Discover Australia & New Zealand 22 Days
22 Days: Melbourne, Ayers Rock Resort, Cairns, Sydney, Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Queenstown
Tour overview:
Combining the best of Australia and New Zealand, this tour has all the makings of one of your most memorable trips. From the busting metropolises of Sydney and Melbourne to Ayers Rock and The Great Barrier Reef in Australia, to the world renowned towns of Rotorua and Queenstown in NZ, as well as a ride on the legendary TranzAlpine train, this trip is bound to create memories that last for a lifetime!
Day 1 - Arrive Melbourne
On arrival at Melbourne Airport you will be transferred to your hotel. Meet your Travel Director this evening at a Welcome Reception and dinner. (D) Overnight Crowne Plaza Hotel, Melbourne, 3 nights.
Day 2 - Melbourne – City Sights
Explore Melbourne on a city sights tour this morning, then discover its gracious arcades, eclectic laneways and vibrant street art on a private walking tour. Afternoon at leisure (B)
Day 3 - Melbourne – At Leisure
Enjoy a day at leisure in cosmopolitan Melbourne. You may like to join an optional tour to the wineries in the Yarra Valley or tour along the famous Great Ocean Road to see the stone monoliths of the Twelve Apostles. (B)
Day 4 - Melbourne / Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Fly to Ayers Rock this morning (required flight, quoted separately). Enjoy a complimentary glass of sparkling wine while watching sunset at Uluru (Ayers Rock). (B) Overnight Desert Gardens Hotel, Ayers Rock Resort, 2 nights.
Day 5 - Uluru (Ayers Rock)& Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)
Witness the magical Uluru sunrise, then tour the caves at the base of Uluru and see ancient rock art. Later, travel over red desert plains to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), and take a walk through some of the tallest domes of this majestic rock formation. (B)
Overnight Hilton Hotel Cairns, 3 nights
Day 6 - Uluru (Ayers Rock) / Cairns
Depart the resort in total darkness for the short drive to Bruce Munro’s renowned Field of Light. Later, join an Indigenous artist for a fun introduction to Western Desert Art. Later you will be transferred to Ayers Rock Airport for your flight to Cairns (required flight, quoted separately). Arrive and transfer to your hotel. (B)
Overnight Hilton Hotel Cairns, 3 nights
Day 7 - Cairns – At Leisure
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Cairns. You may like to join an optional tour to Kuranda. Board the train for a historic journey through the scenic countryside behind Cairns. Return by the Skyrail Cableway that takes you above the canopy of the tropical rainforest. (BD)
Day 8 - Cairns – Great Barrier Reef
Get ready for the experience of a lifetime when you board a high-speed catamaran and cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll have the opportunity to go snorkelling (equipment provided), or view the coral and tropical fish from the underwater observatory and semi-submersible craft. Enjoy a tropical buffet lunch on board before you return to Cairns. Dine tonight at a restaurant on the waterfront. (B, L)
Day 9 - Cairns / Sydney
Transfer to Cairns Airport for your flight to Sydney (required flight, quoted separately). Arrive and transfer to your hotel. (B) Overnight Intercontinental Hotel Sydney, 4 nights
Day 10 - Sydney – Opera House, Bondi Beach & Harbour Cruise
Enjoy a tour of the Sydney Opera House with a local guide before putting your feet in the sand at legendary Bondi Beach. Enjoy lunch on one of Sydney Harbour’s most prestigious cruise vessels, and spend the rest of your day exploring the city at your leisure. (B, L)
Day 11 - Sydney – At Leisure
Today is yours for further exploration of Sydney. (B)
Day 12 - Sydney – At Leisure
Today is yours for further exploration of Sydney. And then celebrate your last evening in Sydney with your Travel Director at a waterfront restaurant. (B, D)
Day 13 - Sydney / Auckland
You will be transferred to Sydney Airport for your flight to Auckland (required flight, quoted separately). On arrival in Auckland you will be transferred to your hotel. This evening enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelling companions. (B, D) Overnight The Grand by Sky City, Auckland, 2 nights
Day 14 - Auckland – City Sights
After a relaxed start, set your sights firmly on Auckland's main love: rugby. The interactive All Blacks Experience explores an introduction to the game as a part of New Zealand culture. Afterwards get the lay of the land on a city sightseeing tour including Bastion Point and Mission Bay.(B)
Day 15 - Auckland / Hobbiton / Rotorua
Get ready for a much-anticipated trip to the charming village of Hobbiton. Upon arrival, set off on a guided tour through the 12-acre set. You'll have plenty of time for photo opportunities on the interactive hobbit hole and complimentary drink at The Green Dragon, and the Mill. After a stop for lunch (own expense) continue to Rotorua. This evening, embark upon the Te Po experience at Te Puia. Learn about Maori history and culture on this guided experience, which includes hangi-inspired cuisine and a cultural performance. It ends on a high at the Pohutu Geyser, where you'll view one of New Zealand's geothermal wonderlands. (B, D)
Day 16 - Rotorua / Auckland / Queenstown
Your destination this morning in Rotorua is the National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa, where you’ll join a Local Specialist for a tour. Learn about the work being done to save this rare native bird, get up close and see kiwi eggs being incubated, the hatching process, and even newly hatched kiwi chicks at this national leader in kiwi husbandry. This experience is not only fun but will give you fascinating insights into New Zealand’s national bird. The feel-good vibes will follow you all the way to Queenstown, the self-proclaimed adventure capital of New Zealand.(B)
Day 17 - Queenstown – Milford Sound
Drive through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Cruise among sheer cliffs, massive waterfalls, glaciers and rainforest before you return to Queenstown in the late afternoon. (B, L)
Day 18 - Queenstown – At Leisure
A full day to explore Queenstown at your leisure. You could take a 4WD minibus excursion through Skippers Canyon. Join your Travel Director for a Farewell Dinner at The Boatshed, with its views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. (B, D)
Day 19 - Queenstown / Lake Tekapo
Travel through Central Otago to the Mackenzie region with time along the way to stop in Arrowtown then Cromwell, situated next to the pristine Lake Dunstan and taste delicious stone fruit at a local orchard. Continue over the dramatic Lindis Pass before reaching the Starlight Highway and Tekapo’s world renowned UNESCO Aoraki McKenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. This afternoon enjoys the views of Mt Cook before heading to the iconic Church of the Good Shephard. This evening, see amazing constellations that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere. (B, D)
Overnight Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo, 1 night.
Day 20 - Lake Tekapo / Christchurch
Enjoy a relaxed start before heading north though Southern Canterbury, visiting a farm for lunch, then continue to hristchurch. (B) Overnight Distinction Christchurch Hotel, 2 nights
Day 21 - Christchurch
Morning city tour and see how Christchurch is rebuilding after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Spend the last evening with your Travel Director at a Farewell Dinner. (B, D)
Day 22 - Depart Christchurch
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B)