ANZIAM '13

Organised Tours

Two tours are being arranged by the conference organisers. They will occur on Tuesday afternoon (5th February). Purchase tickets through the on-line shop. There is a limit of 57 people per tour. If there is insufficient demand for either tour, any payment received prior to the conference will be refunded.

For both tours, buses will pick up from and return people to the conference venue (Newcastle City Hall).

Hunter Valley Wine Country

Hunter Valley wine country tour: $45 per person

The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's premier wine-producing regions. You will visit two vineyards for wine tasting, Audrey Wilkinson Winery and Pepper Tree Winery.

Port Stephens Dolphin Watching Cruise

Port Stephens Dolphin watching cruise: $50 per person

Harbour cruise on scenic Port Stephens including spectacular Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands.

Sightseeing

Newcastle and surrounds have an abundance of beautiful sights to see. Here are some suggestions if you would like to arrange your own sightseeing.

Native Mini-Zoo Experience and Optional Short Bushwalk

Blackbutt Reserve, about 20 minutes drive inland from the conference venue, is home to a small zoo of native animals. See kangaroos, emus, wombats, koalas and a variety of birdlife. Public koala encounters happen at 2 pm, for a limited number of participants. Entry to the zoo is free, but koala encounters attract a small cost. There is also a variety of short walking trails through the bushland in the reserve.

Harbour Walk

Take an easy walk along the Newcastle harbour-front, from the docks to the lighthouse, to the ocean baths. This is a flat and well-paved walk, and route and distances can be decided to suit participants.

Clifftop Walk

Walk along the coast from the hotel up along the cliffs to the south. The walk is well-paved, but hilly. With luck, see whales without getting seasick! Surfer sightings are guaranteed. Distances can again be decided to suit participants.

Bushwalk

Glenrock Reserve, about 20 minutes drive from the conference venue, contains numerous walking trails, through a variety of bushland types, with views of the ocean, and the option of walking down to the beach. Both easy and hard walking options are available, but surfaces are typically uneven.

Tour of Fort Scratchley

Get great views of Newcastle and a taste of Australia's wartime history with a self-guided tour of Fort Scratchley, open until 4 pm. Guided tours of the tunnels leave regularly until 2:30 pm, and cost around $12-15 per person. Tickets are available from the Artillery Store (shop) at the Fort.