Monday, May 24, 2010

South Africa




"Call of the Wild" Our exciting 19 day adventure tour commences on the 9th September 2010. Departing Gympie and collecting passengers from Sunshine Coast and Brisbane areas on our way to the International Airport. Join us on a trip of a lifetime as we explore the beauty of South Africa. We will be joined by an experienced guide in South Africa and your Australilan Guide will be Sheree Fink.

Flights with Singapore Airlines, 4 Star accommodation, breakfasts, dinners and some lunches, touring to game parks and Coach travel are all included.

Cost Australian Dollars: $8495 per person twin share / Single Supplement $1,050

DAY 1: 09 Sep Departure Australia.
Welcome aboard “Polleys Suntour” Coach . Today we make our way to Brisbane international airport to Board our flight to exciting South Africa where we will commence our fully escorted “Southern Circle Tours & Safaris” journey . We are excited that this tour has been designed by “Local Operators” so we are confident this is one tour not to be missed. South Africa is as diverse as it is beautiful, form Big Five Game viewing to world famous Kruger National Park and spectacular Cape Town, this tour covers it all! Our flights will depart Brisbane, Singapore then direct to Johannesburg.

DAY 2: 10 Sep Arrival Johannesburg
On your arrival at O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg you are met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at you leisure to rest from the flight.
Overnight Sunnyside Park Hotel. Dinner included today.


DAY 3: 11 Sep Soweto - Johannesburg
Soweto (South Western Townships) might be famous as South Africa’s hotspot during the 70’s, but few know that there is so much more to Soweto. The tour includes a visit to the new Prestige Park and Orlando West, travelling past homes of the rich and famous, houses of Winnie Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We also stop at the Mandela Museum, as well as the Hector Peterson Memorial for a glimpse into the history of SOWETO. We have lunch at a shebeen and experience the great food of Soweto. So many people avoid Johannesburg because of clichés, yet this vibrant city is still the largest in South Africa. Johannesburg, also known as Egoli (the City of Gold), holds First World attractions for any traveller. This tour includes highlights like the Stock Exchange, De Beers (famous for diamonds) George Harrison Park, where gold was first discovered in the late 1800’s. The prestigious Northern Suburbs of Sandton, Houghton, Rosebank, and then cosmopolitan Hillbrow, a colourful insight to South Africa’s "Manhattan", once the most densely populated spot in the Southern Hemisphere.
Overnight Sunnyside Park Hotel. Breakfast lunch and dinner included today.



DAY 4: 12 Sep Johannesburg – Panoramic Route
Our first day on tour takes us from Johannesburg via Middelburg, Dullstroom and Robber’s Pass to Pilgrim´s Rest, the early gold mining town turned into a living museum. Rich deposits of alluvial gold were found here at the end of the 19th century, hence the existence of the town deep in the mountains. After exploring this quaint old town, we continue to Sabie where we have a pleasant walk through indigenous forest to visit Lone Creek Falls.
Overnight at the Lone Creek River Lodge. Breakfast and dinner included.

DAY 5: 13 Sep Panoramic Route – Private Reserve
We travel via Graskop to marvel at scenic areas such the Pinnacle, God’s Window, Lisbon Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes (a walk down the hill to this unique trick of nature is worth the effort), and the magnificent Three Rondavels view site at the Blyde River Canyon. We walk along the cliffs to really appreciate the breathtaking views. Finally we descend to the Lowveld via Abel Erasmus pass and the Strydom Tunnel to arrive at Mohlabetsi in the Balule private game reserve. This afternoon our encounter with Africa's wildlife begins as we travel on an open vehicle to search for the game. Enjoy a great dinner under the stars tonight (weather permitting).
Overnight at Mohlabetsi. Breakfast and dinner included.

DAY 6: 14 Sep Private Reserve - Kruger National Park
After an early morning hike, searching for the wild on foot, and breakfast, we enter the Kruger National Park and spend the rest of day in this magnificent reserve around 2 million ha in extent.
Overnight at Skukuza Camp. Breakfast and dinner included

DAY 7: 15 Sep Kruger National Park - Swaziland
We rise early for a game drive and return for breakfast in the camp. We spend the rest of the morning in the reserve and depart in the afternoon for the mountain Kingdom of Swaziland. We travel via Piggs Peak through magnificent mountain scenery and visit the Ngwenya glass factory where all the products are hand made from recycled glass. We drive through Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland, before travelling to our overnight stop in the mountains just outside Mhlambanyatsi.
Overnight Foresters Arms Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included.

DAY 8: 16 Sep Swaziland – Zululand – Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park
This morning we have an early breakfast and then visit Swazi Candles in the Malkerns Valley where we watch the locals hand-moulding wax into a variety of interesting shapes. We continue through the Ezulwini Valley past the Houses of Parliament and the Independence Stadium to the well-known local craft market where bargaining is the order of the day. Our route then takes us via Manzini, the country’s industrial centre, and Big Bend with its large sugar plantations to the South African border. We are now getting closer to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi game reserve, where we arrive mid afternoon. After checking in at Hilltop Camp, leave on a late afternoon/early evening game drive in an open safari vehicle equipped with high powered spot lights to search for the shy nocturnal and other animals. Dinner is served after the completion of this exciting experience.
Overnight Hilltop Camp. Breakfast and dinner included.

DAY 9: 17 Sep Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park – St Lucia - Durban
After an early breakfast we do a final game drive in our vehicle before travelling to the village of St Lucia. Here we join a boat cruise on the estuary of the famous Lake St Lucia (proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1999), a paradise with bird species such as fish eagle, Goliath heron and many more. Your skipper/guide will show you the world of the hippo and the crocodile and the other mystic inhabitants of the "deep". After this unforgettable experience we travel to Durban the holiday Mecca of South Africa
Overnight City Lodge Umhlanga Ridge. Breakfast and Dinner included

DAY 10: 18 Sep Durban – Coastal Route – Wild CoastThe drive from Durban along the South Coast takes you through lush subtropical vegetation and numerous holiday villages dotted along the seaboard. We visit the scenic Oribi Gorge and some beautiful little beaches. Today we turn inland and enter the Eastern Cape Province, the former homeland of Transkei, and traverse over hilly grasslands dotted with Xhosa homesteads, through valleys and clear streams. We travel to the small coastal village of Port St Johns.
Overnight Cremorne Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included.

DAY 11: 19 Sep Wild Coast / Transkei
After breakfast we travel to Imthata, the capital of the former homeland. After a visit to the Nelson Mandela museum we travel further south to East London, the only river port in South Africa, and the place where a prehistoric coelacanth was caught in 1938.
Overnight Crawford’s Bungalows. Breakfast and dinner included.

DAY 12: 20 Sep Wild Coast – Addo National Park – Port Elizabeth
This morning's journey is along the coast and we enjoy the lush vegetation and rugged coastline. We visit Port Alfred, an outstanding holiday village situated on the Kowie river mouth and travel to Grahamstown. The small cathedral city is considered the art capital of South Africa and is steeped in history. At the Addo National Elephant Park game reserve we have an excellent chance of an encounter with these giants of the bush amongst other animals. This afternoon we reach Port Elizabeth, the fifth biggest city in the country, set on the shores of the Algoa Bay and also called the “Friendly City”.
Overnight at Fifth Avenue Beach House. Breakfast & Dinner included.

DAY 13: 21 Sep Garden Route – Knysna
We depart from Port Elizabeth, along the N2 national route to the Storms River with the impressive Paul Sauer Bridge across the valley towering some one hundred and thirty-nine metres above the river. Our next stop is at Tsitsikamma National Park (Khoisan for “The place of much water”) stretching more than one hundred kilometres of wild and rocky coastline characterised by massive cliffs, narrow isolated beaches and shady indigenous forests along the river valleys. Now, truly in the famous Garden Route of the Cape, we traverse more magnificently scenic river valley passes to Knysna on the edge of the Knysna Lagoon with its entrance to the sea guarded by two promontories known as 'The Heads'. The area also falls within a National Park proclaimed to conserve the extraordinary natural beauty of the Lakeland and adjacent indigenous forests. Knysna offers shopping opportunities of unusual, locally made, art and craft, etc.
Overnight at the Simola Golf Estate Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included

DAY 14: 22 Sep Knysna - Oudtshoorn
We explore the lake areas, the Wilderness National Park and travel via the scenic Montagu Pass to Oudsthoorn also known as the 'Feather Capital' of the world, as by far the largest concentration of ostrich farms in the world are found here. We visit the Cango Caves, regarded as one of South Africa's foremost natural wonders. The fascinating calcite caves comprise an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites.
Overnight at La Plume Guest Lodge. Breakfast and dinner included

DAY 15: 23 Sep Oudtshoorn – Mossel Bay – Cape Town
After an early start we visit to an ostrich show farm for some unique experiences, including ostrich racing. A ride on the back of an ostrich is not for the fainthearted. Our route to Mossel Bay takes us over the Outeniqua Mountains via Robinson's Pass. Here we visit arguably the oldest post office in Africa, the Post Office Tree, and the site of the first landfall, made by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz in 1488. After an early lunch we travel via Swellendam to Cape Town where we arrive late afternoon. Tonight we have dinner in one of the many great restaurants on the famous V & A Waterfront.
Overnight Portswood Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included


DAY 16: 24 Sep Cape Town
The Cape Peninsula forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, and more indigenous plant species per square meter are found here than anywhere else on earth. The coastline of the Peninsula have more than a hundred beaches with dazzling white sands to choose from, and this tour offers magnificent viewpoints to some of them. On this round-trip of the Peninsula, we visit the following highlights: Cape Point where the two oceans meet, the fynbos rich Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a boat trip to Seal Island (optional), a visit to Boulders Beach where we can see penguins in their natural habitat, Muizenberg with its magnificent 35 km stretch of beaches, Simon's Town where the South African Navy is based, Groot Constantia the oldest winemaking centre in South Africa, and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with some four thousand species of indigenous plants of which some two thousand six hundred are endemic to the peninsula. We return to the city late afternoon after an eventful day.
Overnight Portswood Hotel. Breakfast included


DAY 17: 25 Sep Cape Peninsula
Cape Town, Tavern of the Seas, with the majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. An electric mix of architectural styles, cobble stone streets and cultural diversity enhance the cosmopolitan ambience. Some of the highlights we visit are Signal Hill, Malay Quarters, Castle of Good Hope, Company Gardens and Government Avenue, Houses of Parliament, S.A. Museum, and a final drive to Milnerton for a full view of Table Mountain with the city in its lap. Spend the afternoon on your own in the Waterfront exploring the shops.
Tonight we travel to Gold restaurant where we shall have a farewell dinner with a difference. The night starts off with the drumbeat of the djembe drum. An interactive drum circle offers you the opportunity to join in and learn how to play the djembe. Soon you will be pounding your drum to the rhythms and sounds of Africa. After pounding the skins of the drums, we will soothe your hands in a traditional hand washing ceremony as you are led into the ancient courtyards. Cuisine from our Cape Malay and African kitchen which is served by the magnificently adorned staff bearing your banquet in baskets perched on their heads. While you enjoy the vast variety of different dishes, you will be captivated as the live extravaganza takes place around your table. Tall, graceful Mali Puppets will captivate you as they dance with the singer, jump to beat of the drum and swirl with the dancers.
Overnight Portswood Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included


DAY 18: 26 Sep Cape Town – Return Flight
Our last morning in South Africa. It’s been a wonderful trip through the vast, remote and fascinating region of the world. After breakfast you are transferred to the local airport for your return flight to Australia. As we farewell South Africa I am sure we will take home a lifetime of memories from the beautiful places we have visited on this tour.

DAY 19: 27 Sep Brisbane to Home Port.
On arrival at Brisbane International Airport your Polleys Coach will be waiting to welcome you home. Its here we say farewell to passengers departing in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gympie and if needed Maryborough & Hervey Bay.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Jacaranda Festival Tour




























The world-renowned Jacaranda Festival is held yearly in Grafton, Northern Rivers New South Wales. It was inaugurated in 1935 and was the first of Australia's folk festivals. It is based upon the magnificent spectacle of the hundreds of lilac-blossomed trees which grow in Grafton's broad tree lined avenues and it expresses the people's thanksgiving for the generosity with which nature has blessed this part of Australia. Day 01: Friday 06 November, 2009 Today we departed Gympie early morning and travelled to Yamba to commence our 3 Day tour to beautiful Grafton. Our accommodation in Yamba, not far from Grafton, was the perfect base for us to explore the area. After collecting all our passengers we made a stop at the Sharks Leagues Club for lunch. This turned out to be a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other or in some cases to renew friendships from the past. We had one more lady to collect and she had come all the way from Tasmania to join us at Robina. For me its wonderful to see everyone chatting and the excitment of having 25 passengers on board a touring coach is conteagous. Our afternoon touring included a visit to the Macadamia Castle where many took to the opportunity to sample some of the locally grown products. From here we make our way to the Oyster Shores Motel, Yamba which was where we based oursleves for the next 2 Nights



Day 02: Saturday 07 November 2009 Our first stop today was in a little place called Tucabia to visit Squatters Rest - a private museum. Surrounded by vintage tractors, engines and farm machinery there are 16 old style buildings including a replica 1880 cookhouse. Whilst here we were provided with a tour of the old house and marvelled at the fascinating range of rural memorabilia. We were treated to morning tea here today as well as some great yarns and bush poetry recited by Ray Essery - also known affectionaly as "The Mullumbinby Bloke". Ray was hillarious with his yarns and everyone enjoyed our time spent at Squatters Rest. It was then time to make our way to Grafton, the highlight of our short trip. Grafton is a city of tree lined streets and graceful old buildings overlooking the Clarence River. As early as 1866 Grafton council resolved to consider by-laws for the planting and preserving of trees and shrubs in the streets and recreation grounds. There are now some 7000 trees in Grafton and many beautiful parks. The most famous of the trees is of course the Jacaranda which flower each year in October/November. Our first stop was at the Clarence River Visitor Information Centre where iwe watched a spectacular audio-visual film on show that gave a great overview of the district. We were very lucky to be here on the last Saturday of the festival as today was Parade Day. From here we made our way into the town centre and visited some of the award winning gardens. We were in awe of the fantastic display that many of the homes had established. Many long hours and a love of gardening was evident and appreciated by our group. Our last stop before finding a comfortable stop to view the Grand Parade from was to find a very large Jacaranda Tree so that we could have our photo taken as a group. Amid much laughter this was establised and we then returned to the town centre to watch the Grand Float Procession. Unfortunately this turned out to be a bit of a let down as very few floats had the "Jacaranda theme" It was more a promotion of local clubs rather than a Grand Parade but the few that did take the time and effort are to be commended. We should also mention there were several "Scottish" bands, so there was music so long as you like bagpipes! It was a great day exploring the area and we returned to our motel for a late dinner.



Day 03: Sunday 08 November 2009 This morning we said farewell to our hosts and rejoined Highway One for our morning touring towards Ballina - about 100ks to the north. We had an interesting morning stop at the Summerland House with no Steps at Alstonville. The house was originally set up in 1962 in Sydney by Mr Lionel Watts, with the aim of training people with disabilities to work and live independently - and to break down the barriers between people with disabilities and the rest of the community. Summerland House with No Steps is now situated at Alsonville, on 69 hectares of fertile farmland. Summerland House training. Programmes, conducted on this farm, are essential and have resulted in many workers taking their rightful places in society. On the farm they grow avocados, macadamias, citrus fruit, lychees and other sub tropical fruits. They also have a retail nursery. Much to our delight the stone fruits had just been picked and we were able to buy fresh fruit to bring home with us. We enjoyed morning tea there in their coffee shop, and much to our delight we were served by one of the disabled ladies. She was an absolute delight and chatted away with everyone whist she served us. It was on the road again and we make our way back over the Queensland border to complete a fantastic 3 day holiday. We had a farewell lunch at the Beenleigh Taven before we each had to say farewell. It was a great short holiday and I look forward to our next tour out and about somewhere in Australia!