Foundation Down Under – Mission to Australia

Our Value-Added Tour Package Includes:

• 9 Night Tour in Deluxe Accommodations
• 17 Meals – 9 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 6 Dinners
• Airport Transfers upon Arrival into Melbourne and on Departure from Sydney
• Daily Sightseeing as Outlined in the Itinerary
• Intra-Australian Flights
• Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh Community Educator, Rabbi Danny Schiff
• English Speaking Jewish Tour Guide Throughout
• Transportation via Deluxe Air-Conditioned Motorcoach
• Baggage Handling Throughout (one bag per person)
• All Taxes, Service Charges and Government Fees
• All Gratuities on Included Features

What’s Not Included:

• Optional Tours and Entrance Fees not listed on the Itinerary
• International Flights
• Beverages
• Meals Not Mentioned on the Itinerary
• Arrival or Departure Airport Taxes
• Australian Electronic Visa (ETA)
• Incidentals

Monday, October 28 – Depart Pittsburgh for Australia

Today you will begin your journey towards the island continent of Australia.

Tuesday, October 29 – Crossing the International Dateline

You continue your flight, crossing the international dateline.

Wednesday, October 30 – Arrival into Melbourne, Australia – Tour Begins

Upon arrival at the International Airport, you will clear customs and immigration formalities where you will be met by our transportation company and taken to our hotel where our tour will begin. Melbourne, the capital of Victoria and a cultural hub, is known for the good things in life – fashion, food, entertainment and sport. Known as a style-setter, Melbourne is home to some of the best shopping and nightlife in Australia, a non-stop program of film and food festivals, cutting edge design and architecture, and major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas.

After a bit of time to relax, we’ll tour the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, also known as the Toorak Shule.  It is the oldest Jewish congregation in Melbourne, formed in 1841. Following, we’ll visit the Shrine of Remembrance, a war memorial, as seen through a Jewish perspective.  Opened in 1934 and known for its architecture, the Shrine is rich in meaning and symbolism. Looking down from the top of the Shrine, enjoy panoramic views of Melbourne. Tonight, we’ll have a Group Welcome and Orientation, followed by a group dinner at our hotel. (D)

Thursday, October 31 – Melbourne

Today we will drive to Mount Scopus Memorial College for a tour of the school.  Mt. Scopus is the largest Jewish day school in the Southern Hemisphere. It has about 1200 students from kindergarten through Grade 12, is one of the top schools in Melbourne with its wonderful academic, sports and arts facilities. We continue to Healesville Sanctuary.  Australia’s premier wildlife park, it is nestled in the foothills of the Yarra Valley just one hour from Melbourne. Koalas, dingoes, kangaroos and the unique platypus are just a few of the 200 species of Australian wildlife flourishing in a beautiful bushland environment of towering gum trees and lush tree ferns. Healesville Sanctuary is known as the best place in the world to see Australian animals in their natural habitats. We travel back to the Jewish areas of Melbourne.  We will drive through some of the Jewish suburbs to see how the community lives and see Melbourne’s Yiddish Center, secular Yiddush Day School and visit the Holocaust Museum.  Melbourne has the largest percentage of Holocaust survivors of any city outside Israel and we will see their unique contribution and its surprising link with Australia’s Aboriginal community. Melbourne is known for having the best nightlife in all of Australia.  The evening is yours for exploring the city including its vibrant casino along the Yarra River, Southbank, Collins Street or perhaps St. Kilda. (B)

Friday, November 1 – Melbourne

This morning, we visit the Queen Victoria Market, the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. The city’s iconic and authentic marketplace has been operating since 1878, and is a much loved part of Melbourne. Home to over 700 small businesses, the market is an epicenter of food, shopping and seasonal events.  Here, we can enjoy a short stop. Next, we’ll journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation as we embark on an Aboriginal heritage walking tour.  We’ll explore their rich and thriving culture on this award-winning walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne.  Experience a traditional smoking ceremony with an indigenous guide and discover traditional uses of plants for food, tool and medicine. We’ll then go to the Jewish area of Melbourne. We’ll peruse the Carlisle Street Jewish shops and food stores where we will stop for lunch.  After, we’ll visit The Jewish Museum of Australia.  This museum is the most comprehensive Jewish Museum in the Southern Hemisphere and one of two Jewish Museums in this vibrant community. After, we head out to the trendy, beachy yet cosmopolitan suburb of St. Kilda, known for its cafes, beaches and entertainment.  We work our way back towards the city to see the World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition buildings, Melbourne Museum and historic streets of Carlton, the center of mid-century Jewish life. Shabbat Shalom!  We will have services tonight at our hotel, led by our own Pittsburgh Community Scholar, Rabbi Danny Schiff, followed by a group Shabbat dinner. (B, D)

Saturday, November 2 – Melbourne

This morning is a time to celebrate and reflect on Shabbat as you please.  We will have several options for those who want to go to synagogue and later, a picnic lunch will be offered.  This afternoon, we’ll take in a walking tour visiting Melbourne laneways and 19th century shopping arcades.   Join your guide for a walk through Australia’s culture capital and learn what makes this city great:  the stunning architecture of the Gold Rush, world class coffee, quirky hook turns and so much more. The tour includes Aboriginal history, Federation Square, the Yarra River, The Block Arcade, Parliament House, Princess Theatre, beautiful neoclassical Melbourne Town Hall, Flinders Street Station, Eureka Tower and arts precinct. Next, it’s time to explore Melbourne’s famous street art scene. What used to simply be called “graffiti” has become a trendy artistic style, and the laneways of this city are filled with constantly evolving murals. Our guide will bring you to some of their favorites and explain how the movement has developed, exploring the work of some of these artists. This evening, we’ll meet with locals from the Melbourne Jewish community for a social gathering.  After, enjoy the area with dinner on your own. (B, L)

Sunday, November 3 – Melbourne – Cairns

This morning, we’ll fly to Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest tropical rainforests. Upon arrival, we’ll travel up to Kuranda Village.  Kuranda is an aboriginal word for “village in the rainforest” where you can explore the village including its locally made handicraft shops, aboriginal artifacts and cafes.  We’ll have free time for browsing this area and grabbing a bite to eat. In Kuranda, those who want to “cuddle a koala” can opt for this truly Australian experience (extra fee applies). After, you’ll discover the beauty of Far North Queensland’s World Heritage Rainforest as we travel on the Kuranda Skyrail – the world’s largest gondola railway.  Our gondola glides above the canopy of the tropical rainforests of the Barron Gorge National Park.  With spectacular views of the rainforest, we’ll stop at two different stations where you will have time to enjoy walking along boardwalks which take you along the ancient tropical forests and amongst giant buttress roots.  You’ll follow the pathways and lookouts over the Barron Gorge and Falls, seeing historical displays and a Rainforest Interpretation Center. In the late afternoon, we’ll check in to our hotel. Tonight, you’re in for a special treat as you experience Tjapukai Night Fire, taking you on a magical adventure into the legends of Australia’s “dreamtime.”  Here you will enter another world as Australia’s Aboriginal culture is brought to life through a series of award winning performances as you feast on modern cuisine from the Far North.  The world’s oldest living culture is brought to life by Aboriginal performers who engage their audience with interactive activities such as didgeridoo playing, face painting and boomerang throwing and educate about the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef’s traditional rainforest people. The Cultural Park has been built on traditional Tjapukai land in a beautiful rainforest setting to highlight the environment enjoyed by the Indigenous people of the Cairns Wet Tropics rainforest. After, you may want to take a walk and enjoy this little seaside town. (B, D)

Monday, November 4 – Cairns

Today is a day of discovery at the Great Barrier Reef. One of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions, the reef was established as a marine park in 1975 and is a collective haven for thousands of species of sea life, as well as turtles and birds.  In 1981 the United Nations designated the Great Barrier Reef a UNESCO World Heritage site. Set sail aboard the 100 foot luxury sailing catamaran, Ocean Spirit, for a day to remember to Michaelmas Cay – a low lying vegetated sand cay encircled by a spectacular fringing reef, a National Park and a protected sanctuary for migratory seabirds. Today’s experience with a wide range of activities will make you fully experience Michaelmas Cay’s unique reef environment. Be active and enjoy all the included activities.  Snorkeling is a great way to experience the many treasures of the Great Barrier Reef!  With easy access from the beach at Michaelmas Cay, enjoy the reef, quietly drifting over the myriad of corals and colorful fish. The Cay, with its calm, shallow waters, is ideal for first-timers and experienced snorkelers alike. Take a cruise on a semi-sub, seated just three feet below the waterline where you’ll get a diver’s view of the reef without getting wet!  With large viewing windows, the expert crew provide an informative commentary on the coral and marine life before your eyes as you learn about the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef on this interactive tour. This evening, we’ll be together for a group dinner. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, November 5 – Cairns – Sydney

This morning, we’ll leave Cairns and fly to Sydney on our four hour flight.  Bursting with character, Sydney is a vibrant city and will appeal to everyone whether you seek exhilaration, exploration or relaxation. Sydney’s sparkling harbor is the jewel in the city’s crown. It’s flanked by golden beaches, bushland, the architecturally impressive Opera House and is home to one of the most famous bridges in the world. In the afternoon, we’ll leave our hotel on foot and head towards The Rocks. The Rocks may be Sydney’s oldest neighborhood but it’s lost none of its zest for life. There is no better way to get up close and personal with the living history and heritage of Sydney than on foot. The stories of this district will come alive as you are introduced to the fascinating tale of this unique place in Sydney’s history which includes learning about the early Jewish settlement here.  Hear how The Rocks was inhabited by that First Fleet of convicts arriving as they did into Sydney Cove in 1788 thus impacting forever on the local Indigenous people’s way of life. Up onto the rocky land that human cargo was disgorged and so began the British Australian story. Still to be seen today are the storehouses, pubs and working class cottages from the time when this place took on all of the characteristics of a dockside area and a disease ridden slum. Today, The Rocks is renowned for having the oldest streets in Sydney which are dotted with beautifully restored nineteenth century buildings. (B)

Wednesday, November 6 – Sydney

Today we will explore the fun-loving city of Sydney.  We begin with a tour that includes stunning architecture and spectacular harbor views, including the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge, seen from Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair.  Travel through Kings Cross, Chinatown, Darling Harbor and Watson Bay.  Stop at “The Gap” for fantastic views and photo opportunities. Later, you’ll learn all about Jewish life in Sydney. During our visit to the Eastern suburbs, you’ll see where Jewish life abounds! We’ll visit “Our Big Kitchen” a community run, non-denominational, industrial kitchen where meals are prepared for distribution to needy people across Sydney that nourishes, educates and inspires people in need. We’ll visit Bondi Beach and explore the local food shops. Tonight, we join together at a local restaurant, 47 stories above the city with sweeping 360 degree views. (B, D)

Thursday, November 7 – Sydney

This morning, you have the choice to take one of two optional excursions (additional cost). For those who are up for an exciting adventure, climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge!  Get a perfect bird’s-eye view of the Opera House and Sydney’s beautiful harbor. Experience the incredible adventure that will take you to the top of the Bridge some 440 feet above sea level. The second option is to tour the famed Sydney Opera House.  On this one-hour tour, you’ll see the world’s most recognizable sails while learning about the amazing architecture and engineering as this work of art came to life against impossible odds.  Or, if you prefer, enjoy free time for taking in a museum, shopping, relaxing or taking a stroll around one of the many nearby neighborhoods. Then we’ll visit the Great Synagogue, constructed in the late 1800’s and built in the Byzantine style with Gothic characteristics; it is the oldest synagogue in use in New South Wales and represented the center of Jewish life in Sydney. Later, relax while we cruise around Sydney Harbor on our cocktail cruise.  Take in views of the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Bridge and the sights along the way from the vantage point of the harbor. Tonight, we’ll have a Group Farewell, followed by a group dinner at our hotel. (B, D)

Friday, November 8 – Sydney – Tour Ends

Today you will fly home. Re-crossing the International Dateline, you regain the day you lost at the beginning of your trip.  (B)

The hotels for this program are the following:
Day 1-4      Intercontinental Melbourne The Rialto
Day 5-6     Shangri-La Hotel The Marina Cairns
Day 7-9     Amora Jamison Sydney

Please Note:
Hotels listed above may change without notice.
Order of the tour may change due to traffic or other considerations.
Due to early arrival times in some cities, rooms may not always be ready for immediate check-in.
Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed with the exception of visits to wildlife parks.

A deposit of $600 is due with your reservation. Full payment is due August 15, 2019.

Participation in this mission requires a minimum commitment of $3,600 per household ($1,000 for young adults ages 22-45 at the time of the mission) to the 2019 and 2020 Jewish Federation’s Community Campaign.

Limited spots available. First come, first served.

Arriving early in Melbourne?
Those who are on early arriving flights into Melbourne who would like a hotel room ready for them upon their arrival can purchase an extra night. Also available for those arriving before the start of the tour. Rates available upon request.

Tour rates are based on an all-inclusive, custom-designed package that differs from offerings seen in public advertising.

Please note – This is a group exclusive vacation package. We are unable to make any of our package components available to anyone who is not part of our group.

All rooms where we provide roommate matches are non-smoking.  Items listed on this website are subject to change at any time.  By providing payment you agree to the terms and conditions as outlined on this website.

Cancellation Policy for Mission to Australia and Ayers Rock Extension:  From the time of initial deposit to July 1, 2019, there is a $75 penalty for cancellation. From July 2 – August 26, 2019, the cancellation penalty is the amount of deposit for Mission to Australia and the Ayers Rock Extension. From August 27 – September 9, 2019, the cancellation penalty is 50% of the total cost of the tour package including intra-Australian airfare. From September 10, 2019 until the date of travel and including “no-shows,” 100% of the tour cost including intra-Australian airfare will be forfeited.  There is no refund in the event of interruption or cancellation by the passenger after the start of the journey.

Cancellation Policy for New Zealand Extension:  From June 4 – August 4, 2019, the cancellation penalty is the amount of deposit ($750 per person total). From August 5 – September 9, 2019, the cancellation penalty is 50% of the total cost of the tour package including airfare. From September 10, 2019 until the date of travel and including “no-shows,” 100% of the tour cost including airfare will be forfeited.  There is no refund in the event of interruption or cancellation by the passenger after the start of the journey.

The Mission to Australia and Ayers Rock extension are operated by APTC. The New Zealand extension is operated by Collette.

Cancellation insurance: Cancellation insurance is highly recommended. Information will be sent with tour confirmation.

Passport and Visa Requirements: A valid passport is required.   Passports must be valid for six months beyond the last day of travel. For Australia, an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required for all visitors and must be obtained in advance of the trip. An ETA is a visa that is stored electronically, rather than a stamp or label in your passport. The cost is approximately $20 (rates are subject to change).  Further details will be sent as we get closer to the date of travel.

Currency Fluctuations: Prices are listed in US Dollars.  In case of currency fluctuations greater than 3% on our package, we reserve the right to adjust our prices accordingly in order to operate the tour.

Taxes and Gratuities: All taxes have been included in the cost of the tour package. Gratuities have been included on included features. Taxes are subject to change.

Air and Transfers: International airfare is not included in the tour rate. Intra-Australian flights are included in Mission to Australia. Intra-air has not been included on post-tour options. Airport transfers are included.

Baggage Allowance: Due to airline restrictions within Australia and space limitations on our coach, as well as making travel that much easier, passengers will be limited to one suitcase per person plus a carry-on.