ITINERARY
BROTHER Down Under 2015
Wednesday, March 4th Brourists meet at Los Angeles International Airport for the evening flight to Sydney, Australia. You’ll be crossing the Pacific Ocean with Leila and James Dalton, our dynamic duo from the BROTHER office. Yes, it is a nice long flight! Plenty of time to rest up for the action packed 12 days ahead. Or to eat, drink and be merry, watch some movies and do some yoga in the aisles as Angus does! If you’d like, we can help you with your flight to Los Angeles.
DAY 1 Friday, March 6th (Oz is a day ahead and the trip takes a while!) Arrive in Australia early to be greeted by Hamish, Angus, Dalbo and DidgeriDrew. Then we’re off to our hotel, The Meriton Zetland, to check in and drop off luggage. After such a long flight you may be feeling pretty weary. You can take an hour or so nap, but we recommend waiting til the evening to sleep (to avoid jet lag). We will be staying close to the lovely Coogee Beach, so those up to it can spend some time there, soaking up the sun and surf. There's plenty of good shopping and restaurants and a picturesque cliff walk for those wanting to stretch their legs. Hamish and Angus lived at Coogee before they took flight to America, so they can show you all the sights. Your first night in Oz is free, with several wonderful choices for dinner near our hotel. But please make sure you get a good night’s sleep, as we’ve many busy days ahead!
DAY 2 Saturday, March 7th We have an early start today(7am!), heading west over The Blue Mountains. On the way we’ll visit the spectacular “Three Sisters” rock formation. Aboriginal legend has it that the towers are three beautiful sisters from the Katoomba tribe who were turned to stone. We’ll find out why! And we’ll take a ride on the cable car (the steepest and largest in the southern hemisphere!) over Jamison Valley, with a birds-eye viewing of The Three Sisters, Orphan Rock and Katoomba Falls. At the bottom of the valley we’ll take the scenic walkway thru a Jurassic rainforest. Back on the coach then to finish our journey over the mountains and into the spectacular countryside surrounding Mudgee. This is the land where Hamish and Angus, with brother Fergus and sister Emily, spent much of their early days exploring and getting into mischief on their grandpa’s farm. After checking into our splendid digs for the next couple of nights - the lovely Parkland Resort - we head over to “Tallawangra”, a fine wool sheep station. And the place where Charlie - Hamish and Angus’ best mate from college - grew up. Here, during the summer holidays, the brothers would “check the boundary fences” with Charlie on the station’s dirt bikes. Charlie's brother Adam will give us a talk about life on the station and maybe we'll ‘boil the billy’ for some good Aussie bush tea - just like the jolly swagman! Make sure to throw a couple of gum leaves in there. And in the evening we will treat you to a BROTHER concert in the shearing shed!
DAY 3 Sunday, March 8th Enjoy a free morning. Explore the little town of Mudgee, go to a service at the historic local church, or sleep in after Day 2! In the afternoon we visit a classic Aussie winery. Not just any winery, this one has a top class goat creamery as well. So get ready for a splendid wine and cheese tasting experience. Mudgee is well known for its world class wines, so if you’re a connoisseur plan to get yourself a bottle or two! Nearby is Patricia's farm. It is here that the fellas recorded the meditation album 'One Day'. We'll have ourselves a good Aussie dinner here then head over to the world class Mudgee Observatory for some unparalleled viewing of the southern night sky. We see a lot more of the milky Way in the southern hemisphere so prepare yourself for a cosmic treat! To finish the day we’ll have ourselves a paddock campfire and sing-along. Maybe a big old bonfire! We spend the night at the Parkland Resort again.
DAY 4 Monday, March 9th This morning we drive to Hill End, a classic colonial era gold mining village. Soak up authentic gold rush era Australia here. Maybe we’ll take a visit to the family farm and hear a few stories from the old days! Or some of the songs the fellas grew up singing. Then it’s on to Bathurst, the brothers’ hometown.We’ll check in to The Rydges Hotel early and you can have the afternoon and evening to yourselves to explore Bathurst. You may find yourselves in the beautiful Machattie Park. It was here that three young brothers, complete with masks, would hold up unsuspecting strollers with the classic bushranger cry of “Money or your life!” Needless to say, the life of crime didn’t pay off so they learnt the bagpipes. Overlooking Bathurst is Mt Panorama. And that describes it well, for the view is simply breathtaking. You can drive around the racetrack on the mountain. It’s quite the track, complete with “S” bends, and home to the world famous “Hardie 1000” car race. The brothers Richardson would lead the racecars on to the track with their high school pipe band back in the day! You may want to take a tour of nearby Bathurst Goldfields. Here you can learn the history of Bathurst in the 1850s and how the gold rush changed everything. Explore the gold mine, see historic working steam engines, see and work with the blacksmith. Even pan for real gold. Best of luck to you! Tonight will be a relatively free one. Maybe Hamish and Angus will get out their acoustic guitars at the hotel and brush the cobwebs off some of the songs they used to sing in the Bathurst pubs as teenagers.
DAY 5 Tuesday, March 10th 8am we hit the road for Canberra. On the way we'll take in a classic Aussie pub lunch. The drive to Canberra is thru the classic Aussie bushland of the Central West. Once we get to Canberra, Australia's capital city, we'll check into QT, our hotel for the next two nights. This afternoon we'll take a tour of the awe inspiring Parliament House. This is an amazing structure, well worth the visit! Maybe parliament will be in session and we'll see MP Peter Garret - lead singer for the Aussie rock band Midnight Oil. In the evening, take in some Canberra night life or just relax and get ready for another big day!
DAY 6 Wednesday, MARCH 11th Today you have the choice of The National Gallery or The War Museum. The War Museum is one of the world’s great museums and a truly moving and unforgettable experience. Discover the diverse Australian experiences of war - such as Gallipoli - and their enduring impact on Australian culture. See some of the world’s most significant military relics. The National Gallery is the home of Australia’s national collection of art, including specially designed galleries showcasing the world’s largest collection of indigenous art. You can choose the Gallery or The War Museum. Or, if you’re game, both! Tonight, it's BROTHER in concert, rocking hard...
DAY 7 Thursday, March 12th Today we drive east to the coast. Lunch will be at one of Australia’s best kept secrets - Pebbly Beach. Surrounded by bushland, Pebbly Beach is stunningly beautiful. As we picnic, we’ll be visited by wild kangaroos and wallabies. Last time we were there a little kangaroo tried to help himself to Drew’s backpack, so look out! Pebbly Beach is also home to thousands of native birds, including the spectacularly colorful Rainbow Lorikeet. Grab some birdseed there and watch them eat right out of your hand! Time then to check into our hotel just up the coast a little way at Mollymook Beach. We’ll be spending the next three nights here so you can really settle in! In the afternoon we will be with aboriginal elder, Noel Butler, for an in depth “First Australians” experience. History, culture and dance. And the lessons of the oldest living culture on earth. The night is yours!
DAY 8 Friday, March 13th It is in this neck of the woods that the brothers spent their summer holidays. (Hamish lives in the neighborhood, along with the brothers’ sister Emily and their parents, the infamous Dawnie and Dave). Idyllic to be sure and dear to their hearts! So we’re giving you a lot of time to explore on your own. You can have this morning free to relax on the beach if you like. Or for the adventurous you can choose to have an early surf lesson with former world #1 Pam Burridge, or take a stand up paddle lesson with world circuit top 10 Kai Bates. For those feeling more art inclined you can choose instead to have a session with nationally renowned visual artist Meagan Jacobs. Lunch will be at the picturesque Narrawallee Inlet, with kayaking for anyone who’s game. In the evening we’ll make our way to the classic Milton Theater for another night of BROTHER music. Maybe Hamish's daughters, Lily and Grace, will open the concert for us.
DAY 9 Saturday, March 14th Maybe we'll have ourselves a 'gospel brunch' this morning, with the Glorious MUD Singers - the gospel group created by Hamish's wife Tina and his good self. We recommend the beach! Otherwise, today will be yours to spend as you choose.Along with the white sands and stunningly clear and clean waters, there are plenty of rock pools teeming with life to discover. Ask the brothers about the incredible “bogie hole”. Visit the Beach Hut for a burger, Aussie style, with ‘the lot’ - complete with beet, fried egg, bacon and avocado! We reckon Aussie burgers are the best but we’re a wee bit biased. We do have the best beef in the world. Or grab yourself a classic Aussie meat pie. The boys grew up on these. Scrumptious! Our final evening on the south coast we invite you to a cocktail party and intimate concert at Hamish’s place.
DAY 10 Sunday, March 15th We’re going to hit the road early because we have a big day ahead! The drive up the coast is spectacular and we’ll stop at some of the most impressive lookouts along the way. If we make good time, we may visit the picturesque Audley National Park on the way. Once back in Sydney we will check into The Travel Lodge, our hotel for the next two nights. Sydney Harbour is an easy stroll from our hotel. You can wander down to the harbour side and round to the historic “Rocks” district for the afternoon. The Rocks was the first European settlement in Australia and there is much to see and do here. There’s plenty of souvenir shopping and good food to be found in the Rocks and at nearby “Circular Quay”. And for the art lovers, there is the Museum of Contemporary Art, right by the Quay. The famed Sydney Harbour Bridge is right there too. It’s quite the sight from below and can be climbed if you’re feeling particularly bold! Make sure you’re ready for our evening harbor cruise though - complete with gourmet dinner and our final BROTHER concert! What better way to see Sydney at night, than from the water, to the music of your BROTHER?!
DAY 11 Monday, March 16th
After a good Aussie breakfast by the water, those who want can take the ferry across the harbour to Manly Beach for the morning. Manly is a classic Sydney beach so take your swim suit if you’d like a paddle or a good body surf! Plenty of great restaurants for lunch there too. In the afternoon we’ll take a tour of one of Sydney's historic landmarks - The Opera House. Some fascinating things to learn about this incredibly unique structure. We’re very close to the incredible Sydney Botanic Gardens, so once we’re done with the Opera House, those still feeling adventurous can walk up to the gardens for the rest of the afternoon. And there's plenty of good shopping to be done near the hotel. You could even catch a tram over to the iconic Bondi Beach and have some fish n chips by the water as the sun sets. There is no end of things to do in Sydney when the sun goes down. Ask the fellas for some suggestions. Maybe we can all meet for drinks at the Opera House bar and reflect on our time together.
DAY 12 Tuesday, March 17th Time to be heading home! Make sure you have all your souvenirs carefully packed, have a final Aussie breakfast, take a goodbye stroll down by the harbour, then it’s off to the airport for fond farewells to all our Brourists. Have a safe journey home. And thank you for letting us show you ours!
Wednesday, March 4th Brourists meet at Los Angeles International Airport for the evening flight to Sydney, Australia. You’ll be crossing the Pacific Ocean with Leila and James Dalton, our dynamic duo from the BROTHER office. Yes, it is a nice long flight! Plenty of time to rest up for the action packed 12 days ahead. Or to eat, drink and be merry, watch some movies and do some yoga in the aisles as Angus does! If you’d like, we can help you with your flight to Los Angeles.
DAY 1 Friday, March 6th (Oz is a day ahead and the trip takes a while!) Arrive in Australia early to be greeted by Hamish, Angus, Dalbo and DidgeriDrew. Then we’re off to our hotel, The Meriton Zetland, to check in and drop off luggage. After such a long flight you may be feeling pretty weary. You can take an hour or so nap, but we recommend waiting til the evening to sleep (to avoid jet lag). We will be staying close to the lovely Coogee Beach, so those up to it can spend some time there, soaking up the sun and surf. There's plenty of good shopping and restaurants and a picturesque cliff walk for those wanting to stretch their legs. Hamish and Angus lived at Coogee before they took flight to America, so they can show you all the sights. Your first night in Oz is free, with several wonderful choices for dinner near our hotel. But please make sure you get a good night’s sleep, as we’ve many busy days ahead!
DAY 2 Saturday, March 7th We have an early start today(7am!), heading west over The Blue Mountains. On the way we’ll visit the spectacular “Three Sisters” rock formation. Aboriginal legend has it that the towers are three beautiful sisters from the Katoomba tribe who were turned to stone. We’ll find out why! And we’ll take a ride on the cable car (the steepest and largest in the southern hemisphere!) over Jamison Valley, with a birds-eye viewing of The Three Sisters, Orphan Rock and Katoomba Falls. At the bottom of the valley we’ll take the scenic walkway thru a Jurassic rainforest. Back on the coach then to finish our journey over the mountains and into the spectacular countryside surrounding Mudgee. This is the land where Hamish and Angus, with brother Fergus and sister Emily, spent much of their early days exploring and getting into mischief on their grandpa’s farm. After checking into our splendid digs for the next couple of nights - the lovely Parkland Resort - we head over to “Tallawangra”, a fine wool sheep station. And the place where Charlie - Hamish and Angus’ best mate from college - grew up. Here, during the summer holidays, the brothers would “check the boundary fences” with Charlie on the station’s dirt bikes. Charlie's brother Adam will give us a talk about life on the station and maybe we'll ‘boil the billy’ for some good Aussie bush tea - just like the jolly swagman! Make sure to throw a couple of gum leaves in there. And in the evening we will treat you to a BROTHER concert in the shearing shed!
DAY 3 Sunday, March 8th Enjoy a free morning. Explore the little town of Mudgee, go to a service at the historic local church, or sleep in after Day 2! In the afternoon we visit a classic Aussie winery. Not just any winery, this one has a top class goat creamery as well. So get ready for a splendid wine and cheese tasting experience. Mudgee is well known for its world class wines, so if you’re a connoisseur plan to get yourself a bottle or two! Nearby is Patricia's farm. It is here that the fellas recorded the meditation album 'One Day'. We'll have ourselves a good Aussie dinner here then head over to the world class Mudgee Observatory for some unparalleled viewing of the southern night sky. We see a lot more of the milky Way in the southern hemisphere so prepare yourself for a cosmic treat! To finish the day we’ll have ourselves a paddock campfire and sing-along. Maybe a big old bonfire! We spend the night at the Parkland Resort again.
DAY 4 Monday, March 9th This morning we drive to Hill End, a classic colonial era gold mining village. Soak up authentic gold rush era Australia here. Maybe we’ll take a visit to the family farm and hear a few stories from the old days! Or some of the songs the fellas grew up singing. Then it’s on to Bathurst, the brothers’ hometown.We’ll check in to The Rydges Hotel early and you can have the afternoon and evening to yourselves to explore Bathurst. You may find yourselves in the beautiful Machattie Park. It was here that three young brothers, complete with masks, would hold up unsuspecting strollers with the classic bushranger cry of “Money or your life!” Needless to say, the life of crime didn’t pay off so they learnt the bagpipes. Overlooking Bathurst is Mt Panorama. And that describes it well, for the view is simply breathtaking. You can drive around the racetrack on the mountain. It’s quite the track, complete with “S” bends, and home to the world famous “Hardie 1000” car race. The brothers Richardson would lead the racecars on to the track with their high school pipe band back in the day! You may want to take a tour of nearby Bathurst Goldfields. Here you can learn the history of Bathurst in the 1850s and how the gold rush changed everything. Explore the gold mine, see historic working steam engines, see and work with the blacksmith. Even pan for real gold. Best of luck to you! Tonight will be a relatively free one. Maybe Hamish and Angus will get out their acoustic guitars at the hotel and brush the cobwebs off some of the songs they used to sing in the Bathurst pubs as teenagers.
DAY 5 Tuesday, March 10th 8am we hit the road for Canberra. On the way we'll take in a classic Aussie pub lunch. The drive to Canberra is thru the classic Aussie bushland of the Central West. Once we get to Canberra, Australia's capital city, we'll check into QT, our hotel for the next two nights. This afternoon we'll take a tour of the awe inspiring Parliament House. This is an amazing structure, well worth the visit! Maybe parliament will be in session and we'll see MP Peter Garret - lead singer for the Aussie rock band Midnight Oil. In the evening, take in some Canberra night life or just relax and get ready for another big day!
DAY 6 Wednesday, MARCH 11th Today you have the choice of The National Gallery or The War Museum. The War Museum is one of the world’s great museums and a truly moving and unforgettable experience. Discover the diverse Australian experiences of war - such as Gallipoli - and their enduring impact on Australian culture. See some of the world’s most significant military relics. The National Gallery is the home of Australia’s national collection of art, including specially designed galleries showcasing the world’s largest collection of indigenous art. You can choose the Gallery or The War Museum. Or, if you’re game, both! Tonight, it's BROTHER in concert, rocking hard...
DAY 7 Thursday, March 12th Today we drive east to the coast. Lunch will be at one of Australia’s best kept secrets - Pebbly Beach. Surrounded by bushland, Pebbly Beach is stunningly beautiful. As we picnic, we’ll be visited by wild kangaroos and wallabies. Last time we were there a little kangaroo tried to help himself to Drew’s backpack, so look out! Pebbly Beach is also home to thousands of native birds, including the spectacularly colorful Rainbow Lorikeet. Grab some birdseed there and watch them eat right out of your hand! Time then to check into our hotel just up the coast a little way at Mollymook Beach. We’ll be spending the next three nights here so you can really settle in! In the afternoon we will be with aboriginal elder, Noel Butler, for an in depth “First Australians” experience. History, culture and dance. And the lessons of the oldest living culture on earth. The night is yours!
DAY 8 Friday, March 13th It is in this neck of the woods that the brothers spent their summer holidays. (Hamish lives in the neighborhood, along with the brothers’ sister Emily and their parents, the infamous Dawnie and Dave). Idyllic to be sure and dear to their hearts! So we’re giving you a lot of time to explore on your own. You can have this morning free to relax on the beach if you like. Or for the adventurous you can choose to have an early surf lesson with former world #1 Pam Burridge, or take a stand up paddle lesson with world circuit top 10 Kai Bates. For those feeling more art inclined you can choose instead to have a session with nationally renowned visual artist Meagan Jacobs. Lunch will be at the picturesque Narrawallee Inlet, with kayaking for anyone who’s game. In the evening we’ll make our way to the classic Milton Theater for another night of BROTHER music. Maybe Hamish's daughters, Lily and Grace, will open the concert for us.
DAY 9 Saturday, March 14th Maybe we'll have ourselves a 'gospel brunch' this morning, with the Glorious MUD Singers - the gospel group created by Hamish's wife Tina and his good self. We recommend the beach! Otherwise, today will be yours to spend as you choose.Along with the white sands and stunningly clear and clean waters, there are plenty of rock pools teeming with life to discover. Ask the brothers about the incredible “bogie hole”. Visit the Beach Hut for a burger, Aussie style, with ‘the lot’ - complete with beet, fried egg, bacon and avocado! We reckon Aussie burgers are the best but we’re a wee bit biased. We do have the best beef in the world. Or grab yourself a classic Aussie meat pie. The boys grew up on these. Scrumptious! Our final evening on the south coast we invite you to a cocktail party and intimate concert at Hamish’s place.
DAY 10 Sunday, March 15th We’re going to hit the road early because we have a big day ahead! The drive up the coast is spectacular and we’ll stop at some of the most impressive lookouts along the way. If we make good time, we may visit the picturesque Audley National Park on the way. Once back in Sydney we will check into The Travel Lodge, our hotel for the next two nights. Sydney Harbour is an easy stroll from our hotel. You can wander down to the harbour side and round to the historic “Rocks” district for the afternoon. The Rocks was the first European settlement in Australia and there is much to see and do here. There’s plenty of souvenir shopping and good food to be found in the Rocks and at nearby “Circular Quay”. And for the art lovers, there is the Museum of Contemporary Art, right by the Quay. The famed Sydney Harbour Bridge is right there too. It’s quite the sight from below and can be climbed if you’re feeling particularly bold! Make sure you’re ready for our evening harbor cruise though - complete with gourmet dinner and our final BROTHER concert! What better way to see Sydney at night, than from the water, to the music of your BROTHER?!
DAY 11 Monday, March 16th
After a good Aussie breakfast by the water, those who want can take the ferry across the harbour to Manly Beach for the morning. Manly is a classic Sydney beach so take your swim suit if you’d like a paddle or a good body surf! Plenty of great restaurants for lunch there too. In the afternoon we’ll take a tour of one of Sydney's historic landmarks - The Opera House. Some fascinating things to learn about this incredibly unique structure. We’re very close to the incredible Sydney Botanic Gardens, so once we’re done with the Opera House, those still feeling adventurous can walk up to the gardens for the rest of the afternoon. And there's plenty of good shopping to be done near the hotel. You could even catch a tram over to the iconic Bondi Beach and have some fish n chips by the water as the sun sets. There is no end of things to do in Sydney when the sun goes down. Ask the fellas for some suggestions. Maybe we can all meet for drinks at the Opera House bar and reflect on our time together.
DAY 12 Tuesday, March 17th Time to be heading home! Make sure you have all your souvenirs carefully packed, have a final Aussie breakfast, take a goodbye stroll down by the harbour, then it’s off to the airport for fond farewells to all our Brourists. Have a safe journey home. And thank you for letting us show you ours!
TOUR PACKAGE
TOTAL COST:
$5899.00 per person/double occupancy. Additional cost for single occupant.
Price includes: round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Sydney, 12 days of travel, 11 nights accommodation, 11 dinners, 11 breakfasts, entrance fees, taxes.
Not included: personal purchases, beverages, hotel incidentals, all lunches, optional insurance, transport to and from Los Angeles Airport, gratuities.
PAYMENT DETAILS
Total Cost for Double Occupancy: $5899 per person. Non-Refundable Deposit of $899 per person Due at Enrollment.
Payment Schedule (per person): Payment #1 of $1250 Due By October 10, 2014, Payment #2 of $1250 Due By November 10, 2014, Payment #3 of $1250 due by December 10, 2014, Final Payment of $1250 Due By January 10, 2015.
Supplemental Cost for Single Occupancy: $690
Payments may be made by credit card, check or money order. There will be a 3.6% credit card fee.
TOTAL COST:
$5899.00 per person/double occupancy. Additional cost for single occupant.
Price includes: round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Sydney, 12 days of travel, 11 nights accommodation, 11 dinners, 11 breakfasts, entrance fees, taxes.
Not included: personal purchases, beverages, hotel incidentals, all lunches, optional insurance, transport to and from Los Angeles Airport, gratuities.
PAYMENT DETAILS
Total Cost for Double Occupancy: $5899 per person. Non-Refundable Deposit of $899 per person Due at Enrollment.
Payment Schedule (per person): Payment #1 of $1250 Due By October 10, 2014, Payment #2 of $1250 Due By November 10, 2014, Payment #3 of $1250 due by December 10, 2014, Final Payment of $1250 Due By January 10, 2015.
Supplemental Cost for Single Occupancy: $690
Payments may be made by credit card, check or money order. There will be a 3.6% credit card fee.
PACKING SUGGESTIONS
CLOTHING
SHOES
TOILETRIES
MISCELLANEOUS
*The official voltage for Australia (and New Zealand) is 240 volts with most electrical goods operating at around the 220 – 240 volt mark. Both Australia and New Zealand operate on the same 3-pronged outlet.
- 1 rain jacket
- 1 warm jacket
- 2 pairs of jeans
- Shorts/skirts
- 3 casual shirts
- 4 T-shirts
- Jacket and trousers or dresses (for evenings out – elegant/retro/funky)
- 1 warm sweater
- Tracksuit
- Socks (lots)
- Undies (lots)
- Nightwear
- Cozzies (swim wear) and towel
- Hat
SHOES
- Comfortable shoes (for outdoor activities)
- Sandals/thongs/flip flops
- Going out shoes
TOILETRIES
- Toiletry bag and contents
- Sunblock lotion
- Insect repellent
- Medications
- Hankies/tissue
MISCELLANEOUS
- Sunglasses
- Sewing kit
- Small first aid kit
- Writing/sketching materials
- Small torch (flashlight)
- Day bag/pack
- Small devices (e.g. camera, phone, laptop, tablet, harmonica)
- Moola/Currency/Aussie dollars
- Power adaptor*
*The official voltage for Australia (and New Zealand) is 240 volts with most electrical goods operating at around the 220 – 240 volt mark. Both Australia and New Zealand operate on the same 3-pronged outlet.
Make sure you have your passport, ticket(s) and any necessary travel documents.
Discover BROTHER's Australia with Hamish and Angus as your guides. March 4-17, 2015 - 12 days and 11 nights on the ground with Hamish, Angus, Dalbo and Drew. Details coming very soon.
To make sure you get the latest information, email us so that we can add you to our BROTHER Down Under database.
To make sure you get the latest information, email us so that we can add you to our BROTHER Down Under database.