Exploring Australia & New Zealand

Small group touring and the Lands Down Under – they add up to a perfect combination as we travel from Australia’s sophisticated Sydney, sacred Uluru (Ayers Rock), and the wondrous Great Barrier Reef to New Zealand’s towering Mount Cook and breathtaking Milford Sound, plus Rotorua, Queenstown, and Auckland.

Begin your tour in Cairns with an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. Traveling on to Alice Springs, embark on an Aboriginal “dreamtime” tour and visit fabled Ayers Rock. Enjoy a three-night stay in cosmopolitan Sydney; tour English-accented Christchurch, New Zealand; and spend two nights in New Zealand’s remarkable Mt. Cook National Park. After these explorations, you’ll cruise stunning Milford Sound and discover New Zealand’s “adventure capital,” Queenstown. Experience Maori culture in geothermal Rotorua before your tour concludes in vibrant Auckland. If you wish to spend more time in the “City of Sails,” an optional 3-day/ 2-night post-tour extension is available.

Event Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: Departure and transit

• Settle in for a long international flight to Australia

Day 3: Arrive in Sydney

• Welcome to Australia!
• Transfer (included with air package) to hotel
• Spend the day at leisure - relax, refresh, and beat jetlag!
• Briefing to meet Tour Director
• Welcome dinner at the hotel

Day 4: Sydney

• Tour Sydney: The Rocks historic neighborhood, Darling Harbour, Mrs. Macquarie’s Point, Rose and Watson’s bays, and Bondi Beach
• Catamaran lunch cruise around Sydney Harbor

Day 5: Sydney

• Tour of the Sydney Opera House
• Visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park
• Afternoon at leisure

Day 6: Sydney/Uluru (Ayers Rock)

• Fly to Australia’s Outback
• Visit Kata Tjutja National Park, site of the Olga Rocks
• Tour of sacred Walpa Gorge
• Sunset over Uluru
• Dinner under the starts during special Sounds of Silence experience

Day 7: Uluru (Ayers Rock)

• Optional sunrise over Uluru
• Time at leisure
• Participation in traditional Aboriginal dot painting experience

Day 8: Uluru/Cairns

• Travel day - depart Uluru for Cairns

Day 9: Cairns/ Great Barrier Reef

• Day-long boat excursion to the Great Barrier Reef
• Swim, snorkel, or view the reef at Michaelmas Cay

Day 10: Cairns

• Visit Mossman Gorge for a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk
• Travel to mountain village of Kuranda
• Gondola ride by Skyrail

Day 11: Cairns/Christchurch, New Zealand

• Travel day via Sydney to Christchurch

Day 12: Christchurch

• Morning city tour
  • Botanic Gardens
  • Cathedral Square
  • Memorial to victims of the 2011 earthquake
• Afternoon at leisure

Day 13: Christchurch / Aoraki / Mt. Cook National Park

• Depart by coach to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
• Lunch at a local farm

Day 14: Aoraki / Mount Cook

• Morning tour of alpine Mount Cook Village
  • Visit to Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center
  • 3D planetarium movie
  • Hillary Gallery
• Time in village for lunch on own
• Afternoon at leisure to relax, hike, or optional scenic flight

Day 15: Aoraki / Mount Cook / Queenstown

• Depart for Queenstown
• Stop in Arrowtown and visit Kawarau Bridge Bungy
• Mid-afternoon arrive in Queenstown

Day 16: Milford Sound

• Day-long excursion to Milford Sound, including nature cruise
• Optional return to Queenstown on optional scenic flight

Day 17: Queenstown

• Day at leisure

Day 18: Queenstown / Rotorua

• Depart for Maori center of Rotorua
• Panoramic tour of Rotorua

Day 19: Rotorua

• Visit Paradise Valley Springs
• Drive to National Kiwi Trust
• Evening visit Te Puia Thermal Reserve and Cultural Centre

Day 20: Rotorua / Auckland

• Travel to Auckland with stop at Ruakuri Caves
• Arrive in Auckland - on own for dinner

Day 21: Auckland

• Half-day tour of Auckland
• Visit the War Memorial Museum
• Farewell dinner

Day 22: Depart for U.S. 

 

Optional Post-Tour Extension: Auckland