Changes to Australia Itinerary August 2025

[Poohlie]

Just received an email about changes to our August 2025 itinerary. Any thoughts on these changes, good or bad? Thanks in advance!

“On Day 1, dinner will now be held at Salt House restaurant. We will no longer visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.

On Day 8, we will now visit the world-famous Bondi Beach for a private surf lesson and beachside lunch. We will no longer visit the Southern Highlands region, including the canoeing activity and alpaca farm visit.

In addition, while in Sydney, instead of staying at the Shangri-La, you will now stay at the Four Seasons Hotel. This includes any post-nights secured through Adventures by Disney.”

 

[abdgeek]

Just received an email about changes to our August 2025 itinerary. Any thoughts on these changes, good or bad? Thanks in advance!

“On Day 1, dinner will now be held at Salt House restaurant. We will no longer visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures.

On Day 8, we will now visit the world-famous Bondi Beach for a private surf lesson and beachside lunch. We will no longer visit the Southern Highlands region, including the canoeing activity and alpaca farm visit.

In addition, while in Sydney, instead of staying at the Shangri-La, you will now stay at the Four Seasons Hotel. This includes any post-nights secured through Adventures by Disney.”

I did ABD Australia pre-Covid when the itinerary was Cairns, Uluru, Hobart, Tasmania, and Sydney. After Covid ended, some of the previous places we visited had closed or changed procedures for visiting certain sites. I also think that was around the time they changed the itinerary to focus more on the Gold Coast cities. My thoughts are below:

• My tour did a dinner at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. I was not impressed. It was basically a zoo with crocodiles. We took a boat ride to see them and the workers showed us how they fed them. I believe that was where we were able to hold a snake and a baby crocodile and get our picture taken. The dinner was a buffet with a variety of food, including crocodile, for the more adventurous eaters. Since I was in Australia, I tried the crocodile. It was a little tough (could have been how it was cooked—they were grilling the meats) and tastes close enough to chicken…IMO, you’re not missing anything.
• My tour also did the private surf lesson on Bondi Beach. It was one of my bucket list items, so I was super excited. I went during December and we wore wetsuits to surf. The company we surfed with was in a small store across from the beach. They had a couple of changing rooms with curtains where you changed into your wetsuit and then walked across the street to surf. We were divided into groups and each surf instructor had a specific number of people— I think it was 5-7. They taught us the basics on the sand and then we paddled to them. They will then tell you when to go and will push you as the wave goes by. The rest is up to you. This was my first surf lesson and I had a ball! I wasn’t able to stand up, but was able to get to my knees. The guides did a great job of getting pictures of everyone when it was their turn. I believe lunch was at the beach club or restaurant across the street afterwards. I hope you enjoy this activity as much as I did.
• It looks like they’ve changed the hotel to one that overlooks the harbor. IMO, that’s where you want to be. I would be very shocked if you were displeased with the change. When I did the ABD, we stayed at a hotel in the city that was close to a mall. I wish I could remember what it was. I stayed in Sydney after the tour ended until New Year’s and moved to a hotel that overlooked the harbor so that I was closer to the things I wanted to do.

 

[zanzibar138]

In addition, while in Sydney, instead of staying at the Shangri-La, you will now stay at the Four Seasons Hotel. This includes any post-nights secured through Adventures by Disney.”

Aussie here. I regularly visit Sydney for work in this area, and am familiar with both hotels from both an accommodation and events perspective.

I would consider this an improvement. Both hotels are lovely, but the Shangri-La is in kind of an isolated location at the top of a rather steep hill. It's a hassle to walk up and down the hill every time you want to go somewhere. I actually request NOT to stay at the Shangri-La whenever I am going to Sydney. The Four Seasons is very convenient to the Circular Quay area (including the train station) and The Rocks, with plenty of dining and sightseeing options, plus the ferries and train station if you wanted to do any further exploring.

 

[Poohlie]

Thank you both for your helpful replies!

 

[Jason Martin]

Going on this trip leaving the US a week from Thursday will let you know my thoughts on the old. Personally I'm not athletic enough to handle the surfing so from that standpoint I'd prefer the old itinerary. They cut out Hartleys on ours but we are doing on our own maybe for the koala experience. Can't see a scenario where a Four Seasons would be a disappointing change.

 

[Poohlie]

Going on this trip leaving the US a week from Thursday will let you know my thoughts on the old. Personally I'm not athletic enough to handle the surfing so from that standpoint I'd prefer the old itinerary. They cut out Hartleys on ours but we are doing on our own maybe for the koala experience. Can't see a scenario where a Four Seasons would be a disappointing change.

Thank you!

 

[Eastridge]

I'm not aware of another ABD trip that includes surf lessons.

Few ABD trips stay at a Four Seasons hotel. I've stayed at the Four Seasons in Sydney and it is very nice and at a great location.

 

[Poohlie]

I'm not aware of another ABD trip that includes surf lessons.

Few ABD trips stay at a Four Seasons hotel. I've stayed at the Four Seasons in Sydney and it is very nice and at a great location.

Good points - thank you!