Peregrine Launches Australia and New Zealand Programmes

Peregrine is kicking off its 30th birthday year with the introduction of a new range of adventure holidays in Australia and New Zealand.

The Australia and New Zealand program marks another milestone for Peregrine: one of the world’s leading adventure travel companies now operates on all seven continents.

The program draws on the qualities for which Peregrine’s international programs are renowned, with a range of small group, environmentally and culturally sensitive holidays led by local experts. From the Top End to Tasmania and across the Tasman, the new program includes walking, trekking, cycling and four wheel drive tours, catering to all kinds of adventurers.

The 12 day Cape York – Top of Australia tour is a classic four wheel drive overland journey to the remote far north. Starting in Cairns, the trip makes its way via the Daintree Rainforest and Bloomfield Falls to Cooktown and explores the wetlands and grasslands of the vast Lakefield National Park. Merluna Station is the real deal – a far-north Queensland cattle station where the group stays in renovated stockmen’s quarters and has the opportunity to get involved in station activities. The tour then heads to Mapoon, for two days working alongside the Aboriginal landowners on the Cape York Turtle Rescue program.

Following the old Overland Telegraph Line north is one of the world’s top four-wheel drives, crossing numerous creeks to arrive at Punsand Bay, the base for the final three-hour trek to the tip of Australia.

Prices for Cape York – Top of Australia start from Aud$4930 per person twin share plus a Aud$400 conservation contribution to the Cape York Turtle Rescue program and include Peregrine tour leader/driver, local guides, transport, accommodation, most meals and entrance fees. There are four departures from Cairns between July and October.

The rarely-walked seven-day Dreaming Place Trek is an unmarked trail through some of Central Australia’s most dramatic scenery. From the remote community of Manyallaluk, across savannah woodlands through the Katherine River Valley and into Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, this is a rare opportunity to explore all thirteen gorges on foot with a local Aboriginal leader. This trek offers the opportunity to be immersed in the cultural, geological and visual grandeur for which Nitmiluk National Park is renowned worldwide and finishes with a canoe trip, paddling beneath towering cliffs in the wilderness of the gorge

The Dreaming Place Trek costs Aud$2490 per person (carrying own pack) and includes a Peregrine tour leader, local guide, transport, canoe hire, park entrance fees, most meals and camping gear. There are two departures from Katherine in July and September.

To introduce the new program, Peregrine is offering a 10 per cent discount off all Australia and New Zealand 2008 departures that are booked and deposited before February 29, 2008 excluding the Mt Cook Expedition and the Mountaineering Course.

For more information contact Peregrine Travel Centre on 1300 854 500 or visit www.peregrineadventures.com

A Report by The Mole