Sydney Australia skyline
Spring Land
Travel
March 14 - March 27, 2024

Australia: The Land Down Under

Jason Rudy ’97, Professor of English, University of Maryland, College Park

Jason Rudy ’97 is a Professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park, and the author of Imagined Homelands: British Poetry in the Colonies (Johns Hopkins University Press 2017). He has been awarded grants from both the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Council of Learned Societies. A specialist in nineteenth-century British and colonial literature, he's currently writing a biography of the Indigenous Australian painter Gordon Syron.


About the Journey

Few destinations inspire as much affectionate esteem as Australia. The affectionately named land down under teems with natural wonders and cultural treasures. From architecturally breathtaking Sydney, with its huge harbor and dazzling Opera House, to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia is simply enchanting. 

Begin in Sydney, the country’s cosmopolitan capital, with a privately guided tour of the World Heritage-listed Opera House, the glamourous Bondi Beach, and a sunset cruise of the magnificent Sydney Harbor. Next, venture north to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and experience a marine biologist-led snorkeling adventure through the largest living structure on the planet. In tropical Port Douglas, explore the spectacular waterfalls of Mossman Gorge and the oldest tropical rainforest in the world at Daintree National Park. Then venture into Australia’s ‘red center’ for a visit to the famous Uluru, or ‘Ayer’s Rock’. After a drive along the spectacular coastline of the Great Ocean Road, featuring majestic cliffs and rugged, windswept beaches, the journey concludes in the sophisticated city of Melbourne.

If Australia has always been on your ‘must-see’ list, there is no better time than now to make it happen.

Accommodation

Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney
Ideally situated in the heart of the Sydney's CBD business and shopping districts, this iconic Sydney hotel combines French elegance and traditions with sophisticated comfort, creating a world class 5-star destination. The hotel features 436 luxury rooms on fifteen floors curving gracefully around an elevated garden courtyard. All accommodations are finished in rich and sophisticated yet classic tones in accordance with the elegant French heritage. Hotel dining features French gastronomy infused with contemporary Australian cuisine.

Peppers Beach Club Port Douglas
Located a short walk from both Queensland's famous Four Mile Beach and Port Douglas's equally renowned restaurant and bar scene, Peppers Beach Club is perfectly positioned for a Tropical North Queensland holiday. The hotel features an elegant, open-air design with calming water features and lush tropical gardens. Amenities include an outdoor pool with sundeck, poolside bar & kitchen, fitness center, and in-room massages.

Sails in the Desert Ayers Rock
Soaring white sails shade 228 lavishly appointed rooms and suites at this desert oasis hotel. The grounds feature a sparkling swimming pool lined with lush gumtrees, the stunning Mulgara Gallery highlighting one-of-a-kind Indigenous art, and the Red Ochre Spa. Dining options include the brasserie-style Ilkari Restaurant, Indigenous-inspired cuisine and cocktails at the Walpa Lobby Bar, or a casual lunch and beverage at the poolside bar.

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Melbourne
Situated at the prestigious 'Paris End' of Collins Street, the exquisite Sofitel Melbourne on Collins is surrounded by many of Melbourne's best restaurants, shops and attractions, and within walking distance of Melbourne CBD, the Athenaeum Melbourne, Princess Theatre and Her Majesty's Theatre. Guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views over Melbourne, appointed with contemporary furnishings and French-inspired photography. No35 restaurant offers modern cuisine using fresh, local ingredients and breathtaking views of Melbourne 150 meters up.

Reservations

Please register online or contact the Princeton Journeys team at journeys@princeton.edu / 609.258.8686.

Trip Details