14-nights Australia (7-nights in Melbourne and 7 Nights cruising the Murray River).
Your first vacation begins with a 7-night stay in Melbourne, staying at the luxurious Sebel hotel, an oasis of sophistication in one of Australia’s most exciting cities. located in the heart of Melbourne’s fashion district and only a couple of hundred metres from public transport.
Melbourne
Victoria’s capital, Melbourne is continuously voted year after year as one of the world’s most livable city’s. Its multicultural and cosmopolitan atmosphere is set amongst Victorian-era buildings and magnificent parkland. There are many festivals throughout the year devoted to comedy, food and wine, beer, theatre, dance, film and art, such as the festival Midsumma in January, luminous White Night festival in February, Fashion Festival in March, Comedy Festival in April, Good Beer Week in May, Jazz Festival in June, Open House Melbourne in July, Film Festival in August, Melbourne Fringe in September or Melbourne Festival in October.
Phillip Island and Moonlit Sanctuary
You can take an all tour for just over a $100 per person, which included dinner to Phillip island and visit the award-winning wildlife sanctuary, home to a lot of rare and endangered Australian animals and birds. There several species of kangaroos and wallabies, perfect for that holiday photo. Visit the town of Cowes for dinner, then off to the Nobbies, a natural reserve at the end of the island. There is a fur seal colony offshore, and if you are lucky you may be able to see baby penguins during the nesting season. Finally, it’s off to the Penguin Parade to watch the smallest and the cutest penguins in the world (Eudyptula minor) come waddling back home to their nests, a truly memorable experience, guaranteed to last for a lifetime.
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Home to thousands of mesmorising marine life, you will spend hours exploring 11 themed zones, ranging from shark spotting at Shipwreck Explorer, home to Grey Nurse, Black Top and White Tip Sharks, King and Gentoo Penguins, second only in size to the Emperor species, two spectacular viewing levels, come face-to-face with Pinjarra, one of Australia’s largest saltwater crocodiles, Lungfish, the only species of freshwater fish that can breathe air and it does so with its lung, Sawfish, Eagle and Giant Smooth Rays, Sea Horse and Cottle Fish, Starfish and an abundance of Ocean and Reef fish. Admission is around $20 for an adult and around $15 for a child.
Puffin Billy Steam Train Ride and Wine
Your day begins with a drive through lovely Ferntree Gully to the Dandenong Ranges and Grants Reserve. En route visit beautiful Sherbrooke Forest, home to lyrebirds, Crimson Rosellas, cockatoos and kookaburras. You will enjoy the picturesque mountain villages dotted along the way and the spectacular views of Melbourne's skyline. Get to try delicious homemade Devonshire Tea, warm scones with jam and cream and tea or coffee. A ride the Puffing Billy Steam Train for a memorable journey on Australia's most notable narrow-gauge railway and a journey into the prosperous heart of picturesque wine country the Yarra Valley and enjoy your lunch break at a local winery. Tantalize your taste buds at another winery where you may sample and buy a selection of quality local wines. Cost is around $120 for an adult and $60 for children.
Wine and Wildlife Tour
Healesville Sanctuary, De Bortoli Winery and The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery have created the perfect Yarra Valley day out. Your wine and wildlife package begins at Healesville Sanctuary where a personal guide will meet you and take you on an interactive and information tour of Australia’s unique and endangered wildlife. From Healesville Sanctuary a leisurely drive through Yarra valley will bring you to De Bortoli Winery. Enjoy the warm hospitality of this family owned winery, savouring a two-course lunch. Following your lunch spend some time tasting cool climate wines at the cellar door. Complete your day and indulge your love of chocolate with a short 5-minute drive to The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery where you will receive 10% off chocolate purchases. You will be welcomed by abundant free chocolate tastings in the colourful showroom, watch talented European chocolatiers handcraft over 150 different varieties of chocolates from exquisite coated chocolate creations, decadent truffles, a unique Australian Valley Bush Tucker range and even 1 metre long chocolate bars for the kids! This self-drive package is perfect for a day-trip to the Yarra Valley. The self-drive package includes, admission to Healesville Sanctuary, Personalised guided tour of the Sanctuary, wine tasting at the cellar door, with the opportunity to buy/order wines, two-course lunch at De Bortoli Restaurant and Free tastings and 10% off chocolate products at the Yarra Valley Chocolatarie and Ice Creamery. The tour costs around $60 for an adult and $30 for children.
Murray River Cruise
Your second vacation on this amazing voyage is on the Mighty Murray River.
If you love the idea of having a pleasure boat all to yourself and your loved ones, or close friends, then this is a voyage you will surely love. An amazing, blissful 7-nights journey onboard a luxury 5* houseboat on the mighty Murray River in Australia, one of the world’s longest navigable water arteries. Stretching 2,700 km from the mountains of the Great Dividing Range in north-eastern Victoria to near Adelaide, it turns into a meandering river lined with magnificent forests of red gum, supporting over 350 varieties of birds, as well as many species of mammals, reptiles and fish. All you need to operate a houseboat is a current drivers license and a quick course, which is given when you first arrive. After that, you'll be ready for the ultimate river experience.
You will be immersed in the natural beauty. living it up as relax in your own personal rooftop spa, sipping a glass of champagne, while watching the breathtaking sunset as hundreds of birds prepare to nest for the night is a truly special experience. Your ultimate river voyage begins at Echuca, an excellent starting point on the Murray, approximately 2.5hrs drive from Melbourne. As you navigate the river, you may wish to try your hand at fishing.
On this stretch of the river you will find European carp, Murray cod with some fish to 45 kg, redfin, Murray spiny crayfish, silver perch, and trench. Just remember freshwater catfish near Murrabit are protected and if you are planning some serious angling, you should ensure you apply for a license ahead of your visit. From the mooring point you can take a leisurely cruise and find amazing regional food at some of the restaurants nearby. Or once you have stocked up with all your groceries in preparation for your expedition, sail down the river to Torrumbarry Weir, an area renowned for fishing cod. The Weir is a magnificent setting to stop and cook up a great feast, as your mind begins to absorb the natural tranquil surroundings. That day-to-day city life you left behind, now begins to feel like a long distant memory. No rushing, no timetables, you travel at your own pace and choose where you want to stop, you are happy and relaxed in your environment. You will discover many secluded, undisturbed locations to stop and conjure up a barbeque, with all the equipment provided for on board your vessel. The ultimate luxury on the Murray houseboats are simply irresistible.
Your luxury boat occupancy up to 8 Persons
Bring along your extended family or close friends for this magical voyage as your luxurious boat has 4 king size 0zip apart) beds with the very best bed linen, each with its own en-suite bathroom with a full shower, vanity and toilet with high-quality towels, ensuring maximum privacy. A sensational kitchen equipped with the latest stainless-steel appliances, kitchen accessories and facilities including washer-dryer, 8-seater dining table and lounge, 8-seater spa, 5-burner BBQ, bar fridge, state-of-the-art TV. DVD, PlayStation and sound system.
As you traverse the region, you will delight in the activity and diversity along the way. Straw-necked and white ibis nest and feed in the marshes that spread onto the river’s floodplains, while kingfishers hunt nearby. Wedge-tailed eagles and the endangered black-eared miner birds are also found here. The mighty Murray is steeped in historical and cultural importance, for centuries Aboriginal communities have settled on its banks and in the mid-19th Century trade towns like Echuca became one of the most strategic inland ports of its day.
Your 2 vacations, 1 voyage will be one of the most memorable of all time, one which you will share with your loved ones and friends upon returning from this magnificent voyage, relaxed, refreshed and recharged, and to top it off, at an unbelievable and unbeatable price. GVC Grabs allow you to increase the amount of vacations on an annual basis, simply due to the cost of each being so low and the choices keep on increasing.Murray River - Australia
