Private Air: Ultimate Australia from the Inside Outback. 17 Days.

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ustralia is our planet's oldest continent. She's glorious, colorful… and massive. If you've got only limited time for travel, perhaps there's no better way to see her than by private aircraft.

Begin with a soft landing in Sydney. Experience life cosmopolitan in this bustling, historic city. Dine in vibrant restaurants. Sigh at the stunning harbor. Get used to seeing foriegn constellations above your head.

On to Darwin, for a taste of Mother England. Once the center of the local gold rush, today it serves as Australia's gateway to the Far East. Into remotest Australia, the Kimberley Region. The rocky crests here are two billion years old. Get an unbeatable view of the Bungle Bungles (you'll just have to see for yourself) before exploring Buccaneer Archipelago and its dramatic tides, historic Broome, and gentle Roebuck Bay. Our base here is the splendid Cable Beach Club Resort on one of the world's finest white-sand beaches.

Next, and make a speedy departure for the Outback, the dramatic and dusty red desert that covers most of the continent.We're summoned by Uluru's mythical dome. Once named Ayers Rock, this sandstone hunk sits atop the Red Center's vast plains, a monument to Mother Nature's taste for the unusual. Hear the Aboriginal mythology that claims this site sacred beyond all imagining. Hear about Dreamtime and the ancients' tales of creation. Nearby Katatjuta (once called the Olgas) are next, 36 peculiar sandstone "heads" also steeped in native traditions and beliefs.

Cairns is our gateway to the incomparable Great Barrier Reef. From here, explore what lies beneath (there's quite a lot of it) or head farther north to the remarkable rain forest of Daintree National Park.

Down to Melbourne, Australia's famous liberal, lively, and liveable metropolis. Consider the upscale boutiques and funky resale shops. Or get out of town and explore wild Phillip Island, the jaw-droppingly beautiful Great Ocean Road, or the renowned wineries of the Yarra Valley.

Then bid adieu to the Southern Cross and head back to your home hemisphere. Australian primer complete.

Private Air: Ultimate Australia from the Inside Outback. 17 Days.

Departures: May through September 2006

Prices: from $11,630 per person sharing room

Single-room supplement (if available) $2,689