Information has been great. Husband and I taking escorted tour in Sept. of 2004. Have got it down to two. Those in the know, can you tell me which one your would choose? Put nights, accommodations and only differences as far as events planned. Thanks so much!
AAT Kings
Price: $5719

Melbourne- 3 nts
Stamford Plaza
-Tramcar dinner
-Puffing Billy Yarra Valley -winery
-Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Alice Springs- 1 nt
Alice Springs Resort

Ayers Rock- 2 nts
Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort
-Own version of Sound of Silence Dinner

Cairns- 3 nts
The Oasis Resort
-Great Adventures catamaran GBR
-Kuranda - Skyrail - Tjapukai

Sidney- 4nts
Four Points Sheraton Harbor View Rooms
-1 day tour Blue Mountains

Christchurch- 2 nts
Millennium Hotel

Franz Josef - 1 nt
Franz Josef Glacier Hotel
-TranzAlpine train

Queenstown- 2 nts
Millennium Hotel

Rotorua- 2 nts
Millennium Hotel

Auckland- 1 nt
Hyatt Regency

Full breakfasts (20)
Lunches (3)
Dinner (8)

Swain
Price: $6299

Auckland 1 nt
Sebel Auckland (Marina Suite)

Rotorua -2 nts.
Millennium Rotorua (Lakeview Room).

Queenstown- 3 nts.
Mercure Grand Hotel St. Moritz
-Queenstown to Glenorchy to the Dart River. Cruise on 18 foot jet boat
-Gondola to Bob?s Peak -Skyline restaurant

Fox Glacier- 1 nt
Te Weheka Inn

Christchurch 2 nts.
The George Hotel
-dinner at "Pescatore" restaurant
- International Antarctic Center

Melbourne- 2 nts.,
Sheraton Southgate, Melbourne

Ayers Rock- 2 nts.,
Sails in the Desert
- "Predators of the Red Center,"
-Sounds of Silence Dinner

Cape Tribulation- 2 nts.
Coconut Beach Rainforest Resort
-cruise, 2hr walk Daintree National Park

Palm Cove- 2 nts.
Sebel Reef House
-Port Douglas - "breakfast with the birds"
-Quicksilver vessel GBR

Sidney- 4 nts.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (Harbour View Room)

full breakfast daily
6 lunches
14 dinners

In my opinion the quality of the resorts in the Swain package are MUCH better than the others. Four Points and Four Seasons are worlds difference in Sydney. Sebel is much better than Oasis in Cairns. and Sails is top notch over the other resort mentioned.

I would splurge the extra money and DEFINITELY book through Swain!

I can vouch for their excellent customer service as I did my independant itinerary for my honeymoon through them. We even cancelled a tour while in Oz and they were accessible and flexible and very accomodating. Everything was taken care of from beginning to end including restaurant reservations we wanted!

Good luck -- you'll love it!!!

The Swains tour does seem superior for the reasons Dawn has mentioned.

Do either go to the sounds in NZ?

"Predators of the red centre"??....must be the monopoly owners of the resorts out there.

These are both very good,reputable companies with excellent reputations, but I would have to agree with the general consenus and pick Swain.

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

I agree that the second itinery does seem to be the better of the two.

the first itinery has you flying in to Alice Springs at the earliest of midday then spending a night in the Alice Pacific Resort ( which is just a motel not a true resort ) and then the next day leaving bright and early for the road trip down to Ayres Rock with AAT.
This is a total waste of time in my opinion, better to fly straight to Ayres Rock and then from there to Cairns.

I do like the term "cruise " on an 18 foot jet boat. I would say more like "wet and wild with white knuckles" on an 18 foot jet boat.

Cheers

Paul_S

Hi C,
My only comment would be don't stay in Cairns but choose Northern beaches.
Palm Cove is delightful and Sebel has fabulous reports in this forum.

Have fun
Muck

Thanks to all who replied! Swain it is- if I can talk my husband into it!!!
Dawn- I loved your trip reports, will do the same when we get back.
johhj au- Am thinking of doing an optional to Milford Sound. Heard so many good things about it!
As it gets closer, will probably have lots of questions. Can't wait!