*** NOTE: If you're interested in riding in a university van to the airport from Campus, let Dr. Keeling know by email.
Departure from Nashville at 4 pm on American Airlines Flight 1307, non-stop to Los Angeles; flying time 4.5 hours
Arrive Los Angeles Airport at 6:05 pm PDT. Transfer from Terminal 4 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
Check in with Qantas Airlines. QF12 departs Los Angeles at 10:30pm; flying time 15 hours [dinner and breakfast served].
Day 2 -- Thursday July 11 -- Cross the International Date Line.
Day 3 -- Friday July 12 -- Arrive at Sydney International Airport, 6:12 am local time (+15 hours from CDT)
Transfer from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal after clearing customs and immigration
Depart Sydney Domestic Terminal at 08:55am on Qantas flight 710; arrive in Cairns at 12 noon; flying time 3 hours
Pick up rental vans and proceed to our hotel, the Plaza Palms Resort, 7-27 McLachlan Street, Cairns (Phone from US: 011-61-7-4053-7555)
Day 4 -- Saturday July 13 -- Rest day. Recover from the transpacific flight.
Day 5 -- Sunday July 14 -- Full-day field trip to Eubenangee Swamp National Park and the Innisfail Coast.
Day 6 -- Monday July 15 -- Full-day snorkeling cruise to the Outer Great Barrier Reef on the M.V. Poseidon [Lunch included]. Scuba Diving is also available.
Day 7 -- Tuesday July 16 -- Full-day field trip to Kuranda by train, the Skyrail rainforest trip, and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center [Lunch included].
Day 8 -- Wednesday July 17 -- Full-day field trip to the Atherton Tablelands.
Day 9 -- Thursday July 18 -- Full-day field trip to the Daintree River, Cape Tribulation, and the Rainforest.
Day 10 -- Friday July 19 -- Free Day - No activities planned.
Day 11 -- Saturday July 20 -- Morning Free. Transfer to Cairns Airport by bus at 3:30 pm.
Fly to Darwin, Northern Territory, from Cairns on Qantas flight QF 800, arriving in Darwin at 7:35 pm (Darwin is 0.5 hours behind Cairns).
Transfer from Darwin Airport to Banyan View Lodge in Darwin by private bus. Free evening for dinner in Darwin
Day 12 -- Sunday July 21 -- Darwin City Tour, Window on the Wetlands, Fogg Dam, Mary River Park, Mumukala Billabong, and Kakaku Lodge (Jabiru). Camp overnight at Kakadu Lodge.
Day 13 -- Monday July 22 -- Cruise the East Alligator River, visit Ubirr Rock and the aboriginal rockart sites. Camp overnight at Kakadu Lodge.
Day 14 -- Tuesday July 23 -- Visit Bowali Information Center, Nourlangie Rock, Warradjan Cultural Center, and Gunlom Falls. Bush camp tonight at Gunlom Falls (featured in the Crocodile Dundee movie!).
Day 15 -- Wednesday July 24 -- Drive from Gunlom Falls to Katherine (about 200 miles). Visit Edith Falls and the thermal pools at Mataranka. Camping at the Springvale Homestead Tourist Park.
Day 16 -- Thursday July 25 -- Visit Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, and then half-day Canoe Field Trip in Mitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge). Camping at the Springvale Homestead Tourist Park.
Day 17 -- Friday July 26 -- Drive from Katherine to Darwin, via Litchfield National Park, visit Florence Falls, Wangi Falls, and Tolmer Falls. Return to Darwin around 6pm. Dinner in Darwin City. Bus transfer to Darwin Airport at 11:30 pm.
Day 18 -- Saturday July 27 -- Fly from Darwin to Sydney on Qantas flight QF829. Depart Darwin at 1:35 am. Flight time is 4.5 hours.
Arrive in Sydney Domestic Terminal at 06:20 am. Transfer to the Crest Hotel, Kings Cross, Sydney, by private bus. Rest of the day free.
Day 19 -- Sunday July 28 -- Sydney City Tour on foot, by rail, and by monorail, including Darling Harbor and the Opera House.
Day 20 -- Monday July 29 -- Day trip by XPT Rail to Canberra, the federal capital of Australia. Depart hotel at 6 am, return by 10 pm.
Day 21 -- Tuesday July 30 -- Suburban Train to Katoomba and the Blue Mountains, visit the Three Sisters, and hike in the Blue Mountains National Park.
Day 22 -- Wednesday July 31 -- Full-day excursion around the Sydney suburban region, including beaches, and the Royal National Park. Evening tour of major music centers of Sydney.
Day 23 -- Thursday August 1 -- Full-day excursion to Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains.
Day 24 -- Friday August 2 -- Full-day excursion to the Hunter Valley Vineyards Region.
Day 25 -- Saturday August 3 -- Free Day in Sydney.
Day 26 -- Sunday August 4 -- Transfer from Hotel to Sydney International Terminal at 7:45 am by private bus.
Check in at Qantas Terminal. Depart Sydney on QF 107 at 10:40 am. Cross the International Dateline and gain a day. Flight time is 14.5 hours
Arrive at the Los Angeles international Terminal at 07:10 am. Clear customs and immigration and transfer to American Airlines Terminal 4.
Depart LAX on American Airlines AA 1974 at 09:00 am and arrive in Nashville at 3:06 pm CDT.
Tour officially ends at Nashville Airport!
