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Mount Feathertop from Mount Hotham. Public domain image.
  The Victorian Alps from Mount Hotham.

NEW LOWER PRICE
 November 12-21, 2010
Plan your arrival in Sydney, Australia for November 11, 2010
Plan your departure from Melbourne, Australia for November 22, 2010

 Printable version of itinerary
Join us for our inaugural trip to hike the Australian Alps, the loftiest portion of Australia's two-thousand-mile-long Great Dividing Range and the continent's only truly alpine region. Composed mainly of the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales and the Victorian Alps of Victoria state the Australian Alps offer high country splendors not frequently associated with Australia! The heart of the Snowy Mountains is protected by the 1.8 million acre Kosciuszko National Park. Here, you'll revel in glacially-carved landscapes complete with alpine lakes nestled in high country basins. On the expansive Bogong High Plains in the Alpine National Park, delightful rambles across alpine grasslands punctuated by picturesque snow gum trees await the hiker. In addition to an exploration of the Australian Alps, this hiking tour also includes hikes along the limestone escarpments and through the canyons of the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney.

Extend your trip to the Australian “red center” (Uluru/Ayers Rock, the Olgas and surrounding areas) or to the glacially-sculpted mountains of Tasmania, Australia’s island state (see below). We will be glad to make the arrangements for you!

Arrival Day
Arrival at Sydney. Overnight accommodations and dinner on your own. A "Sydney on Foot" walking tour of Australia's capital will be organized for those arriving early in Sydney.

The Three Sisters formation, Blue Mountains. Public domain image.
The Three Sisters formation, Blue Mountains
Day 1
Overnight in Katoomba
Lunch & dinner included
Travel to the Blue Mountains National Park to enjoy your first hike in the mountains of Australia! The limestone escarpments of the Blue Mountains lie just west of Sydney and are part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Site inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2000. Today’s hike is a “classic” Blue Mountains dayhike taking you by Wentworth Falls and traversing the cliff-hugging trails of the Valley of the Waters. In the late afternoon, you can stroll along the cliff-top paths enjoying views of limestone formations like the Three Sisters from several viewpoints. Overnight in town of Katoomba.

Day 2
Overnight in Canberra
Breakfast included
Enjoy a morning hike on the Grand Canyon Track, a loop hike that takes you from Neates Glen into the canyon of Greaves Creek. The hike starts in eucalyptus woods and descends into the Grand Canyon where waterfalls and fern-festooned walls surround you with the exuberance of an Australian rainforest! Following the hike travel by vehicle to Canberra, Australia’s capital, where you'll spend the evening.

Snow gum tree in Kosciuszko National Park. Public domain image.
A snow gum tree (Eucalyptus pauciflora) in Kosciuszko National Park.
Day 3
Overnight in Charlotte Pass, Kosciuszko National Park
Breakfast & dinner included
Depart Canberra and travel by vehicle to the Kosciuszko National Park which encompasses the highest peaks on the Australian continent! Though not tremendously high in terms of elevation, the landscapes here are alpine in character and include glacial lakes and wide-open ridges with far-ranging views over the Great Dividing Range (known in this area as the Snowy Mountains). En route to the Kosciuszko National Park, stop to enjoy a short hike to the Yankee Hat aboriginal rock art site in Namadgi National Park. Upon arrival in Kosciuszko National Park, enjoy a hike to the Porcupine Rocks in the Perisher Valley. Overnight at a mountain lodge at Charlotte Pass.

Day 4
Overnight in Charlotte Pass, Kosciuszko National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Today, enjoy the finest high country hike in the Snowy Mountains. Cross the Snowy River and ascend into the mountains via the Main Range Track. The route takes you past lovely Blue Lake tucked in a glacially carved cirque. The trail then follows the main ridge of the Snowy Mountains leading you over Mount Carruthers and further to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, the highest summit on the Australian continent at 7,310 feet above sea level. (The mountain is lovingly referred to as “Kozzy” by the Australians.) Panoramic views across a sea of mountain ridges are your constant companions on the hike. Below you the glacial tarns of Club, Albina, and Cootapatamba shimmer in high country basins. From Mount Kosciuszko's summit, descend past the historic, stone Seaman's Hut to return to Charlotte Pass.

Day 5
Overnight in Falls Creek, Victoria
Breakfast & dinner included
Travel by vehicle via the scenic Great Alpine Road as it carries you through the Snowy Mountains in the southern reaches of Kosciuszko National Park to reach the Murray River Valley. Enjoy panoramic views of the Snowy Mountains from occasional overlooks like the one at Scammel Spur. Continue through the town of Mount Beauty and ascend into the Victorian Alps to arrive at the Bogong High Plains, an extensive alpine field at an elevation of 5,500 feet above sea level in the Alpine National Park and a walker's paradise! Upon arrival and time permitting, enjoy a short hike to the basalt knob of Roper Lookout.

A view of the Bogong High Plains. Public domain image.
Snow grasses cover the Bogong High Plains, Alpine National Park, Victoria.
Day 6
Overnight in Falls Creek, Victoria
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Enjoy a full day of hiking on the Bogong High Plains. Follow paths to some of the area's historic and picturesque cattlemen's huts. The timeworn Wallace, Fitzgerald and Edmonson Huts date from the time when these alpine meadows were used as summer pastures for cattle beginning in the mid-19th century. (Grazing was completely prohibited from the high plains in 2005.) It's also possible to ascend to the top of Mount Nelse via the Heathy Spur for wide views over the high plains. Scattered clumps of picturesque, twisted snow gums help give the area its appealing alpine character!

Day 7
Overnight in Dinner Plain
Breakfast & lunch included
Today, hike a portion of the Australian Alps Walking Track, a 650 kilometer long trail that traverses the highest portions of the Great Dividing Range. Today's more challenging hike takes you from Falls Creek across the Bogong High Plains through the aptly named Pretty Valley before dropping into the Cobungra River drainage to reach the isolated Dibbins Hut in a sheltered clearing near Cobungra Gap. This is a less-frequented part of the Australian Alps Walking Track, and you may see more brumbies (wild horses) than people today! The trail then climbs steadily up Swindlers Spur to reach the Mount Hotham resort area. Finish the hike with a stroll through the picturesque Davenport area of Hotham village. Of course, a shorter hiking option is also available on this day.

Day 8
Overnight at Dinner Plain
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Hike along the ridge between Mount Hotham and the Dinner Plain resort area through snow gum woodlands and across lush snow grass plains dotted with spring wildflowers. Those looking for a bit more hiking can extend the hike with a rugged side trip to the top of remote Mount Tabletop, a perfect place to sit and contemplate the beauty of the Victorian Alps.

A view of the Victorian Alps. Public domain image.
A view of the Victorian Alps.
Day 9
Overnight in Harrietville
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Today's hike along the Razorback Ridge is a Victorian Alps "skywalk!" The trail follows the wide-open undulating ridgeline all the way to Mount Feathertop, second highest peak in Victoria state. (Feathertop's summit can be reached via a rough spur trail off the main ridge.) At the end of the day, a well-graded trail descends the Bungalow Spur from the Razorback Ridge to reach the mountain town of Harrietville where we'll overnight. 

Day 10
Transfer to Melbourne
Breakfast included
Travel by vehicle to Melbourne. En route, you'll enjoy a short walk in the Ovens River gorge near the town of Bright (named after John Bright, a 19th century English statesman). This hike will take you over swinging bridges and past the remains of the water races built during the area's gold rush which  began in the mid-19th century. Arrival in Melbourne is scheduled for the late afternoon.

Other Details about this Trip
Trip Dates: November 12-21, 2010
Price: $4,295 (6-9 participants). Was $4,895.
Single Room for entire trip: $875
Meeting Point: Sydney, Australia on the morning of November 12. Plan to arrive in Sydney by the evening of November 11. If you arrive in Sydney on the morning of November 11, you can participate in a short walking tour of Australia's capital city. Bear in mind that because of the international date line, you need to depart the U.S. on November 9 to arrive in Sydney two days later on November 11. Note that the cost of lodging in Sydney for the evening of November 11 is not included in the trip price but we are happy to assist you with booking your lodging for that evening.
Departure Point: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Tour services conclude upon arrival in Melbourne at approximately 4 PM on the afternoon of November 21. Please note that lodging in Melbourne on the evening of November 21 is not included in the trip price but we are happy to assist you with booking your lodging for that evening.
Accommodations: Nine nights at hotels, inns or mountain resort lodges in private rooms with private bath. Nine breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners are included.

Printable version of itinerary

Other Resources
To get a sense for the landscapes of the Australian Alps, you may wish to view the following videos produced by the New South Wales National Parks:
Australian Alps, Part I (Images set to music)
Australian Alps, Part II (Images set to music)
Kosciuszko Reflections, Part I (Narrated interpretive program)
Kosciuszko Reflections, Part II (Narrated interpretive program)

The following video is produced by Parks Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image as part of the "Digital Storytelling Project." The film describes one person's impressions of the Victorian Alps:
Home in the High Country

This image was created in Australia and is now in the public domain because its term of copyright has expired. Source http://www.nga.gov.au/OutandAbout.
  Northeast View from the Northern Top of Mount Kosciusko (1863) by Eugene von Guérard

Trip Extensions

Cradle Mountain. Public domain image.
Cradle Mountain.
Overland Track (Tasmania) Extension
At the end of the Australian Alps trip, you can fly from Melbourne to Launceston in Australia’s island state of Tasmania. From Launceston, you can join a group for a 3, 4 or 6 day trek on the Overland Track in Tasmania's Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park at the heart of the UNESCO-designated Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site. The 6-day itinerary is outlined below. You'll travel in a group of no more than ten people (with two guides) along the renowned Overland Track with overnights spent in private huts featuring afternoon tea, three-course meals, hot showers, and private, twin-bedded rooms.

Itinerary for the 6-Day Extension

Arrival in Launceston
Catch a taxi from airport to a hotel in downtown Launceston, Tasmania’s second largest city built on the banks of the Tamar River. There are a number of hotels and B&Bs in Launceston. Dinner and lodging on the arrival day are not included in the price of the extension, but we are happy to assist you with booking accommodations. We suggest Peppers Seaport Hotel for your Launceston accommodations before and after the start of your Overland Track extension.

Day 1
Overnight in Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Begin your 6-day trek along the 65 kilometer long Overland Track. Travel by vehicle to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, one of the cornerstones of Tasmania’s extensive World Heritage Area. Starting from the historic Waldheim Chalet in Cradle Valley, the trail carries you onto a vast alpine plateau. The views of Dove and Crater Lakes with the bulk of Cradle Mountain rising beyond are spectacular. Continue through Fury Gorge and hike along the rim of a glacial cirque before arriving at the Waterfall Valley where you'll spend the evening at a hut nestled at the foot of Barn Bluff.

Day 2
Overnight in Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Today’s hike takes you across picturesque moorlands dotted with numerous ponds and lakes including lovely Lake Windermere. Enjoy evening accommodations at the Pine Forest Moor Hut.

Day 3
Overnight in Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
 Follow the historic Innes Track through rainforest below Mount Peilon to Frog Flats at the headwaters of the Forth River. Cross the Peilon Plains to arrive at the Pelion Hut where you’ll spend the evening.

Day 4
Overnight in Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
 Hike to the Pelion Gap where long-range views toward Tasmania’s “Southwest Wilderness” will delight you, weather permitting! You have the option of climbing Mount Ossa (Tasmania’s highest peak). Travel down to Pinestone Valley past cushion plants, ancient pines and scoparia. Climb a small ridge to Kia Ora Hut, nestled beneath Cathedral Mountain.

Day 5
Overnight in Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Hike to the historic Du Cane hut, once the home of a Tasmanian trapper. Explore the surrounding forest of leatherwood trees covered with large white flowers in late spring and summer. Follow the course of the Mersey River to the waterfalls of Fergusson, D’Alton and Hartnett. Your hike continues through Du Cane Gap before heading down through dense myrtle forests to the Windy Ridge hut.

Day 6
Overnight in Launceston, Tasmania
Breakfast & lunch included
 This last day of trekking leads you through open eucalyptus forests to the grassy clearing known as the Bowling Green. From here, enjoy views of the appropriately named Mount Acropolis. The route continues down the Pine Valley hemmed in by the peaks of the Du Cane Range. Cross Cephissus Creek in a lush rainforest setting and continue your hike to the Narcissus Hut on Lake St Clair. A boat cruise on the southern hemisphere’s deepest natural lake will take you to the end of your Overland Track journey. Travel by vehicle back to Launceston. Lodging and dinner in Launceston on this day is not included in the price.

Prices for the Overland Track Extensions range from $1,400 to $2,600 Australian dollars per person depending on the number of days.
Scene near Lake St. Clair. Public domain image.
Tasmanian wilderness scene near Lake St. Clair.

Kata Tjuta (Mount Olga). Public domain image.
Kata Tjuta (Mount Olga).
Red Center Extension
Enjoy an extension to Australia’s “red center” for a quintessential Australian outback hiking experience. Enjoy hikes and walks in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta World Heritage Area and the Watarrka National Park/Kings Canyon area. After the Australian Alps trip, you can fly from Melbourne to Sydney, then on to Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) where your Red Center extension begins. Ask us for more details!

Watarrka National Park. Public domain image.
Sandstone domes in Watarrka (Kings Canyon) National Park.

All photos on this page except the top & bottom banners are public domain images.

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