For a limited time only, book a minimum five night stay on Lizard Island and receive complimentary return flights to Lizard Island from Cairns for two adults*.

Sale period: 01 May 2012 - 31 August 2012
Travel period: 01 June 2012 - 20 December 2012

*Conditions apply. Offer is available on all room types at contracted nightly rates and is subject to availability. Black out dates apply: 01 - 31 August 2012 and 20 - 27 October 2012. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer and is only applied to new bookings. 5 night minimum stay applies. Additional charges apply for extra adults. Complimentary flights apply only to regular scheduled flights. Private charter flights are not included. Please quote 'FREEFLIGHTS' at time of booking. Further conditions may apply.

Day 1 (D)
Arriving at Lizard Island in the afternoon, your luxurious food and wine escapade begins properly with this famous private island resort located on the Great Barrier Reef for three full nights. Gourmet meals, French champagne, premium Australian wines, non-motorized watersports and motorized dinghies are all part of the tariff here. One night, we’ve arranged for you to have a private dining experience on the beach with a seven-course degustation menu and matching wines, something not everyone gets to experience even at this five-star resort.
5-star Lizard Island Resort on the Great Barrier Reef

Days 2-3 (B,L,D)
These two days are at your leisure to with as you please. Spend some time getting over jet lag on one of Lizard Island’s 24 white sand beaches, cocktail in hand. Take a picnic lunch with champagne and a private dinghy to one of the more remote beaches for a private picnic with walkie talkies in case you need anything from the resort. We can arrange, at additional cost, sensational diving or snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, deep sea big game fishing (Black Marlin season from September to December), spa treatments, or sunset cruises. Your last night here would be a perfect one to take advantage of the included private beach dinner.
5-star Lizard Island Resort on the Great Barrier Reef

Day 4 (B)
Two scenic flights will bring you to Melbourne in southeastern Australia today, your home for the next four nights. Melbourne is the culinary capital of Australia and the country’s second-largest city, famous for its thriving foodie scene. Explore the laneways for out-of-the-way restaurants and famous dining spots alike. Venture into Victorian-style arcades for incredible shopping in chic boutiques.
4-star hotel in downtown Melbourne

Day 5 (L)
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel today for a private tour of Yarra Wine Valley, including a small-group cooking class at famed Bella Vedere Cucina. Just 45 minutes away, the Yarra Valley has 40 cellar doors and the ones you visit will be customized to suit your tastes. Combine the larger, well-known wineries with visits to our favorite boutique vineyards. Meet the people behind the scenes without competing with the crowds. Depending on your customized, private journey, you can learn how wine is crushed, fermented and bottled, and also have a lunch of spectacular local produce. You can even visit artisan producers of cheese to make for the perfect gourmet day out. Optional upgrade to private cooking class is available.
4-star hotel in downtown Melbourne

Day 6 (L)
Another day, another private food and wine tour. Today a chef will take you on a journey through the Mornington Peninsula, including morning tea, lunch, all food and wine tastings, all produce, and another cooking class, this time private! Depending on your interests (because again, this is a private customized tour) you can sample the region’s award-winning cool climate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, press olives for olive oil, meet cheese makers, pick berries, collect fresh seafood, go behind the scenes at a bakery, select hydroponic tomatoes learn about chocolate making, discover wetlands with abundant birdlife, and witness the wild ocean with breathtaking views. Use the produce you’ve collected in a private cooking class with intimate, hands-on methods then feast on your creative work. Alternatively, today you could go truffle hunting (in season).
4-star hotel in downtown Melbourne

Day 7
Today is at your leisure to explore the tastes and sights of Melbourne. Optional additional activities include truffle hunting (in season), walking tours of city sights, soaring through the air in a hot air balloon or scenic flight over the Twelve Apostles, tours of the Dandenong Ranges, drives on the scenic Great Ocean Road, or wildlife tours to sanctuaries where you can pet the koalas, feed the kangaroos, and watch little penguins come ashore to roost at night. Tonight, you can dine on fresh produce with or without a guide in the Melbourne city center, with dozens of restaurants at your hotel’s doorstep.
4-star hotel in downtown Melbourne

Day 8
A short flight today gets you to Adelaide, home of incredible wildlife, unique Outback experiences, and of course, Australia’s most famous wineries in the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, and 14 other distinct wine regions. This is Australia’s wine capital. Your accommodations will also delight the senses, as the hotel restaurant is home to world-famous chefs and at times you can get private cooking classes from them.
4-star hotel in downtown Adelaide

Day 9
One of our best mates will take you out on a private trip through the Barossa Valley today, helping you to meet the fascinating people and explore the best cellar doors of this famous region. Want to visit a boutique honey-maker? We’ll make sure it’s on the itinerary for today. Want to try some local Outback “feral food?” It’s better than you’d think. Farmer’s markets lend a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to the region. The highlight of the day may be a “Make Your Own Blend” class at Penfolds winery, followed by a lunch at acclaimed Appellation (own expense) crafted specially to go with your unique wine blend.
4-star hotel in downtown Adelaide

Day 10
Today is at your leisure to enjoy Adelaide, and to leave free time in case you’d like to arrange another cooking class... perhaps with the Hilton’s Executive Chef. Other optional additional activities include tours of downtown Adelaide with a foodie’s perspective, of the artistic Adelaide Hills, of the wind-swept Eyre Peninsula, of Kangaroo Island (the “Galapagos of Australia”), of the bushy Flinders Ranges Outback region, or of one of the other wine regions nearby Adelaide.
4-star hotel in downtown Adelaide

Day 11
Your driver will be waiting outside your hotel after check-out this morning to escort you to the airport for a flight to Sydney, your home for five nights. Home of a staggering number of excellent and varied restaurants, we’ll arrange dinner reservations for you each night that you’d like them. Sydney is iconic in every way -- the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the zoos and lively neighborhoods, Darling Harbour and its array of quirky dining establishments -- all of it is delightful and worth thorough exploration. Your luxury hotel (with a view of Darling Harbour) is perfectly situated to walk to all of these sights and restaurants, for exploring the historic Rocks district, and also for ferries to neighboring beaches to explore restaurants out of the main downtown area such as Iceberg’s at Bondi Beach or Doyle’s for humble fish and chips in Watson’s Bay.
5-star hotel in downtown Sydney

Day 12 (L)
Today you have a private yacht charter on gorgeous Sydney Harbour. The captain can tell you all the best sights in Sydney as you view them from the water. Of course, a gourmet lunch is included in this cruise -- usually sushi followed by sliced satay chicken with sweet chili sauce, avocado half stuffed with prawns & scallops on a bed of fresh spinach, drenched in homemade chili, mustard and tomato mayonnaise. Australian beers, wines, and soft drinks plus dessert are all included in today’s escapade. You’ll even have time for a dip in the water (weather permitting) between all the scenic photo opportunities and fine dining. The rest of the day is at leisure.
5-star hotel in downtown Sydney

Day 13 (L)
Hunter Valley, about 2 hours outside Sydney, is the third famous wine region on your itinerary.  A private guide and expert oenologist will take you behind the scenes at places like Iron Gate Estate (or your choice of several alternatives) with three to five different winery stops. Or you may prefer to do some cheese-tasting, chocolate shop visiting, or gum tree relaxing. Kangaroos hopping about, no food- and wine-lover’s trip to the Hunter Valley would be complete without lunch at famous Robert’s Restaurant (matching wines additional).
5-star hotel in downtown Sydney

Day 14
An early morning start will take you by private transfer to Sydney’s iconic Fish Markets. A guided group tour of the markets, including fishmongers for all the best restaurants bidding on the catch of the day, ends with a group cooking class in their state-of-the-art kitchen.  The rest of the day is at your leisure. Perhaps you’d like us to arrange a scenic flight to a restaurant on the northern shores of Sydney where you can step off a seaplane right to your table. Or perhaps you’d rather spend the day heading out to see wildlife. The choice is yours.
5-star hotel in downtown Sydney

Day 15 (D)
Today is yours at leisure to spend as busy as you like around cosmopolitan, beautiful Sydney. If you decide to do a BridgeClimb, be sure not to sip too much bevvy beforehand -- they breathalyze you before permitting you on the bridge! Save your energy for the evening, however, because you’ll have a guided tour of Sydney Opera House, followed by a three-course pre-show dinner at Aria Restaurant (beverages additional) and a performance of the opera, ballet, or theatre at the Sydney Opera House. Intermission drink -- also included. Order ahead of time to avoid the line at the bar!
5-star hotel in downtown Sydney

Day 16
Your private transfer awaits to take you to Sydney airport for the flight home. A few more cooking tricks up your sleeve and a few pounds heavier, you’ll head home satisfied and satiated... until it’s time to explore New Zealand’s food and wine regions... ah, there is always more to see!