ABD Australia - Leaving Today!

[MNSusan]

At long last, its here! We leave this afternoon (9/1) and will arrive in Cairns on Friday (9/3). We'll completely miss 9/2!

Anyone out there traveling with us??

We added one day before (Cairns) and two days after (Sydney) the ABD tour. We're doing the Kuranda Train and Skyrail on Saturday, and are thinking about a tour to the Blue Mountains and perhaps skydiving (!) from Sydney at the end of the trip.

Can't wait!

 

[sayhello]

Have an absolutely magnificent trip!!! Losing an entire day? How strange! I assume you get it back on your way home?

Be sure & come back & tell us all about your trip!

Sayhello

 

[2RGR8]

I can't wait to hear about your trip!!! We are going over Christmas and can hardly wait!!!

 

[*ThinkTink*]

Lucky you, have fun!

 

[MNSusan]

We're back and had a wonderful time! This was an adults only trip and there were 25 in our group, ranging in age from 26 to 73. Our guides were Heidi and Christy and they were terrific.

We were amazed at how well organized and well paced the trip was, the experiences we had were VIP all the way, the hotels and meals were top notch. We saw three completely different areas of the country, the rainforest, the Outback and Sydney. We threw boomerangs with Aborigines, snorkled the Great Barrier Reef w a marine biologist, had dinner in a revolving restaurant high over Sydney. Everyday had great activities but there was enough down time too.

I'd be happy to answer questions.

 

[sayhello]

Welcome back! Glad you had such a great time. This trip is definitely on my bucket list!

I don't have any questions yet, except: Are you going to do a Trip Report? Do you have photos? I love to read people's reports!

Sayhello

 

[tufbuf]

Hey, MNSusan! Glad you had a great time!! We had Heidi in our Viva Italia trips and she is simply excellent! She can even pass for a Disney princess! She is so poised.

Anyway, on the Great Barrier Reef snorkel, did they mention when the box jellyfish season is? I would love to snorkel that reef one day but I'm kinda skittish about their box jellyfish issue.

 

[MNSusan]

Yes, Heidi *could* pass for a princess - we just loved her! She was such a good sport. The first day, she clapped her hands to get our attention, "Adventurers!" Every day after that, she would clap her hands and add a silly gesture for the day. By the end of the trip, she would clap her hands, dance in a circle, shiver, puff her cheeks like a fish, strut like an emu, etc. We were all laughing and cheering her on every day!

The box jellyfish season starts in Oct or Nov, I believe. But everyone is required to wear the lovely lycra jelly suits regardless of the time of year. You go in the water, you wear the suit. They cover everything - from head to toe, even fingers - some of the funniest photos are of the group all in our jelly suits. The water was warm - low 80s - in early Sept. They take you out to Low Isles which is about a 45 minute ride by catamaran, and a marine biologist was with us at all times. They were very concerned with our safety, made us wear shoes on the low tide reef walk, etc. We found Nemo! and Marlin, Crush, Squirt and all their friends. We probably saw 12 sea turtles while snorkeling.

I wasn't planning on doing a formal trip report, but would be happy to tell you about our trip. What would you like to know?

 

[tufbuf]

Thank you so much for a wonderful response!!! Australia is in our to-do list among the ABD trips but we're finishing off Europe and Africa first. I am just really curious about the snorkelling bit since I know about the box jellyfish and it would be a shame to be by the Great Barrier Reef and not get in the water because of that. Hey, I'll take the lycra suit any time! I easily feel cold too so that will help... but the water in the 80s is perfect!!

Yes, I remember how Heidi would call everyone's attention by saying "Adventurers!" There were no actions with it though... Did she mention to you about her awful experience in China during the H1N1 scare? I hope we get her as our guide once again. Viva Italia was our very first ABD trip and she and Davide made it really special for all of us.

I think that's all I need to know. I don't want to know too much either but if you do post a trip report, I will surely check it out! Thanks again!!!

 

[MNSusan]

Yes, she did tell us about her China flu experience. How harrowing! I can't imagine being that sick that far away from home.

I believe she said she was doing two Italy trips in July next summer. I hope she guides your trip.

 

[2GirlsMama]

It sounds wonderful. I hope you will post more!

Our family didn't get to meet Heidi in China, but we had the same H1N1 experience she had. She sounds like a great guide. We have been on two ABD trips, and had four wonderful guides. Maybe someday we will get to meet Heidi and share China H1N1 stories with her!

 

[2RGR8]

We've been back from Australia for 3 days now and I think my body clock is finally back to normal!!! The ABD Australia trip was just wonderful! Our guides, Geraldine and Tiffany were terrific and the other 8 families on this trip made it all the more better! We have made friendships that I am sure will last a life time! I don't know how to post pictures - if someone wants to give me the instructions I will be happy to post them. My daughter took over 4,000 in the two weeks we were gone. We stayed in Sydney for New Year's Eve - indescribable really.

Any specific questions I'd be happy to answer!

Leslie

 

[Bobo912]

We've been back from Australia for 3 days now and I think my body clock is finally back to normal!!! The ABD Australia trip was just wonderful! Our guides, Geraldine and Tiffany were terrific and the other 8 families on this trip made it all the more better! We have made friendships that I am sure will last a life time! I don't know how to post pictures - if someone wants to give me the instructions I will be happy to post them. My daughter took over 4,000 in the two weeks we were gone. We stayed in Sydney for New Year's Eve - indescribable really.

Any specific questions I'd be happy to answer!

Leslie

Welcome back! Glad you had a wonderful time. I've thought about this a winter break trip but was afraid it would be so hot we would melt. What were the temps like at Cairns and Uluru?

 

[sayhello]

Welcome back! I'm so glad to hear your trip was so great. I'm looking forward to hearing all the details to your trip!

When I get home this evening, I can send you a PM with instructions on posting pictures!

Sayhello

 

[beachcat]

Did anyone scuba dive on the tour?

 

[cmanuel]

Please give an update on your trip....we've thought about doing something like this and would really like to know how your experience was

 

[MNSusan]

Did anyone scuba dive on the tour?

There was a couple on our tour that scuba dived during the tour. They actually arrived in Cairns a couple of days early and spent them out on the Reef. Instead of going on the catamaran to Low Isles with us, they joined a scuba trip on another boat.