Pre Night
Pullman International Cairns
Would you like to begin your vacation with an additional Hotel in Cairns?
Days 1 – 2
Depart from Home
Cross the International Dateline as you begin a comprehensive adventure through Australia and New Zealand.
Day 3
Cairns, Australia – Tour Begins
Your tour opens in Cairns, the tropical gateway to one of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions – the Great Barrier Reef (UNESCO). Established as a marine park in 1975, the reef is a haven for thousands of species of sea life, as well as turtles and birds.
- Dinner
- High 85° Low 69°
- 1″
- Pullman International Cairns
Day 4
Cairns
Rise high on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for an unforgettable ride over the rainforest canopy. Embrace the opportunity to explore the forest floor up close with access to specially designed boardwalks. Your evening is at leisure to enjoy your tropical surroundings.
- Breakfast
- High 85° Low 69°
- 1″
- Pullman International Cairns
Day 5
Great Barrier Reef
Board a catamaran and sail to the Low Isles to explore the fascinating underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. Choose how you want to spend your day in paradise by making your time on the reef as educational or as laid back as you like. Perhaps you will relax and independently explore the pristine shores of this tiny sand island located on the outer reef. Or maybe you are a bit more adventurous and will go snorkeling, revealing a wealth of vibrant sea life. You also have the opportunity to meet with a marine biologist during an informative presentation. Or you may also opt to join an expert for a beach and heritage trail walk along the island.
- Breakfast & Lunch
- High 85° Low 69°
- 1″
- Pullman International Cairns
Day 6
Cairns – Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Fly to Uluru (the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock) in the heart of the Australian Outback. Tour the sandstone domes known as Kata Tjuta and the beautiful area surrounding the base of “The Rock.” Later, witness a stunning sunset over a glass of champagne as the Rock’s hues change dramatically with the setting sun.
- Breakfast
- High 82° Low 55°
- Sails In The Desert
Day 7
Uluru – Alice Springs
Hop over the “Red Centre” on a short flight to Alice Springs. Tour the area and learn how people once communicated in the remote Outback at the Old Telegraph Station, dating back to the 1800s. Visit the School of the Air to find out more about the educational system of the Outback. There’s even a chance of witnessing a class in session! Become locally invested as you have the opportunity to meet the young Aboriginal group, Drum Atweme. Supported by the Collette Foundation,* Drum Atweme is a musical group comprised of at-risk youth from the local community. Tonight, continue your cultural immersion with a memorable bush dinner set against the backdrop of this unique desert environment.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 87° Low 60°
- Doubletree By Hilton Alice Springs
Day 8
Alice Springs – Darwin
Access the history and culture of the Aboriginal people during a “Dreamtime Tour.” A specialist guide shares Aboriginal creation stories and explains everyday life. You’ll even taste native cuisine. Later, board your flight to the city of Darwin on the northern edge of Australia.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 91° Low 77°
- 2″
- Hilton Darwin
Day 9
Darwin
Explore the city of Darwin on a full day tour. Learn about Darwin’s history during World War II at the Military Museum, stroll along the esplanade, and experience a thrilling up close and personal experience with Australian saltwater crocodiles!
- Breakfast
- High 91° Low 77°
- 2″
- Hilton Darwin
Day 10
Darwin – Melbourne
Transfer to the Darwin airport for your flight to the beautiful Victorian city of Melbourne.
- Breakfast
- High 66° Low 47°
- 2″
- Crown Promenade Melbourne
Day 11
Melbourne
Set out on a city tour and see Fitzroy Gardens and bustling “laneways” of Melbourne. There is time at leisure to explore the city independently. Later, see koalas in their natural setting during a stop at a koala conservation center before arriving at Phillip Island, a renowned nature reserve and home of the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins. Protected and studied by rangers, hundreds of them waddle out of the sea and cross the beach to their burrows in the dunes. At the interpretation center, you have a chance to learn about the lives of the Little Penguins and their significance to the region.
- Breakfast
- High 66° Low 47°
- 2″
- Crown Promenade Melbourne
Day 12
Melbourne – Hobart
A flight to Hobart, Tasmania brings you to Australia’s second oldest city. The rugged and pristine beauty of Tasmania provides the backdrop to your 2-night stay.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 63° Low 45°
- 2″
- Hadley’s Orient Hotel
Day 13
Hobart
Brace yourself for the Tasmanian Devil! Visit the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Center and learn about this unique marsupial, its fight for survival, and the efforts in place to save it from extinction. Later, take a guided tour of the Port Arthur Historic Site, the best-preserved example of Australia’s original penal colonies and home to stabilized ruins and restored buildings dating back to 1833. En route, witness the spectacular coastal rock formations known as Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and the Blow Hole.
- Breakfast
- High 63° Low 45°
- 2″
- Hadley’s Orient Hotel
Day 14
Hobart – Sydney
Return to mainland Australia today and arrive in the bustling city of Sydney. This evening it’s Diner’s Choice as you choose from a variety of local restaurants along bustling Darling Harbour.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 72° Low 55°
- West Hotel Sydney
Day 15
Sydney
See where the original English colonists first settled in 1788 during a city tour of Sydney. Highlights of your tour include Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens and the fashionable suburb of Darlinghurst. Discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural sights as you take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, poised majestically on Sydney Harbour. Then you’re in for a unique experience as you learn firsthand about opals during a special presentation at the National Opal Collection. Later this evening, take in dinner and a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the famous Sydney Opera House.**
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 72° Low 55°
- 3″
- West Hotel Sydney
Day 16
Sydney
Enjoy a day at leisure. Marvel at the scenic vistas of the harbour showcasing Sydney’s magnificent skyline, the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
- Breakfast
- High 72° Low 55°
- 3″
- West Hotel Sydney
Day 17
Sydney – Queenstown, New Zealand
Fly to one of the world’s best-kept secrets – New Zealand! Arrive in gorgeous Queenstown. Enjoy dinner overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 60° Low 41°
- 3″
- Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Day 18
Queenstown – Milford Sound – Queenstown
En route to Milford Sound, enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley. You’ll travel through beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. During a cruise of the breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound you’ll see why this fjord is one of the most visited sights on the South Island. With rock faces that rise nearly 4,000 feet on either side, the scenery will take your breath away. Following your cruise, you return to Queenstown. You may choose to return via a short optional flight (weather permitting) for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
- Breakfast & Lunch
- High 60° Low 41°
- 3″
- Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Day 19
Queenstown
A free day in Queenstown offers limitless diversions set amidst breathtaking Alpine scenery. Shop in the charming village center or enjoy an optional and exhilarating jet boat ride on the Shotover River. Or, perhaps you will join the optional “Gold Seeker – Metal and Movie Discovery” tour which takes you through the majestic Remarkable Mountains and the breathtaking Queenstown countryside showcasing many of the spots where The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed.
- Breakfast
- High 60° Low 41°
- 3″
- Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Day 20
Queenstown – Arrowtown – Mt. Cook National Park
Set out for the beautiful turn-of-the-century gold rush settlement of Arrowtown. Take time to explore independently and stroll its quaint, historic streets. Next, follow the Kawarau River and cross Lindis Pass before arriving in New Zealand’s most famous national park, Mt. Cook. There will be time to enjoy the Alpine paradise of Mt. Cook – a larger-than-life experience. You may choose to take a nature walk, enjoy an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting) or simply meditate on the beauty of the Southern Alps.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 57° Low 45°
- 8″
- The Hermitage
Day 21
Mt. Cook – Christchurch
Travel to the historic city of Christchurch, the “Garden City”. Enjoy some free time to explore. Perhaps you’ll stroll the city’s magnificent gardens or learn about its more recent history at the Quake City exhibition at the Re:Start Mall.
- Breakfast
- High 64° Low 48°
- 2″
- Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square
Day 22
Christchurch – Picton – Wellington
On your journey to Picton, admire the coastal views, scenic river valleys and vineyards. From there, sail across Cook Strait to experience what has been called “the most beautiful ferry ride in the world.” Your final destination is Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 60° Low 51°
- 3″
- Novotel Wellington
Day 23
Wellington
Come to know Wellington on a tour viewing the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament; historic St. Paul’s Church; and the Old Government Building – the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Explore the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongawera, a fascinating center dedicated to art, history and the Maori culture.
- Breakfast
- High 60° Low 51°
- 3″
- Novotel Wellington
Day 24
Wellington – Rotorua
Drive to Rotorua with its dramatic geothermal landscape. Over one-third of its population boasts Maori roots making it known as the Maori capital of New Zealand.
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 67° Low 46°
- 4″
- Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Day 25
Rotorua
Discover Te Puia – New Zealand’s premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Witness how the Maori keep their culture alive by teaching the tribal youth traditional carving and weaving. Enjoy the chance to see the Kiwi bird and learn about the preservation efforts being made to remove this marvelous creature from the endangered species list. Next, meet the skilled carvers who work with pounamu, New Zealand greenstone, at a jade factory. At the Agrodome, see a sheep shearing demonstration and learn about the importance of agriculture to the nation.
- Breakfast
- High 67° Low 46°
- Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Day 26
Rotorua – Auckland
Travel through the majestic countryside of the North Island, arriving in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, “The City of Sails.” A panoramic city tour features the America’s Cup Village, the War Memorial, vibrant Queen Street, the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and spectacular views from the harbourside. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner where you will toast the end of a fabulous trip!
- Breakfast & Dinner
- High 66° Low 55°
- 3″
Rydges Auckland
Day 27
Auckland – Tour Ends
Your tour comes to a close in Auckland.
Post Night
Rydges Auckland
A refreshing haven from the bustle of downtown Auckland, Rydges Auckland has the heart of the city at its front door. With smiling, attentive staff who put your needs first throughout your stay, you are sure to enjoy a unique and refreshing hotel experience. The newly revitalised rooms at Rydges Auckland are designed to exude warmth and comfort. More than a just hotel, Rydges Auckland is a welcoming hub for your time in Auckland.