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Melbourne Sophisticated and slick, edgy and
rough, Melbourne's physical and cultural landscape is shaped by a
dynamic population, ever-ravenous for a bite of global culture. The
result is Australia's most accessible multiculturalism. Ornate
Victorian-era architecture and leafy, established boulevards
reflect the city's history, and cutting-edge developments such as
Federation Square exemplify its enigmatic contemporary style. But,
Melburnians still keep their urban frenzy to a deliciously sedate
pace.
Getting To and Around Melbourne - Most of the
major airlines have direct international flights to Melbourne
Airport in Tullamarine, 22km northwest of the city centre.
Melbourne is well-connected to all capital cities in the country
and many major cities worldwide. Trams lumber back and forth on
routes radiating out like spokes from central Melbourne, and
cycling is a common way to get from A to Z.
Things To Do In Melbourne - Survey Melbourne's
gridlike streets from high atop Southbank's Eureka Skydeck 88, the
Southern Hemisphere's tallest viewing platform. See key attractions
on the free burgundy-and-gold City Circle trams. Central hub
Federation Square hosts cultural events along the Yarra River. The
city's historic laneways and arcades reveal the boho side of
Melbourne. Soak up the art at the National Gallery of Victoria --
or visit the Immigration Museum and the Chinese Museum for
different takes on the settlement of this "free" city. Find
anything and everything in Melbourne's Central Business District,
an open-air shopping mall. Art galleries and designer boutiques rub
shoulders in Flinders Lane. Fitzroy's Brunswick Street, slightly
grungier Smith Street and Gertrude Street attract the trend-setters
with retro and vintage boutiques and book stores, while Prahran is
the place for the label-conscious. Queen Victoria Market, just
north of the CBD, sells everything from weird and wonderful
bric-a-brac to food and clothes.
Etihad Stadium is a well respected
multi-purpose facility designed to cater for major sporting and
entertainment events, as well as social, business and private
functions. The stadium is situated in the heart of Melbourne's
Docklands, just minutes from the CBD. Etihad Stadium is the only
football stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a fully
retractable roof. Since opening on March 9, 2000 well over 20
million people have passed through the venue's turnstiles. The
stadium now hosts in the vicinity of 50 AFL matches a season; in
summer, A-League club Melbourne Victory becomes a regular
participant at the venue. The venue also regularly stages
international sporting events such as Rugby League World Cup
matches, Rugby Union Tests and in 2008 Etihad Stadium hosted its
first soccer World Cup qualifier. The venue has also hosted many
concert spectaculars featuring international performers such as
Andre Rieu, Robbie Williams, Barbra Streisand, Bon Jovi, Kiss, U2,
ACDC, Bruce Springsteen and many others. Located in the centre of
the Docklands and CBD, getting to Etihad Stadium is easy regardless
of whether you decide to drive, catch public transport, cycle or
walk.
Sydney has become the international face of
Australia after it's unparalleled hosting of the 2000 Olympic games
and the 2003 Rugby World Cup so what better place to play the 3rd
Test and final Test than the former Olympic Stadium. Sydney sells
itself. From the architectural marvels to the brilliant coastline,
it is a premier tourist destination and one of the most
recognizable cities in the world. Aside from the obvious excitement
of a Bledisloe Cup clash, you have the opportunity to see all the
major landmarks - the brilliant harbour with the Opera House and
Sydney Harbour Bridge, the historic Rocks precinct, the hustle and
bustle of George Street's cafes and shops and the major shopping
precincts of Pitt St Mall and Queen Victoria Building in the
CBD.
Getting To and Around Sydney - Package prices
do not include flights. As the flight schedule and prices do not
get confirmed until 360 days prior to departure, information on
flights to and from Sydney will not be available until this time.
For domestic services, best available airfares are available online
once they are within booking range and we encourage you to book
early. Should you wish to include flights as part of the package,
inquire with our consultants and we can contact you with
information once confirmed information becomes available. As far as
traveling around Sydney, it is an easy destination to tackle, which
makes it extremely popular! Locals love to complain about their
public-transport system, but visitors should find it surprisingly
easy to navigate. In fact, you'll find public transportation almost
indispensable - a car will be more of a hindrance than an asset
when you're exploring most city areas.
Things To Do In Sydney - Of course, the stage
for all this activity is just as important as the performance
itself. Shimmering Sydney Harbour is the city's greatest asset,
while Sydney's ocean beaches and lush parks sustain as much life as
the city streets. Add hip bars, grungy pubs, breezy cafes and
glass-walled restaurants to the equation and you've got a town with
the perfect balance of outdoor and indoor, natural and contrived.
Paddle out into it and see what kind of trouble you can get into:
get dumped by breakers at Bondi, chew chicken's feet in Chinatown,
max out your credit card in Paddington, drink too many beers in
Balmain, queue-jump for Opera House tickets and ignore dawn's break
at a Kings Cross club. Sexy, spirited and unfailingly
self-confident, Sydney is a bonfire of the vanities just waiting
for you to light the match.
ANZ Stadium More than 16 million fans have
walked through the ANZ Stadium turnstiles since the venue's grand
opening in 1999. Purpose built for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games,
ANZ Stadium seats up to 83,500 spectators which helps create an
electric atmosphere for live sport and entertainment. ANZ Stadium
is the only venue in the world designed to host five professional
sports - rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules, football and
cricket. It has also proven the first choice for global
entertainment acts including U2, The Rolling Stones, Andre Rieu and
AC/DC. Getting to ANZ Stadium is a breeze with your match ticket
including the cost of public transport services to Olympic Park
Station. Direct trains from Sydney Central Station will operate
regularly on match day and Central Station is serviced by all
stations within the city, so please speak to your hotels concierge
for the closest station to you.
Sample
Itinerary:
Friday 28
June, 2013 - Arrive Melbourne
Today is an arrival day as more Rugby fans from all over the
world join us for the all important 2nd Test in Melbourne. As
passengers will be arriving from all parts of the country and the
world at different times, we have not included group transfers.
Sydney's airport train link is a quick and easy way to reach the
city centre or you can book a coach transfer with us for an
additional charge if you choose to book your flights with We Love
Rugby. (Flight schedules are releases approximately 11 months prior
to departure dates and both flights and transfers can be confirmed
then).
Overnight: 4 Star Melbourne
Hotel
Saturday 29
June, 2013 - Exclusive Pre match Function and 2nd Lions
Test
Rest and relax this morning before we launch into another huge
day of international rugby and prepare for tonight's all important
2nd Test. As in Brisbane, we will be hosting a pre match function
for up to 7,000 supporters with entertainment, food and drinks and
an exclusive panel of past players and experts to preview the game.
Etihad Stadium in the Docklands precinct will once again be the
venue for the 2nd Test as it was 12 years ago. Fully equipped with
a retractable roof, there will be no excuses for either team not to
play open running rugby, just as the Wallabies did in 2001 when
they piled on 26 second half points thanks to brilliant tries to
Joe Roff and Chris Latham and accurate kicking from Matt Burke.
Match: Lions v Qantas Wallabies
Venue: Etihad Stadium,
Melbourne
Overnight: 4 Star Melbourne
Hotel
Sunday 30
June, 2013 - Melbourne to Sydney
This morning we leave Melbourne behind and return to the harbour
city of Sydney where you will be based for the rest of tour. The
afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Overnight: 4 Star Sydney
Hotel
Monday 1 July,
2013 - Optional Sydney half day sightseeing or Harbour Bridge
Climb
The day is yours to spend at leisure in Sydney. If you haven't
been to this stunning city before, you can book and optional half
day sightseeing tour to orientate yourself and check places of
interest that may be hard to get to under your own steam. If you
have already been to Sydney before, then try climbing the Harbour
Bridge this morning (pre-booking is essential for both activities
and can be done in the next step of the tour booking process).
Overnight: 4 Star Sydney Hotel
Tuesday 2
July, 2013 - Full day Hunter Valley wineries
tour
For food & wine lovers, today is your day as we tour to New
South Wales' Hunter Valley region. Approximately a 90 minute drive
north of Sydney across the Harbour Bridge and the Hawkesbury
Ranges, the Hunter region is renowned for it's Semillon and Shiraz,
along with many local cheeses and homemade sweets. Spend the day
roaming through the vineyards, tasting Australia's finest wines and
feasting on the delicious local food. Vineyard tastings are include
at the world famous Lindeman's, Rosemount Estate and McGuigan Wines
and we'll even stop at the local Blue Tongue Brewery!
Overnight: 4 Star Sydney
Hotel
Wednesday 3
July, 2013 - Sydney Free Day
Today is a free day to relax or explore some more of Sydney's
great sights. Why not take a ferry from Circular Quay to
Taronga Zoo and get up close & personal with Australia's Flora
& Fauna. Not only does Taronga Zoo boast Australia's best
wildlife but it also offers one of the best harbour views in
Sydney!
You may also like to visit Sydney's famous Bondi Beach and walk
the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. The walk is extremely popular
amongst the locals and offers beautiful coastline vistas, cosy
beaches and cafe strips for refuelling. The walk takes
approximately 2 hours to complete at a good pace, but break that
with a freshly squeezed juice or a relaxed coffee and you could
take all day - finishing with a relaxing swim at Coogee Beach or a
cold ale in the Coogee Bay Hotel.
Overnight: 4 Star Sydney
Hotel
Thursday 4
July, 2013 - Full day Blue Mountains tour
Today is a must for nature lovers as we spend the day in the
UNESCO World Heritage Blue Mountains. En-route we visiting the
award-winning Featherdale Wildlife Park where there are fantastic
photo opportunities and the chance to feed and interact with iconic
Aussie animals like koalas, kangaroos and crocodiles. Later take a
gentle bush walk to Wentworth Falls where you'll take in the
spectacular scenery of the Jamison and Megalong Valleys. Visit
Scenic World and ride the world's steepest railway as well as see
the historic township of Katoomba and the amazing Three Sisters
rock formation from Echo Point before returning to Sydney.
Overnight: 4 Star Sydney Hotel
Friday 5 July,
2013 - Sydney free day / Evening dinner cruise on Sydney
Harbour
The day is yours to spend at leisure in Sydney. If you haven't
already climbed the Harbour Bridge then why not do it this morning
(pre-booking essential and can be done in the next step of the tour
booking process). Tonight We Love Rugby will host a tour dinner on
board a Sydney Harbour Cruise ship with dinner and drinks included
and the opportunity to hear from and interact with former Wallabies
and/or Lions greats.
Overnight: 4 Star Sydney
Hotel
Saturday 6
July, 2013 - Exclusive Pre match Function and 3rd Lions
Test
Today sees the third and final Test match in this epic series to
be held at ANZ Stadium at Sydney's Olympic Park. After a leisurely
morning and another massive pre match function with food, drink,
entertainment and expert panel, the Olympic precinct at Homebush
will be pumping as the teams lay it all on the line. In 2001 both
sides arrived in Sydney bruised and battered with the series on a
knifes edge at 1-1. The match was a see-sawing affair, with the
ever reliable boot of Matt Burke putting the Wallabies ahead 9-3
before a Jason Robinson try and Johnny Wilkinson conversion had the
tourists in front. In the shadows of half time, Wallabies Centre
Daniel Herbet crashed over and Bourke converted again for 16-13
advantage at the break. Three minutes into the second half,
Wilkinson converted his own try and the Lions had a 4 point lead
before Herbet was again in the thick of the action scoring his
second try before being yellow carded and with 12 minutes to go
scores were locked together at 23 all. In the dying stages the
Lions had a line-out 5 metres out but predictable threw to their
fearless leader Martin Johnson and a young Justin "The Plank"
Harrison wrote himself into folklore with the steal of his life to
leave the Wallabies 26-23 winners and victors of a legendary
series.
Match: Lions v Qantas
Wallabies
Venue: ANZ Stadium,
Sydney
Overnight: 4 Star Sydney
Hotel
Sunday 7 July,
2013 - Departure Day or Optional Cairns/Barrier Reef Add on
Tour
Depending on your return flight today is a relaxing day to
recover from a memorable 2 weeks of touring and last night's grand
finale. If you are flying out today, we hope you have had a great
touring experience with We Love Rugby. The airport transit train is
your quickest and easiest option for reaching Sydney Airport. If
you would like to spend an extra couple days exploring Sydney, you
can purchase additional nights accommodation in the booking
process. If you have booked the optional 4 night add on to Cairns
and the Great Barrier Reef, then you will be transferred to the
airport this morning for your lunchtime flight to Cairns.
Domestic and International
Flights: Since our clients come from all around the world,
airfare is not included in our packages, However, Great Atlantic
Travel & Tour is a full service travel company that can provide
the lowest airfare available. We will work closely with each
traveler to secure the most cost efficient air schedule.
Custom Travel
Packages: Let us build a custom sports vacation that's
an exact fit for your corporate taste, time, and budget. Create a
signature package incorporating extra room nights, multiple cities,
sightseeing options, meet and greet services, - any number of
exciting options are available! Please go here to complete your
custom travel request.
Corporate Services:
Integrating incentive travel into your company's marketing plan is
not just a good idea to consider, but an essential strategy used
for increasing market share and improving customer service.
Incentive travel provides a distinctive opportunity for your staff
or customers to strive to increase sales revenue. It is also an
excellent way to introduce a new product line. Whether your company
is best suited to sponsor an internal, regional, national, or even
worldwide corporate event, we can assist. From concept to
completion, Great Atlantic has the experience you need to help you
boost your sales in an exciting way.
Financial Security: We
are proudly affiliated with the National Tour Association (NTA),
and with the International Association of Travel Agents (IATA),
consumer advocates of excellence in all forms of leisure travel. In
addition to adhering to a strict code of ethics, Great Atlantic
Travel and Tour, Inc. maintain the following insurance to insure
full client security: $2,000,000 coverage for general public
liability, and a consumer protection plan to protect your
investment. The thrill of traveling can come with it's own security
system. Protect your vacation investment. Make your travel plans
with an NTA tour operator. For references call NTA services at
1-800-862-8888.
For further details, to
view terms and
conditions, don't hesitate to contact us. If
you have any questions, or if you need more specific information
regarding travel services, tickets, hospitality, hotels or any
other travel services offered by Great Atlantic Travel & Tour
Company, please give our Sports Desk a call or email
us.
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