, it is the largest sugar growing area in Australia. We continue onto Finch Hatton Gorge for Billy tea & damper at our private bush camp "Finch Hatton Hilton"! Next we travel to Broken River for a casual informative walk through the rainforest in Eungella NP, home to the timid platypus, and a chance to see it in its natural habitat. Enjoy a BBQ lunch alongside a mountain stream before heading back to Mackay via Melba House (once home of one of Australia's famous opera singers Dame Nelly Melba). We then travel to an Eco Wetland Cane Farm to try and spot more Platypus and get up close and cuddle an Alpaca. Return to The White Lace.

Day 4 - Monday (B, MT, L, D)

After breakfast we depart for a day tour to Cape Hillsborough National Park & Hibiscus Coast. Our first stop for today is at the Farleigh Sugar Mill for a full tour of a working sugar mill. We then discover the quaint fishing village of Seaforth and hear about the Newry Island story before visiting Ball Bay & Haliday Bay. Enjoy lunch at the Old Railway Station Tea Rooms, with its beautiful landscaped gardens. We then take the Mangrove Board walk with Aboriginal Bush Tucker and experience how the Juipera people lived in this area. Next we travel to Cape Hillsborough, the famous beach normally alive with kangaroos on the beach. We journey onto our accommodation in Airlie Beach for the next two nights staying at the Colonial Palms.

Day 5 - Tuesday (B, L, D)

Enjoy breakfast before departing on our 2 Island Discovery Cruise visiting Long Island and Daydream Island. A 'Cruise Whitsundays' experienced guide will accompany us on each of the Islands, dedicated solely to our group. Enjoy scenic walks amongst tropical rainforests, bird and fish feeding or find a deck chair and relax. Enjoy the 'Living Reef' Coral Lagoon on Daydream and marvel at the abundant bird life and friendly wildlife. Time to do a spot of shopping before indulging in a sumptuous a la carte lunch at Mermaids Restaurant, where diners can enjoy their meal at their leisure and not feel rushed whist viewing the magnificent Whitsunday's. Return to Abel Point Marina and transfer back to the Colonial Palms.

Day 6 - Wednesday (B, L, D)

Enjoy breakfast and some retail therapy in Airlie Beach. We then join the coach and travel to Bowen for tour of the Murals that have made this town famous. We continue on to Flagstaff Hill which offers 360 degree views, before we arrive at the Grandview Hotel for a leisurely lunch. Departing Bowen for Mackay with a stop at The Leap's historic Hotel to hear the stories on how this town and hotel got its name. We also visit 'That Sapphire Place' to see Peter cutting and polishing Sapphires. We continue to to South Leagues Club for dinner before being transferred to Mackay Railway Station to join the Business Class Tilt Train.

Day 7 - Thursday

Tilt Train returns into Roma St Station

B = Hot Breakfast
MT = Morning Tea
L = Lunch
D = Two Course Dinner

2009 Departure Dates: 15 May; 31 July; 18 September; 13 November

Deposit required to secure booking - $200pp + rail fare

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