Highlights of Australia and New Zealand

Overview

Discover outback life, Aboriginal culture, and native wildlife on this non-exclusive group tour of Australia and New Zealand. Witness the sunrise and sunset over Uluru (Ayers Rock), snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, and explore the cosmopolitan cities of Melbourne and Sydney. Enjoy immersive cultural experiences, scenic landscapes, and a blend of guided tours and leisure time.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Melbourne

• Transfer to Crowne Plaza for 3 nights
• Welcome dinner aboard the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant (D)

Day 2: Melbourne

• Morning walking tour of Melbourne’s alleyways, arcades, and café scene
• Afternoon at leisure (B)

Day 3: Melbourne

• Free day with optional excursions: Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island, or Great Ocean Road (B)

Day 4: Fly to Alice Springs

• Visit the School of the Air, Royal Flying Doctor Service, and historic Telegraph Station
• Overnight at Chifley Alice Springs Resort
• Barbecue dinner at Earth Sanctuary Nature Centre (B, D)

Day 5: Uluru

• Travel through MacDonnell and James Ranges
• Stop to view Attila Mountain
• Stay 2 nights at Desert Gardens Hotel
• Sunset viewing of Uluru (B)

Day 6: Uluru & Kata Tjuta

• Sunrise tour of Uluru and Aboriginal history
• Afternoon visit to Kata Tjuta with sunset sparkling wine (B)

Day 7: Fly to Cairns

• Indigenous art introduction with a local artist
• Afternoon flight to Cairns
• Stay 3 nights at Hilton Cairns (B)

Day 8: Great Barrier Reef

• Free day in Cairns with optional excursions (hot air ballooning, Kuranda visit) (B)

Day 9: Great Barrier Reef

• Catamaran cruise to reef pontoon
• Snorkeling and semi-submersible reef viewing (B, L, D)

Day 10: Fly to Sydney

• Morning visit to Cairns Wildlife Dome
• Afternoon flight to Sydney
• Stay 3 nights at InterContinental Sydney (B)

Day 11: Sydney

• City tour: Opera House, Eastern Suburbs, Bondi Beach
• Sydney Harbour cruise with lunch
• Afternoon at leisure (B, L)

Day 12: Sydney

• Free day with optional excursions to Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley
• Farewell dinner (B, D)

New Zealand

Day 13-14: Fly to Auckland

• Transfer to Cordis Auckland for 2 nights
• Dinner at Eight restaurant (B, D)
• Waitemata Harbour cruise & city tour (B)

Day 15: Rotorua

• Travel to Rotorua via Waikato farm (lunch included)
• Evening Maori hangi and concert
• Overnight at Millennium Hotel Rotorua (B, L, D)

Day 16: Fly to Christchurch

• Visit Rainbow Springs Nature Park and Te Puia Thermal Reserve
• Afternoon flight to Christchurch
• Overnight at Distinction Christchurch (B)

Day 17: Franz Josef

• TranzAlpine rail journey through Southern Alps
• Visit Hokitika greenstone factory
• Travel to Franz Josef Glacier
• Stay at Te Waonui Forest Retreat (B, D)

Day 18: Arrowtown & Queenstown

• Visit Arrowtown, a historic gold-mining settlement
• Stay 3 nights at Millennium Hotel Queenstown
• Dinner at The Boatshed (B)

Day 19: Milford Sound Cruise

• Full-day excursion with nature cruise
• Return to Queenstown (B, L)

Day 20: Queenstown

• Free day in Queenstown
• Farewell dinner (B, D)

Day 21: Departure

• Transfer to Queenstown Airport for onward travel (B)