This vacation offers the essential sights and unique culture of the land "Down Under," Australia, and the spectacular natural beauty of New Zealand's South Island all at an enjoyable pace. Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef provide fascinating introductions to the Aboriginal lifestyle and a world of colorful sea life unique to the area. Learn to throw a boomerang or play a didgeridoo, a traditional instrument. From your base on Green Island, there are many ways to enjoy the reef – you can scuba, snorkel or enjoy a glass bottom boat ride. Sydney will delight you with its friendly manner and sites like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge for which Australia is famous. New Zealand…land of breathtaking terrain and stunning natural beauty offers much to see and do. Check out the strong historical and architectural reminders of a colonial past in the cities of Queenstown and Christchurch. Visit Mt. Cook, New Zealand's most famous national park. Highlights are many, including a tour of the countryside from the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley, a cruise on picture-perfect Milford Sound, and a gondola ride to dinner overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the mountains. Dine with a "Kiwi" family and take with you a wonderful memory of New Zealand…a place like no other.
Highlights include Auckland, Bay of Islands, Ninety Mile Beach, Tongariro National Park, Wellington, Franz Josef Glacier Region, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Mt. Cook, Christchurch and more.|
New Zealand offers some of the most diverse and breathtaking terrain of a country its size. Here Nature's bounty has almost overdone it. From countless sandy beaches, to snow-capped peaks, to deeply cut fjords, to steaming geothermal springs, this two-island nation presents stunning photo opportunities every step of the way on your incredible 19-day journey.
The land "down under" comes alive as you savor the amazing contrasts of sophisticated cities with spectacular scenery and cultural wonders. Begin your tour in cosmopolitan Melbourne where you'll visit Fitzroy Gardens and the Parliament House. A special trip to Phillip Island is included where you'll witness hundreds of penguins waddle from the sea to their burrows in the dunes in what is dubbed the legendary Little Penguin Parade. A 3-day adventure in the rugged Outback will introduce you to the Aboriginal life and culture of Alice Springs. You'll view the mystical wonder of the huge monolith called Ayers Rock. From Cairns, you will enjoy an exhilarating catamaran ride to your Green Island base for views of the Great Barrier Reef's colorful coral and fish. Your stay in Sydney will provide a firsthand view of its legendary landmarks, including a performance at the famed Sydney Opera House. A fun-filled breakfast with the national icon, the kangaroo, and a visit to a wildlife park offer you an opportunity to meet some of Australia's famous wildlife. New Zealand's South Island promises some of the finest scenery in the world and a special dinner with a local Kiwi family. From the beautiful English city of Christchurch, you’ll explore the snow-capped peaks, river gorges and waterfalls of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and the Franz Josef Glacier region In Queenstown, enjoy a day of leisure to explore this charming village and a cruise on Milford Sound before taking off for massive Mt. Cook, New Zealand's well-known national park. Back in Christchurch, visit a working farm for a sheep shearing demonstration, and enjoy dinner and a presentation on the history of the city's first settlers at a restored mansion.
Welcome to the South Pacific and a journey that will introduce you to the many diverse regions of both Australia and New Zealand! You'll witness first hand unique cultures like that of Australia's Aboriginals and New Zealand's native Maori civilization. Your adventure begins in Cairns, an ideal setting-off point for the Great Barrier Reef. The majestic coral structures that make up the reef are home to the most diverse animal and plant ecosystem on earth. Your visit to Victorian Melbourne is where you'll enjoy a tour of Fitzroy Gardens and view the Little Penguin Parade on Phillip Island. A 3-night stay in Sydney will impress with its amazing must-see sights like the Sydney Opera House, where you'll enjoy a performance; and Koala Park, where you'll have the opportunity to pose with these cuddly creatures. Following an evening in Auckland, New Zealand's "City of Sails," enjoy dinner with a local Kiwi family in Rotorua. Your visit to Rotorua, one of New Zealand's most active geothermal regions, includes touring a Maori village and viewing the many hot springs and geysers in the area. In Wellington, New Zealand's capital city and decidedly British Christchurch, tour highlights include Te Papa Tongawera, New Zealand's national museum and time to explore on your own. Enjoy New Zealand' best-known national park and massive Mt. Cook before setting off for Queenstown and a cruise of Milford Sound, a spectacular fjord.
On this exciting excursion of contrasts you will truly be able to immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, you'll see the "big three" attractions, the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock and the world-famous Sydney Opera House. You'll also experience the Australia that Aussies know--charming country towns and rainforest villages. In New Zealand, explore both North and South Islands. Highlights include a luncheon cruise on Milford Sound; dinner in the home of a "Kiwi" family; and a visit to Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and a Maori village in Rotorua.
Take an adventure of a lifetime and spend 28 days traveling through Australia and New Zealand. Explore the vast and diverse natural wonders of land and water, from sacred Ayers Rock and the amazing underwater life of the Great Barrier Reef to the geothermal wonders of Rotorua and the magical fjords of Milford Sound. Local specialists enhance your understanding of the cultural history of the unique Aboriginal and Maori cultures as well as the unique natural history throughout your journey. Travel on the historic Ghan train, the Tranz-Alpine Express, and other fascinating rail journeys, and enjoy special wine tastings at well-known vineyards in both Australia and New Zealand.
A full circumnavigation of New Zealand! If you want to get to know New Zealand in depth, then this trip is the one to do. Highlights include the Bay of Islands, thermal wonders of Rotorua, glaciers, the wild West Coast, Milford Sound, whale watching, dolphin swimming, the adventure capital Queenstown and many, many more. Covering the entire island allows you to try a huge variety of cycle routes and terrains - something for every taste!
This action and adventure wilderness experience trip guarantees to show you the best of the North and South Island and the experience of a lifetime.
This tour begins in Auckland, and heads north first to enjoy the stunning Bay of Islands, before continuing south to Wellington, around the South Island, and then back to Auckland.
