home·how we’re different·activities·meet our team·guides·photo gallery

Emu: Complete itinerary

Hiking and Canyoning Blue Mountains · Canoeing at Kangaroo Valley · Bird & Wildlife Watching · Beaches and Rainforest of the East Coast · Hiking Mount Kosciuszko · Snorkeling at Jervis Bay · Rutherglen Winery · Biking in Beechworth · Healesville Sanctuary

Monday - Arrive Sydney and hike Blue Mountains

This trip starts in Sydney, one of the world's most interesting cities - but ACTIVE AUSTRALIA isn't about cities! If you want to do the "Sydney thing" - the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and so on - we suggest arriving a day or two before your trip with us. We'll pick you up in the morning, either from your hotel or direct from the airport, and head immediately out of town, to the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains get their unique bluish tinge from fine drops of eucalyptus oil suspended in the air, which are released by the native eucalyptus trees, and it's a very scenic area. We'll take a hike in the afternoon, stopping to enjoy the view from Evans Lookout and the native bush of Gross Valley. You'll be hiking through canyons among waterfalls, towering red cliffs and fascinating rock formations. In a few minutes you'll feel as if you've just walked into the middle of the Outback although we're not far from civilization! Tonight we'll spend the night at a lovely local B&B.

ACCOMMODATION: Local B&B, Blue Mountains (L,D)

Tuesday - Canyoning in the Blue Mountains

You have a few options today, but our favorite is an exciting canyoning trip in the Blue Mountains. Canyoning - a combination of abseiling, sliding and jumping into the river - is the most thrilling way of truly experiencing the slot gorge river system! It's safe and easy, and a great way to cool off after the hiking. If canyoning is not your thing, it's no problem. We know a number of great hikes here, and one of our guides will take you to some of the most beautiful spots in the Blue Mountains. Or you can just hang out in Katoomba - the small artsy community at the centre of the Blue Mountains - and check out the local Aussie culture. At the end of the day, it's a short drive south to Kangaroo Valley, located on the edge of Morton National Park. We'll be staying in the township itself, so tonight we'll have an opportunity to meet some local "Aussie" personalities as we head out to enjoy dinner in the local pub.

ACCOMMODATION: Comfortable lodgings, Kangaroo Valley (B,L,D)

Wednesday - Canoe safari down Kangaroo River - Jervis Bay

This morning we're off for a "canoe safari"! Moving just above the waterline is ideal for visiting with the local wildlife, and this area is suitable even for people who haven't tried canoeing before. As long as you stay quiet, you can expect to see a wide variety of native birdlife, gray wallabies and sun dragons (a large local lizard) - you may even see a platypus! Continue paddling through the peaceful gorge, surrounded by sandstone cliffs and natural bush, before heading back to the take-out point. In the afternoon, we have a short drive to Jervis Bay.

ACCOMMODATION: Beachside accommodations, Jervis Bay (B,L,D)

Thursday - Jervis Bay - Snowy Mountains

Today's all about water sports - we'll be snorkeling and swimming at the gorgeous seaside town of Jervis Bay. Jervis Bay Marine Park is home to all sorts on fascinating wildlife, including whales, dolphins, sea eagles, penguins, and many species of fish. It's also known as having the whitest sand in the world - this may or may not be true, but it's certainly very beautiful! We'll have most of the day available to cavort in the water, swimming and snorkeling, and an optional extra for certified scuba divers is to head out for a couple of dives too. There are some lovely bush walks here, and we'll have no trouble keeping busy with so many things to do here! After our day at the bay, we'll drive south to Thredbo Valley Lodge, in the Snowy Mountains.

ACCOMMODATION: Thredbo Valley Lodge, Thredbo Valley (B,L,D)

Friday - Hiking in the Snowy Mountains

This morning we'll wake up in the delightful Snowy Mountain village of Jindabyne, located in Kosciuszko National Park. "The Snowies" (as they are known to Australians), are part of the spectacular Great Dividing Range that extend from Canberra to Melbourne. Jindabyne is a great base for exploring the area - it's small and the locals are extremely friendly. After breakfast we'll get right into it with a spectacular 13-mile hike up Mount Kosciuszko - it's long but very rewarding! We'll be hiking to the top of Australia's highest mountain. Mount Kosciuszko is also famous for being one of the "Seven Summits" - the highest peak on each of the seven continents of the world. "Kozzie", as it's known to the locals, is challenging, but quite achievable for anyone in reasonable shape. We also hike around Blue, Albina and Club Lakes. If you're lucky to catch the wildflowers in bloom, it's even more spectacular! At the end of the day we return to Thredbo Valley Lodge for another comfortable night.

ACCOMMODATION: Thredbo Valley Lodge, Thredbo Valley (B,L,D)

Saturday - Snowy Mountains - Beechworth

Today we're on our way to Beechworth, a historic gold mining town that's surrounded by forest and mountains and is our backdrop for today's activity - biking! Along the way we'll pass through the Rutherglen wine region, where we'll stop and sample some of the local produce. We'll arrive at Beechworth in time to be fitted out with modern mountain bikes and all the necessary safety gear. There are plenty of different options from wide forest trails to exciting single track biking, so you don't need to be an expert, but if you are you most certainly won't be bored. If cycling isn't your thing then there are plenty of other options, such as horse riding or hiking, in this beautiful area. Tonight we'll be having a classic "Aussie barbie" to celebrate the last night of our Emu trip.

ACCOMMODATION: Local B&B, Beechworth (B,L,D)

Sunday - Beechworth - Melbourne

Today we head through to Melbourne, which is arguably Australia's most interesting city, from a cultural perspective. Along the way we'll be stopping at Healesville Sanctuary, where we'll be able to see many of the weird and wonderful creatures that inhabit this continent. We'll arrive in Melbourne, in the late afternoon in time for flights to Tasmania for our Wombat trip, back to Sydney, or even international flights home. If you enjoy cosmopolitan cities and have any extra time then we recommend spending a little extra time in Melbourne before departing. (B,L)

IMPORTANT DETAILS

ACCOMMODATIONS: The Emu is a multi-activity oriented trip through the south east corner of Australia. We've chosen interesting and comfortable accommodation throughout. In some places it's quite luxurious. Many of the other places we stay are off-the-beaten-track, and don't have many accommodation options - but are really, really spectacular. Some accommodations have separate bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, and others have two bedroom apartments with shared bathrooms. You'll love the places we stay!

RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS: If you're flying in on the first day of the trip, or out on the last day, we recommend arriving in Sydney by approximately 9 - 10am on Monday, and departing from Melbourne after 6.30 - 7.30pm on Sunday. Other flight times may also be possible - if you are considering alternative flight times please let us know.

PICKUP INFORMATION: On the first day of the trip we can either pick you up from the Old Sydney Holiday Inn at 9.30am, or from the Sydney airport, either in the Domestic Terminal at 10.15am or in the International Terminal at 10.30am.

DROP OFF INFORMATION: On the last day of the trip we can drop you off at the Melbourne airport in time for either domestic flights departing after 6.30pm or international flights leaving later than 7.30pm. Alternatively, we can drop you in downtown Melbourne after 6.30pm if you are staying on for a few days.

FITNESS : You must have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy yourself on the Emu. You don't have to be young and extremely fit (although if you are, you won't be bored) but you should be in the habit of doing at least some exercise. Age and experience are not important. We would rather have a person in her 50s who hikes every couple of weeks than a 22-year-old couch potato! If you're concerned about your fitness level, have a chat with us so we can help you choose between the Emu and our other trips.

EXPERIENCE : You don't have to have any outdoor experience at all to take our trips because we help you make the most of Australia's amazing outdoor environment. Our staff are highly trained and very experienced outdoor guides, and we will look after you! You don't need to have ever done any snorkeling , canoeing, canyoning or biking to enjoy these activities with us. All we ask is that you are energetic, enthusiastic, and in reasonable shape, and we guarantee you'll have an incredible time. We manage the level of commitment to suit your experience, and we have an impeccable safety record. We hold all relevant government licenses.

FLEXIBILITY : Because of the off-the-beaten-path and non-commercial nature of the places we stay, we may need to change a night stop. We try to make as few changes as possible, but retain the flexibility to make sure your trip is as good as it can be. Some of our activities are weather dependent and if it's a choice between safety and an activity, your safety will always come first. In these cases we'll have a suitable alternate activity.

INCLUDED : The trip fare is US$1999 + applicable taxes and fees for adults. We quote all prices in US dollars, so our guests from all over the world can more easily relate prices to their own currencies. You can also join for shorter periods of time, at a pro-rated price. The trip fare includes just about everything, specifically:

•  All guiding services. We generally have two guides per trip, a lead guide/driver, and a co-guide who is responsible for meals and accommodations. This means we can really make sure you have a great time! We operate with small groups, and we don't hesitate to offer a second departure when our trips start getting full. (Click here to read what our previous clients have said about their guides)

•  Comfortable accommodations for the entire period you are with us (see "Accommodations" above). We can organize extra accommodation for you, if you want to arrive earlier or leave later.

•  All your meals (as indicated), except where we've found people prefer to check out the wide range of local restaurants. (B,L,D) means breakfast, lunch & dinner included. Alcohol is not generally included, although we do spring for a few drinks here and there!

•  All hiking, snorkeling, canoeing, canyoning and biking activities as described in the itinerary, except optional extra activities, such as the scuba diving at Jervis Bay. We have estimated the rates for optional extra activities run by local operators in US dollars, but these rates may vary according to the USD/AUD exchange rate of the day. There are many optional activities available at extra cost along the way - just ask your guide. None of these activities are compulsory, and nor will your trip seem less awesome if you do the more budget options. Although some people enjoy sampling the optional extras, others prefer to focus more on the hiking, snorkeling, canoeing, canyoning and biking which is of course the reason you've chosen the Emu in the first place!

•  All specialized equipment required for all activities - please refer to our gear list for further details.

We'll see you soon!

Itinerary valid though April 2007