Thursday
May 13
Depart Sydney by Air Canada Flight No AC 0034 at
10.00 (connecting flight ex Melbourne), arrive Vancouver at 09.50 (same
day). Transfer to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel for Buffet Lunch.. Following
lunch we leave the city and travel 40kms south through the rich farmlands
of the Fraser River delta to Tsawwassen. Here we board a BC. Ferry at
15.00 for the one and a half hour crossing of the Strait of Georgia, passing
through the Gulf Islands, (almost 200 islands each with its own distinctive
features,) en route to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island and from there south
to Victoria. The old-fashioned seaside-town atmosphere of this quiet,
attractive city, is further enhanced in the late spring early summer by
the abundance of flowers in hanging baskets and window boxes decorating
every lamppost, balcony and storefront. We will proceed directly to our
hotel and check in following on which the remainder of the afternoon is
free to ‘soak up’ the atmosphere of our hotel the historic
‘Fairmont Empress’ displaying the grandeur of a bygone era,
or if time permits prior to dinner, stroll along the shore line of Victoria’s
inner harbour. Dinner at our hotel this evening.
Friday
May 14
A leisurely start to our programme today. Following
breakfast at a respectable hour, we travel north along the Sannich Peninsula
to Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of spectacular plantings including the fragrant
Rose Garden, the Italian Garden, featuring a magnificent lily pond, the
relaxing Japanese Garden, and the unique Sunken Garden. ‘In May
the tulips begin to offer their place on the palette of colors to the
rhododendrons, azaleas and the early perennials, while Siberian wallflowers
and forget-me-nots supply both scent and color. Cinerarias are being planted
out with gloriously colored blooms and schizanthus comes onto the scene
in a multitude of hanging baskets.
Southern Vancouver Island is home to three resident pods, approximately
90 in number, of Orca or Killer Whales. During the months of April through
to September the salmon populations are passing through this area on their
way to their spawning grounds. During these months the whales spend much
of their time around Victoria and San Juan Island feeding on the abundance
of salmon. This afternoon we go out ‘whale watching’ aboard
a high speed catamaran custom built for this purpose and incorporating
elevated viewing platforms. For those looking for ‘a wave top, taste-the-salt
thrill ride’ billed as ‘pure wind in your face excitement’
there will possibly be the option of checking out the whales from a somewhat
less luxurious ‘zodiac’. Assuming we all make it back to shore,
dinner this evening at our hotel.
Saturday
May 15
Following on breakfast this morning we return to
Vancouver by BC Ferry. We will go direct to our hotel The Fairmont Waterfront,
and check in, after which we will embark on a familiarisation tour of
the city. Looking out towards the waters of the straits of Johnstone and
Georgia, Vancouver claims to occupy one of the most beautiful settings
of any city in the world, surrounded as it is by water on three sides
and framed by the backdrop of the lofty Coast Range Mountains. Our tour
of the city and environs this afternoon will take us to Stanley Park,
a tamed wilderness area originally home to the Musqueam and Squamish native
Canadians. The park offers visitors the opportunity to experience a range
of typical Vancouver attractions including beaches, fir and cedar woods,
as well as excellent views of the harbour and the coastal mountains. Other
highlights of the afternoon’s sightseeing will be the Lion’s
Gate Bridge, Prospect Point and the meticulously manicured Queen Elizabeth
Park. Dinner this evening at our hotel.
Sunday
May 16
A relaxed departure from our hotel this morning
but in time to catch our 11.15 flight to Anchorage. Flight time is of
three hours sixteen mins. duration and we touch down in Anchorage at 13.31
(there’s a one hour time differential between Vancouver and Anchorage).
As our Alaskan journey so closely corresponds to the summer solstice,
it will not be truly dark again until we leave this region. The scale,
beauty, and genuinely wild nature of Alaska will capture our imagination
and stimulate our spirit. Alaska is a land apart, immense, pristine, beautiful,
and majestic. A place where grizzlies and wolves roam, glaciers pour down
from towering mountains, and adventure beckons at every turn. This next
eight day segment of our programme will allow us to experience much of
the best Alaska has to offer, with regular opportunities not only for
viewing the spectacular sub-arctic scenery and wildlife, but also for
getting out and exploring the land on day hikes, and even trying our hand
at a variety of uniquely Alaskan adventure activities, including sea kayaking
amidst icebergs, trekking on a glacier, and rafting a glacier-born river
(no previous experience is necessary for any of these activities). An
all day glacier and marine mammal cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park,
a scenic ferry crossing of Prince William Sound, and spectacular flights
over the mountain wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park are also
included highlights.
May-June brings blooming wildflowers, 24-hour daylight, snow-capped hills,
and few tourists. In addition to the long hours of daylight, June is generally
the driest, sunniest, most beautiful time of the year in Alaska. The timing
of our trip could not be better.
Following on our arrival we will take a familiarisation tour of the city
and environs including a visit to the Anchorage Museum of History and
Art. The museum features exhibits depicting the history of the peopling
of Alaska up to the present time. European contact is presented chronologically
as each new wave of people came to Alaska seeking riches, with special
emphasis on Russian American, American whaling, gold mining, the Alaska
Railroad, fishing, timber, World War II, statehood and contemporary Alaska,
including the oil pipeline.
Later in the afternoon we will take the opportunity to travel the forty
minutes along the beautiful Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet known particularly
for its sweeping tidal changes. Rising above us to our left is the south
western face of the Chugach Range. Keep watch for the sure-footed Dall
sheep that graze on the cliff face overhead. This ‘head start’
en route to the Kenai Peninsular will stand us in good stead for the next
eight days of our programme. Our accommodation and dinner this evening
at the Alyeska Prince Hotel. If time permits prior to dinner we may take
a walk through old growth hemlock and sitka spruce groves. in the beautiful
Chugach National Forest, the world’s northernmost temperate rainforest.
Monday
May 17
After on a relaxed departure this morning we’ll
continue south along Turnagain Arm to the small community of Cooper Landing,
on the Kenai Peninsula. Here we will put in the Kenai River for a two
hour scenic rafting trip through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, on
the lookout for wildlife. Following a picnic lunch we’ll continue
to Seward a quaint seaside fishing town is scenically situated on the
Gulf of Alaska’s Resurrection Bay and is surrounded by mountains,
glaciers, and verdant forests. The “drive-in” Exit Glacier
is nearby, and here we can take a leisurely stroll to the face of this
stunning and very blue “river” of Pleistocene ice, on the
lookout for moose. Afterwards we’ll check into the comfortable Windsong
Lodge for a two-night stay . Dinner this evening at the lodge.
Tuesday
May 18
Today is a certain highlight, as we’ll board
a cruise vessel for an all-day exploration of spectacular Kenai Fjords
National Park. The Kenai Peninsula is capped by the 800-square mile Harding
Ice Field, a giant sea of ice suspended high in the mountains and the
source of the pristine National Park’s many glaciers. Our cruise
will take us along the beautiful shoreline, past dense forests and numerous
glaciers, and ultimately to the face of a massive tidewater glacier. At
more than a mile wide and with a face more than 300 feet in height, we’ll
be overwhelmed by the scale, and awestruck as we witness one of nature’s
most inspiring spectacles, the “calving” of building-sized
chunks of ice into the sea. The roar of the crashing ice is unforgettable.
Glaciers aren’t the only highlight of the cruise, however, as the
specially designed boat plies some of the world’s most wildlife-rich
waters. We’re certain to see sea lions, sea otters, harbour seals,
bald eagles, and thousands of nesting seabirds, including puffins, penguin-like
murres, cormorants, murrelets, auklets, and more. There’s also a
very good chance that we’ll get close-up views of playful porpoises,
and even humpback and orca (killer) whales. We’ll also stop at beautiful
Fox Island for a grilled salmon lunch, with all of the trimmings.
Wednesday
May 19
Have you ever fully comprehended how glaciers transform
the landscape? This morning we travel to Portage and the Begich-Boggs
Visitor Centre. Built on the remnants of a ‘terminal moraine’
(mountain fragments that have been pushed in front of an encroaching glacier,
in this case however the ‘encroaching’ has come to a halt),
the centre overlooks Portage Lake, and houses a wide range of exhibits
demonstrating ‘glaciers on the move,’ focusing on ‘living
glaciers’ in the immediate area. Following our visit to the Centre
we travel through the mountain to Whittier, situated at the western limit
of Prince William Sound’s Passage Canal. The town is virtually surrounded
by glaciers. We arrive in time to board the “Alaska Marine Highway”
ferry for the scenic 90-mile crossing to Valdez. Prince William Sound
is full of spectacular beauty, diverse scenery and abundant wildlife and
is surrounded by endless mountain ranges that literally rise up directly
from the sea. The crossing of pristine Prince William Sound takes about
6 hours, and is very pleasurable. Nudging our way through ‘chunky
ice soup’ en route, we will pass close to Alaska’s largest
tidewater glacier, the Columbia. Don’t worry, this is not a ‘maiden
voyage’ and the captain takes his ship through these waters 5 days
a week. We arrive in Valdez at approximately 9 pm, but of course it could
be two o’clock in the afternoon, as there are several hours of daylight
still remaining.
Thursday
May 20
Valdez, known as the “Little Switzerland”
of Alaska, is beautifully situated at the head of a long fjord, with glaciated
mountains rising up out of the sea on all sides. Today we’ll get
a chance for some close-up views of the surrounding country when we take
to stable kayaks for one of the most spectacular sea kayaking daytrips
available anywhere. A short boat trip will deliver us to the mouth of
protected Shoup Bay, from where we’ll paddle past hundreds-feet
high waterfalls and an unbelievable black-legged kittiwake rookery that
hosts over 18,000 nesting birds! Black oystercatchers, Canada geese, and
seals are also frequently encountered. Soon enough we’ll be amidst
the icebergs, and ultimately we’ll paddle up to within a half mile
(it seems a lot closer!) of the tremendous Shoup Glacier. The Shoup is
also an active tidewater glacier, and we can expect to see it in action,
showering down ice into the bay. We’ll stop for a picnic on the
beach here and a short walk, before paddling back to our boat. This is
a truly awesome experience, and the best part is that no previous experience
is necessary to enjoy this easy yet breathtaking and uniquely Alaskan
adventure.
Friday
May 21
Today we’ll leave coastal Alaska behind, crossing
the Chugach Mountains into Interior Alaska at super-scenic Thompson Pass.
It will be at this point that we might be able to begin to conceive something
of the true enormity of Alaska, as one mighty mountain range after another
unfolds in every direction, as far as the eye can see. After a pretty
walk at the roadside Worthington Glacier we’ll drive on to the ghost
town of Chitina, where we’ll board a plane for a jaw-dropping flight
through the glaciated and volcanic Wrangell Mountains to the charming
“copper rush” community of Kennicott, at the base of 16,490'
Mt. Blackburn and the foot of Kennicott Glacier, deep in the heart of
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This immense wilderness is the world’s
largest park (six times greater than Yellowstone), home of 9 of the 16
highest peaks in the US, and in conjunction with neighbouring Kluane National
Park in Yukon, home to the biggest concentration of glaciers outside of
the polar areas on earth. This remote and little-visited park casts its
spell on all who visit, and is certain to be a highlight. We’ll
be staying at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge in Kennicott (population ~25),
a charming and rustically luxurious lodge that overlooks the eponymous
25-mile long glacier and the many ice-capped volcanoes.
Saturday
May 22
The history of Kennicott began in 1900, when prospectors
spotted a patch of green hillside which looked like good grazing ground
for their pack horses. The ‘grass’ turned out to be the green
glint of copper ore. From that incident, a boom town was born. with accommodation
and facilities for 600 workers. Up until its closure in 1938 Kennicott
was the world’s richest copper mine. Today, the ghost town is slowly
being re-colonized, with the National Park Service now owning the majority
of the historic structures. This morning we’ll take a historic tour
through the streets of this, Alaska’s largest ghost town. This afternoon
we’ll hike along the lateral moraine of the glacier and down to
the ice, where we’ll strap on crampons and venture out to explore
the fascinating and very unique world of the glacier. With mountains towering
on all sides and the stunning Stairway Ice Fall in the distance (the world’s
second highest “frozen waterfall,” at over 6000 feet), this
beautiful exploration of the glacial ecology will linger with us long
after we’ve returned home. For those looking for something a little
less strenuous an opportunity to stroll along one or more of the many
forest paths in the area. We return to our lodge for dinner this evening.
Sunday
May 23
This morning we re-board our aircraft for another
scenic flight out of the park, and then drive north and west through a
completely unpopulated area that contains literally hundreds of thousands
of lakes, dense spruce forests, and huge quantities of wildlife, into
the Matanuska Valley. Along the way we will call into the Wrangell-St.
Elias National Park Visitor Centre. We’ll also take a close up look
at a segment of the 800 mile long Alaska Pipeline. Tonight we’ll
stay in comfortable, modern cabins at the beautifully situated Sheep Mountain
Lodge, where we can also enjoy the lodge’s hot tub spa..
Monday
May 24
The Talkeetna Mountains are a fascinating wilderness
of peaks, tundra, alpine valleys and clear mountain streams and are the
setting for Sheep Mountain Lodge which offers sweeping views of the Matanuska
River Valley. Dall sheep can often be seen grazing on the rocky hillsides
just behind the lodge. This morning we can relax the pace a little and
take in something of this unique location over a leisurely breakfast.
We are approximately two hours drive from Anchorage and I’m suggesting
we depart the lodge around mid-morning in order to connect with our flight
to Vancouver which departs Anchorage at 14.15 touching down in Vancouver
at 18.22. Accommodation this evening at the Vancouver Fairmont Hotel.
Tuesday
May 25
A very early start this morning as we check in at
Vancouver Pacific Central Station at 06.45 for a 07.15 departure on the
‘Rocky Mountaineer’ www.rockymountaineer.com service from
Vancouver to Jasper with an overnight stop in Kamloops. The two day journey
spanning 500 kms each day on this luxury train provides an opportunity
to view the spectacular scenery of the Canadian Rockies during daylight
hours. The route from Vancouver to Kamloops takes in the superb scenery
of the Fraser River Valley through the Coastal Mountains until it meets
the Thompson River at Hells Gate. The setting here is of hectares of dark
green conifers, raging white water and mountains that defined the term
‘soaring peak’. Overnight accommodation in Kamloops preceded
by ‘dinner-theatre’ featuring local historic stories and songs.
Wednesday
May 26
Today is perhaps the most spectacular of the two
day journey. The route from Kamloops to Jasper travels through the Caribou
and Monashee Mountains, skirts the Pyramid Falls, crosses the Albreda
Icefields and descends down from Mount Robson, the highest peak in the
Canadian Rockies into Jasper, nestled in the Athabassca Valley within
the Jasper National Park. Dinner and accommodation this evening at the
‘Chateau Jasper’.
Thursday
May 27
Commanding a view of both the Colin Range to the
east and the jagged peaks south along the Icefields Parkway, Jasper is
a small town (population 4,700) situated on a plateau overlooking the
Athabasca Valley. Eight kms north of the township, accessed along a winding
road but well worth the drive, we come across the attractively sited Patricia
and Pyramid Lakes nestling beneath the 2763mtr high Pyramid Mountain.
Time to wander along the shoreline for half to three quarters of an hour
and take in something of the ‘majesty’ of the setting. Continuing
east we take the Maligne Lake Drive www.canadianrockies.net/jasper/jnpmalig.html
which initially follows the valley floor between the Maligne and Queen
Elizabeth ranges. Among the routes most spectacular sights the Maligne
Canyon has towering sheer limestone walls and many waterfalls which can
be seen from several footbridges. The Canyon is part of a formation of
caves both above and below ground level, and while we could wander through
and marvel at this geological phenomenon for the remainder of the day
we must move on. Our drive continues east ending at the impressive Maligne
Lake, the largest natural lake in the Rockies. We will spend two or three
hours here, during which time we will take a cruise, stopping off at Spirit
Island, an excellent vantage point for some serious photography of the
lake and surrounding mountains. On arrival back at ‘lakeside’
we return to Jasper and our hotel the ‘Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’
Friday
May 28
It is one of the most photographed stretches of
highway in the world. Around every bend are new panoramas of snow covered
peaks, glaciers, fast flowing rivers and valleys lined with imposing trees.
Trails take you to viewing points or to waterfalls swollen by melting
snow. Welcome to the Icefields Parkway. Today we journey 230 kilometers
along this spine of the Canadian Rockies from Jasper to Lake Louise, a
route recognised as one of the worlds great scenic highways. www.canadianrockies.net/icepwy.html
. Approximately 40kms out of Jasper we turn off the Parkway to view the
Athabaska Falls. The Athabaska carries the most water of any river within
the Rocky Mountains, and the 21.3 metre falls present a spectacle of roaring
water, spray and mist. Five kms further on and we arrive at the Goats
and Glaciers Viewpoint, a position from where there is a magnificent view
out over the Athabasca valley, its floor covered in a superb forest of
Lodgepole pine. Sunwapta Falls are a further 18kms along the Parkway.
Here the waters of the Sunwapta River crash into a limestone gorge threaded
by a trail which leads to a series of smaller falls and rapids. 48 kms
further on and we arrive at the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier.
Covering an area of about 324 square kilometers and with an estimated
maximum depth of more than 305 metres, the Columbia Icefield is the most
extensive of its kind in the Rockies. At the ‘toe’ of the
Athabasca Glacier we board a specially designed ‘Snocoach’
for a guided tour onto the surface of the Glacier. Continuing on, Bridal
Veil Falls, the Weeping Wall, Mount Wilson, Mistaya Canyon, Upper Waterfowl
Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier are but some of the highlights we
will experience this afternoon culminating in the arrival at our accommodation
for this evening, the ‘Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise’.
Saturday
May 29
The ‘Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise’ is
situated right on the northern shoreline of Lake Louise which is some
little distance outside of the town of the same name. For those of us
who are early risers an opportunity to take a walk around the foreshore
prior to breakfast. We continue to be delighted this morning by vistas
of mountains, lakes and waterfalls, as we spend an unhurried day in the
Lake Louise region taking in highlights such as the Valley of the Ten
Peaks centered in which are the beautiful turquoise waters of Moraine
Lake Later in the morning we move through into the Yoho National Park
and onto Emerald Lake; no points for guessing why it is so called. We’ll
have lunch here in this delightful mountain setting. Banff is only 55
kms along the Bow Valley Parkway from Lake Louise, and from this impressive
carriageway there are often sightings of bears, elk and coyotes. Mid afternoon
and we arrive at Johnston Canyon. We’ll take a break here and venture
down into the canon via a board-walk along the rock wall from where there
are some quite striking views of the valley. The area is literally littered
with waterfalls and rushing streams, and we can walk for fifteen minutes
to three hours depending on how much time we wish to spend here. We continue
on into Banff and our accommodation for tonight at the ‘Fairmont
Banff Springs Hotel’.
“Majestic and sublime, this is a legendary baronial castle, offering
guests the magic of a romantic and fabled past, and the thrill of a wilderness
adventure, in a landscape, as unique as it is breathtaking”. Although
possibly the object of accusations of ‘self promotion’, the
above extract from from a ‘Fairmont Hotel’ publication provides
something of an overview of this world renowned establishment.
Sunday
May 30
Following breakfast at our hotel we take the coach
into Calgary, a distance of 128 kms. Today brings to a conclusion Module
1 with a 12.15 Flight from Calgary connecting with the 19.45 flight Vancouver
to Sydney/Melbourne via Hawaii. Arriving in Sydney 7.10 Tuesday June 1.
For those continuing on with Module 2/3 our flight to Toronto departs
at 12.15. Time in the air is three hours forty minutes, and with a time
differential of two hours we land in Toronto at 17.55. Accommodation this
evening at the ‘Fairmont Royal York’.
Monday
May 31
Although the majestic rumble of the falls can be
heard from miles away, I am told there is no preparation for the sight
itself. Niagara Falls is a great arc of hissing, frothing water, crashing
over a 52 metre cliff amid dense clouds of drifting spray. This morning
we leave Toronto and drive the 145 kms south east through the lush wine
region of the Niagara peninsula to one of the world’s most impressive
natural attractions, Niagara Falls. We will stay overnight within view
of the falls, enabling us to spend all day within the region, and further
to see the falls floodlit at night. On our arrival we will board the Maid
of the Mist cruise boat which takes passengers up to the face of the falls
for a view from the bottom. It’s loud and wet, (raincoats are provided),
but it’s an experience not to be missed. Later in the morning, time
to take in ‘Journey Behind’ a walk down through rock-cut tunnels
for a close-up (wet) look from halfway down the cliff face and behind
the falls. The wall of water is thick enough to almost block out the light
of day, and it’s as close as you can get to the action without getting
in a barrel. Following lunch we will reboard our coach and drive along
the Niagara Gorge from where we can admire the torrent which is the Niagara
River. A riverside boardwalk enables us to take a ‘close-up’
view of whirlpools and rapids recognised as some of the most spectacular
yet treacherous in the world. Time permitting we will continue on to Niagara-on-the-Lake,
a charming little town of elegant clapboard mansions and leafy streets,
set where the mouth of the Niagara River empties into Lake Ontario. Dinner
and accommodation this evening at the ‘Brock Plaza Fallsview Hotel’.
Tuesday
June 1
Following breakfast this morning we return to Toronto
by coach. We have a train to catch early this afternoon; however our return
to Toronto can still be ‘leisurely’ and we will stop for a
‘coffee break’ at Hamilton, sited at the extreme western end
of Lake Ontario. The Royal Botanical Gardens here are recognised as having
some particularly impressive individual garden displays, and time permitting
we will be able to spend an hour or so here.
It’s a four hour journey on the ‘Via Rail’ VIA 1 Class
service from Toronto to Ottawa. Our train leaves Toronto at 12.30 following
a line which for the most part runs parallel with the shore of Lake Ontario,
passing through towns such as Oshawa, Port Hope, Trenton and Bellville,
picking up the northern shoreline of the St Lawrence River, following
it along to Brockville from where it heads north, north-west through the
Rideau Lakes Region to Ottawa, the nations capital. Our train is due at
Ottawa Central station at 16.30, enabling us to check into our hotel the
‘Fairmont Chateau Laurier’ at a civilised hour, with time
to relax prior to dinner this evening.
Wednesday
June 2
Ottawa has an attractive setting, sited as it is
on the south bank of the Ottawa River, at its confluence with the Rideau
River. Far more than just the political capital of Canada, the city has
grown into a mix of English and French residents, together with a good
blend of historic and modern buildings. As the centre of Canadian government,
it is renowned for beautiful flower gardens, tree lined streets, numerous
parks and noble buildings. This morning’s sightseeing includes views
of Parliament House, the residence of the prime minister and Rideau Hall,
the governor-general’s home, the Supreme Court of Canada, the National
Gallery of Canada, Rideau Falls, the National War Memorial and the Rideau
Canal. Following on our introductory tour of the city, enjoy the remainder
of the day at your leisure. The core of the capital is relatively contained
and many of the major city sights can be easily accessed on foot. Pick
up a city guide brochure from our hotel and take in some of the major
sights, enjoying in the process, the charm of Ottawa’s magnificent
boulevards, exquisite gardens and regal architecture. Dinner this evening
at our hotel.
Thursday
June 3
We continue our programme by Via Rail, ‘VIA
1 Class’ service today, departing Ottawa Central station at 09.45
for the 187 km journey to Montreal. Our route this morning takes us across
the north-western tip of the province of Ontario through undulating farmland
to bring us into Montreal at 11.45. Located at the convergence of the
St Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, this island metropolis became Canada’s
first great trading centre. A brief stop-over here prior to continuing
through the heart of French Canada along the north shore of the St Lawrence
River before arriving at Quebec City. Accommodation and dinner this evening
at the magnificent Fairmont Chateau Frontenac.
Friday
June 4
Introducing Quebec City, the ‘Dorling Kindersley
Travel Guide’ reads, the heart and soul of French Canada, Quebec
City sits overlooking the St Lawrence River on the cliffs of Cap Diamant.
As provincial capital, the city is the seat of regional government and
nowadays is the heart of French-Canadian nationalism. Parisian in atmosphere,
with every street worth visiting, Quebec City is almost entirely French-speaking.
This morning we take a guided tour of the city with the afternoon free
to explore at our leisure. Within the heart of the city narrow cobblestone
streets and 18th century buildings lend a European air to this small provincial
capital. Most of the sights are packed into one accessible corner, above
and below the Cap Diamant cliffs and are easily reached on foot. Recommended
among them are….
(i) Terrasse Dufferin. Sweeping along the top of Cap Diamant from Chateau
Frontenac to the edge of the Citadel, this boardwalk offers unmatched
views of the St Lawrence River, the Laurentian Mountains and Ile d’Orleans.
(ii) Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Quebec. This magnificent cathedral is the
principal seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Quebec.
(iii) Citadelle. The French commenced the construction of this impressive
edifice in 1750 when such bastions were built for storing gunpowder. Strategically
sited on a plateau over 100 metres above the river, the views from the
Citadelle are worth the climb.
(iv) Place Royal. “Of all the squares in Canada, Place Royal Quebec
has undoubtedly the most history”, so say most of the guidebooks.
Today it remains much as it did in the 18th century, ‘exuding an
air of elegance and delicate grandeur’.
Saturday
June 5
This morning brings to a conclusion Module 2 with
a 15.30 flight to Vancouver connecting with the 19.45 flight to Sydney/Melbourne
via Hawaii, arriving in Sydney at 7.10 Monday June 7.
For those within the group continuing on through Module 3, we board our
coach and in the company of a local guide head out of the city area, visiting
a range of natural and historical attractions including Park de la Chute
Montmorency containing Montmorency Falls, said to be among the most impressive
in Canada. Later in the morning we travel 30kms along the avenue Royale
between Beauport and Saint-Joachim. Our route today affords us impressive
views of the St. Lawrence River and the Isle d’Orleans. Lined with
homes bearing witness to both French and English architectural traditions,
‘Avenue Royale’ links a string of charming historical villages
offering a wealth of historical sites to visit. Prior to lunch we make
our way onto Isle d’Orleans. Situated right in the middle of the
busy St Lawrence River, this 30km-long green island has long had a reputation
as a picture of traditional rural life, offering as it does an authentic
sanctuary of century-old homes, churches, mills, and chapels. Prior to
leaving this historic region we stop to visit the Basilique Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre.
Features of the Basilique are its vast proportions and its superb stained-glass
windows. We return to Quebec for dinner at the Revolving Restaurant, Le
Concorde Hotel, prior to boarding our train at 23.00 this evening for
our ‘overnight bedroom fare’, from Quebec City to Halifax
in Nova Scotia. Our journey through the night and into tomorrow extends
over 996 kms.
Sunday
June 6
On waking this morning we find ourselves traveling
alongside the estuary of the Restigouche River, our train is due in at
Campbellton in the province of New Brunswick at 07.25. We are traveling
First Class on VIA Rail’s Ocean service and breakfast is served
in the Dining Car. Sit back and relax as we continue our journey this
morning through the province of New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. Initially
our route follows along the shoreline of the Baie-des-Chaleurs within
sight of some impressive beaches and back-grounded by wooded mountains.
Later in the morning the line passes through towns such as Miramichi,
located at the mouth of the major salmon-fishing river of the same name,
Moncton, situated in the heart of the ‘Maritimes’ on the Peticodiac
River and Amherst, located on the Chignecto Isthmus, finally arriving
at Halifax, capital city of Nova Scotia (New Scotland) at 16.10. Halifax
is a romantic and fascinating small city with a unique blend of modern
and historic architecture and is an easy town to explore on foot; many
of the museums, historic sites, shops and restaurants being located within
the fairly contained historic core. Following on transfer to our hotel,
we will have time in the late afternoon to stroll along the waterfront
boardwalks and wharfs of this impressive city. The wharf side collection
of elegant stone and timber-frame structures were originally built in
the 19th century to hold booty captured by privateers. Dinner this evening
at our hotel the Delta ‘Barrington’.
Monday
June 7
This morning we set out on the Halifax Circle tour,
a 550 km drive taking in some of Nova Scotia’s most celebrated scenery.
Departing Halifax we pick up on the ‘Evangeline Trail’ the
historical ‘pioneer route’ between Halifax and Windsor, passing
through a number of pristine forests of huge white pine and towering red
spruce. A feature of the area is the abundance of spring-fed lakes with
streams and rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean to the South and the
Bay of Fundy to the north. Windsor is situated on a promontory where the
Avon and St Croix Rivers come together at the upper reaches of Minas Basin
within the Bay of Fundy. Here the funnel shape of the Bay of Fundy together
with the Minas Basin causes the largest tidal range in the world. Hundreds
of feet of level ground are covered by the incoming tide in a matter of
minutes. Dependent on the time of our arrival we may have opportunity
to witness this interesting spectacle. Crossing the Avon River we continue
on to the town of Hantsport with its rich tradition of shipping and shipbuilding,
prior to proceeding to the Grand Pre National Historic Site. Few stories
surrounding the settlement of the ‘New World’ evoke as many
feelings of tragedy and triumph as those surrounding the Acadians, the
initial French settlers who arrived in this area in the 1600s. When the
British marched into the Arcadian village of Grand Pre it marked the beginning
of the Great Uprooting, which eventually forced thousands of peace-loving
Acadians from Nova Scotia. This afternoon we visit this area including
the beautiful stone church built on the site of the old village of Grand
Pre as a memorial to this tragedy; following on which we make our way
to our destination for this evening, the charming university town of Wolfville
with its stately tree lined streets and beautiful Victorian homes. Accommodation
this evening at ‘Victoria’s Historic Inn’, dinner at
‘The Tattingstone’.
Tuesday
June 8
Before departing the area, we will take a side trip
out to Cape Split. Again dependent on the time of the incoming tide, we
will experience the spectacle from this point as an audible roar. The
Annapolis Valley stretches some 250kms from Wolfville in the west to Yarmouth
in the east, and is a patchwork quilt of fields, orchards and vineyards,
sheltered from wind and fog by mountains both to the north and south.
Charming small towns are scattered along the valley and we travel through
this rich agricultural region today following what is known as the Evangeline
Trail. The Valley is rich in Acadian history. Dykes built by the Acadians
so many years ago to tame the Bay of Fundy’s capricious tides are
still visible throughout the area. Midway along the valley lies the historic
and picturesque town of Annapolis Royal. Broad, tree-lined streets, colourful
gardens and large gracious homes are a feature of this pleasant town.
Dependant on consensus within the group we will either proceed to the
coastal port of Digby and our accommodation for this evening or take a
scenic detour off the Evangeline Trail and drive to Bear River. Known
as the ‘Switzerland of Nova Scotia’, Bear River is a picturesque
village nestled in a deep valley at the head of the tidal river of the
same name. The town is best known for its many outstanding artists and
craftspeople whose attractive shops line the main street. The towns unique
architecture has a European flavour and waterfront buildings have been
built on stilts to stay above the dramatic high tides. The town of Digby
is home-port for one of North America’s largest scallop fleets,
and when the fleet is in port the colourful boats pack the waterfront.
This afternoon we arrive in time to stroll along the waterfront and marina
prior to dinner at our hotel, The Pines Resort.
Wednesday
June 9
This morning we head in a south easterly direction
across Nova Scotia following the Kejimkujik Scenic Drive to the National
Park of the same name, situated in the remote centre of southwestern Nova
Scotia. The park features abundant lakes and rivers, while lush woodlands
and gently rolling landscapes within the park are home to a variety of
wildlife including Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Beaver and Porcupine.
We could break our journey here for an hour or so and stroll one or more
of the numerous walking trails within the park or, for those within the
group who feel so inclined, hire a canoe and paddle any number of the
pristine waterways. We take our leave from the Park and turning north
west along Route 208 arrive in the historic town of New Germany, following
then the Le Havre River to Bridgewater and on to Lunenburg and our accommodation
for this evening. ‘No town captures the seafaring romance of Nova
Scotia as much as Lunenburg…Old Town Lunenburg is an outstanding
example of British colonial settlement in North America. Dozens of historic
buildings and homes dating back to 1760 have been beautifully maintained
and the streets still follow the original town plan of 1754. This extraordinary
level of preservation led to the town being declared a Canadian National
Heritage District and a UNESCO World Heritage Site’. Accommodation
this evening at the Boscawen Inn, dinner at a local restaurant.
Thursday
June 10
In arriving at Lunenburg we have joined up with
the ‘Lighthouse Route’ a celebrated coastal drive from ‘The
Yarmouth Light’ on the south eastern tip of the province, along
the southern shoreline to Halifax. We will return to Halifax today passing
through some of the most picturesque coastal scenery in all of the Americas.
We could take a full week to drive this 175 km ‘visual delight’,
however we must pace ourselves and stay on schedule. The small seaside
town of Mahone Bay has been called the “prettiest town in Canada”.
‘Tucked into the shores of the bay that shares its name, the waterfront
is lined with historic homes dating from the 1700s, and at the back of
the harbour three stately churches cast their reflection into the still
waters’. The ‘Lighthouse Route’ continues through Martin’s
River to Chester ‘a small town overflowing with seaside charm and
a mecca for yachting and sailing enthusiasts’. We will ‘turn
aside’ to at least drive around the foreshore here taking in the
sparkling harbour ringed by stately homes. At East River our route turns
right following the ruggedly beautiful coastline of the Aspotogan Peninsula
through small coastal villages such as Bayswater and Northwest Cove. The
lighthouse route continues around St Margaret’s Bay through lush
green landscape ‘where quiet inlets are home to wading birds and
small streams tumble into the waters of the bay’. Through the villages
of Glen Haven and French Village and past Seabright, the road travels
further out along the headlands, the land becomes more rugged and barren
‘with granite boulders and rocky outcroppings creating a landscape
of sea-carved beauty’. The quaint fishing village of Peggy’s
Cove stands on solid rock and reflects a character unique to ‘North
America’, while the harbour is a scenic place ‘with colourful
boats at the wharves, grey wooden fish houses and sheds surrounded by
brightly-painted markers and floats and ever-present clouds of herring
gulls. The small wooden village church glows in the westerning sun, while
the dark blue sea offsets the white houses that perch on the hill’.
From Peggy’s Cove the Lighthouse Route moves through heavily wooded
coastland country before arriving in Halifax and our accommodation and
dinner this eveninmg at ‘Halliburton House Inn’.
Friday
June 11
Our return flight to Vancouver this morning departs
Halifax at 11.00 arriving in Vancouver in time to connect with the international
flight Vancouver/Sydney/Melbourne.
Europe 2000 * Europe 2002 * Canada and Alaska 2004 * South
Island of New Zealand 2005 * Croatia/Slovenia/Scandinavia
2006 * Gardens
of Japan, American National Parks and Regional Britain 2008 * The best of Eastern and Western Europe 2010
