LATEST NEWS

2011 SANTOS TOUR DOWN UNDER: DATES JUST ANNOUCED!

Dates for the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under have just been announced. From Sunday 16 to Sunday 23 January 2011, join The Adventure Collective for your ultimate Santos Tour Down Under experience.

South Australia's Tourism Minister John Rau announced the dates today after they were confirmed at a meeting of the UCI ProTour Council in Switzerland.

"The 2010 Santos Tour Down Under was the biggest and most successful race yet and we are looking forward to another great event in 2011," he said.

"The race has become an integral part of the global racing calendar and continues to grow in popularity.

"Thousands of visitors from across the world came to Adelaide last year to see cycling legends such as Lance Armstrong and Cadel Evans compete on our roads.

"I'm sure the 2011 race will generate just as much excitement and anticipation among cycling fans.

"This year's race attracted over three quarters of a million spectators and approximately 40,000 visitors from interstate and overseas."

The Adventure Collective have a range of great packages to suit, whether you're looking for a full week of racing action, or want a weekend getaway to experience the racing highlights.

> Go Pro Package, 8 day/7 night

> Weekend Warrior Package, 3 day/3 night

> Legend's Weekend Package, 2 day/2 night

> Lead Out Tour Daily Packages, daily

For the first time ever a training camp will be held in the lead up to the Tour Down Under, hosted by Patrick Jonker: former professional cyclist, past winner of the Tour Down Under, Olympian, and five-time Tour de France rider. This should not be missed!

Visit The Adventure Collective's Santos Tour Down Under website here >

PARTNER NEWS: AVANTIPLUS AUTUMN SALE UNTIL 18 MAY 2010

Grab yourself a great bargain on a huge range of cycling product! Clothing, helmets, parts and accessories and much more.

Hurry! Sale ends 18 May 2010

> More at www.avantiplus.com

CYCLING ACROSS OZ HAS NEVER BEEN THIS EASY...

From Perth to Cairns via Uluru, you’ll cycle across a country, a continent, and discover the secret places alongside the well-known icons. Join us in 2010 for Australia’s Longest Shortcut. In conjunction with ROC Tours Australia.
 
While you might not have the full 57 days, check out the shorter stages, breaking up the trip from Perth to Uluru, Uluru to Alice Springs, Alice Springs to Winton, and Winton to Cairns. Details are below.
 
AUSTRALIA'S LONGEST SHORTCUT
LOCATION > Perth, WA to Cairns, QLD via Uluru
DURATION >  57 days / 56 nights (or shorter stages, for details click on link above)
DATES > 10 April to 05 June 2010
COST > AU$9986
INCLUDES > Tour guide, full vehicle support, meals as indicated
 
STAGE 1 > THE GOLDRUSH
LOCATION > Perth, WA to Uluru, NT
DURATION >  24 days / 23 nights
DATES > 10 April to 03 May 2010
COST > AU$4420

STAGE 1 > THE GOLDRUSH
LOCATION > Perth, WA to Uluru, NT
DURATION >  24 days / 23 nights
DATES > 10 April to 03 May 2010
COST > AU$4420
 
STAGE 2 > ULURU DREAMING
LOCATION > Uluru, NT to Alice Springs, NT
DURATION >  5 days / 4 nights
DATES > 05 - 09 May 2010
COST > AU$995
 
STAGE 3 > SWAGGIES RUN
LOCATION > Alice Springs, NT to Winton, QLD
DURATION >  14 days / 13 nights
DATES > 12 - 25 May 2010
COST > AU$2575
 
STAGE 4 > DROVERS WAY
LOCATION > Winton, QLD to Cairns, QLD
DURATION >  11 days / 12 nights
DATES > 26 May - 05 June 2010
COST > AU$2023

EXPERIENCE THE CONTRASTS OF AUSTRALIA WITH ROC TOURS!

Getting active is easy with ROC Tours! For anyone who can ride a bike, ROC Tours is the perfect way to have an active getaway. Cycle as much or as little as you choose each day, as well as walks and short hikes, cultural experiences, flora and fauna. ROC Tours are perfect for all ages, from 20 up to 80 and beyond!

Experience the contrast of the Nullarbor, the towering forests of the southwest of WA, the pristine waters of the southwest coast, and the Margaret River wine region - all on ONE great tour!

NULLARBOR, SOUTH WEST & WINERIES CYCLE TOUR
LOCATION > Adelaide, SA to Perth, WA
DURATION > 12 days / 11 nights
DATES > 21 March - 01 April 2010
COST > AU$2220
INCLUDES > Tour guide, full vehicle support, use of mountain bike, helmet & drink bottles, tent & sleeping mat, meals as indicated

DAINTREE DISCOVERY CYCLE TOUR
LOCATION > Cairns, QLD to Cairns, QLD
DURATION > 5 days / 4 nights
DATES > 15 - 19 June 2010
COST > AU$1045
INCLUDES > Tour guide, full vehicle support, use of mountain bike, helmet & drink bottles, tent & sleeping mat, meals as indicated

BEST OF INDOCHINA: CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, LAOS

Travel Collective are the Indochina Specialists. Whether it's an active adventure, a leisurely encounter or luxury cruise, we have a wide range of travel options for all ages, fitness levels, budgets and travel styles.

Talk to our team for:
> Tailor made itineraries for independent travellers
> Luxury, Leisure, Business, Adventure, Special Interest
> All grades of accommodation
> Local English speaking guides

Explore Indochina's ROADS LESS TRAVELLED!
This modular trip can be taken in full, an exploration of culture, landscapes, cities, countryside, cuisine, and history, from Bangkok, Thailand, through Cambodia, Vietnam and all the way to Kunming, China!

Or if you're pressed for time, why not take one or two modules! Choose from the following:

> Roads Less Travelled: Cambodia & Vietnam, 24 days/23 nights, Bangkok, Thailand to Hanoi, Vietnam
> Roads Less Travelled: Vietnam, 13 days/12 nights, Saigon, Vietnam to Hanoi, Vietnam
> Roads Less Travelled: North Vietnam, 9 days/8 nights, Hanoi to Hanoi, Vietnam
> Roads Less Travelled: North Vietnam & China, 18 days/7 nights, Hanoi, Vietnam to Kunming, China
> Roads Less Travelled: China, 11 days/10 nights, Kunming to Kunming, China

Talk to a Travel Specialist today, or email us.

CRAFT, CUISINE & CULTURE IN VIETNAM

Vietnam, more than any other country in Asia abounds with its eclectic mix of cultures, traditions, crafts and foods. The lifestyle, food, clothing and crafts of the colourful hill tribes of the Flower Hmong in Bac Ha lends no resemblance to the Mekong Delta river people and their home industries of rice paper and sweet making or of the superb craftsmen, wood turners, tailors and shoe makers of Hoi An. We have designed a tour that will give you first hand experience of the land of colours.
 
Here is a firsthand account:

We stepped into a world of delightfully unforgettable experiences…. This journey took us to the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City where we visited silk and lacquer ware factories, on to a meander through the Mekong Delta visiting home industries and meeting the friendly folk of the Delta, before whisking us off to sample delicious morsels of Vietnamese cuisine at the cooking school in Hoi An. This quaint little town with its narrow streets and historical buildings offered us much more than tantalising smells and tastes, it also had wonderfully skilled artists, tailors and cobblers which helped to empty our purses and fill our suitcases!  And for some we even had time to be pampered – loved those manicured nails with their fancy designs.

Our guide whisked us away to our next destination Hanoi, Vietnam’s graceful capital with its early morning flower and produce markets and its old walled city where the streets are named after the trade, carrying out business on it. The water puppet theatre gave us a wonderful glimpse into the country's folktales and their music, and the museum a better understanding of Vietnam's troubled past. From Hanoi we travelled to Halong Bay, boarded our boat, sat back and relaxed as we sailed through the thousands of limestone castes that make up this world heritage site.  

An overnight train journey to the Northern towns of Lao Cai and Sapa rewarded us with spectacular scenery, rugged terrain and a diverse array of ethnic minorities all dressed in their colourful traditional clothes. But all journeys must come to an end and after returning to Hanoi we bid farewell to our fellow travellers. This tour is a must for anyone who enjoys sampling wonderful food, getting off the beaten track to explore the culture and mixing with the local artisans to admire their craftsmanship.
 
Tours departing 03 January, 11 April, 27 June 2010 – limited numbers.


LOCATION > Saigon to Hanoi, Vietnam
DURATION >  14 days / 13 nights
DATES > 03 January, 11 April, 27 June 2010 (plus on demand for independent travellers - min. 2)
COST > from USD$2995 (escorted journey); from USD$2600 for independent travellers
INCLUDES > Western tour manager (escorted tours only), local guides, meals as indicated on Fact Sheet, internal flights, trains and vehicle transfers, cooking school, entrance fees and permits, accommodation.
LIMITED PLACES STILL AVAILABLE.

Contact our team for more information or bookings.

TOUR DOWN UNDER - JOIN THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE IN 2010!

The Adventure Collective is once again thrilled to be selected as an Official Tour Operator for the Tour Down Under, held in Adelaide, South Australia from 17-24 January 2010.

Details of our packages can be found here. These include our Go Pro Package (8 day/7 nights), Weekend Warrior Package (3 days/3 nights), a new Legend's Weekend Package (2days/2 nights) and our daily Lead Out Tour Packages.

Amongst these packages, we've got something for everyone! If you have a special interest group, we can put together a custom tour for you, or your group of six or more can book onto one of our packages at a special group rate. For the first time at the Tour Down Under, we are offering optional helicopter flights for race viewing, with a choice of a quick 10-minute look, or a half-hour journey.

Places are limited, so don't leave it too late to book!

We look forward to seeing you in Adelaide in 2010.

Contact us for further information or to register your interest.

2009 IS A FANTASTIC YEAR

The TOUR DOWN UNDER was a blazing success with hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets around South Australia. As an Official Tour Operator of the TDU, The Adventure Collective was again thrilled to enable our customers to get up close and really experience the Tour.

But 2009 does not stop here! We have fantastic trips coming up across our whole range of brands. Do an outback cycle tour through the Victoria Desert, the Red Centre or across the Gibb River Road with ROC Tours.

Take on a serious challenge by doing the  Great Outback Bike Ride from Cairns to Broome or do some Kangaroo Island or Flinders Ranges walking with Ecotrek.

It is TIME to BOOK your Tour Down Under package!

Well it is getting very close!
Don't miss the opportunity to see the 7-time Tour de France winner doing what he does best.  Have you booked?   Will you miss out?
8 Days 7 Night Package...
Join the official AvantiPlus tour operator, The Adventure Collective, for the ultimate Tour Down Under experience. This partnership will guarantee participants within our package not only an exciting eight days at the Tour Down Under, but also the opportunity to win $2500 to spend at any Avantiplus retail outlet, and an exclusive 20% off bike and accessories package. With this tour you can upgrade to include Club Tour (only available until the 25th of November).
3 Days 3 Nights Package...
Short on time? Check out The Adventure Collective's Weekend Warrior package for three days and three nights of action and excitement including the Mutual Community Challenge Tour
Daily Package...
Our daily Lead Out Tour, aimed at the avid spectator. Each day we will follow the stage and view the race from a number of great vantage points. Includes a gourmet lunch, wine and beer, great sights of Adelaide and its surrounds. All for just $89 per person per day!

The Adventure Collective is a nationally accredited tour operator that can also organise some great pre- and post-event touring opportunities. Why not check out our Kangaroo Island active adventure?