This is a comprehensive tour of Australia and New Zealand that covers all the major highlights you want to see. Experience the famous Great Barrier Reef, cosmopolitan Sydney and trendy Melbourne. Pet a koala, feed a kangaroo, watch little penquins return home from a day in the ocean. Visit Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Mount Cook and Queenstown.Take the famous Tranz Alpine train ride and the "must-do" boat ride on the breathtaking Milford Sound. Tour the fascinating Waitomo Caves and the popular Hobbiton Movie set.
*Australian and New Zealand Borders are currently closed to International visitors. Pricing will be updated once each Government advises their opening date.
Day 1: Upon arrival in Sydney get transferred to your downtown hotel. See for yourself why Sydney with its picture postcard setting, glamorous nightlife and so many things to see and do is one of the world's great destinations.
Day 2: Sydney | On this morning's tour of Sydney see the many city's landmarks from the Opera House to the Parliment Building to the Harbour bridge; visit Sydney's diverse neighborhoods - from the modern Darling Harbour to the historic Rocks area to the trendy Paddington and teh famous Bondi Beach. After the tour depart with Magistic Cruises on a magical and spectacular Sydney harbour lunch cruise.Buffet lunch includes a delicious selection of fresh seafood, gourmet roasts, chef's daily specials, crisp salads and seasonal fruit plus a selection of divine desserts and Australian cheeses. You can disembark at King Street Wharf at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay in the city. Make your own way back to your hotel at your leisure.
Day 3: Sydney - Blue Mountains - Sydney | This morning visit Featherdale Wildlife Park where you can hand feed kangaroos and see koalas, wombats, emus, dingoes and more. Continue to the Blue Mountains to discover the remarkable beauty of Blue Mountains National Park. See Katoomba, resort capital of the Blue Mountains and at Echo Point, see the Three Sisters rock formation towering over Jamison Valley. There is free time to enjoy lunch (own expense) and an optional ride the world's steepest Scenic Railway, Scenic Cableway or Scenic Skyway (own expense).
Day 4: Sydney - Cairns | Fly to Cairns, get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cairns.
Day 5: Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Cairns | Today you will be going on a full day trip to the Great Barrier Reef - the world's largest coral reef system and one of the most remarkable places on earth. Quicksilver takes you to Agincourt Reef, at the very outer edge of the Barrier Reef. Choose to snorkel, dive (extra cost) or stay dry and explore the stunning reef from the comfort of a Quicksilver semi-sub, just one meter underwater. Watch the fish feeding from Quicksilver’s unique underwater viewing platform and underwater observatory, or fly in a helicopter over the reef (extra cost).
Day 6: Cairns - Kuranda Village - Cairns | Today you will be traveling on the Kuranda Scenic Rail, offering unforgettable views of the gorges, rivers and waterfalls along the way. Arrive at the quaint Kuranda Village from where you can explore Rainforestation – travel on the unusual amphibious Army Duck through the rainforest, take a picture with koala, pet a kangaroo. On the return from Kuranda Village board Skyrail, an experience which takes you over the rainforest canopy with stops along the way.
Day 7: Cairns - Melbourne | Fly to Melbourne. With its Victorian-era architecture, extensive shopping, museums, galleries, theaters, and large parks and gardens, Melbourne is widely regarded as Australia's cultural capital.
Day 8: Melbourne - Philip Island - Melbourne | Enjoy your tour to Phillip Island, home to an astounding array of wildlife, including Australia's largest fur seal colony, the Little Penguins and cuddly koalas. Get up for up close and personal with koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and much more. Learn about the Little Penguins and watch them as they battle the surf and make their way to their nests.
Day 9: Melbourne - Yarra Valley - Melbourne | Enjoy a full day tour to the beautiful Yarra Valley wine country. Guided by a professional wine expert, you enjoy Cellar Door Tasting at Premium Yarra Valley wineries, a La Carte Lunch at one of our selected stunning winery restaurant with a glass of wine and tea or coffee, a private behind the scenes walking tour of Domaine Chandon plus a glass of their premium sparkling wine.
Day 10: Melbourne - Auckland | On arrival in Auckland, you will be transferred to your hotel in downtown Auckland.
Day 11: Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua | Travel South by Coach and visit the Waitomo Caves on your way to Rotorua.
Day 12: Rotorua | Experience the very best of Rotorua's amazing geothermal activity and stunning volcanic landscapes at Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu Volcanic Valley. In the afternoon visit the scenic Blue and Green Lakes and Tarawera Lookout for breath - taking panorama's of Lake Tarawera and the Mount Tarawera volcano, at the historical Buried Village witness the destructive forces of the 1886 Mount Tarawera volcanic eruption. Visit the authentic living Maori Village of Whakarewarewa, set amidst an active geothermal valley, discover how the Maori people have lived in harmony within this unique and challenging geothermal environment for many generations utilising the amazing activity of hot pools, steaming fumeroles and boiling mud pools on a daily basis for cooking, bathing and medicinal purposes.
Day 13: Rotorua - Christchurch | Fly to Christchurch, transfer to your hotel. Explore the city at leisure.
Day 14: Christchurch | From Christchurch travel by road to Springfield. At Springfield, board the world famous TranzAlpine train to travel through the Southern Alps to Arthur's Pass. From Arthur's Pass tour by road over the Southern Alps in the Arthur's Pass National Park and on to the Otira Gorge making a photo stop. Visit the old village of Otira before returning to Arthur's Pass for lunch. After lunch explore the village and some of the many walks. The return journey to Christchurch is by road stopping for an exhilarating jet boat ride through the spectacular gorges of the Waimakariri River. Following the jet boating, a visit will be made to a farm for late afternoon tea, followed by a sheep shearing and sheep mustering demonstration.
Day 15: Christchurch - Mount Cook - Queenstown | Travel south by Coach from Christchurch to Queenstown, through the High Plains of the Mackenzie Country, visit Mount Cook village and follow the Kawarau river to Queenstown.
Day 16: Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown | Your Coach will collect you this morning. You will journey through the magnificent forests of the Eglington and Hollyford Valleys, through the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound for a scenic excursion on the Fjord. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery including the awe-inspiring Mitre Park with a full commentary on the natural history of the fjord.
Day 17: Queenstown | Today you will enjoy a journey aboard restored 1937 Chevrolet Bu into the culture and treasures of the Queenstown region. Along the way you will visit charming galleries and discover quaint communities, travelling with the convertible top down. Complete a circuit from Queenstown, along rolling hills of the clear countryside and drive through the picturesque gold-mining town of Arrowtown. Visit the relics of a Chinese miners village, well preserved along the banks of the Arrow River. Travelling on to your final stop you can enjoy and taste wines grown from grapes onsite and indulge in mouth-watering cuisine in the cosy gallery or al fresco. Wander around delightful grounds of terraced gardens and ponds over looking the beautiful Lake Hayes. The journey winds back to Queenstown over the gold filled Shotover River, through pastures and around the mighty Lake Wakatipu.
Day 18: Queenstown - Auckland - SFO | Fly to Auckland to connect to your internatioanl flight tback home.
