Australia: Uluru, Reefs and Wildlife with Bondi Beach Stay

The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions

If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of €342.20pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.

To enter Australia, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay. All travellers must obtain a visa or electronic travel authority (ETA) before travelling to Australia. You can find out more about applying for an Australian visa on the website of the Department of Home Affairs (www.homeaffairs.gov.au).

Alternatively, we work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations. Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.

Please note that your final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at Check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Baggage weight restrictions will be finalised on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in sufficient time before your departure. Sources of information include www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.

This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and incluThis tour is suitable for most travellers with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It includes full days of sightseeing, much of it on foot, with some stair climbing, regular boarding and disembarking from coaches, and occasional longer walks over uneven paths and hilly terrain. As a result, the tour is not recommended for anyone with significant walking difficulties. The overall pace for An Australian Journey is Intermediate.

Please note: When visiting Uluru and the Blue Mountains National Park, temperatures in the warmer months can reach 35–45°C, and some walks may exceed 10 km. Please ensure your fitness level is appropriate for walking in these conditions. des some climbing of steps, getting on and off coaches and at times long walks often across uneven paths and hills. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties. The Tour Pace for An Australian Journey is Intermediate.

The currency in Australia is Australian Dollars. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. It is important to budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will be available in major cities throughout the tour to withdraw money in your local currency.

As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.

You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Budget approximately $1000-$1500 per person for the duration of the tour (this is just a basic guide). It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.

Tipping in Australia is not customary. However, if you are happy with the service provided by the guide and or driver, then we would suggest between $10-$40 per person for the tour.

The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 15, and the maximum will be 30. If in the unlikely event there are less than 15 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we cannot operate your departure date, then you may be asked to change to a different date, and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

There is no minimum number of travellers for this extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.

This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of the tour, ensuring that you always have first-hand knowledge.

Your extended stay in Bondi is not escorted by a tour guide. Your time here will be free to do as you wish. Transfers are included.

Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.

Where an international flight arrives during early morning, we will endeavour to provide an Early Check In to your hotel, this is subject to availability. The usual hotel check in time is from 2pm onwards.

Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.

Vegetarian and Vegan meals can be catered for. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.

It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed counties water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way as the UK.

On your arrival in Melbourne, you will be met by a Tour Guide from our local agent, Australia Pacific Vacations holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/APV representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day in case of emergency.

Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day in case of emergency.

If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are: 000 for ambulance,

or

+61 5368 2572 for APV 24/7 service

• Sunglasses, Sunscreen and hat in summer
• Personal first aid kit containing travel pills, rehydration powder, plasters, stomach settlers, antiseptic creams, aspirin etc
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Camera and charger/ spare batteries
• Small day pack for excursions
• Waterproof, lightweight jacket and lightweight clothing
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Sweater and jacket for the cooler months
• You will be visiting different regions of Australia, and the climate can vary significantly – please be prepared for all weather conditions when you are packing
• Fly spray for the red centre