Travel packages to Australia?

[dans_la_lune]

My family wants to go to Australia for a few days vacation in July. Can someone recommend good travel agencies with nice packages, preferablly group tours? We don't like it freestyle. Thanks.

[EPL]

you are spoilt with choices these are quite reputable IMHO..

check them out :-
1. http://www.chanbrothers.com/index.cfm?i ... eaustralia

2. http://www.ctc.com.sg/group-tours-list.php?cid=8

3. http://www.dynastytravel.com/git-australia.html

4. http://www.satours.com/adventureaustralia/index.htm

5. http://www.newshan.com/package.asp

Enjoy

[dans_la_lune]

thanks a lot! I've called Chan Brothers but their agent was very rude and snoby. I'll see about the other ones.

[sierra2469alpha]

Try intrepidtravel.com.au - used them overseas, but not sure how good they are back in the motherland (Australia).

Can your folks speak English? That would make it easier to make additional recommondations.

Cheers/P & C

[dans_la_lune]

Can you suggest some good places to visit in Australia around this time of the year? I understand it's rather cool over there right now, so would Syney or the Golden Coast be better?

[sierra2469alpha]

Sure well again it depends on where they are coming from and how long they wis to spend in AUS.

So, a couple of ideas to help your folks....

Say 1 week in AUS?

Lets start with Sydney

1. Sydney - Blue Mountains, lovely this time of year, cold (but it's all relative!)
2. Southern Highlands - cold, but lovely
3. Back to Sydney with a bit of beach culture - the water is warmer this time of year than the outside air temperature!

So you're getting about 20-24 degrees C in SYD

Melbourne:

Cold, cold - 13-18 degrees C on a good day. Melbourne is known for 4 seasons in a day.

1. City tour - slack, touristy, but a good way of getting around
2. Restaurants - MY fave part that I miss about MEL - GREAT GREAT restaurants. Any websearch will pull up the best. We have some faves, but they are SECRET !!!! PM me for those!
3. The Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley - if they like wine get them a winery tour.

Adelaide: City of churches, blessed birthplace of my good lady wife...
1. Churches
2. Restaurants - look for the Adelaide Guise
3. Wineries - lots of nice day or two day trips down to Clare Valley, the Baraossa, etc.
3. Don't go to beaches in Adelaide. While they exist, they are, honestly, crap.

Perth: Nice short hop down from here in SIN
1. Beaches - great beaches if you don't mind sharks.
2. Maragaret River - great reataurants and vineyards
3. Western Australia is a HUGE state - so be prepared for long travel if you want to go to say the Kimberley - which is a 5-6 day DRIVE!

Let me know if you need any further info.

Cheers/P