Chasing The Sun Tour - Saturday 27th July - Sunday 4th August, 2024
Day 1: Central Coast to Port Macquarie
We depart the Central Coast for a leisurely drive north to Port Macquarie
7:30am - 8:30am Home Pick Up Service
9:30am - 9:45am Comfort stop at Heatherbrae
10:30am - 11:00am Morning Tea at Bulahdelah
1:00pm Arrive at Port Macquarie & enjoy a sparkling high tea at Rydges
2:30pm - Free time to enjoy some retail therapy in town before checking into our accommodation - Rydges, Port Macquarie
6:30pm Two course dinner at Rydges
Day 1 Inclusions: home pick up service, transport, morning tea, sparkling high tea, accommodation, dinner
Day 2: Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour
9:00am - 9:30am Quick visit to Ricardoes Tomato & Strawberry Farm, Port Macquarie
10:30am - 11:30am Visit Slim Dusty Centre Museum, Kempsey
12:00pm - 2:00pm Visit the Coffs Harbour Butterfly Farm + enjoy lunch at the venue
2:30pm - 3:00pm Photo stop & shop at the Big Banana, Coffs Harbour
3:30pm - 4:00pm Admire the view from the Forest Sky Pier, Coffs Harbour before checking into our accommodation for the night - Opal Cove Resort
6:30pm Two course dinner at Opal Cove Resort
Day 2 Inclusions: breakfast, transport, museum entry, butterfly farm entry, lunch, accommodation, dinner
Day 3 Coffs Harbour to Gold Coast
7:30am - 8:30am Breakfast at Opal Cove Resort
8:30am Depart Coffs Harbour
10:30am - 11:00am New Italy Museum - Comfort & Coffee Stop
12:00pm - 2:00pm - Free time to explore the shops at Byron Bay & purchase lunch
3:30pm - 4:30pm Lorikeet feeding at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
5:00pm Arrive at our accommodation for the next 3 nights - Mercure Resort Gold Coast
6:30pm Two course dinner at Mercure
Day 3 Inclusions: breakfast, transport, lorikeet feeding experience, accommodation, dinner
Day 4 Gold Coast
7:30am - 8:30am Breakfast at accommodation before departing at 9am
9:30am - 1:30pm Sea World
2:00pm Free time to relax & make use of the facilities at the Mercure
6:15pm Depart for the Outback Spectacular Experience
7:00pm Outback Spectacular Dinner & Show
Day 4 Inclusions: breakfast, transport, Sea World entry, Outback Spectacular Show & dinner
Day 5 - Gold Coast
7:00am - 8:00am - Breakfast at accommodation
10:00am - 11:00am Take in the magnificent view of the Gold Coast from Sky Point Observation Deck, located at the top of the Q1 building
12:00pm - 2:00pm Gold Coast canals lunch cruise
3:00pm Free time back at the Mercure
6:30pm Two course dinner at the Mercure
Day 5 Inclusions: breakfast, transport, Sky Point ticket, lunch cruise, dinner
Day 6 - Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast via Brisbane
7:30am - 8:30am Breakfast at accommodation
8:30am Depart for Brisbane
9:30am Arrive in Brisbane & board the RiverCat at 10am to travel along the Brisbane River from the University of Queensland to Newstead Farm
11:00am - 1:00pm Lunch at the iconic & historic Breakfast Creek Hotel
2:00pm - 3:00pm Visit Bee Gees Way, Redcliffe
4:00pm Glass House Mountain lookout (weather & time permitting)
5:00pm Arrive at accommodation for the next 3 nights - Mercure Kawana Waters
6:30pm - 8:30pm Two Course Diner at the Mercure
Day 6 Inclusions: breakfast, transport, RiverCat ticket, lunch, accommodation, dinner
Day 7 - Australia Zoo & Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Depart accommodation at 8:30am after breakfast
9:00am - 2:00pm Australia Zoo
2:30pm - 3:30pm visit the Hinterland town of Montville before returning to accommodation at Kawana Waters
4:30pm Arrive back at accommodation
6:30pm Dinner at Mercure
Day 7 Inclusions: breakfast, transport, entry into Australia Zoo, accommodation, dinner
Day 8 Eumundi Markets + Noosa
8:30am Depart accommodation after breakfast
9:30am - 11:30am Free time to explore Eumundi Markets - one of the biggest & best artisan markets in Australia
Drive up to Noosa & enjoy some free time exploring the shops along Hastings Street & purchase lunch
Scenic drive back to Kawana Waters via the coast road
6:30pm Dinner at Mercure Kawana Waters
Day 8 Inclusions: breakfast, transport, accommodation, dinner
Day 9 - Fly Home to Sydney
7:30 - 8:30am Breakfast & check out of Mercure Kawana Waters
Catch the mid-morning flight from Sunshine Coast or Brisbane Airport (escorted by Alison)
One of our friendly Connect Coaches Drivers will be at Sydney Airport to welcome you & transfer you back home to the Central Coast
Day 9 Inclusions: breakfast, transfer from accommodation to airport, economy flight from Sunshine Coast or Brisbane to Sydney, home drop off service (within our advertised drop off area)
Please Click here to express your interest in this tour. If we have a seat available, we'll email you an invoice for the deposit along with a booking form for you to complete & return to us.
Price - Per Person:
Single - $4500
Twin Share / Double - $3995
You are welcome to pay for this tour in instalments which you can discuss with us when booking.
Deposit & Balance:
To secure your seat, we require a $200 deposit to be paid within 14 days of booking.
The balance for this tour must be paid 10 weeks before the departure date (unless an alternate arrangement has been made with Liam & Alison).
Airfare tickets:
Connect Coaches will require a second payment by the beginning of March to secure the airline tickets for the return home flight.
Fitness & Mobility:
Due to the activities in this tour's itinerary, it is important that people have an adequate level of mobility & stamina to ensure that they are able to enjoy & manage walking around Sea World, Australia Zoo, etc.
Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for those who require walkers as some venues will have stairs & uneven surfaces. A walking stick is an appropriate form of walking aid for this tour.
When booking accommodation venues, we always request ground floor rooms & walk-in showers. However, these requests cannot always be guaranteed by the venues.
Luggage:
Passengers will be limited to one suitcase plus carry on baggage (small backpack, handbag etc.) to be able to travel on the flight home. The weight of each item will be dependent upon the airline's regulations & this information will be conveyed to you before our departure date.
Although we are happy to assist passengers with their luggage, you will be responsible for transporting your suitcase from our vehicle to your room during the tour. Passengers also need to be able to manage their luggage at the airport.
Terms & Conditions:
Important: The terms, conditions and limitation of liability under which the tour operates are detailed below and the payment of the tour deposit &/or balance represents acceptance by the passenger of the following:-
1. This tour has been organised by and will be operated by Connect Coaches.
2. To confirm your reservation, a non-refundable deposit of $200 per person must be received within 14 days of booking. The balance must be paid 10 weeks before departure date. Reservations will only be held until this date unless a prior arrangement has been made with Liam & Alison. Connect Coaches reserves the right to accept waitlist passengers in place of applicants failing to finalise within the prescribed time.
3. Occasionally it may be necessary to alter or amend *itineraries, accommodation and sightseeing arrangements from those published. This may be due to road, weather and other operational needs prevailing at the time and is always made in the best interest of your comfort. Times listed on the *itinerary are approximations only. Any personal expenses incurred by a passenger as a result of any delay, alteration or curtailment of any tour, whether caused by mechanical defect, strikes or any other cause are the responsibility of the passenger.
4. A minimum number of bookings is required to operate a tour and also to ensure an enjoyable group atmosphere. Where sufficient numbers cannot be achieved, Connect Coaches reserves the right to cancel or postpone a scheduled departure date or tour. When a tour is cancelled by Connect Coaches, your monies will be refunded in full. If the tour is postponed & you are unable to travel on the new date, your monies will be refunded in full.
5. Any special passenger requirements must be notified to Connect Coaches on the Booking Form provided at the point of booking. No passenger will be permitted to embark or continue on the tour while their mental or physical condition is, in the opinion of any representative of Connect Coaches, such as to render themselves incapable of caring for themselves, or whereby they become objectionable to other passengers, or they become a hazard to themselves or other passengers. Connect Coaches will not be responsible for expenses resulting in such persons being precluded from completing the tour for any such reason.
6. Where a tour is cancelled prior to the departure date, according to sections 2 or 3 above or due to an outbreak of Covid-19, Connect Coaches shall endeavour to offer the nearest possible alternative tour (subject to a refund or payment to cover any tour price difference.) or, if this is not acceptable, refund your monies in full.
7. Connect Coaches cannot guarantee exact arrival and departure times and is not liable for any failure to make connections with any other service or guarantee the operation of any particular service.
8. Connect Coaches reserves the right to cancel any ticket or booking or to refuse to carry any passenger where payments have not been received within the times specified. It is a condition of carriage that a passenger has paid all tour monies prior to departure of the tour.
9. Cancellation Fees – Connect Coaches’ tours require extensive planning, coordination and costs, as well as advance bookings and payments of accommodation and activities. In the event that you have to cancel your tour with us, the following rates will apply to our transport component of the tour. Any motel or additional travel cancellation costs may be applicable as per their individual cancellation policies:
· less than 28 days’ notice - 0% refund of coach component
10. Comprehensive travel insurance cover is strongly recommended for all tours to cover you against possible associated risks of travel including cover for medical expenses and costs, loss of luggage, and expenses incurred due to cancellations, delays or other disruptions.
11. Although your safety and comfort are our highest priority, all passengers who participate in our tours do so at their own risk and Connect Coaches cannot accept responsibility for any loss of personal belongings, accident, illness or injury incurred by you.
12. "Act of God" or "Force Majeure" Clause: the occurrence of an event that is beyond Connect Coaches' reasonable control and which could not have been reasonably prevented which includes, but is not limited to: (a) pandemic events such as Covid-19; (b) natural disaster (including but not limited to flooding, fire, earthquake, landslide), adverse weather conditions, high or low water levels; (c) nuclear or other industrial accident causing environmental pollution or contamination; or (d) change in government restrictions or regulations. Should a Force Majeure event prevent Connect Coaches from providing your tour as planned, we will change our travel arrangements as reasonably practicable to ensure your safety and invoice you for any possible additional costs if required.
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