Australia with AAT Kings Tours

You can start the 13-day “Australian Highlights” tour anyday, as it is independent (you get a driver and guide each day). My wife, Helen, and I, took it Oct. 13-25, 2006, with AAT Kings Tours (U.S. office at 801 East Katella Ave., 3rd Floor, Anaheim, CA 92805; 714/456-0505, www.aatkings.com).

Our itinerary included Melbourne, a day-long bus tour on the Great Ocean Road, Alice Springs (including a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service), Ayers Rock, the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney and the Blue Mountains. We got to see all the wildlife of Australia except a platypus. The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island near Melbourne was a cute, not-to-be-missed spectacle.

On our day traveling to Kuranda, we took a train and a skyrail and also visited the Aboriginal Culture Park.

$3,175 per person included three internal flights. Buffet breakfasts daily, two lunches and two dinners were included, one on the trolley in Melbourne. We stayed in “standard” hotels. There were few extra expenses except meals, which could be rather cheap.

We both highly recommend this tour.

GEORGE LAUSCHER

Mount Pocono, PA