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connection
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More wonders
Down Under
By T. Foster Jones
THINKING OF AUSTRALIA, what springs wine production either—see the wine article
to mind are kangaroos, beer, Crocodile on page 43), Costco Travel offers the Colors of
Dundee and shrimp on the barbie. (I am the Australia tour, which takes visitors from the
first to admit this is an oversimplified stereo- country’s famed Outback, through a rain for-
type based on way too much movie watch- est and to the Great Barrier Reef.
ing.) And if I think of New Zealand? Lord of If sipping fine wine, playing championship
the Rings, naturally. golf and dining at bed-and-breakfasts isn’t your
What does not come to mind when con- style, the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive
sidering either of these islands are wineries, is a major adventure experience. Involving 500
spa resorts, golf, ecotours, cat- head of cattle, 150 horses and
tle drives or boutique and visitors from around the world,
lodge hotels. the drive traverses a remarkable
There is more to the area desert landscape that leads from
known as Down Under than I Oodnadatta in Queensland to
everrealized. the South Australian town of
In addition to offering the Marree—a region of stony plains
kind of tours that focus on the and cresting dunes, ancient
pleasures of the cities, such as uplifts, bubbling springs and
Sydney’s Darling Harbour and dazzling salt lakes.
the famed Sydney Opera “Each drive will have its
House, or New Zealand’s pic- The Maori of New Zealand own distinct highlights as well
turesque Christchurch, or the and the unusual obstacles as a camp village offering top-
vast and varied countryside of on Australia’s golf courses class catering,” reports Rena.
both islands—Costco Travel are just some of the coun- Whether you’re driving
has put together a variety of tries’ unique experiences. cattle or driving golf balls, Rena
tours that showcase unique says, there is another unique
perspectivesof the two countries. aspect to the more than 20 tours Costco
In New Zealand, for instance, you offers covering different areas of Australia
can spend 10 days savoring up fine wines, and New Zealand.“The beauty of these tours
testing your golf skills and enjoying gourmet is that they are much smaller groups,” she
foods on the appropriately titled New says. “A family could book them and pretty
Zealand Golf, Food and Wine tour through much be the entire tour group.”
Queenstown, Christchurchand Auckland. With the cost savings offered through
“New Zealand is the Napa Valley of the Costco Travel and increasingly better travel
Southern Hemisphere,” says Rena Peterson, options, Rena says, experiencing the distinct
senior buyer for Costco Travel. “There personality of every region on a repeat basis is
are countless vineyards, producing some more possible than ever, giving everyone the
fabulous wines. opportunity to rid themselves of all those
“With this tour, you get to taste wines at Down Under misconceptions.
four of the best vineyards in the Gibbston, Although I’d still love to see Crocodile
Bannockburn and Cromwell regions,” she Dundee. C
continues, “as well as visit three boutique
vineyards on Waiheke Island, a short ferry
ride from Auckland.”
Another tour takes advantage of New
Zealand’s natural beauty and Maori culture,
guiding visitors on an ecotour of islands,
caves, rain forests and whale watching.
In Australia (no slouch on high-quality
Receiv eceiv e your m ember ber
discount and take a unt and take a ake a n e xtra
20 O FF
a week ly r enta l
when you present this
coupon at time of rental
Offer valid on intermediate and full-size
cars. Rental must begin by 12/31/2006.
Mention BCD# W852811
and CPN# MUGZ613
For information and reservations, book
online at costco.com or call Costco
Travel toll free at 1-877-849-2730.
Please present your Costco membership
card at time of rental.
The Costco Connection
Costco Travel offers a variety of accommodations, tours and services in Australia and
New Zealand. For more information, please
visit costco.com or call Costco Travel toll-free at 1-877-849-2730.
Terms and Conditions
Coupon valid on an intermediate (group C) through a full-size four-door (group E)
car. Dollars off applies to the time and mileage charges only on a minimum five-day rental period. Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee,
customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) and fuel charges are extra.
Optional items such as LDW ($22.99/day or less) and other surcharges may
apply and are extra. This offer serves as your coupon. Coupon must be
surrendered at time of rental; one coupon per rental. An advance reservation is required. May not be used in conjunction with any other coupon, promotion or offer, except your member discount. Coupon valid at participating
Budget locations in the contiguous U. S. Offer subject to vehicle availability
at time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times. For
reservations made on costco.com, dollars off will be applied at time of rental,
subject to vehicle availability. Renter must meet Budget age, driver and credit
requirements. Minimum age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge
may apply for renters under 25 years old. Rental must begin by 12/31/2006.
FOR BUDGET CSR USE ONLY:
In CPN, enter MUGZ613 • In BCD, enter W852811
Complete this information at checkout:
RA# ___________________________________________________________________________
Operator ID: __________________________________________________________________
Rental Location ______________________________________________________________
BCD#__________________________________________________________________________
Attach to COUPON tape. • COUPON# MUGZ613
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Costco Travel is a registered seller of travel and travel agency in the following states: Washington ( WST 602042600); Ohio (8789302); Florida (Fla. Seller
of Travel Reg. No. ST32555); and California (CST 2054248-50). Registration as
a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the state of California.
