Explore Australia & New Zealand
22 days
from Sydney to Queenstown
From
$ 8599
Duration22 days
Why choose between Australia and New Zealand? Experience both on an extraordinary 22-day adventure. Discover iconic Sydney, fashionable Melbourne, and welcoming Auckland; stand in the presence of sacred Uluru; explore ancient rainforests; and get your fill of city life, mountainscapes, glaciers, cultural moments, deserts, hot springs, and photo ops.
This tour is operated by
-
Duration: 22 daysService level: Upgraded
-
Starts in: SydneyPhysical Grading: Light
-
Ends in: QueenstownAges: 12+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Sydney
Start place: Sydney
Please make your own way to the joining hotel. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and enjoy exploring the city before joining the welcome meeting at 6pm.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city to visit The Rocks neighbourhood, the Australian Museum, Bondi Beach, or Darling Harbour.
Want to start your Down Under adventure with an adrenaline rush? Add the 'Sydney Adrenaline Bundle' or 'Sydney Bridge Climb' extra to your tour. Get an incredible view of the iconic Sydney Harbour from the top of the Harbour Bridge, then zip through the waterways on a jet boat ride if you book the 'Adrenaline Bundle'. PLEASE NOTE: if booking either of these extras a pre-night in Sydney is highly recommended as the Bridge Climb starts early in the morning on Day 1.
If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city to visit The Rocks neighbourhood, the Australian Museum, Bondi Beach, or Darling Harbour.
Want to start your Down Under adventure with an adrenaline rush? Add the 'Sydney Adrenaline Bundle' or 'Sydney Bridge Climb' extra to your tour. Get an incredible view of the iconic Sydney Harbour from the top of the Harbour Bridge, then zip through the waterways on a jet boat ride if you book the 'Adrenaline Bundle'. PLEASE NOTE: if booking either of these extras a pre-night in Sydney is highly recommended as the Bridge Climb starts early in the morning on Day 1.
Arrive at any time.
Please try to arrive before 6:00pm for an important group welcome meeting where you can meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members.
This is a busy trip with a lot of early mornings to catch connecting flights, enabling you to see as much of Down Under as possible.
This is a busy trip with a lot of early mornings to catch connecting flights, enabling you to see as much of Down Under as possible.
End place: Sydney
Day 2: Sydney
Start place: Sydney
Enjoy a traditional Aboriginal welcome and a walkabout around The Rocks area and Sydney Harbour to learn the history of the Aboriginal people’s saltwater heritage and their spiritual connection to the area. In the afternoon, board a private vessel and enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise with a barbecue dinner. While navigating the bays and coves, sit back and enjoy views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
End place: Sydney
Meals: B, D
Day 3: Sydney/Port Douglas
Start place: Sydney
We catch a very early flight to ensure we make the most of the day.
Fly to Cairns then travel up the coastal road to Mossman Gorge. Take an interpretive walk with a local Aboriginal guide and learn about traditional ways of life and survival techniques in the Daintree Rainforest. Continue on to the resort in Port Douglas, our home for the next two nights.
Please note that the max luggage allowance on domestic flights within Australia is 1 checked bag (20 kgs) and 1 carry on (7 kgs) per person. Any additional luggage is subject to airline fees and is not included.
End place: Port Douglas
Meals: B
Day 4: Port Douglas
Start place: Port Douglas
Opt to pre-book the "Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.
Enjoy the colourful resort town of Port Douglas. Take time to stroll the main streets and enjoy the beach.
End place: Port Douglas
Meals: B
Day 5: Port Douglas/Cairns
Start place: Port Douglas
Return to the tropical city of Cairns. Take an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the James Cook University research aquarium, founded by marine biologist and National Geographic grant recipient Dr Jamie Seymour. Enjoy a private tour of the facility and get an up close look at some of these marvelous creatures. We'll also hear about the latest research from Jamie or one of his colleagues.
End place: Cairns
Meals: B
Day 6: Cairns
Start place: Cairns
Enjoy a free day to relax at the beach. Opt to explore North Queensland’s tropical rainforests or get your adrenaline pumping with whitewater rafting or bungee jumping.
End place: Cairns
Meals: B, L
Day 7: Cairns/Uluru
Start place: Cairns
Accommodations in Uluru are limited and of varying amenities. We do our best to secure a mid-range hotel, but on occasion a more simple accommodation with fewer amenities may be used.
Catch a flight to Uluru. Visit the cultural centre and learn about ancient beliefs and traditions portrayed in art, food, and music before witnessing an incredible sunset with a glass of bubbly.
Airline schedules and flight availability are outside of our control and are always subject to change without notice. While we do our best to book direct flights, on occasion we may have to connect though another city.
End place: Uluru
Meals: B
Day 8: Uluru
Start place: Uluru
View the spectacular scenery from above and opt pre-book the "Uluru & Kata Tjuta Helicopter Ride" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.
Or, opt for a unique dining experience while watching the sunset over Uluru. Find details below and pre-book the "Sounds of Silence Dinner" on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your trip.
Or, opt for a unique dining experience while watching the sunset over Uluru. Find details below and pre-book the "Sounds of Silence Dinner" on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your trip.
Awake before sunrise to watch the colours change over Uluru. Continue on with a guided Mala Walk around the base of Uluru, gaining insight into its significance to the local Aboriginal people. Later, take a walk in Kata Tjuta National Park and view the beautiful red-domed rock formations. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Between November and March, there is extreme heat with temperatures averaging between 43-46°C (109-115°F) in the middle of Australia, especially around Uluru. This can lead to heat exhaustion and potentially become very dangerous. Be sure to drink plenty of water and replenish electrolytes by drinking sports drinks, coconut water or water mixed with electrolyte powder packets.
The Mala Walk at Uluru is not permitted if temperatures exceed 36°C (98°F). During these hot months, we try to offer all walks early in the day to avoid the midday sun. Our CEOs will monitor the weather conditions to gauge the safety of any included walks and may need to call off a given day's walk due to extreme heat.
The Mala Walk at Uluru is not permitted if temperatures exceed 36°C (98°F). During these hot months, we try to offer all walks early in the day to avoid the midday sun. Our CEOs will monitor the weather conditions to gauge the safety of any included walks and may need to call off a given day's walk due to extreme heat.
End place: Uluru
Meals: B
Day 9: Uluru/Melbourne
Start place: Uluru
Enjoy another sunrise over Uluru before flying to Melbourne for the night.
Flight times today can very depending on airline schedules.
End place: Melbourne
Meals: B
Day 10: Melbourne
Start place: Melbourne
Enjoy a full free day in Melbourne. Opt to visit wineries, explore the Great Ocean Road, or discover hidden gems in the city's famous laneways.
End place: Melbourne
Meals: B
Day 11: Melbourne
Start place: Melbourne
Go on a guided foodie walk through the laneways of Melbourne with a local author and culinary storyteller for a three-course progressive lunch. Later, enjoy free time to explore Melbourne.
Occasionally Monique Bayer may not be available for the Melbourne Foodie Walk. In the event this happens, an equally qualified guide will lead the walk.
End place: Melbourne
Meals: B, L
Day 12: Melbourne/Auckland
Start place: Melbourne
Fly to Auckland, New Zealand and enjoy free time in the city.
If you are interested in visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set, your only option for this itinerary is to wait until your tour begins and book a ticket with your CEO (as we will have limited time in the area around Auckland/Rotorua). Please note that there are limited tickets available on the ground.
Meals: B
Day 13: Auckland
Enjoy a morning orientation walk before catching a ferry to Waiheke Island. Visit two local wineries to learn more about New Zealand's burgeoning wine industry and the history of wine production in the country while sampling some of the local blends, of course.
Meals: B
Day 14: Auckland/Raglan
Start place: Auckland
Drive a scenic route, visiting an eel farm which focuses on developing sustainable aquaculture. Enjoy lunch, featuring food which has been sustainably produced on the farm. Continue to the artsy town of Raglan, stopping at Bridal Veil Falls en route, and enjoy a cruise on the stunning harbour.
End place: Raglan
Meals: B, L
Day 15: Raglan/Rotorua
Start place: Raglan
Rotorua sits over an active volcano with bubbling mud pits and multi-coloured pools in different areas around the town. This is a fascinating region with Maori history and culture tied directly to the geothermal aspects of the land.
Drive to Rotorua, stopping for an excursion at Waitomo Caves where you'll take a boat ride through the cave and see thousands of flickering glowworms lighting up the walls.
This evening visit Tamaki Maori Village and enjoy a private welcome and talk from a “Kaumātua” (an elder in Māori society). After, enjoy an extravagant performance about local myths and legends while dining on traditional Hangi cuisine.
This evening visit Tamaki Maori Village and enjoy a private welcome and talk from a “Kaumātua” (an elder in Māori society). After, enjoy an extravagant performance about local myths and legends while dining on traditional Hangi cuisine.
End place: Rotorua
Meals: B, D
Day 16: Rotorua/Christchurch
Start place: Rotorua
With free time in Rotorua this morning, opt to relax in one of the hot pools fed by water coming directly from the natural springs.
Enjoy free time this morning in Rotorua before catching a flight to Christchurch. Take an orientation walk with your CEO to get a feel for the city.
End place: Christchurch
Meals: B
Day 17: Christchurch/Franz Josef
Start place: Christchurch
Enjoy one of the world’s great scenic train trips on the TranzAlpine train, crossing the scenic Southern Alps to New Zealand's glacier region. Disembark and finish the journey over the highest pass in the Southern Alps in a private vehicle before transferring to a beautiful rainforest lodge, our home for two nights.
End place: Franz Josef
Meals: B
Day 18: Franz Josef
Start place: Franz Josef
Options are plentiful. Choose from a helicopter hike, ice walking on the glacier, or soaking in the hot pools amongst the stunning scenery.
End place: Franz Josef
Meals: B
Day 19: Franz Josef/Queenstown
Start place: Franz Josef
Early start to travel to the picturesque Lake Matheson. When the weather is right, you can get a great photo of the Southern Alps reflected in the lake. Follow the wild West Coast Road, through the rainforest before stopping for some short walks and waterfall visits.
Travel through the rugged rainforest along the west coast to Queenstown. Enjoy an evening gondola ride with spectacular views of the city.
End place: Queenstown
Meals: B
Day 20: Queenstown/Fiordland National Park
Start place: Queenstown
In the evening, enjoy a delicious three course buffet dinner prepared by our onboard chef and served in the dining saloon. Mingle with fellow travellers, savour some of the fine wines at our licensed bar (additional price) and if the skies are clear in the evening, spend some time on the upper deck gazing at the stars.
Embark on an amazing wilderness cruise through Fiordland National Park. Led by onboard naturalist guides, we have the chance to see dolphins, fur seals, birds, and penguins along with an option to kayak. Spend the night onboard in comfortable cabins with time to relax on deck, stargaze, and enjoy some New Zealand wine.
*Please note that the itinerary for this day varies in the winter:
Winter Schedule 18 May – 20 Sept Fiordland National Park/Te Anau
Drive the scenic route around Lake Wakatipu to the town of Manapouri. Travel by boat and bus to arrive at an eco cruise boat. Spend the afternoon cruising through Milford or Doubtful Sound, two of the most untouched, remote places in the world. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls. The boat offers excellent chances for wildlife viewing in the area. Dolphins, penguins, seals and a variety of birds are some examples of what you can hope to see. In the evening, head to Te Anau for the night. We take in a screening of the award winning ‘Ata Whenua – Shadowland‘ Fjordland on Film documentary at the local cinema before having a group meal.
Winter Schedule 18 May – 20 Sept Fiordland National Park/Te Anau
Drive the scenic route around Lake Wakatipu to the town of Manapouri. Travel by boat and bus to arrive at an eco cruise boat. Spend the afternoon cruising through Milford or Doubtful Sound, two of the most untouched, remote places in the world. Marvel at the steep cliff walls and cascading waterfalls. The boat offers excellent chances for wildlife viewing in the area. Dolphins, penguins, seals and a variety of birds are some examples of what you can hope to see. In the evening, head to Te Anau for the night. We take in a screening of the award winning ‘Ata Whenua – Shadowland‘ Fjordland on Film documentary at the local cinema before having a group meal.
End place: Fiordland National Park
Meals: B, D
Day 21: Fiordland National Park/Queenstown
Start place: Fiordland National Park
Enjoy morning wildlife viewing along the fiord as we cruise back to port, then return to Queenstown for the final night. Opt for a farewell dinner with your group.
End place: Queenstown
Meals: B
Day 22: Queenstown
Start place: Queenstown
For more time to explore Queenstown, we recommend booking post nights with your agent if you are interested in the countless adrenaline-packed activities in the town known as the "adventure capital of the world." Jet boating, bungee jumping, mountain biking, and sky diving are some of the activities available.
Depart at any time.
End place: Queenstown
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming and Welcome Tour, Sydney Your Journeys Highlight Moment: James Cook University Research Aquarium, Cairns Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Melbourne Foodie Walk, Melbourne Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Waiheke Island Wineries, Waiheke Island Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Meet a Maori Elder, Rotorua Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Resourceful Ōtautahi Walking Tour with Local Expert, Christchurch Your Discover Moment: Cairns
- Sydney Harbour Aboriginal Walk
- Sydney Harbour cruise
- Aboriginal walk through the Daintree Rainforest
- Sunrise interpretive walk at Uluru
- Melbourne orientation walk
- Raglan harbour cruise
- Visit glowworm caves
- Orientation walk in Christchurch
- Scenic TranzAlpine train
- Queenstown Gondola ride
- Wilderness day cruise (winter) or overnight cruise (summer) in Fiordland National Park
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
-
Transport
Mini-bus, Plane, Train, Boat, Walking -
Accommodation
Hotels (20 nts), Cruise boat (1 nt, seasonal)