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Lady Elliot Island [Dive05]

9 Days/7 Nights - Great Barrier Reef Island Dive Adventure

Travel to Australia to Dive one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This trip is perfect for the serious diver offering a generous combination of day & night dives across a wide range of different dive sites. Dive either right of the shore or by short boat ride to specific dive sites.

Island facilities will also well support the accompanying non diver with sensational snorkeling, relaxation and Marine Park educational activities - bring a book and soak up the Australian sunshine.

Travel Package Features

• Accommodation - Sydney (2 nights), Lady Elliot Island (4 nights) - Breakfast & Dinner, Brisbane (1 night)
• Diving Activities - 10 Dives including tanks, Air fills & Weight Belts (combination of Night & Day Dives)
• Non Diving Activities - Snorkel Equipment, Guided Reef & Nature Walks, Glass Bottom Boat or Boat Snorkel Trip (limit one per person), Use of Reef Education Centre
• Day Tours Sydney (Optional - not included) - Sydney Bridgeclimb, Explorer Bus Tour, Harbor Dinner Cruise
• International Flights Los Angeles to Sydney, Brisbane to Los Angeles Included.
• USA Domestic Air are not included (as per your own arrangements)
• Australian Domestic Air sectors: Sydney to Brisbane, Brisbane/Bundaberg (and return), Bundaberg/Lady Elliot (and return)
• Transfers - Sydney Airport to Accommodation (and return), Brisbane Airport to Accommodation (and return)
• Visa Issuance for entry into Australia.
• All Taxes & Fuel Levies

Travel Package Detailed Itinerary

(Day 1) (Fri) - USA Domestic Flight, Los Angeles to your Home City

Your Home City flight to Los Angeles will be selected to suit the International Departure Flight to Australia

Please allow 3 hours between arrival of your US domestic flight and departure of your International flight.

(Day 1) (Fri) - International flight Los Angeles to Sydney

After departing from Los Angeles, you will be provided with an evening meal, you can relax, have a drink, watch a movie and rest. You will be given Breakfast before landing in Sydney, Australia. (You lose one day crossing the International Date Line but don't worry you catch it up again on your return flight to the USA)

The Qantas Boeing 747-400 is equipped with the latest entertainment features of any Airline. The overnight flight to Australia can be a good opportunity for sleeping or to watch the latest movies after your evening meal.

(Day 2) (Sun) - Shuttle Transfer from Sydney Airport to Accommodation

Travel by shuttle from the Airport to your vacation accommodation in Sydney, Australia.

(Days 2 - 4) (Sun to Tues) 2 Nights Accommodation in Sydney

Travel to your accommodation in Sydney, Australia, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 2 nights.

Embrace Sydney's best location with this four star vacation accommodation ideally nestled in the heart of the city. Overlooking Wynyard Park you will enjoy this icon of time-honored tradition, warm hospitality and friendly personal service. Just a short stroll away from many famous attractions including the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, The Royal Botanical Gardens and more. You will love the luxury of the close accessibility to public transportation including light rail access, train station, the bus system and nearby Circular Quay which will allow you to see much more of Sydney and surrounds. Featuring: 446 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, 2 restaurants, 4 bars, indoor heated pool, sauna, spa, and gymnasium. Amenities: air conditioning, daily maid service, fridge, iron & board, radio channels, shower, coffee & tea, ensuite bathroom, hair dryer, shaving adaptor, sprinklers, smoke detectors, television, telephone, internet access (broadband), data port, wake up calls, mini bar, and 24 hour room service. With all this and more take time out to experience the wonders of Sydney while enjoying all your accommodation has to offer.

Upgrade Available (Upon Request): Stunning 5 Star Property

Optional Day Tour (Not Included) - Bridgeclimb

On your vacation climb the famous Harbour Bridge in Sydney.

Achieve exhilaration and personal satisfaction as you climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. For approximately two hours you, along with 11 other eager climbers and a climb guide, weave through catwalks, climb up ladders and then arrive at the most spectacular point of all - the upper arch climb. The steady incline to the upper arch leaves you free to focus your attention on your Sydney experience, with opportunities for 360 degree views of Sydney, including east to the ocean, west to the mountains and the harbour city surrounds. It is at this point that you not only have a bird's eye view of the beautiful Sydney Harbour and the city, but have the exhilaration of the truly rewarding experience of reaching the top to the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia. When you reach the top you will have a sense of achievement that you'll remember forever - you've conquered an Australian icon recognised the world over! No other Sydney tourist attraction can give you this feeling of standing at the top of the world, with the Harbour spread before you. All climbers will be issued a complimentary photograph of their climb group.

Optional Day Tour (Not Included) - Dinner Cruise

See the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge with spectacular nightime views of the city and surrounds while enjoying dinner as you're cruising on one of the world's most attractive harbours.

Today enjoy the ultimate dining experience on Sydney Harbour. The cruise offers a la carte dining, million dollar views, licensed bar, first class service and quality contemporary Australian cuisine. 1 1/2 Hours

Optional Day Tour (Not Included) - Sydney Opera House

This inspiring tour provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to venture inside one of the world's most recognised global landmarks.

This one hour tour outlines the intricate and controversial history of the Sydney Opera House along with details of the unique design of this architectural masterpiece. You will visit a number of the six performance venues, including the magnificent wood paneled Concert Hall and the Opera Theatre as well as the new Utzon room. You will also visit the glass enclosed northern foyer areas which boast spectacular views of Sydney Harbour - a perfect photo opportunity.

Insiders Tip - Explorer Bus Tour

The Sydney Explorer is a Hop On, Hop Off, sightseeing bus that takes in 27 key landmarks of the inner city (Opera House, Darling Harbour) and eastern beaches (Coogee and Bondi).

This unique city tour through Sydney departs from Circular Quay every 20 minutes starting at 8:40am, with the last round-trip service departing at 5:20pm. You can get on or off at any of the stops on the route. After traveling through some of Sydney's most exclusive residential areas, the tours take in some of Sydney's most spectacular coastlines and beaches. The bus travels every day along a 30km route and makes numerous stops. The bus trip takes 2 hours to complete the whole journey (with no stops). Buy your tickets onboard ($39 AUD for Adult ticket). Use your ticket stub to get amazing discounts at each stop location. Please Note: Sydney Opera House is one of the stops if you would like to do the Explorer on the same day as your Opera House tour.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.sydneybuses.info/tourist-services/sydney-explorer.htm

(Day 4) (Tues) - Shuttle Transfer from Sydney Accommodation to Airport

Travel by shuttle from your vacation accommodation in Sydney, Australia, to the Airport.

(Day 4 cont) (Tues) - Domestic Flight Sydney to Brisbane

Travel within Australia by domestic air from Sydney to Brisbane.

(Day 4 cont) (Tues) - Flight continues from Brisbane to Bundaberg

Travel within Australia by domestic air from Brisbane to Bundaberg.

(Day 4 cont) (Tues) - Fly from Bundaberg to Lady Elliot Island

Travel within Australia by domestic air from Bundaberg to Lady Elliott Island.

(Days 4 - 8) (Tues to Sat)- Dive Dive Dive - Lady Elliot Island Great Barrier Reef

Lady Elliot Island offers a truly remarkable Diving experience. The island is a Coral Cay allowing direct access to the Great Barrier Reef from the beach. Lady Elliot Island is also a permanent home to a 40 strong population of manta rays.

The Reef surrounding Lady Elliot Island is one of the worlds richest eco-systems.

The moment you step onto the island, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special. Formed over 3000 years ago, this beautiful coral cay is home to 57 species of birds, nesting sea turtles and a stunning underwater world of coral formations and diverse marine life.

Experienced divers and snorkellers can join one of our regular group dives, where our qualified dive staff will take you to their favourite reef sites - swim with the majestic manta rays at the Lighthouse Bommie, drift dive in the late afternoon at Encounters, or explore secret caverns at the Blow Hole and Hiro's Cave. Dive sites are accessed either straight from the beach or via a short boat ride. Visibility regularly exceeds 20 metres, with water temperatures ranging between 18 and 27 degrees Centigrade.

Your diving schedule will be as follows:

Day 1 - 1 day dive
Day 2 - 2 day dives & 1 night dive
Day 3 - 2 day dives & 1 night dive
Day 4 - 3 day dives
Day 5 - No diving due to High level flight

Apart from the tremendous diving available on Lady Elliot Island, the following activities are also available:

Reef Walking:

When the tide is low, you can venture all the way through the lagoon from the beach to the reef edge. You'll see a multitude of marine life as our experienced guide introduces you to the complexities of the reef eco-system.

Nature Walks:

Learn about the unique eco-systems on a coral cay during our guided walks around the island. The itinerary changes every day to highlight the natural wonders of the beach and lagoon, the bird rookery, the lighthouse and the historical artifacts left behind by the guano miners.

Whale Watching

From June to October, the great humpback whales make their annual migration from the Antarctic to the warm waters off the central Queensland coast. You don't need to go out on a boat; just sit and watch the passing parade from the beach or reef edge.

Turtle Watching:

From November to February, Green and Loggerhead turtles come ashore at night to nest. Our guides will help you find the best vantage point without disturbing the turtles while they lay their eggs or the tiny hatchlings as they make their way to the water.

Fish Feeding:

A multitude of reef fish appear at the "fish pool" everyday, and our activities officer will show you how to hand feed them.

Slide Shows & Evening Lectures:

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef and Lady Elliot Island during our evening presentations in the Reef Education Centre.

Other Activities Include:

Try your hand at volleyball, frisbees, ping pong, pool, cards and board games.

On Lady Elliot Island, you set the pace: Maybe just grab the latest bestseller and find your favourite stretch of deserted beach

Lady Elliot Dive Sites

On your vacation explore Australia’s underwater world in Queensland by participating in this unique diving adventure.

Located in northern Queensland, this island offers many diving opportunities to make your Australia vacation memorable. The dive shop is a PADI Resort association member. Scuba diving is conducted daily and a staff member escorts all dives. A certification card must be produced prior to diving. All Divers must produce a C-Card and Log Book prior to diving. Dive gear rental is available. A physicians release may be requested. Additionally, travel by glass bottom boat, boat snorkeling and guided snorkeling is subject to tides. Among the many popular diving sites are the following (not an exhaustive list):

Lighthouse Bommie (14-15 metres):
Is a set of coral heads approximately 100 metres offshore in 14 - 16 metres, conducted as either a Boat or Shore Dive. A rope trail has been laid from an easy shore entry to the bommies. It is a favourite haunt all year round for Manta Rays; some 4 metres from tip to tip. Because it is a cleaning station, the site can also host a variety of marine life such as Moray Eels, Bull Rays, schooling Barracuda, Coral Trout, small White Tip Reef Sharks and many other species.

Three Pyramids (18 metres):
Is a short boat ride on the Western side of the Island. An easy descent can be made down a permanent mooring and puts the diver almost on top of the first of three large coral heads (Bommies) in 16 metres. At this site, schools of Cardinals, Anemone fish, Turtles and Eagle Rays may be observed. It is also a great starting point for a drift dive to the Anchor Bommies or the Outer Scatters, depending of course on the direction of the current.

Anchor Bommie (21 metres):
This rather interesting site can be reached by one of two ways - a short boat ride, or an under water swim following a rope trail from the Coral Gardens. It is one of Lady Elliot Island's premium dive sites. The depth at the base is around 19 metres and at the top it is 14 metres. The coral head is an important Manta Ray cleaning station, therefore other marine life to be seen here include the very rare Purple Leafy Scorpion Fish and Cleaner Shrimp, both of which have permanent colonies. Another common site is a rather large Shovel Nosed Ray which can be approached by divers as it rests on the sea floor. The soft and hard corals covering the bommie are also home to the brightly coloured Feather stars, while nearby in the sand, a family of Garden Eels can be observed swaying in the current. Also of interest are the two ancient Admiralty anchors that lie nearby. These anchors were lost by the Guano miners and have been resting on the bottom for some time.

(Day 8) (Sat) - Depart Lady Elliot Island for Bundaberg

Travel within Australia by domestic air from Lady Elliot Island to Bundaberg.

(Day 8) (Sat) - Domestic Flight Bundaberg to Brisbane

Travel within Australia by domestic air from Bundaberg to Brisbane.

(Day 8) (Sat) - Shuttle Transfer from Brisbane Airport to Accommodation

Travel by shuttle from the Airport to your vacation accommodation in Brisbane, Australia.

Luggage is limited to 2 suitcases per person. Excess luggage, surfboards & bicycles will be carried at a rate of $10.00 AUD per item. All luggage must be clearly labelled by the passenger, including name and full address.

(Day 8 - 9) (Sat to Sun) - 1 Night Accommodation in Brisbane

Travel to your accommodation in Brisbane, Australia, where you will be staying whilst on vacation for 1 night.

Your 3 Star vacation accommodation is conveniently located in Brisbane's city centre. It is within walking distance to the Queen Street Mall shopping precinct, Treasury Casino, South Bank Parklands, Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Recently, the hotel went through a major refurbishment. Its rooms are equipped with free coffee/tea making facility, fridge, air conditioning, and hair dryer.

(Day 9) (Sun) - Shuttle Transfer from Brisbane Accommodation to Airport

Travel by shuttle from your vacation accommodation in Brisbane, Australia, to the Airport.

Luggage is limited to 2 suitcases per person. Excess luggage, surfboards & bicycles will be carried at a rate of $10.00 AUD per item. All luggage must be clearly labelled by the passenger, including name and full address.

(Day 9 cont) (Sun) - International Flight from Brisbane to Los Angeles

Mid-day Departure from Brisbane, In-flight Dinner and Movie with arrival in the USA. Note: You will be traveling back across the International Date line so you will gain a day. You actually arrive in the USA on the same day you leave Australia.

The Qantas Boeing 747-400 is equipped with the latest entertainment features of any Airline. The overnight flight to the USA can be a good opportunity for sleeping or to watch the latest movies after your evening meal.

(Day 9 cont) (Sun) - USA Domestic Flight, Los Angeles to your Home City

The connection flight to your Home City from Los Angeles will be selected to suit the International Arrival flight from Australia.

Please allow 3 hours between arrival of International flight before departure of your US domestic flight.