Hi!  I'm trying to decide to go on the Contrast Reef and Rock Australian tour either Dec. 4 or Jan 29.  I have schduled to go Dec 4 but not sure if I'll have enough of vacation time to go.  Can anyone tell me that has been... on how you feel when you return?  Should I take a lot of days off from work to rest from jet lag?  If so, how many days?  I'll be leaving from NC, USA.  Also, which time would be best to go?  Also, I've seen that different people say how much money they spend per day.  Are souvenirs expensive compared to USA prices? 
Thanks
Shannon

Hey-Your money will go SO far in OZ as the US $$ is stronger than the Aussie $$.  And if you are in Cairns on the right night then they have night markets which is a great place to buy souvenirs.  As well is duty free but more for food and booze where as the night markets will have things like shirts, aboriginal art, croc stuff and trinkets....

So I went on the Cairns Sunshine Trail trip this past summer so I was on half of what you will be doing.  The  Aussie Contiki's are usually a combo of all the differnent tours that head in that direction so you may have around 8 differnet tours on your trip with people coming and going at key stops.  Most of the people for you will be there from Sydney on and theb aboot half when you head to Alice Springs.

As far as the jet lag goes-It is different for everyone.  As long as you get a good nights sleep when you get home then you should be okay.  You will prob feel tired for a few days afterwarda(especially after a Contiki!!) but you should be fine.  The jet lag is acutally worsr going there as you can loose up to 2 days just getting there and coming from the East Coast means you will be traveling all day before even conecting to you flight down there.  IF you have not purchased your flights yet then I would suggest trying ot connect thru LAX and getting the 1 day Qantas flight as you get int he following evening and go staright to bed, otherwise you get there around 6am 2 days later and just have to go.

Let me know if you have any other questions or just want to talk aboot the trip.  sta-penny@hotmail.com

Penny

Contrast Reef and Rock is amazing...BUT....you woll have so much fun with the people you are with from Sydney to the Whitsundays, you WON'T want to leave to Uluru!! I found it really hard, and was pretty upset the first night at Yulara. I guess it depends how attached you get to everyone... The trip is mazing though. Personally, if I did it again, I'd do the Aussie Explorer, which is longer, but you get to do the whole of both trips.

Hi guys,

I'm thinking on taking the Contrast Reef and Rock tour in Feb and was wondering if Contiki brings you back to Cairns when the tour is done or do they leave you there to find your own way back to a major City??

If they leave you there does anyone know of any carriers to fly back to a major City??

Any information would help.

Thanks

S.