Opera & Art - Desert & Forest - Food & Wine
28 days of exclusive elegance!
Day 1: Fly and Arrive in Sydney
A chauffer driven car and/or a first class connecting flight will transfer you to home International Airport where, after checking in Bravissimo invites you to the First Class Lounge at the Airport. Enjoy the comfort and luxury of first class air travel and be met at Sydney Airport by Bravissimo staff and be transferred to your 5 star hotel in luxury hospitality coach. A welcome dinner that evening at the hotel on Sydney Harbour side, overlooking the Sydney Opera House to sample to first of many culinary delights!
Day 2: Sydney
Your first complete day in Sydney starts with a spectacular harbour tour on a private boat visiting places of interest and helping you get your bearings. Lunch at the renowned Doyle's Restaurant at Watson's Bay followed by a walking tour of Circular Quay and The Rocks. Dinner and then opera, with interval drinks overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Bravissimo's private hospitality suite.
Day 3: Sydney
Sydney has world class art galleries and museum and we will spend the day exploring two of the best. Dinner will be at a restaurant within a stroll to the opera house for that evening's performance.
Day 4: Sydney - Canberra
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to Canberra, ACT, Australia's 'bush capital'. A cafe lunch on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin will be followed by a visit to the National Museum of Australia which houses interesting displays of historical and contemporary culture to further your knowledge of this unique country. Cocktails and dinner at the hotel that evening with a musical recital.
Day 5: Canberra
A tour of Canberra's Old Parliament House and Art Gallery followed by lunch and a private tour of the Australian National War Memorial museum with the Chief Historian. Dinner will be at a local first class restaurant followed by a performance at the Canberra theatre.
Day 6: Canberra - Victoria Wine Region
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to one of the five wine regions north east of Melbourne; Rutherglen, Beechworth, Glenrowan, King Valley or Alpine Valleys, in VIC for lunch followed by wine tasting of some of the best vintages. We will have dinner at our vineyard hotel with wines chosen specially for our meal. A classical music recital in the vineyards will accompany dinner.
Day 7: Victoria Wine Region - Melbourne
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to Melbourne, VIC. We will take lunch at a traditional outback pub and get to Melbourne to stretch our legs with a brief walking tour followed by dinner at a first class restaurant and the theatre.
Day 8: Melbourne
A tour of the National Gallery of Australia in the morning. A bistro lunch followed by a guided tour of Brisbane's Botanic gardens featuring 52 hectares of plants from Australia and all around the world, horticultural, art and craft shows. Dinner and a performance at City Arts Centre or the Melbourne Opera, depending on the season.
Day 9: Melbourne - Adelaide on the 'Overlander'
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will travel by the Historic 'Overland' Train to Adelaide, SA. The Overland commenced service in 1887, pioneering intercapital rail travel between Melbourne and Adelaide. The century old name came from the term "Overlander", an adventurer who had traveled across the country. In recognition of its history, The Overland's emblem is the Kookaburra, symbolic of a new day and new beginnings. The tour group will travel in private carriages on The Overland train and enjoying wonderful hospitality and views of unique landscapes. On arrival in Adelaide we will be guided on the North Terrace Historic Walking Tour including the 'Glenelg'.
Day 10: Adelaide
A tour of the National Wine Centre of Australia including lunch, followed by a tour of one of the most famous wineries in Australia; Penfolds Winery and a chance to sample some of their world renowned "Grange' vintage. Dinner followed by a performance at the Adelaide Opera or The Bel Canto Woolshed Opera, depending on season.
Day 11: Adelaide - Alice Springs on 'The Ghan'
After breakfast the tour group will take The Ghan train to Alice Springs. This is a 2 day journey traveling through Southern Australia and the Northern Territory's dry arid zones where red sand dunes are interspersed with mountain ranges and rocky outcrops. It is breathtaking country! The legendary Ghan derived its name from the Afghan Cameleers, who for 50 years kept the vast Outback pioneers supplied with life essentials. This is like the Orient Express of the Southern Hemisphere, with private en-suite cabins and luxury a-la-carte dining.
Day 12: On 'The Ghan' - Alice Springs
Arrive in Alice Springs, NT for dinner and a private tour of the Aboriginal Australia Cultural Centre and Alice Springs Cultural Precinct. Alice Springs is the geographic center of Australia and has been an Aboriginal home for 15,000 years; thus many of the land's physical features have great cultural and social significance.
Day 13: Alice Springs - Uluru
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park for a 5 Star Camping experience in Australia's Red Centre. We will have a Rock Base Tour of Uluru (Ayers Rock) the world's greatest natural monolith. Together with the rock domes of Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) to the west, they form the remarkable features of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park; 330,000 acres in the vast red sandy plain of Central Australia. A unique dinner experience that evening under the stars with traditional Aboriginal art, music and dancing.
Day 14: Uluru - Port Douglas
From the Red Centre to the Blue Ocean! After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will fly to Cairns in QLD and then take the short drive to Port Douglas. A leisurely stroll along Four Mile Beach (to stretch our legs and get the durst out of our hair!) and then dinner with our toes in the Pacific Ocean! Australia, a country of contrasting beauty!
Day 15: Port Douglas
A guided tour of the Great Barrier Reef and a chance to dive and snorkel over one of the world's greatest natural wonders, or gaze through the glass bottomed boat. Lunch will be on-board the privately chartered boat followed by a visit to a Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary. More wonderful sea food for dinner accompanied by music and art from the tropical north.
Day 16: Port Douglas - Daintree
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to the Daintree Rainforest and check into the unique Rainforest Lodge. A guided walk in the rainforest will reveal some of its unique flora and fauna. Lunch in the treetops will be followed by luxury rainforest spa treatments, and then dinner overlooking the magnificent forest vistas, listening to the music of the forest nightlife.
Day 17: Daintree - Whitsunday Islands
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive south to Airlie Beach and take a private boat charter to the legendary Hamilton Island Resort. A range of activities are available for all tastes including water sports, hiking, art classes and plenty of beach time! A must is cocktails at sunset.
Day 18: Whitsunday Islands
Hamilton Islands Resort enjoying activities for all tastes! Dinner listening to some South Pacific Island music.
Day 19: Whitsunday Islands - Rockhampton
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive south to Rockhampton on the Capricorn Coast. Rockhampton is beef capital of Australia and home to some of the best beef steaks the country has to offer. A walking tour of Historic Rockhampton will work up an appetite for dinner (prime beef steaks recommended!) followed by a performance at Rockhampton's historic theatre
Day 20: Rockhampton - Noosa
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive south to Noosa. Your hotel is right on the beach and you can choose to spend a lazy afternoon on the beach watching the surfers (or learning to surf yourself) or pamper yourself with a luxury spa treatment. Dinner with the sand in your toes at a beach BBQ!
Day 21: Noosa - Brisbane
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to Brisbane stopping on the way at the Bundaberg Rum Factory for lunch. Music and art in the afternoon in Brisbane's museums and galleries followed by dinner and a night at the opera or theatre, depending on season.
Day 22: Brisbane
A visit to the world famous Australia Zoo, made famous by the late, great Steve Irwin. Lunch and some shopping time in Brisbane followed by an evening sports event (Queenslanders love their sport!) with dinner and drinks in a private viewing box at the stadium.
Day 23: Brisbane - Hunter Valley
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to the Hunter Valley in NSW. An afternoon wine tasting will be followed by dinner and opera or recital in the vineyards, depending on the season.
Day 24: Hunter Valley
An early start to take a hot air balloon ride at dawn over the vineyards. A champagne breakfast will be waiting for you when you land followed by a relaxing day in the vineyards including a cooking demonstration, wine tasting, art galleries and recitals.
Day 25: Hunter Valley - Sydney
After a leisurely breakfast the tour group will drive to Sydney, NSW where lunch will be taken on the harbour side. For the brave, a Sydney Harbour Bridge climb (not for the faint hearted). Dinner and opera, again enjoying the Bravissimo private suite for hospitality.
Day 26: Sydney
Art galleries and museums, interspersed with lunch at the top of Sydney Tower for a panoramic view of the city. Dinner and a final opera.
Day 27: Sydney
An interesting private tour behind the scenes at Sydney Opera House will reveal how they make it all happen! Lunch followed by some last minute duty free and souvenir shopping. Bravissimo will host a farewell dinner, prize giving for the opera and culture quiz, and a final recital from our young opera stars.
Day 28: Fly Home
Transfer to the first class lounge at Sydney Airport for your flight back home. On landing you are met by a by private limousine to transfer you back to your home, after what has been a trip of a lifetime!
Exclusive Escorted Tour price includes:
- All Accommodation: 5 Star Accommodation (no compromises!) and all tips included (but please feel free to tip additionally for outstanding service at your own discretion)
- All Food and Drink: Finest quality a-la-carte dining with unlimited vintage wines, champagne, liqueurs and of course as many 'coldies' as you like!
- Executive Transport (hospitality coach) with unlimited on-board food and drink service in luxurious first class comfort
- The professional services of dedicated English speaking staff who travel with you are on hand to serve your every need for your entire holiday. Young talented opera stars also accompany the tour and provide professional insight and entertainment while you travel
- Opera, Theatre and Show Tickets: best seating positions with complimentary interval drinks, programs and refreshments
- Personalized behind-the-scenes Opera House and Theatre tours
- A meeting with the stars after each opera and theatre performance
- A selection of books, synopsis, DVDs and CDs before you depart to help increase your enjoyment and appreciation of this outstanding country
- Recitals from up and coming opera stars during selected meals and private classical music performances
- An intriguing opera and culture quiz and the chance to win some outstanding prizes
- Visits to world class art galleries and exhibitions with professional guides. Bravissimo tickets enable you to by pass lengthy queues
- A hot air balloon ride over the Australian outback and vineyards with a champagne reception breakfast
- Guided tours around private estates enjoying vineyards and a chance to sample fresh produce
- Al fresco dining with some of Australia's top chefs and personalized cooking courses
- Dinners and recitals in selected museums
- Complimentary Golf can be arranged as requested at Greg Norman designed courses
- Travel insurance to cover Trip Cancellation / Interruption, Emergency Medical including Evacuation / Repatriation, Baggage & Baggage Delay, Trip Delay / Missed Connection, Travel Assistance & Concierge Services, $1M flight accident protection
Price: AUD$ 34,650 or USD$ 27,260 per person (excluding flights)
Book before June 30th 2007 and receive a 10% discount!
Please note:
This is a sample itinerary only. There may be minor changes to fit in with opera festival performances and train timetables.
Bravissimo's Exclusive Escorted Opera Tours will begin in 2008 to coincide with Sydney Opera House seasons; January - March and June - November
