Heron Island

WOW! Heron Island has to be the most beautiful island of the Whitsundays. 

(By the lovely Training and Development team)

Only a 1 hour flight from Brisbane to Gladstone Airport, you will be met for your short coach ride to the jetty where your modern launch awaits for your 2 hour ride to Heron Island.

However, for the most spectacular ride ever, upgrade to the 30 min helicopter ride.  This isn’t just a transfer this is one of the most amazing flights you will experience anywhere in the world.  Arrive like a Rock Star just as Corina our Sydney Infinity Holidays trainer did below:

Travellers come from the world over to experience all that Heron has to offer including the spectacular diving, snorkelling and of course baby turtles! Guests staying at the resort varied from Gladstone families over for the weekend, University study groups and honeymoon couples.  The island is all about relaxation and getting back to nature with no phone reception or tv you can really get away from everything.  For those starved of news from the outside world there is wi-fi in the bar at a small charge of $3 per 15 minutes and a flat screen TV .   Cocktail hour is from 5pm to 6pm.  With all of your meals included it is a stress free holiday.

The Heron Beachfront Suites offers a spacious relaxing environment as you relax and listen to the waves roll in only metres from your balcony or patio.

Infinity Holidays Training & Development Team  enjoying a cocktail at Happy Hour

From left to right: Julie Barton – Team Leader & Brisbane Trainer, Corina Bonello – Sydney, Helen McAuliffe – Melbourne Trainer, Sarah Haines – Assistant Team Leader & Brisbane Trainer & Linda Di Stefano – Adelaide Trainer (Linda relaxing in the bar before dinner)

Our team were lucky enough to enjoy the reef without getting wet on the semi-submersible coral viewing cruises, with our naturalist guide providing commentary.  We saw sharks, turtles, stingrays and every type of fish possible!

Once you have exhausted yourself with reef walks, snorkelling, the semi-submersible, star gazing, learning about the Island and the eco system you can still find time to watch the beautiful sunsets with a cocktail in hand or find a quieter spot to relax and contemplate life...

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne Zoo is an easy tram ride north of the city, past the Victoria Markets (basically, if I can find it, anyone can!) and almost into the suburbs. 22 hectares of animal amazingness then lay before you to be explored at your own speed and leisure.

The zoo is massive! There are too many animals to count, shows to see, kiosks to eat at, parks and quiet areas dotted around the site, and zoo keepers to answer any and every question you may have about their friends. I visited the zoo when I was 8 and was enchanted by the butterfly house and still am. It is hot, calm and peaceful having butterflies dance through the sky for your viewing pleasure.

Many of the other animals are cheeky and playful and I think this is a wonderful tour for people of all ages and families. It is a lovely day out.

Melbourne Aquarium

Melbourne Aquarium!

The Melbourne Aquarium is located right in the CBD, just before the footbridge over to the Crown complex. It is easy to get to and quite the fun little detour in a city more well known for its food and cultural experiences.

The highlight for me was definitely the Antartic Penguin Experience. They are amaaaaaaaaaaaaazing! This is the first enclosure of its kind in Australia and they are a sight to behold. Whether cruising around their pool or waddling over their arctic landscape, they are enthralling little fellas and quite the surreal experience in the middle of a capital city.

There are thousands (?) of other animals to view at the aquarium - turtles, frogs, snakes, eels, jellyfish, fish of all shapes and sizes, sharks and so many more it is impossible to count (although that would be a great way to keep the kids busy while here). It is a fun experience for the young and old; anyone with a curious mind really!

Green Island Eco Adventure

Green Island Eco Adventure (4 Hours)



Green Island is a 6000 year old coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef which combines a beautiful reef and rainforest experience. You can take a self guided eco walk around the island, including the Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Park (own expense), home of the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity IN THE WORLD!

Green Island is surrounded by coral gardens you can explore by stepping right from the beach and snorkeling to your heart's content in even the shallows (in your very attractive stinger suit- think of it like being a snorkelling super hero!). The variety of species you can view within metres of shore is amazing, beautiful and surreal.

The tour also includes a glass bottom boat option which is a great way to see the marine life for those who are less confident with swimming. Even after a storm when the ocean was quite churned up, there were still beautiful things to be seen this way.

 

Buffet lunch was great - a mix of fresh salads, meats and rolls, with some fruit and soups as options on that day also (make sure you check the time of your tour to ensure this is included if selling to clients). The catamaran was also comfortable and a nice quick way to get out to the reef. This is a fantastic introduction to the reef tour to sell, and if passengers are after a longer experience, the Green Island and Reef Adventure is a fantastic combination that also includes 3 hours at an outer Great Barrier Reef platform for an opportunity to see some different fishies.



Inclusions:
* (Check if your passengers require transfers from their accommodation and sell accordingly)

* Return fast catamaran cruise to Green Island
* Complimentary morning tea and coffee served on board the
vessel until departure from Cairns
* Choice of snorkelling equipment (fins, mask and snorkel) OR
Glass bottom boat coral viewing tour, BBQ lunch
* Exclusive use of island swimming pool
* Exclusive Eco-Island walk - self guided.
* Use of day visitor facilities and beach bag

Broadwater Jet boat (Gold Coast)

Broadwater Jet Boat

The jet boat ride through Gold Coast's broadwater is an amazing experience. Flying by the seat of  your pants, you (safely) crazily navigate the inlets and open water from Main Beach to Hope Island with a skilled driver at the helm. Sticky beak on the rich and famous' ridiculously expensive properties when not fearing for your life as you hurtle towards poles and the odd seagull.



The trip lasts for 55 minutes including a safety demonstration at the start while you are fitted for you (attractive) life jackets and wet weather jacks if required. We did this as a team activity and had an absolute blast. Even the faint of heart had an amazing time (and some of us have very low excitement thresholds) so we can safely say this activity can be handled by most.

We suggest bringing a change of clothes :)

Deluxe Great Ocean Road including Bells Beach (AAT Kings)

A quick early morning departure from the city is followed by morning tea at Torquay (AAT Kings have a serious appreciation for the popluation's love of morning tea) followed by a quick spot of browsing. Then it is back on the bus to see Bells Beach, and stop for some koala, cockatoo and rosella sightings (or perchings as it may be- I had no food and they still came and sat on my head!)

The trip along the Great Ocean Road is dotted with amazing views, random wildlife sightings (we saw kangaroos, koalas, and an assortment of birds and it was a normal viewing day according to the driver). Apollo Bay is the lunch stop where the local favourite is amazing (own expense).

Driving through Otway National Park, you creep closer and closer to the climactic finale of the tour, the Twelve Apostles. The spectacle of them is undescribable, and even overcast days bring dramatic views from the viewing platform. They are a glorious natural wonder, and an amazing part of our country.

And then it is home via Port Campbell, London Bridge and a dvd or a nap back into Melbourne.

Puffing Billy, Wineries with Roast Lunch (AAT Kings)

The tour departs and sends you quickly into the Dandenong Ranges, stopping for  morning tea of scones and tea at a bird park, where a lot of this will happen to you....

You then continue to Puffing Billy, Australia's oldest operating steam train. It is a short trip through beautiful rainforest, and also a delight to sit with your legs hanging out of a train with conductors smiling at you :) The Puffing Billy was a surprise for me. I have no interest in trains and I found it to be an amazing experience. The landscape is beautiful and it is fun to imagine the yesteryear of travel.

After this, a delicious roast lunch is on offer then it is off to the wineries! The highlight was definitely Domaine Chandon. A personalised tour of the sparkling wine process is finished with a tasting and cheese platter, then some light shopping, or relaxation on the lawn of the property. It is not only a beautiful winery, but the service is amazing, and for anyone with any interest in wine, or sparkling, is very informative and interesting too.