South Pacific Wonders Tour including New Zealand’s North Island from $4,899

Travel Team > Australia – Escorted Tours > South Pacific Wonders Tour including New Zealand’s North Island from $4,899

Day 1 – 2 Depart From Home

Cross the International Dateline, skipping a day ahead. Travel on an adventure of a lifetime.

Day 3 Cairns, Australia – Tour Begins

Your tour opens in Cairns, the tropical gateway to one of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions and a World Heritage site – the Great Barrier Reef. 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  84°  Low  71°  7″ Pacific International Cairns

Day 4 Great Barrier Reef

Board a high speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. This is an immense series of 2,800 coral reefs which are home to amazingly diverse marine life. Explore the reef from your base on Green Island. Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride, stroll the island walking trails, relax on the beaches, snorkel or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. For a more adventurous encounter with the reef, an outer reef tour is also available. Whichever way you choose, you’ll see some of the world’s most fascinating marine and plant life.

Breakfast & Lunch High  84°  Low  71°  7″ Pacific International Cairns

Day 5 Cairns

Come to know the history of Australia’s original inhabitants at the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center. Here you’ll see traditional dances, learn how to play a didgeridoo or even throw a boomerang. Browse the renowned art gallery and visit the interpretation center’s artifact collection. At Hartley’s Croc Farm, get up close with crocodiles in their natural habitat! Boardwalks take you on a path of adventure through rainforests and woodlands, home to birds, reptiles and wallabies. You may meet some of the local koalas and chat with a wildlife naturalist to learn more about these cuddly creatures. Take an exciting cruise on the lagoon and watch for crocodiles before enjoying a delicious Aussie barbecue.

Breakfast & Dinner High  84°  Low  71°  7″ Pacific International Cairns

Day 6 Cairns – Sydney

This morning, create your own adventure or simply relax and take in the tropical atmosphere. Later today, fly to the bustling city of Sydney.

Breakfast High  73°  Low  57°  4″ Novotel Rockford Darling Harbor

Day 7 Sydney

Tour Sydney and discover where the original English colonists first settled in 1788. Other highlights of your tour include Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. Discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural sights during a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House, poised majestically on Sydney Harbour. Next, learn how raw opals are transformed into beautiful works of art at the National Opal Centre. This afternoon the choice is yours! Experience the area at your own pace with a 24 hour hop on hop off Sydney Harbour cruise pass. Hop off to explore places of interest or stay on and relax during a narrated cruise. Or choose to ascend the Sydney Tower Eye for incredible views and explore the renowned Sea Life Sydney Aquarium.

Breakfast High  73°  Low  57°  4″ Novotel Rockford Darling Harbor

Day 8 Sydney

Embrace the exciting city of Sydney during a day of independent exploration. Your Tour Manager will be on hand to offer suggestions. Tonight, say farewell to Australia by chatting with new friends and taking in the sights during a delightful dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour. Marvel at the scenic vistas of the harbour showcasing Sydney’s magnificent skyline, the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Breakfast & Dinner High  73°  Low  57°  4″ Novotel Rockford Darling Harbor

Day 9 Sydney – Auckland, New Zealand

Fly to one of the world’s most inspiring and sought after destinations due to its clean air, stunning scenery, and friendly culture – New Zealand. Arrive in Auckland, the “City of Sails.” Auckland has the highest Polynesian population in the world, imbuing its chic atmosphere with the vibrant feel of the Pacific Islands. The evening is yours to explore New Zealand’s largest city.

Breakfast High  62°  Low  53°  4″ Rydges Auckland

Day 10 Auckland – Rotorua

Get to know the best of Auckland during a panoramic city tour featuring the America’s Cup Village, the War Memorial, vibrant Queen Street and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Next, travel to the dramatic geothermal landscape of Rotorua. Known as the Maori capital of New Zealand, over one-third of Rotorua’s population has Maori roots dating back over 1,000 years. Tonight, experience an authentic Hangi dinner celebration where you learn about the warm-hearted Maoris and their lives before European colonists arrived in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and since. Enjoy an immersive experience featuring authentic Maori entertainment such as the poi dance and the famous “Haka” war challenge.

Breakfast & Dinner High  59°  Low  40°  5″ Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Day 11 Rotorua

This morning visit Te Puia, New Zealand’s premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. Witness a landscape of erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools and other geothermal wonders. The National Carving School and National Weaving School are located here, passing on age-old customs by teaching the tribal youth these traditional skills. Take part in an interactive demonstration on the art of weaving. You will also view the Kiwi bird and learn what is being done in an effort to remove the Kiwi from the endangered species list. Next, meet the skilled carvers who work with pounamu – New Zealand greenstone – at a local jade factory. Then, visit the Agrodome where you will see a fun sheep shearing demonstration and learn about the importance of agriculture to the nation. Tonight, relax or explore this lovely city on your own.

Breakfast & Dinner High  59°  Low  40°  5″ Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Day 12 Rotorua – Christchurch

A short flight* brings you to the historic city of Christchurch. Devastated by an earthquake in early 2011, see firsthand how the city known as “the Garden City” is recreating itself. Make yourself right at home this evening when a New Zealand family welcomes you into their home for dinner. This is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Make new friends, learn about the customs of the “Kiwis,” and enjoy a home-cooked meal.

Breakfast & Dinner High  56°  Low  41°  2″ Pavilions Hotel

Day 13 Christchurch

Delight in some leisure time to explore Christchurch on your own. You may wish to visit the informative and interactive International Antarctic Centre to learn about the 7th continent, or simply relax and enjoy what the city has to offer.

Breakfast High  56°  Low  41°  2″ Pavilions Hotel

Day 14 Christchurch – Mt. Cook Region – Queenstown

This morning, traverse the spectacular countryside and visit a Canterbury farmyard for a fantastic opportunity to learn how a New Zealand family farm operates; you may even catch a sheep shearing demonstration. Continuing to Queenstown, don’t miss the chance to spot the highest peak in the Southern Alps, Mt. Cook, before a stop at a local fruit stand to gain an inside look at the produce of New Zealand. You will have free time in Queenstown to explore before dinner this evening.

Breakfast & Dinner High  52°  Low  36°  2″ Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Day 15 Queenstown – Arrowtown – Queenstown

Set off for the beautiful turn-of-the-century Gold Rush settlement of Arrowtown. Take time to explore independently and stroll its quaint, historic streets. Next, explore the Central Otago region where many of New Zealand’s best wines are grown and produced. During a stop at a local winery, visit their storage cave for a tasting of some of their famous wines.

Breakfast High  52°  Low  36°  2″ Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Day 16 Queenstown – Milford Sound – Queenstown

En route to Milford Sound, enjoy the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley. You’ll travel through ancient beech forest via the Homer Tunnel. During a cruise of the breathtakingly beautiful Milford Sound you will 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  52°  Low  36°  2″ Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Day 17 Queenstown

A free day offers a variety of optional activities to enhance your tour. Shop or people-watch in the village; partake in an optional, exhilarating jet boat ride on the Shotover River; or join the optional “Journey through Middle Earth” 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. This evening, take in the city of Queenstown from above. A breathtaking gondola ride takes you to dinner at the Skyline Restaurant overlooking Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains.

Breakfast & Dinner High  52°  Low  36°  2″ Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Day 18 Queenstown – Tour Ends

Your adventure ends, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful adventure.

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