Arrivals

Most of our guests fly in from overseas and our week-long tours are coordinated with flights arriving from the United States, Europe and Asia. Flights departing from the US and Europe on Friday night arrive in Sydney early on Sunday morning. Similarly, guests travelling from Asia may select from a range of flights which allow them to arrive in Sydney on Sunday morning. Needless to say, if you are flying from another location we will be awaiting your arrival at Sydney International airport, regardless of arrival time.

Sunday

You are met at Sydney airport by your guide and driven by limousine to your deluxe water-front lodgings at the Park Hyatt. A massive 807 sq. ft. room, floor to ceiling glass windows and your private balcony provide uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. Depending on your preferred post-flight routine, in the time between your arrival and lunch you may choose to enjoy a relaxing massage, a swim in the open air rooftop pool, take a private escorted bike tour of the harbour foreshore, or for those looking for something a little more strenuous, a gym session or a walk/run through some of the nearby leafy parks and the Royal Botanic Gardens accompanied by a personal trainer.

Lunch is at Peter Doyles@the Quay which boasts, among other mouth-watering dishes, live lobster either barbequed or as sashimi. After lunch we take a leisurely private tour through the historic Rocks area, the site of the first European settlement in Australia in 1788. It was here that the 1,030 men, women and children (including 736 convicts) of the First Fleet disembarked after their 8 month journey from Portsmouth, England. You will hear how the fledgling settlement struggled to survive in the harsh conditions given their poor provisioning, soil unsuited for agriculture, and the ever-present threat of the native Aboriginal inhabitants. Your guide will lead you through hidden laneways and cobble-stoned alleys to Sydney’s earliest buildings, many of which are inaccessible to the general public. The history is rich and full of anecdotes providing guests with a deep appreciation of how events have shaped Sydney's vibrant personality.

Afterwards, and on each afternoon of your stay, you will have an hour or two to yourself where you can put your feet up and unwind as you choose. Take another massage in your room if you wish.. Each evening we meet for cocktails in the waterfront Harbourbar overlooking the Opera House before dinner. For our evening dining experiences we have chosen restaurants which have been awarded the prestigious Three Hat rating by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide. You will return home knowing you have sampled Sydney's finest food, wine and restaurant culture.

Sunday's dinner venue is Est. within the Establishment Hotel, a short walk from the Park Hyatt. Est. offers contemporary cuisine with sommelier matched wines. Their juniper crusted saddle of venison with roasted chestnuts is a specialty. You will not be disappointed.

Monday

Each morning before breakfast, guests may choose to start the day with a bike ride, a swim, a gym session or a walk/run, all with a local guide or trainer. By the time you return, your preferred newspaper will be in your room along with coffee, just the way you like it. Afterwards, a sumptuous breakfast awaits you at the Harbourkitchen or in your room if you prefer.

We rendezvous in the lobby after breakfast for a short walk to begin the spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. The Bridge Climb is an exhilarating experience and one you will never forget. Soon after taking your first step you will be standing at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and enjoying a view you have to see to believe. The elevation, breeze, and the almost overwhelming splendour of the harbour produce an incredibly stimulating sensation.

After the Bridge Climb we make our way to nearby Ives Steps and board our 84' luxury motor cruiser for a tour of the harbour. With teak flooring, custom built leather furnishings, spacious upper and lower decks, extensive kitchen and fully stocked bar, it is one of Sydney's most opulent vessels and the perfect platform to take in the majesty of the harbour. Guests enjoy shrimp straight from the the barbecue as your experienced guide points out landmarks such as Circular Quay, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Heads, Taronga Park Zoo and many of Australia's most exclusive private residences. At the completion of the cruise guests are returned to Campbell's Cove adjacent to the Park Hyatt.

After meeting for pre-dinner cocktails in the Harbourbar, we board our waiting motor cruiser and make a twilight crossing of the harbour, disembarking at the Pier Restaurant in Rose Bay. Serving arguably the best seafood in the country, the restaurant occupies a sparkling glass-enclosed wharf which provides magnificent views of Rose Bay and beyond. Their pan roasted barramundi is divine. The sight of the city by night on the cruise back to the hotel completes the day.

Tuesday

After breakfast, we depart by motor cruiser for Rose Bay to board our private amphibious plane for the start of our day of air adventure. After a spectacular take off from the harbour we have a short 35 minutes flight north to Cessnock in the famed Hunter Valley wine region. Our route takes us through Sydney Heads where we see sandstone cliffs give way to golden beaches and then national parkland as we track north following the coastline. From Cessnock, guests will experience the tranquillity and elegance of a trial instructional glider flight, the exhilaration of a flight in a fully aerobatic modern biplane, and the adrenaline pumping sensation of a flight in a military jet fighter.

Your glider experience will begin with a pre-flight orientation before you take the front seat of the dual control glider with your experienced pilot behind you. The tug tows you to 3-4,000 feet above the landscape, the tow line is released and you are away. The clear canopy and your front seat vantage point provide you with an unimpeded view throughout your flight. Your pilot will then demonstrate how the glider is controlled and he will guide you while you take the glider through a few gentle turns. You can expect 20 - 30 minutes peaceful gliding before you touch down.

The aerobatic biplane you will fly is the Pitts Special, otherwise known as the 'Ferrari of the Sky'. After your pre-flight briefing you take the front seat which maximises your view and heightens the overall experience. After takeoff your pilot will take you on a leisurely flight over the scenic Hunter Valley before putting the Pitts through a series of simple manoeuvres. Your pilot will tailor the remainder of the 30 minute flight to your desire, from introductory aerobatics all the way to extreme airshow flying, with the emphasis always on safety and enjoyment.

Your jet fighter experience is in the Czech L39 Fighter. After briefing and suiting up you will be strapped into the rear co-pilot seat. After taxiing into position for takeoff you will feel the exhilarating sensation of 4,000 pounds of thrust as the fighter rockets into the air. Steadying at 11,000 feet, your pilot will take you through the aileron roll, barrel roll, loop, 4 point hesitation roll, Cuban 8, and for those wanting more, the vertical roll. Into the mission profile, you will then conduct a low level, high speed strafing attack to disable the enemy airfield protecting your primary target. After positioning for your strike attack, you commence your low level, high speed approach, attack your primary target (including simulated weapon delivery), and make a high speed getaway! This is a once in a lifetime experience and a highlight of the week. Your biplane and jet fighter pilots are Phil Unicomb, a former World Aerobatic Champion and Phil Frawley a current Royal Australian Air Force pilot. Each has in excess of 30 years flying experience.

Our flights will occupy morning and afternoon with a fully catered silver service spit-roasted buffet lunch beside the strip. After the last flight of the day in Cessnock we will indulge in the traditional post-flight champagne toasts before returning to Sydney. From the seaplane you get magnificent views of Sydney before touching down gracefully on the Harbour itself. Our launch will have you back at the hotel by late afternoon in time for a massage if you choose before dinner.

Showered and refreshed after the day's flights we will assemble again in the Harbourbar for cocktails. The venue for tonight's dining experience is visible from the bar: Guillaume at Bennelong under the sails of the Sydney Opera House. You will find the exposed-rib frame construction and use of glass in the architecture inspiring. Guillaume offers contemporary Australian cuisine with a classical French influence. The wagyu beef strip loin with field mushrooms is sensational.

Wednesday

Your Australian bush and wildlife experience begins with a short limousine ride to the Sydney Heliport followed by a thrilling 30 minute private helicopter flight over the city and northern beaches to the Australian Reptile Park. Our private group is escorted through the Park by two experienced keepers who provide you with behind the scenes introductions to the enormous range of animals on show. Your access allows you to hold a koala, stroke the kangaroos and wombats, get really close to the Tasmanian Devils, and feed a frilled-neck lizard. You can hold the snakes and you will see a deadly funnel-web spider milked of its venom. You will cradle a ring-tail possum, watch the reclusive but playful platypus, and pat a baby alligator. Our photographer will capture your every encounter leaving you free to relax and get the most from the experience.

Our helicopters will then deliver us to Glenworth Valley, 3,000 acres of unspoilt rainforest, natural rock pools, meandering creek lines and rolling hills. Bill Gates chose this location for his Australian bush experience. We touch down beside our campsite for lunch and settle into individual quarters which will be home for the next two nights. Although we are camping, it is unlikely that you will have seen a campsite quite like the one waiting for you. There are individual marquees, queen size beds, bedside tables, remote control lighting, gas heating, hot and cold running water, our own chef and bar staff, and your overnight bag will already be on your bed. The campsite is wonderfully secluded and the only sounds you will hear will be the birds in the trees and the water running in the creek.

After lunch you will learn how the grazing of sheep, and later cattle, across the interior and outback drove the early Australian economy. We will watch horsemen and their specially bred dogs mustering sheep, see a first hand demonstration of sheep shearing and you will be invited to try your hand under the guidance of the shearer. You will also learn to crack a stockwhip and throw a boomerang, an Aboriginal weapon used for hunting and defence. Both activities are highly enjoyable and, although neither is as easy as it looks, you will find everyone is capable of cracking a whip and throwing a boomerang. We cannot guarantee your boomerang will come back!

Dinner is a creation from the imagination of our personal chef and afterwards we take our places beside the fire for the evening entertainment, a traditional Australian Aboriginal ceremonial dance or corroboree. Aboriginal tribes across Australia have used traditional dance for thousands of years, both for ritual purposes and to express and represent many facets of their lives and beliefs. Brightly painted tribal dancers acting out traditional legend to the mesmerising sound of the didgeridoo and clap sticks, all in the flickering light of the fire, makes for a spectacular and spine-tingling performance. The dance troupe you will see is thoroughly professional, and performs extensively both within Australia and around the world. Witnessing this enactment of Aboriginal cultural heritage as part of such a small group in the traditional bush setting is an opportunity offered exclusively to guests of Antipodes.

Thursday

Your morning begins with the sound of the birds and the smell of coffee left at your door, along with your newspaper, if you really can’t leave the outside world behind. Breakfast may be taken privately or with the group. After breakfast a horse will be selected to match your riding proficiency for our trail ride across lush green valleys and through unspoilt Australian bush. You will discover the shady canopy of the rainforest trail, meander along the banks of flowing creeks and then arrive at the natural rock pools where you can take a well earned break from the saddle and enjoy a refreshing swim.

We will take lunch beside the rock pools and relax for a while listening to the peaceful sounds of running water and the native birdlife. After lunch we will put our skills to the test with a cattle muster back to the homestead. Returning to the campsite, treat yourself to a long hot shower and a masseur will happily soothe any aches and pains you may have after the day's activities.

Fully refreshed, you can look forward to cocktails at dusk and be tantalised by the aroma of tender kangaroo fillets searing on the barbeque. After dinner you will relax in a comfortable chair beside the fire and take advantage of the clear skies overhead to learn a little about the stars of the Southern Hemisphere. You will hear how early pioneers used them to navigate and how the Aboriginal people weave the stars into legend and storytelling.

Friday

After breakfast we bid farewell to our campsite, mount up, and take one last ride to the very edge of Glenworth Valley before transferring to our motor cruiser for the trip down the Hawkesbury River. Our captain is somewhat of a local institution and his commentary will educate and entertain you as we pass by national parks, sandstone cliffs, historic bridges, and quaint riverside townships. Our destination is Cottage Point Inn, where we will take lunch overlooking the river and bushland scenery. We recommend the twice cooked quail or the delicious fillet of veal. After lunch we board our awaiting seaplane and return to Sydney Harbour.

After arriving back at the Park Hyatt, you have a number of options for the afternoon. You may choose to spend time in the hotel spa where a masseur will deal with any lingering aches or you might opt for the full body pampering. Another option is to spend the afternoon jet boating and parasailing on the harbour. Perhaps a private Opera House tour or an escorted shopping expedition is your preference. Of course, you can always decide to take another fitness session or zip across to Bondi Beach to catch a few waves or simply laze on the sand for a few hours.

Our final dining experience is something truly unique. After cocktails, our motor cruiser will ferry us to Fort Denison, a sandstone bastion in the middle of Sydney Harbour. On arrival, a tour of the Fort will take us through the living quarters, the gun emplacements within the Martello tower, and across Battery Lawn to see the 1pm Gun which was fired daily to indicate the time to early Sydneysiders. After a tour of the Fort we will take our seats under the stars for dinner while enjoying 360 degree views of the city. The sight of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House fully illuminated from your seat while you enjoy the five star dining experience will create a memory that will last a lifetime.

Saturday

Your final morning in Sydney. The early birds are free to take one last ride, walk, run, swim, or gym session before breakfast. Over breakfast you will be presented with your completed and personalised leather bound album, including a CD of backup images as a permanent reminder of your week. After breakfast and at a time of your choosing, your limousine will take you to Sydney airport for your return flight.

Departures

On Saturday, the scheduled flights returning to the USA depart Sydney around lunchtime, and, after crossing the International Date Line, arrive on the West Coast the same morning. Flights bound for Europe depart Sydney on Saturday afternoon and arrive Sunday morning. Those returning to Asia may choose from regular flights departing Sydney throughout the day. Guests are chauffeured to the airport regardless of departure time or final destination.