Swain Destinations: Wine and Wildlife Discovery

Shangri-La, Sydney,Deluxe, Sydney
MACq 01 Hotel,Deluxe, Hobart
Freycinet Lodge,Deluxe, Freycinet National Park
Cradle Mountain Hotel,Deluxe, Cradle Mountain
Park Hyatt Melbourne,Deluxe, Melbourne


Standard (3*) to (3 1/2*) Offering limited facilities and services, these are moderate rooms with private ensuite bathrooms that offer exceptional value for money for the price conscious traveler.

Superior (4*) to (4 1/2*) These hotels are typically better equipped with more comfortable accommodation, and are often in a fairly central location to major sightseeing.

Deluxe (5*) Boasting luxurious and spacious surroundings, these accommodations offer the highest level of international quality accommodation and service. Typically with exquisite décor, exceptional service and superb award winning restaurants.

Luxury (5*) + Premier accommodations in choice settings offering exquisite surroundings, the finest guest services and indulgent amenities. These properties are often one of a kind and are ideal for discerning travelers.

Swain Destinations: Wine and Wildlife Discovery

An Evening at the Opera House
Whether it is theatrics, a musical, opera, contemporary dance, ballet, or any style of music, let us package a tour and performance, and perhaps even include dinner for a night you?ll long remember.

Hunter Valley Tour
A trip to Sydney is not complete without a visit to the world-class wineries of the Hunter Valley! One of Australia's oldest wine producing areas, the Hunter boasts over 70 wineries, each providing a unique and memorable wine tasting experience. Descend into the Hunter Valley to swirl, sniff and sip some exceptional wines from a few of the very special boutique wineries in the area. Stop at some of the interesting towns of the region and enjoy tastings at selected wineries. Chat to the owners and wine-making experts whilst admiring the quaint and picturesque surrounds. Lunch is included.

Seaplane Flight and Cottage Point
Sitting at your table with one of Australia?s best wines in hand and the gentle waters of the Hawkesbury River lapping beneath you it is hard to imagine that a mere 20 minutes ago you were in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Australia?s biggest city. The award winning Cottage Point Inn restaurant is renowned for offering exceptional modern Australian cuisine in beautiful and tranquil surrounds. Upon landing we taxi the aircraft right to the restaurant?s seaplane dock, where a warm welcome awaits. After a leisurely three course a la carte lunch, re-board your aircraft and return to Sydney, flying over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House before landing at Rose Bay. Lunch is included.

Sydney City Tour
See the highlights of downtown Sydney before venturing into some of the exclusive harbor-side residential areas where we stop for a 2-course lunch at the Vaucluse House Tea Rooms; one of Australia?s most historic houses that was home to the father of the Australian Constitution.

Sydney Harbour Cruises
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, the world renowned Opera House, Mrs. Macquarie's chair; just some of the sights to see while cruising on Sydney's famous harbor. Choose from a coffee cruise, lunch cruise or enjoy an evening cruise as you dine while floating past Sydney's stunning harbor.

Sydney Harbour Lights during Vivid
Be a part of Vivid 2015 with Sea Sydney Cruises, your exclusive small group cruising specialist. Starting May 22, 2015, enjoy nightly scheduled departure cruises on a private 52 foot Motor Cruiser, with maximum 16 passengers on board. Enjoy light canapés and unlimited beverages as you cruise the magnificent Sydney Harbour marveling at the shoreside projections along the foreshore from Fort Denison, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Walsh Bay and Darling Harbour from the water.Become part of Vivid Harbour Lights 2015 aboard Calypso which is decorated with brilliant LED lights that change color as we enter different parts of the harbor. These ?color precincts? will be computer-controlled using Intel technology and the latest in sat-nav geo-positioning.All cruises will cruise to Darling Harbour; one of Vivid?s most colorful precincts, offering a range of entertainment and fun for the whole family. Disembark at King St Wharf and be amazed with Vivid Aquatique; featuring computer controlled dancing water jets in a ?magic wall? of light and water, specialized sculptural fountains inspired by Louis XIV?s ?Water Garden? at Versailles, four giant water screens and large-format video projections, four high-powered full color lasers and, for some shows, marine fireworks.Or cruise back to Campbells Cove for disembarkation where you can enjoy a harbor foreshore walk through Circular Quay. Vivid Sydney begins on May 22, 2015 and runs until June 8, 2015.

Taronga Zoo Aboriginal Discovery Tour
Set on traditional Cammeraigal country, Taronga Zoo has many amazing Aboriginal stories to tell. Nura Diya, meaning ?this country or camp?, takes you on a journey through Taronga as you hear stories of Australian wildlife told through the perspective of an Aboriginal guide, with tales of their shared history with the animals and land.Developed with the Indigenous community and led by an Aboriginal guide, you will hear their own personal stories and discover their important connections back to the land, animals and nature.See Australia?s amazing animals in a new light as you discover the binding relationships between flora and fauna and hear stories of the Dreamtime, describing the creation of creatures and the landscape. Learn the centuries-old traditional uses of plants for food and medicine while enjoying interactive experiences with unique Australian wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and a vast array of Australia?s birds.Ideal for those that want to not only come up-close to wonderful Australian animals, but also want to discover more about Australia?s rich cultural heritage.

The Rocks Dreaming, Aboriginal Heritage Tour
The Rocks Dreaming was developed by Aboriginal Elder, Margret Campbell and is led by Aboriginal guides who have permission to share these amazing stories. The tour gives you the opportunity to discover how the ancient Aboriginal dreaming is still alive within the modern Sydney landscape and how the billion-year-old harbor, marine environment, sandstone strata, waterways, flora and fauna influenced how Aboriginal people lived in the area.Get inspired as you discover the oldest ecology, conservation, sustainability, astrology and spiritual beliefs on Earth today. Connect with Australian skies, lands and waters, and the experiences of 'always walking Country'.Feel empowered by learning how to teach others to navigate Dreamtime pathways whether you?re in the city or out in the bush.

The Sydney Opera House Tour: Celebrating Vivid LIVE
Every year you can see the Sydney Opera House flare up in a spectacular 3D display of color and light for the Vivid Sydney Festival celebrations. Now it?s your turn to be right in the middle of the action. On a Sydney Opera House Tour - Celebrating Vivid LIVE, your nightly one-hour adventure into the heart of Australia's iconic building, begins with an exclusive Vivid LIVE show reel that will immerse you in the history and background of this phenomenally popular event. You?re then invited on a special guided tour of the theaters, foyers and live music venues that make up the Vivid LIVE music program ? including seeing the Opera House Recording Studio. You?ll run your hands over the world-famous shell tiles, take a seat in the elegant custom-made Tasmanian Oak chairs and marvel at the vaulted ceilings of one of the biggest pillar-free chambers in the world. Once you?ve visited areas off limits to the general public and captured photographs from rare vantage points inside the majestic Sydney Opera House, you?ll realize that from the outside you?re only getting half the story. At the end of the tour you?ll enjoy the famous Vivid LIVE Lighting of the Sails firsthand.

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo lets you step into a world that's totally wild! Have you ever held a cockroach as big as your hand? Come face-to-face with a python? Petted a koala or had birds swoop over your head? Meet the most dangerous bird in the world, the Cassowary, walk on the wild side with the Wallabies and get up close and personal with some of the world's most dangerous creepy crawlies. VIP Guided Tours and Experiences are available.

A Chef-Led Journey
Meet with a highly regarded local chef for a private, culinary expedition through the Peninsula. On the journey, we may visit and meet a cheese maker at a private goat dairy, press olives, pick berries, visit Harry?s mussel farm and collect fresh seafood, learn about chocolate making, select premium quality quinces or get involved in a spice blending class. Then, head into the kitchen with your produce for an afternoon of fun with an intimate, hands-on cooking class. Finish the day off with a private barrel tasting of local cool climate wines.

Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Center
The Grampians National Park is internationally renowned for its walks, abundant wildlife, waterfalls, rugged rock formations, spectacular views and stunning spring wildflower displays. It is also a place rich in Dreaming stories, sacred sites, bush tucker, water and shelter. It is central to the Dreaming of the Djab Wurrung and the Jardwadjali peoples and is home to over 200 ancient Rock Art Sites. This impressive cultural center brings to life the history and culture of the Aboriginal people.

Colonial Tramcar Restaurant
Dining in Melbourne can be a fabulous experience, especially abroad the fleet of historical trams that have become The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. These glossy, burgundy restaurants on wheels are the first travelling tramcar restaurants in the world and ensure a delightful innovative approach to dining. Tonight, enjoy the fine Australian cuisine and wine whilst winding the streets of Melbourne, past the city center and into the more exclusive suburbs Melbourne is known for.

Dandenong Ranges & Yarra Valley
Travel into the Dandenong Ranges and drive through lovely Ferntree Gully. Board Australia?s oldest steam train, the famous Puffing Billy as it winds its way through the lovely forests and fern-filled glens. Next, travel to the Yarra Valley and enjoy personalized wine tastings, with wine appreciation and guided tour. Enjoy lunch in the exquisite Yarra Valley at one of Victoria?s premier wineries.

Foodies Journey through the Mornington Peninsula
Embrace the day with a stunning scenic coastal drive south of Melbourne and prepare to be constantly inspired and delighted by this diverse, boot-shaped region. Marvel at the panoramic views of the city, bay and peninsula from Arthurs Seat lookout before embarking on the next part of your journey. Meet our highly regarded local chef for a private, culinary expedition through the Peninsula. Your journey changes seasonally (and almost daily) but you may do some of the following: meet cheese makers at a private goat dairy to discuss processes and techniques, press olives and learn about olive oil production, pick berries, visit Harry's mussel farm and collect fresh seafood, experience a working bakery, discover the joys of juicy hydroponic tomatoes, select premium quality quinces, learn about chocolate making or get involved in a spice blending class.It's now back to the kitchen with your produce for an afternoon of fun with an intimate, hands on cooking class. Learn more about using local, seasonal ingredients and then feast on your hard work made entirely from produce from the Peninsula. Your will be returned to your accommodation.Your day includes morning tea, lunch, food & wine tasting, cooking class and produce. Please wear suitable closed shoes, and remember a warm jacket in winter!

Great Ocean Road Explorer
Leave the hustle and bustle of Melbourne city to the fresh air and wide open spaces of the Surf Coast. Breathtaking views of the Southern Ocean reveal themselves around every bend along this magnificent route. Visit Lorne, and see Victoria?s tallest waterfall, the enchanting Erskine Falls and then continue on to see the regions abundant wildlife and visit a local koala habitat. Travel to the top of the Otway Ranges to marvel at the ancient giants of the rainforest, the fern gullies. Next, visit Port Campbell National Park, home to Victoria?s most iconic panoramas, and a place to learn about the tragic history of the Shipwreck Coast before making our way back to Melbourne. Lunch is included.

Koalas and Kangaroos, in the Wild
See kangaroos and koalas in the wild! In small groups this naturalist guided eco-tour gives you quality time to learn about wildlife and enjoy the wide open spaces of Australia. Watch the natural behavior of wild kangaroos, koalas and abundant birdlife. Get involved in koala research with your naturalist guide. Walk amongst free ranging ?mobs? (groups) of wild kangaroos. Spot emus, cockatoos and other unique Australian wildlife on the grasslands. A delicious bush lunch is included.

Melbourne After Dark
Melbourne is breathtaking under lights. Marvel at the heritage buildings throughout the Golden Mile. Dine in Melbourne?s bustling ?Little Italy? (Lygon Street) and enjoy a classic pasta dish and a hearty local red wine. Take in the grandeur of St Kilda Road, Melbourne?s splendid tree-lined boulevard. Witness the stunning, panoramic views at Eureka Skydeck 88 where you?ll be captivated by the bright city lights below. End the night with a cocktail while listening to jazz at Federation Square.

Melbourne Shopping and Champers
Melbourne is Australia?s shopping capital. Enjoy local street cafes and a relaxed day of shopping for unique clothes, bags, shoes, gifts and accessories. Explore Melbourne?s famous inner urban shopping precincts such as Chapel Street, Brunswick Street, Gertrude Street, and Acland Street in St Kilda without having to tackle trams or taxis with shopping bags. Morning tea with champers (or coffee) and a Café lunch with a glass of bubbles are included.

Progressive Degustation Walking Tour
Passion for food and wine is a tradition in this city; chefs are celebrities, and wine masters are finding a voice. Many of Melbourne's wine focused restaurants are off the main streets, where design of the dining experience is as important as the skills in the kitchen. Enjoy an early evening walk discovering three unique restaurants and learn of the sommeliers' influences on menu's and cellaring choices. More than a wine tasting, this is a night to indulge in just a few of Melbourne's many epicurean establishments, and explore a relationship with the often silent hero's of the wine industry. Generous wine samples, food tastings, and special offers included.

Royal Botanic Gardens & Aboriginal Heritage Walk
In the heart of Melbourne, the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens occupy what was once a traditional camping and meeting place for the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung people. Today, you can participate in one of the most interesting walking tours in the city.Local Aboriginal guides take you on a journey which incorporates the themes of spirit, connection and land. Stories and culture of the original inhabitants are introduced, along with the plant lore of traditional foods and medicine, tools and ceremony on this award-winning tour.The Royal Botanic Gardens offers a picturesque setting of 38 hectares within walking distance of the city for you to visit and discover over 50,000 species of plants from around the world.Enquire about group and individual packages including an Indigenous food experience with a walk in the Gardens. There is also a range of education programs available for Primary, Secondary and Tertiary students.

Worn Gundidj
Tower Hill is a 614-hectare site that was declared Victoria?s first National Park in 1892. Inside the crater of this dormant volcano is a natural wildlife haven, a fascinating ecological site and a showcase for Aboriginal history that includes bush food and medicine sites. It is regarded as an international geological site of significance with artefacts showing Aboriginal people resided in the area at the time of eruption some 30,000 years ago.Worn Gundidj offers one-hour walking tours of this fascinating volcano and provides an authentic local perspective on the area?s nature, wildlife and Aboriginal culture. You might also like to try a night tour offering a chance to view the myriad of nocturnal wildlife and get an appreciation of what happens in the animal world after dark.Tower Hill is a great stop off on the Great Southern Touring Route, which includes other must see attractions such as the Twelve Apostles and Port Fairy. Groups can request a uniquely Australian BBQ meal with native foods and spices to enjoy in conjunction with your tour.

Romance & Honeymoon Travel
Getaway to exotic locales and extraordinary settings on a romantic travel experience you will never forget. Our exclusive itineraries can be customized to ensure a memorable and one-of-a-kind vacation, personalized just for you. Swain Destinations will hand-tailor an itinerary using our preferred accommodations and handpicked experiences while incorporating your specific travel tastes and needs.

Family Travel
Since the inception of Swain Destinations, we have been a family-run business, setting the foundation for how we tailor our travel services. Swain Destinations will expertly create a customized experience for you and your loved ones, no matter what type of trip you are looking for. For over three decades, Swain Destinations has customized travel experiences to Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East, Antarctica, and South Pacific Islands, ensuring our clients have an incredible experience that they are sure to talk about for years to come. It is through our strong relationships with our suppliers that we are able to provide assurance that you and your family will receive the highest of quality in personalized service.

Adventure Travel
Seeking an adventure filled vacation or just an adventurous day? Swain Destinations adventure activities, itineraries and lodging are just for you. Let us cultivate your complete itinerary. Jet boating in New Zealand, climbing Sydney’s Harbour Bridge in Australia, or sand boarding in South Africa, there is no shortage of thrilling activities for you to take part in.

Cultural Travel
Immerse yourself in a wonderful range of cultural experiences, scenic delights and exotic cuisines that exist outside of your home country. Get to know the local practices and people, explore the history and heritage, and find yourself leaving more culturally enriched than when you embarked on your journey.

Food & Wine Travel
Wine and dine your way around the world with Swain Destinations. From foodie tours to hotels with some of the world’s most distinguished restaurants, our team of specialists can create the perfect food and wine inspired itineraries.

Sun & Sand Travel
Nothing beats a relaxing beach or island getaway, especially to one of our Swain Destinations. Laze on white sandy beaches, soak up the warm sun and let your worries wash away with the ocean waves. Whether you are looking for the ultimate island escape to one of the South Pacific’s pristine islands, or a stay of the Great Barrier Reef, Swain’s team of dedicated consultants are ready to make your island dreams a reality.

Cosmopolitan Travel
Cosmopolitan focused trips bring you the best any of our city destinations have to offer. These destinations give you a chance to experience the fast paced metropolises of the world. You can experience some world-renowned restaurants, high profile shopping districts, many modern museums and festivals and, of course, breathtaking architectures. Each city offers a unique view into the day to day life and culture of the city you choose to travel. These packages, hotels and experiences truly reflect what each city has to offer and brings it all together for you. Swain Destinations is proud of the many of the world’s best cities we travel to from Sydney to Cape Town.

Wildlife Travel
Koalas and kangaroos in Australia, marine life on the Great Barrier Reef, the Big Five in Africa; no matter what type of animals you’re looking to see, we have the activities and itineraries that will take you there. Whether you are looking for a family safari adventure, to learn about conservation efforts of rescue organizations, or even to check out a local zoo, we have put together a collection of our favorite animal and wildlife filled activities.