Stay in The Wildlife Retreat within the Taronga Zoo, interact with indigenous animals, explore a national park, stroll a botanical garden and visit a laid-back beach town – all while enjoying Sydney’s stunning natural beauty.
DAY 1
Disembark the ship in Sydney, meet your guide and begin the drive north where you will explore the more uncrowded beaches of Sydney. Your destination is Palm Beach, a quintessential beach town where the Australian show “Home and Away” was filmed. Affectionately known as “Palmy” by locals, Palm Beach is located at the end of a long peninsula and boasts beautiful golden sand and clear water, which has inspired the wealthy to build their holiday homes there.
You will have time to enjoy the vistas before sitting down to lunch in a beach-style restaurant, allowing you to take in the vibe and culture of this beach community.
Afterwards, you will proceed to your hotel for the next three nights – The Wildlife Retreat, which is located within Australia’s famous Taronga Zoo.
Once checked in, guests will be free to explore Taronga Zoo when it is open, from the day you arrive through the day you depart. The zoo closes at 4:30pm in the winter and 5:00pm in the summer. You can enter the zoo directly from the Wildlife Retreat. No extra tickets or passes are needed. Your room key will provide entry into the zoo and back into the retreat throughout your stay.
Your Bushland room has views overlooking a variety native trees and flora. Keep an eye out for the wild birds amongst the bush.
In the evening, dinner is included at the Me-Gal restaurant onsite and can be enjoyed at your leisure. Guests just need to drop by or call the reception desk to confirm a preferred dining time.
Note: A guide will not be staying with the group at the hotel. However, during your stay, you will be assigned a Regent representative and provided with contact details should you require anything that the hotel staff cannot assist with. The Wildlife Retreat is a non-smoking property. A valid credit card and photo identification matching the name on your reservation is required to check in to the Wildlife Retreat. The Wildlife Retreat is a cashless facility and accepts credit card payments only.
DAY 2
Following breakfast in the Me-Gal Restaurant, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby and transfer to the ferry terminal, where you will take a boat shuttle across Sydney Harbor and into the downtown.
Start with a walk to the Sydney Botanical Gardens, where you will have the opportunity to learn about vast species of Australian plant life that are located in the middle of the city.
Next, visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales for a guided tour of the newest Sydney Modern Project, which showcases both modern art and remarkable works by Aboriginal artists.
For an insight into the history of Sydney and the arrival of the first settlers in 1788, you will walk through the historical and cultural area known as The Rocks. There in a pub, you will enjoy an Australian pizza for lunch with a glass of beer or wine.
In the afternoon, you will return to The Wilderness Retreat and tour The Sanctuary with a park ranger. You can expect an up-close and personal experience with indigenous animals such as koalas, wallabies and echidnas. The ranger will provide you with exclusive access to areas of the park not accessible to the general public, allowing you to meet these remarkable animals and have a real conversation with the experts on the conservation and protection of these unique species.
The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. Dinner is included at the Me-Gal restaurant.
Note: Today will include a fair amount of walking, therefore we recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and light, loose clothing along with lots of sun protection. Also note, animals may not be held in the state of New South Wales.
DAY 3
Following breakfast in the Me-Gal Restaurant, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby and set out for a tour of the Ku Ring Gai National Park.
Here you will find a multitude of gum trees, also known as eucalyptus. Your guide will share stories and showcase how life was for the original inhabitants prior to colonization of the country. Be sure to look for various rock-art sites while you drive through the park.
Continuing on, arrive to Broken Bay Pearl Farm, where you will meet a group of passionate oyster and pearl cultivators. The visit will provide you with an insight into the area’s natural beauty on land and during a cruise on the Hawkesbury River, where you will see the saltwater paddocks. Learn why the environment there is ideal for growing oysters of all varieties and in turn how oysters give back to people and place.
Following your visit, return to The Wildlife Retreat for an afternoon at leisure. This is the perfect time to visit the zoo or perhaps head back to the city center to explore on your own. Ferries depart between the zoo and Circular Quay (downtown Sydney) approximately every 30 minutes.
The evening is also at your leisure with dinner included at the Me-Gal restaurant.
DAY 4
Following breakfast and check out, meet your driver for your transfer to Sydney airport and your onward flight. home. Transfers will be arranged based on the flight time provided within 14 days of sailing. Should you have a late flight, luggage storage will be available at the hotel until your transfer time.
Land Program Details Step by Step:
•Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program details including timings below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. Final itineraries with the most up to date details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•A departure transfer is not included if guests leave before the last day of the program.
DAY 1
9:00am Disembark the ship in Sydney and meet your guide
10:00am Begin the drive to the Northern Beaches of Sydney, visits include Sydney Harbor National Park and Palm Beach
11:30am Lunch in Palm Beach
2:00pm Transfer to your hotel
3:30pm Approximate arrival time at The Wildlife Retreat for check in
Free time to explore
From 5:15pm Dinner at Me–Gal Restaurant
Overnight at The Wildlife Retreat
DAY 2
7:00am Buffet breakfast at Me-Gal Restaurant
8:00am Meet your guide in the hotel lobby
8:30am Transfer across Sydney Harbor by boat/ferry to the city
9:00am Walk through the Botanical Gardens, the Art Gallery and The Rocks
1:00pm Lunch at a restaurant/cafe
2:30pm Return to The Wildlife Retreat
3:00pm Sanctuary tour with park ranger
From 5:15pm Dinner at Me–Gal Restaurant
Overnight at The Wildlife Retreat
DAY 3
7:00am Buffet breakfast at Me-Gal Restaurant
8:00am Meet your guide in the lobby
9:00am Drive north through the Ku Ring Gai National Park to Broken Bay
10:00am Visit the Broken Bay Pearl Farm and cruise the Hawkesbury River
12:00pm Return to The Wilderness Retreat
Lunch on your own
1:00pm Afternoon at leisure to explore the zoo or perhaps venture into the city on your own
From 5:15pm Dinner at Me – Gal Restaurant
Overnight at The Wildlife Retreat
DAY 4
7:00am Buffet Breakfast at Me-Gal restaurant
TBA Check out and meet your driver in the lobby for a transfer to Sydney International Airport
For guests with late transfers, luggage storage is available at the hotel until your transfer time
Extra Nights:
•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the same hotel used on the LAST NIGHT of your program.
•When you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be transferred to the airport per the flight details provided. Check-out time is 10:00am (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast are on your own after Day 3 of your program.
Transfers:
•All guests booking their flights independently are required to ensure the cruise line has their most up to date flight details so that transfers to the airport can be arranged. If flight details are not received 14 days before your cruise start date, transfers will not be arranged.
•Should you book any extra nights on your own or your flight is not on the last day of the program, transfers are not included.
•Should you have a late departing flight you may wish to book an extra night so that you have occupation of your room until your departure. You will be asked to vacate your room by 10:00am. Day rooms can only be purchased directly through the hotel.
Expected Weather
During the summer (December – February), the average temperatures range from 18.6 - 25.8°C (65.5 - 78.4°F)
March is the beginning of Autumn in Sydney. You can expect temperatures to range from 22 - 23°C (72 - 73°F)
What to Bring
Comfortable clothing, good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, camera, chargers
Local Currecy:
Australian Dollar (AUD)
Electricity
230 volt with Australian-sized plugs. For Australia, the associated plug type is I, which is the plug that has three flat pins in a triangular pattern. We recommend bringing a universal travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel is required.
An Australian visa may be required and should be checked before arrival into the country.
Please check with your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality.
Hotel
The Wildlife Retreat
Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Road, Mosman, NSW 2088
Phone: 02 9969 2777
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards, and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotel listed in this program.
Program Includes for guests:
•3 nights at The Wildlife Retreat - Bushlands Room
•3 dinners at Me Gal restaurant
•Buffet breakfast each day
•Lunch on Day 1 and Day 2
•2 beverages per lunch and dinner (this includes beer and wine)
•Access to the zoo during the open hours throughout your stay
•Transfers
•Tours and entrances per the itinerary
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated departure information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, a departure transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
•Any additional experiences booked at the zoo beyond general entry
•Transportation into the city during free time
•Gratuities for drivers and guides
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to occasionally climb steps or stairs. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.
Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.
Price: $2,799 per guest based on double occupancy.
Land program promotions are per person for guests 1 and 2 for one pre- or post-cruise program only, subject to terms.
