Short drive (~1–1.5h) to Armidale Airport to catch the regional flight to Sydney; or drive direct to Sydney if you prefer to start international check‑in there. Aim to be at Armidale 90–120 minutes before your domestic flight.
Regional flight to Sydney for your international connection; arriving in Sydney with time to clear check‑in and international security. QantasLink typically operates morning services — book the earlier service to allow buffer.
Check‑in for your long‑haul flight to Europe (sample carriers: Emirates via DXB, Qatar via DOH, Singapore Airlines via SIN). Aim to arrive 3 hours before departure.
Overnight long‑haul flight. Example: depart SYD evening 7:30–11:30pm with one stop (DOH/DXB/SIN); total door‑to‑door ~23–28 hours depending on connection. Choose alliance and baggage policy that suit your multi‑stop trip.
SBB intercity trains run ~hourly from Zurich Airport to Bern (direct IC/IR); journey ~1h10m. Trains run from early morning to late night — check SBB.ch for exact departures.
Drop bags at your hotel then enjoy lunch at Altes Tramdepot (brewery and local food near the Zytglogge) — open 11:30am–11pm. Great views over the Aare.
Self‑guided walk to see the Zytglogge, Münster Cathedral and arcades; the Old Town is compact and mostly pedestrian — best explored in the afternoon when sights and cafés are open (museums typically 10am–5pm).
Historic Kornhauskeller (reservations recommended) serves Swiss classics; many restaurants open 6pm–10pm. Experience a relaxed Swiss dinner after a long travel day.
Trains to Meiringen take ~1h20 with one change; depart regularly. Book tickets on SBB.ch; aim for morning departures to maximise daylight at the Falls.
The falls (where Sherlock Holmes 'fell') are accessed by local funicular/cable and walking paths. Operations and opening times vary by season, generally 9:00am–5:00pm for cableways and visitor facilities — check Meiringen tourism site for exact times.
Choose a boat trip at Blue Grotto (morning/afternoon depending on sea) or visit the fishing village Marsaxlokk (best for Sunday market) — check boat operators seasonal times ~9:00am–5:00pm.
Allow generous time for international check‑in; flights to Naples depart early but check schedules. Alternatively fly Malta → Rome and train to Salerno/Naples if timetable better.
Long‑haul flight with one stop; typical operators: Singapore Airlines (via SIN), Qatar Airways (via DOH), Emirates (via DXB). Flight time door‑to‑door ~22–28 hours depending on connection — you depart 28 July local and cross dateline arriving in Australia ~30 July local or later depending on routing (book flexible arrival transport to Glen Innes for 31 July).
Arrivals process can take 45–90 minutes depending on queues; allow time to collect bags and transfer to domestic terminal if catching a flight to Armidale.
Drive or private transfer from Armidale to Glen Innes ~1–1.5 hours; expect to arrive home by late afternoon/evening depending on connections and road conditions.