Lands of awe-inspiring vastness and incredible natural beauty, Australia and New Zealand are the consummate outsider destinations. We set down in Australia’s second most populous city, stately Melbourne, to soak up the sights and sounds of the metropolis dubbed ‘the cultural and sporting capital of the country’ and an urban center that has been voted world’s most livable city numerous times. Combining a fascinating aboriginal and colonial history with quaint surroundings and cosmopolitan appeal, marvelous Melbourne serves as the perfect introduction to Australia. We explore the Yarra Valley, world-famous for its wineries, experience breathtaking vistas on our journey along the Great Ocean Road and stop off in charming, symmetrical Canberra and dazzling Sydney en route to experience a once-in-a-lifetime cruise around the Great Barrier Reef. Via the vast desert of ‘the Red Center’, we make route for Darwin’s Ayres Rock and on to King’s Canyon before ending this leg of the tour in Alice Springs.
Across in New Zealand, we balance experiencing the country’s incomparable natural beauty with learning about its history and exploring its cultural face. We spend time enjoying the relaxed atmosphere in Christchurch as we tour museums and the parks and gardens that bring the city international recognition before getting closer to nature in Mount Cook National Park, perhaps the most stunning national park in New Zealand - quite the feat considering the competition of spectacular nature across the country. Through UNESCO Heritage areas of towering peaks, glacier landscapes and verdant rainforest, we discover for ourselves the magic and majesty of New Zealand’s topographical diversity and then it’s on to the urban centers of Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland, where we get our cultural fix, learning about the country’s contemporary society and its Maori roots.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner or lunch daily (hotels and local restaurants); lunch on overnight cruise.
- All land / water transport, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary.
- This tour is based on an air pass that MUST be booked by us in conjunction with your international air tickets. If you intend to secure your own international air a SURCHARGE (approx 500 USD) will apply (see 'Inclusions').
- Flights between Australia and New Zealand included for land & air customers.
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters.
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuity, most lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, domestic and international air taxes (if applicable).
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers.
- Australia-NZ flights for land only customers.
- Optional trip cancellation insurance.
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes.
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
Australia
New Zealand
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
|
