Silver Haired Gappies
Australia/
New Zealand
Sydney Australia
Stay
Perfect position in Sydney Harbour, with unparalleled views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Provides generous sized suites and rooms - the Horizon Club is a must!
Stay
Coveted situation with stunning views of Harbour Bridge - excellent for New Year Eve Fireworks! 5 star apartment hotel, well equipped home to relax in after lengthy travel throughout the country.
For the next visit:
The Fullerton Hotel
The Langham Hotel
Visit
Wonderful cosmopolitan historic city. Enjoy the harbour life, beaches, bays and national parks. Listed below are some of the more popular sites:
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The Rocks
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Opera House
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Harbour Bridge - Climb the Bridge!
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Royal Botanical Gardens
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Queen Victoria Building
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Vaucluse House
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St Mary's Catholic Cathedral
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Manly & Bondi Beach
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Darling Harbour
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Pittwater remote bays & beaches
Eat
Food and wine in this city is sensational with celebrated cuisine from all corners of the globe.
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The 3 recommended below are all distinctly diverse from each other:
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Firedoor - fantastic food cooked on wood in open plan kitchen
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Doyles on the Beach - Watson's Bay - situated at original 1885 site - sensational seafood.
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The Gantry - Pier One Sydney - chic harbour side restaurant - celebrating a range of Australian ingredients.​
Great Barrier Reef Australia
World renown resort positioned on the Great Barrier Reef, accessed in small plane from Cairns flying over 200km of the reef.
Offering seclusion in this unique area of natural beauty, the reef can be explored, taking utmost care, using the lodge's small motor dinghies.
Resort Facilities
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Island walks and nature trails, climb Cook's Look
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Picnic hampers on a private beach
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Tennis (day and night)
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Gymnasium
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Stand up paddle boards
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Snorkelling equipment and lessons
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Motorised dinghies
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Glass bottom boat trips.
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Research Station tours
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Diving and snorkelling trips to the Local, Inner or Outer Reef
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Dive Tuition (limited)
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Deep Sea Fishing
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Spa
*visited pre children
The most northerlies of the Whitsunday Islands, with private charter from Hamilton Island.
Resort facilities:
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Beach front activities: hobie cats, pedalboards, kayaks in the most scenic environment.
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Recreational sports centre
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Kids Club
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Hike around the island
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Daily activities & gym
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Two iconic swimming pools
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Spa
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Further afield:
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Hire boat to travel around the Whitsundays and snorkel wherever your like
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Scuba Dive
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Hire a sea plane to visit the Outer Reef flying over Bait Reef, Hardy Reef and Heart Reef. Snorkel in Hardy Lagoon
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Deep Sea Fishing
*visited with children
Sydney: be sure to include a 4 or 5 night stay when visiting this cosmopolitan city.
Great Barrier Reef: one of life's greatest privileges is to swim amongst coral and fish, and to do this on the Great Barrier Reef is beyond all dreams.
Sydney: the food, the people, the buzz and the fabulous harbour.
Great Barrier Reef: both hotels are fantastic and offer doorstep snorkelling - Lizard Island is uniquely spectacular and beautifully remote and unspoilt, but does not allow young children, Hayman Island is perfect for large family groups with all the facilities and the ability to explore remoter parts of the Reef.
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St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney;
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St. Patrick's Church, Sydney;
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Hayman Island Anglican Chapel on Christmas Day
13 Day Flying Tour New Zealand
Day 1 & 2 Auckland
Stay
Well situated hotel with rooftop pool and spa close to museums, galleries, restaurants and shops.
Visit
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Auckland War Memorial Museum
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Sky Tower for panoramic views and opportunity to skydive!
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Cruise through Mahurangi Harbour eating oysters on the Shuckleferry.
For those staying longer explore the local islands:
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Waiheke Island - the island of wine
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Great Barrier Island for an evening of incredible star gazing
Day 3 & 4 Bay of Islands
Stay
Idyllic, world renown homely lodge nestled within the native bush, with outstanding views over the Bay of Islands. Perfect place to relax and take in the scenery or dip in the infinity pool.
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Travel
Fly Auckland to Kerikeri Airport
​Visit
Roundtrip flight from Paihia to Cape Reinga flying over Ninety Mile Beach. Stop at Cape Reinga before returning via Great Exhibition Bay and Parengarenga Harbour .
Day 5 & 6 Rotorua
Stay
Fabulous position on Kawaha Point for visiting Rotorua and the surrounding area. Lovely grounds for helicopter to collect us (see below).
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Travel
Fly Kerikeri/Auckland/Rotorua
Visit
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Te Puia's world famous geothermal Valley
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Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (Rotorua Museum)​
Further Afield
Helicopter tour collected from the garden to fly over Hell's Bay, Mount Tarawera and land on the volcano on White Island
Day 7 & 8 Wellington
Stay 298 Oriental Parade
Previously the Japanese Embassy, the house was built in the style of a Parisian townhouse - excellent B&B, sadly now a private house.
Travel
Fly Rotorua to Wellington
Visit
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Wellington Cable Car
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Botanic Garden
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Old St Paul's
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Museum of New Zealand
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St Gerard's Catholic Church & Monastery
Day 9/10/11 Queenstown
Stay
Beautifully decorated with french interiors, situated in the heart of Queenstown's dining and entertainment precinct making it the perfect base to explore central Queenstown.
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Visit
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TSS Earnslaw Steamship Cruise from Queenstown
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Queenstown Gardens
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Visit a Vineyard - 75 lie within 20 minutes of Queenstown
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Milford Sound Flight
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Jet Boat Shotover River Ride
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Enjoy a series of adrenaline fuelled activities: jet boating, bungy jumping, white water rafting, skydiving. ​
Day 12 Christchurch
Stay Huntley House
Built in 1876, this traditional colonial style boutique hotel offers a range of comfortable rooms/suites. Situated in peaceful suburb, sadly no longer operating
Visit
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Botanical Gardens
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Hagley park
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Visit the internationally renown North Canterbury wine region
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Head into the mountains crossing Arthur's Pass
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Canterbury Museum
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Christchurch Gondola
Day 13 Fly to Sydney, AUS
This country is beyond spectacular - be sure to choose the right time of year to avoid disappoint. The 'flying' tour was perfect to get an oversight of the beautiful islands, however am keen to return to explore some particular areas in greater depth. Was sorry to miss the Marlborough Plains.
Bay of Islands, Queenstown, trip to White Island
St Gerard's Catholic Church, Wellington
Private tour arranged with Trailfinders