Australia

20 Day Australia - New Zealand

Day 1 Sun. Auckland.
You are met by your Tour Director on arrival in Auckland, and transferred to your hotel.
Stay: Auckland, Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Day 2 Mon. Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Hangi (Feast).
Departing Auckland we travel south through the farming communities of the Waikato Province to Waitomo Caves to enjoy an underground tour of the glow worm grotto. Enjoy a silent boat ride beneath millions of tiny glow worms, glistening like a starry night. Tonight enjoy a Hangi (feast) dinner, including a Maori cultural performance.
Two Night Stay: Rotorua, Millennium Hotel. (B,D)

Day 3 Tue. Te Puia Thermal Reserve.
Today see the highlights of Rotorua starting at the Agrodome to watch an entertaining sheep and farm show. Visit Rainbow Springs and Te Puia Thermal Reserve. This area has more than 500 hot springs and most forms of geothermal activity including steaming ground, boiling mud pools and geysers. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Country Homestay option available tonight. (B)

Day 4 Wed. Rotorua, Christchurch.
Explore Rotorua on your own before joining a flight to Christchurch, the Garden City and the South Island’s largest city (own expense, airfare not included). On arrival, there is time to explore this picturesque city.
Stay: Christchurch, Crowne Plaza Hotel. (B)

Day 5 Thur. Southern Alps, Franz Josef Glacier.
Board the award winning TranzAlpine Train, voted one of the top rail journeys in the world and renowned as New Zealand’s ‘Great Rail Journey’. View magnificent scenery onboard the TranzAlpine Train. Disembark and continue down the West Coast to Franz Josef Glacier.
Stay: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel. (B)

Day 6 Fri. Franz Josef, Queenstown.
Witness alpine scenery as we leave this World Heritage Listed area. Travel over Haast Pass, along the picturesque shores of lakes Wanaka and Hawea, to the stunning lakeside resort town of Queenstown.
Two Night Stay: Queenstown, Gardens Hotel. (B)

Day 7 Sat. Queenstown.
Enjoy the day at leisure. Wander around the town or choose from one of the many exciting day tours available (own expense). (B)

Day 8 Sun. Fly to Melbourne, Australia,
Transfer to the airport for flight to Australia (airfare not included). Arrive in Melbourne and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to discover this beautiful city.
Three Night Stay: Melbourne, Hotel Sofitel. (B)

Day 9 Mon. Melbourne, City Sights.
This morning discover the delights of Melbourne, with its wide boulevards and historic buildings. View the shopping district of Collins Street and St Paul's Cathedral. See the World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Buildings and stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens. Explore Captain Cook's cottage in Fitzroy Gardens before visiting the bustling Queen Victoria Market. Pay tribute to Australian soldiers of war at the historic Shrine of Remembrance. Then cross the West Gate Bridge for city views. This afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps visit the Little Penguins on Phillip Island (own expense). (B)

Day 10 Tue. Melbourne.
Today is yours to do with as you wish in beautiful Melbourne. Go shopping and discover tiny boutiques along the city's famous laneways. Have coffee by the Yarra River at Southgate or perhaps take an optional tour to visit the wineries of the Yarra Valley for some wine tastings or travel to the magnificent Great Ocean Road to see the Twelve Apostles and London Bridge (own expense). (B)

Day 11 Wed. Melbourne, Sydney.
Transfer to the Melbourne airport for your flight to Sydney (flights any time, airfare not included). On arrival in Sydney, you will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure.
Three Night Stay: Sydney, Sofitel Wentworth (B)

Day 12 Thur. Sydney.
Tour Sydney's sights and the Northern Beaches to Manly and stroll along The Corso and experience one of Australia's most famous beaches. Then join a magnificent Sydney Harbour luncheon cruise. On board, see the homes of Australia's wealthy as you cruise the foreshore and see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. This afternoon is at leisure and in the evening, discover King Cross, one of Sydney's most vibrant suburbs. (B)

Day 13 Fri. Sydney.
Relax and enjoy cosmopolitan Sydney at your own pace today. Perhaps join an optional sightseeing tour of the Hunter Valley, internationally known for its wines, or visit the stunning Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters rock formation (own expense). You might like to stroll the Rocks area, which features a variety of souvenir and craft shops. Head to Oxford Street, Pitt Street Mall and discover the city’s fabulous shopping precincts. (B)

Day 14 Sat. Sydney, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (Olgas).
After breakfast, be transferred from your hotel to Sydney airport for your flight to Uluru, arriving at lunch time (airfare not included). On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel. This afternoon travel to Kata Tjuta, 36 dramatic rock domes, which are treasured by the local Aboriginal people. Enjoy a walk into Walpa (Olga) Gorge and marvel at the stark and haunting landscape. Late this afternoon, enjoy a glass of wine as you admire the spectacular colors of Uluru at sunset.
Stay: Ayers Rock Resort, Desert Gardens Hotel ,Deluxe Rooms. (B)

Day 15 Sun. Uluru Sunrise, Camel Farm, Alice Springs.
With a cup of tea or coffee in hand, watch the sun's first rays strike Uluru. Join a guided walk to the waterhole of Mutitjulu and join the Mala Walk, touring the base of Uluru and hearing of the local legends and myths that shaped the land. Alternatively, forgo the Mutitjulu and Mala walks to climb Uluru. Visit the Cultural Centre and the Maruku Arts and Craft Cooperative and learn about traditional Aboriginal arts and crafts. Travel from Uluru to Alice Springs, passing through MacDonnell Ranges and Outback landscapes. Stop at the Outback Camel Farm where you can ride a camel (own expense). (B)
Two Night Stay: Alice Springs, Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Day 16 Mon. Alice Springs Town Tour, Outback BBQ Dinner.
This morning, enjoy a town tour of Alice Springs, Australia's most famous Outback town. Visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base, the old Telegraph Station and the School of the Air. Tonight, enjoy a delicious tailor made BBQ dinner. An evening around the campfire is spent tasting fine Central Australian prime beef, being shown damper bread making, boomerang throwing, insights into the Aboriginal way of life, Aussie bush ballads including a singalong and an explanation of some of the stars. This is a wonderful way to experience the Outback. (B,D)

Day 17 Tue. Alice Springs, Cairns.
This morning is at leisure in Alice Springs. Perhaps go shopping for Aboriginal arts and crafts. This afternoon head to Alice Springs airport for your flight to Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef (flights any time, airfare not included). On arrival, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Three Night Stay: Cairns, Shangri La, The Marina. (B)

Day 18 Wed. Cairns, Great Barrier Reef Cruise.
Take a cruise out to the ribbon reefs located at the outer edge of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. The Agincourt Ribbon Reef system provides unsurpassed coral formations, colorful marine life and spectacular underwater visibility. There are facilities for swimmers and non swimmers alike. Explore the reef from a semi submersible, an underwater observatory or snorkel and dive in the warm tropical waters. (B,L)

Day 19 Thur. Cairns.
Today is yours to do with as you wish. Perhaps take an optional tour to Kuranda, the village deep in the heart of the rainforest. Ride the Skyrail Cableway over the rain forest. See the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers then take the Kuranda Scenic Railway passing over 40 bridges and through 15 tunnels traveling through tropical rain forest and past rushing waterfalls, (own expense).(B)

Day 20 Fri. Cairns.
After breakfast, be transferred to the airport. (B)

2008 Price per person in US$

hotel	twin	single	triple
deluxe	$4566	$6211	$4338

 

2008, 16 Jan-4 Feb Guaranteed Dept., 6-25 Feb Guaranteed Dept., 20 Feb-10 Mar , 27 Feb-17 Mar Guaranteed Dept, 12-31 Mar Guaranteed Dept., 26 Mar-14 Apr

International air and taxes are not included in price. Domestic flights within the countries are included, based on flying internationally with Qantas (price may differ if other carrier is used for international flights)