I’m off again. Next week I take off on my third Amazing Aussie Adventure with Travel2. You will be able to follow my adventures on my social media accounts. All you need to do is search the following hashtags: #amazingaussieadventure, #myhappyplace, #Australia, and #returntoyourhappyplace.
Like last year, about 60 top agents from across the U.S. have been chosen to head Down Under to meet suppliers and experience the wonders the country has to offer. I am back in Queensland this year and will be going up to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane to Cairns with stops on Fraser Island and the Whitsundays.
My adventure begins on Wednesday, August 24th, as I make my way from Memphis to LA to catch my overnight flight on Qantas. (I love Qantas!) We will arrive in Brisbane Friday, August 26th, and be off and running. Friday begins day one, crikey!
Day 1-Our first stop– Australia Zoo. It is the home of the “Crocodile Hunter.” We will have a quick breakfast, followed by a morning of activities. There will probably be another koala cuddle for me, and, of course, I will need to check out the saltwater crocs. After a morning of zoo fun, we will be off to Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to visit Flame Hill Vineyard. What’s better than a wine tasting at midday? By late afternoon, we will head to the Sebel Resort Noosa for a little R&R shopping. We will also enjoy bathing on the beach or laying by the pool before dinner that evening at Bistro C looking over Noosa’s Laguna Bay.
Day 2-We will rise early for a morning run/walk through Noosa National Park, followed by a healthy breakfast at Season Restaurant. After breakfast, we hit the road and travel to Hervey Bay to board the ferry to Fraser Island, where we will check into the Kingfisher Bay Resort. The afternoon will be spent doing a resort inspection and trying out the many available activities to guests. The day will end with a pleasant dinner at Seabelle Restaurant.
Day 3-We will savor breakfast at leisure before we depart for a full day of Beauty Spots Tour. We will visit the top natural attractions and cool off in fresh watering holes on this beautiful day off-roading. We’ll have lunch on the road and have the opportunity to discover:
Gorgeous Lake McKenzie
Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek
Pile Valley’s stunning Satinay and Brush Box Forests
The Maheno shipwreck and the colored sands of The Pinnacles
The temperate, fresh waters of Eli Creek
The mighty Stonetool Sand Blow
The day will end with a quick shower before dining at Meheno Restaurant and taking the ferry back to spend the night at Mantra Hervey Bay.
Day 4-There will be an early sunrise departure from the hotel for a flight to Hamilton Island. Once at Hamilton Island, we will be staying at the Qualia. We will grab our golf buggies and head to the marina for lunch before our hotel inspections via Hamilton Island Treasure Hunt. The evening will be filled with food and wine as we begin with cocktails at One Tree Hill, followed by dinner at Long Pavilion overlooking the sparkling Coral Sea. This is only for guests of Qualia.
Day 5-We will start the day with a sunrise walk, followed by yoga before diving into a healthy breakfast. After breakfast, we are off to the sea and sand, spending a day seeing Whitehaven beach via yacht and helicopter. I will be taking a flight over to see the famed Heart Reef. After a full day of sun, there will be dinner at Marina Tavern back on Hamilton Island.
Day 6-We will grab one last breakfast at Qualia before catching our flight to Cairns. Cairns is the gateway to Queensland’s tropical north. We will spend three nights here at the Pacific Hotel Cairns, conveniently located near the Esplanade, Markets, and Reef Casino. We will have the afternoon free to visit those wonderful places before meeting for dinner at Wharf ONE Café at Trinity Warf. After dinner, we will enjoy a peaceful evening.
Day 7-We will start the morning with some yoga on the Esplanade before assembling our Trade Training Day. This is a full day to meet with fifty of my Aussie and Kiwi partners to get all the latest updates. The day will close with a little free time before our Beach Party on Green Island. The evening will be great for networking and enjoying Cairns.
Day 8-There will be breakfast, followed by a play day. My playtime will be spent out on the Great Barrier Reef with a day of sun and snorkeling. After a full day on the reef, we will return to the Bushfire Flame Grill Restaurant for a Brazilian Churrascaria a la Australian dinner.
Day 9-We will head to the airport for breakfast included on the flight to Sydney. Upon arrival, we will check into the Holiday Inn Old Sydney. The morning will be free time to shop at the Rock Markets before our Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. The climb takes about three and a half hours and is suitable for most fitness levels. After our climb, we will clean up to head for dinner aboard Captain Cook Cruises for their food and dancing trip. After a three hour sail around the harbor, we will return with some time to explore the famous old pubs on our short walk back to the hotel.
Day 10-There will be many sad faces as our adventure will come to an end, and it will be time to catch our flight back to the U.S. I will look forward to making another trip to my happy place but until next time, Australia. Xoxoxo.
**Any activities that I participate in on my travels can be worked into your own itinerary. Call for a complimentary planning session to begin customizing your own #amazingaussieadventure.**
Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.
She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds. Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind. She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember. With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.