Tours

Why not take the opportunity when coming to Melbourne to experience some of the best of Victoria? ICMS Travel has selected an extensive range of half and full day tours allowing you to experience the highlights of Melbourne and its regional areas. Visit ICMS Travel for a full listing of tours available.

Melbourne is a city with endless options. The city sweeps you up into laneways and libraries, attractions, art galleries, theatres and a vibrant waterfront atmosphere. For further information on what to see and do in Melbourne view the following websites:

http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

http://www.visitvictoria.com.au

For further information on things to see and do in Australia please visit the website below.

http://www.australia.com

Pre or Post Conference Touring options for PIAA 2011

Australia offers a truly diverse holiday experience with cities such as Sydney and its Harbour Bridge and Opera House, or Melbourne with its reputation for restaurants and fashion. Further north experience the wet tropics of Cairns, Cape Tribulation and the Great Barrier Reef. Or Travel to the Alice Springs and visit Ayers Rock and discover the aboriginal culture.

What to see In and Around Melbourne?

• 1. With a free afternoon and evening at hand a trip to Phillip Island is a definite must.

Recognised as a world leader for environmental conservation, Phillip Island's sandy and rocky shorelines team with wildlife including over 200 species of birds. During an afternoon tour you would have the opportunity to visit the Koala Conservation Centre, one of the few areas in Victoria where you can see a protected koala colony. Visit the Nobbies with views stretches over Mornington Peninsula and Bass Strait and only one and half kilometres offshore are Seal Rocks, home to Australia's largest Australian Fur Seal colony.
Finally around dusk witness the Penguin Parade when little Penguins arrive in groups on the beach after a day of fishing. See them waddle their way into the dunes where their burrow nests are situated.

• 2. The beautiful Yarra Valley and Dandenong ranges

Depart Melbourne and travel through a cross section of suburbs to the eucalypt forests of Warrandyte. Enjoy the diverse birdlife and koalas that inhabit the forest before continuing onto the Yarra Valley. There are over 60 wineries established in the valley, varying in size from small family vineyards to large international establishments. Visit some of the very best boutique wineries in the Valley before travelling to the inviting forests of the Dandenong Ranges. Explore the Great Ocean Road over a couple of days Explore the Great Ocean Road over a couple of days Journey through Geelong towards the Great Ocean Road which begins at Torquay - home to worldwide surfing label companies including Ripcurl and Quicksilver, then visit wild kangaroos who like to mingle with golfers at Anglesea Golf Course.

Travel to Aireys Inlet, with its landmark lighthouse and pristine beaches onto the popular seaside town of Lorne and Apollo Bay. Take a short rainforest walk in the Otways admiring the tallest Eucalypts. View the 12 Apostles ocean rock formations from a coastal boardwalk. Visit the shipwreck site of the "Loch Ard" and view the amazingly eroded London Bridge.

Within Close Flying Distance from Melbourne Adelaide and Kangaroo Island
Once in Adelaide travel through the spectacular Torrens Gorge and later test out the amazing acoustics of the Whispering Wall at the Barossa Reservoir. Pass the quaint village of Bethany, Tanunda and Nurioopta en route to the Barossa Valley, the largest wine producing region in Australia. Visit premium wineries and enjoy a Barossa style lunch in the heart of the Valley.
Travel to Adelaide and the Exceptional Kangaroo Island. If you want extraordinary wildlife encounters, excellent local produce and warm hospitality, this large Island off the coast of South Australia is a destination without peer. With significant National Park and Conservation reserves (one third of the entire island) and very few introduced plants and animals, biologists refer to Kangaroo Island as "the closest to what temperate Australia was like at the time of European settlement."

The Island's diverse landscapes provide habitat for sealions, fur seals, endemic kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, platypus, goannas, 255 bird species (many rare or endangered), possums, bandicoots and even whales.

Sydney
Sydney is among the world's most desirable travel destinations with its National Harbour and Man-made Icons which are a must see on your visit to Sydney.

Enjoy fabulous harbour views as you pass through the historical Rocks area and Circular Quay. View the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Travel past the Botanical Gardens, the Art Gallery and Conservatorium of Music, and through Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross and Double Bay. Stop at 'The Gap', The Heads of the Harbour and enjoy world famous Bondi Beach.
Take the climb of your Life on one of the world's most modern wonders......The Sydney Harbour Bridge. This BridgeClimb is a 3.5 hour adventure and an experience that will never be forgotten. The exhilaration and personal satisfaction achieved by reaching the top of the Bridge is rewarded by the breathtaking view that lies before you as you scale up the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

On your "Things to do" list for every visitor to Sydney should be a cruise to the upper reaches of beautiful Middle Harbour including commentary and morning or afternoon tea) Travel to the Blue Mountains stopping at Featherdale Wildlife park before continuing to Govetts Leap and then on to quaint village of Leura. Take a ride on the world's steepest railway - Scenic Railway, the Skyway Cable Car or the new Sceniscender

One Week Itineraries
One Week Itinerary to Discover the Top North and Red Centre
Experience the beauty and culture of the Northern Territory combining a journey on The Ghan from Darwin to Alice Springs; the marvel that is Kakadu National Park and the giant monolith of Ayers Rock - Uluru National Park.

Starting in Darwin travel to Kakadu National Park and explore the aboriginal culture. View the Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie Rock, observe saltwater crocodiles and prolific bird life, visit Arnhem Land accompanied by an Aboriginal guide.

Return back to Darwin to transfer to board the famous "Ghan to travel by railway to Alice Springs. In Alice Springs visit the Telegraph Station, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the School of the Air as well as Alice Springs Reptile Park .

From Alice Springs travel to Uluru (Ayers Rock through the West MacDonnell and James Ranges. Stop at a camel farm for an optional camel ride; view majestic Atila (Mt Conner), before arriving at Ayers Rock .Tour Kata Tjuta, before travelling on to watch the sunset at Uluru.

One Week Itinerary to Discover Tropical North Queensland
Travel to Tropical Cairns in Far north Queensland and join the Coral Princess for the ultimate cruise of the Great Barrier Reef over either 4 or 7 days. Cruising the sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef on board a small ship catering for no more than 50 passengers, the Coral Princess will seek out exotic island hideaways, soft sandy beaches, balmy bays and remote outer reefs. There is even a marine naturalist on board to introduce the beauty of the Reef and the ship is well equipped to let you explore-as-you-go. For the evenings there is invariably entertainment and the food aboard introduces all sorts of local delicacies.

Whilst in Cairns
Travel throughout World Heritage Rainforest of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation National Parks via the Captain Cook Highway, renowned as one of Australia's most scenic drives.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly in a hot air balloon? Enjoy a 30 minute scenic flight and experience the wonder, romance and silence of the Australian Bush. Before liftoff see the spectacle of how a hot air balloon inflates and takes shape, then hop in and take off to gently float over gum trees and gaze out as the Australian landscape stretches out as far as the eye can see.
Experience the Kuranda Scenic Railway and enjoy commentary en route as it winds through 15 tunnels and over 40 bridges passing the impressive Stoney Creek and Barron Falls before arriving in Kuranda. Visit award winning Rain forestation Nature Park, meander through Tropical Fruit Orchard before being captivated by the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers as they perform traditional dances in the rainforest ampitheatre.

Or Take a half day tour at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - the best place to see crocodiles in Tropical North Queensland.