Online application for a double entry permit to China

I am travelling on a 17day PRC group tour with my mother & grown up daughter, which leaves Adelaide on the 16th October. We 1st arrive in PRC, then board a cruise ship where we will travel to Japan & Korea and then return to PRC, so I understand we will need a double entry permit. My main concern is that since Adelaide doesn't have a PRC Embassy, how do I get a permit the fastest way? Can I do a relatively simple online application? Do I also need to send information to an Embassy other than what is asked in the online application?
EG copies of our Passports... Can you please explain the process to me, so I can go ahead with making an application as time is drawing closer to our holiday. As we still have nearly 3 weeks I am hoping I still have sufficient time. Could you advise the website address to do an online application?
I was thinking the tour operators would organize our double entry permits on our behalf...
Thanking you kindly