Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Melbourne
Melbourne- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a popular restaurant on South Wharf overlooking the Yarra River)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza)
Landmarks Yarra River - Day 2
Melbourne
Melbourne- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza)
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Melbourne's laneways and arcades
- View Melbourne street art and Victorian facades
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience tour and walk at Koorie Heritage Trust learning about First Peoples cultures and communities
Optional Activities
- Little Penguins wildlife viewing experience on Phillip Island
Landmarks Koorie Heritage Trust Yarra River Phillip Island - Day 3
Melbourne to Cairns
Melbourne to Cairns- Meals
- Breakfast (Boxed breakfast provided if departing on an early flight from Melbourne)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton)
Included Activities
- Flight from Melbourne to Cairns
- Private wildlife encounter at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures boat cruise
- Rainforest Restoration project - tree planting in Notophyll Vine Forest
Optional Activities
- Visit Cairns Night Markets
Landmarks Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Notophyll Vine Forest Cairns Night Markets - Day 4
Cairns
Cairns- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Tropical buffet lunch), Snack (Afternoon tea and coffee under Australian sunshine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton)
Included Activities
- Full day Great Barrier Reef exploration on high-speed catamaran
- Snorkel with provided equipment exploring coral reefs and tropical fish (or semi-submersible underwater observatory viewing option)
- Local guide commentary on reef ecology and conservation importance
- Tropical buffet lunch
- Afternoon tea and coffee
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 5
Cairns
Cairns- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Australian cuisine featuring best local produce at Ochre Restaurant with harbour views)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Ochre Restaurant with views of inlet and mountains, featuring Australian cuisine and local produce
Optional Activities
- Kuranda Scenic Railway journey through lush forest, gorges, ravines, and waterfalls to Kuranda village
- Explore Kuranda's trails, wildlife sanctuaries, shops, and markets within World Heritage rainforest
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway return journey soaring above the canopy
Landmarks Kuranda - Day 6
Cairns to Sydney
Cairns to Sydney- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Sydney Wentworth)
Optional Activities
- Walk around Royal Botanic Garden to view city vistas
Landmarks Royal Botanic Garden Sydney - Day 7
Sydney
Sydney- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Meal with views over the sparkling Pacific Ocean at Bondi RSL Club), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Sydney Wentworth)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sydney Opera House exploring its iconic architecture and history
- Behind-the-scenes visit to Bondi Surf Life Saving Club with local guide
- Be My Guest experience at Bondi RSL Club with meal and beach views hosted by Surf Club member
- Sydney Harbour cruise viewing Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water
Landmarks Sydney Opera House Bondi Beach Sydney Harbour Bridge - Day 8
Sydney
Sydney- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner with Travel Director)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Sydney Wentworth)
Included Activities
- Dinner with Travel Director to celebrate time in Sydney
Optional Activities
- Sydney BridgeClimb for aerial views of the city
- Blue Mountains optional experience
Landmarks Sydney Harbour Bridge Blue Mountains - Day 9
Sydney to Auckland
Sydney to Auckland- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at The Grill)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity)
- Day 10
Auckland
Auckland- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity)
Included Activities
- All Blacks Experience interactive guided journey through rugby and New Zealand culture
- City sightseeing tour viewing Mission Bay waterfront, Bastion Point, and Michael Joseph Savage Memorial gardens
Landmarks Mission Bay Bastion Point Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Auckland Museum Pukekawa - Day 11
Auckland to Rotorua
Auckland to Rotorua- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hangi-inspired cuisine dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Full guided tour of 12-acre Hobbiton Movie Set including interior Hobbit Hole experience with photo opportunities
- Te Po Maori-guided geothermal valley experience at Te Puia
- Cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua carved meeting house
- Pohutu Geyser viewing
- Dinner of hangi-inspired cuisine
Landmarks Hobbiton Movie Set Te Puia Pohutu Geyser - Day 12
Rotorua to Queenstown
Rotorua to Queenstown- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Queenstown)
Included Activities
- National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa tour with Local Specialist as MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience learning about kiwi conservation, incubation, and hatching process
Landmarks National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa - Day 13
Queenstown to Milford Sound
Queenstown to Milford Sound- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch during cruise)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Scenic route through Devil's Staircase, Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, Hollyford Valley lookout, and Cleddau Valley
- Nature cruise on Milford Sound with Naturalist guide commentary on geological history and wildlife spotting
- Picnic lunch during cruise
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Devil's Staircase Te Anau Mirror Lakes Milford Sound Fiordland National Park - Day 14
Queenstown
Queenstown- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Local food and wines at historic Coronation Bathhouse with lake and mountain views)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Queenstown)
Included Activities
- Dinner at historic Coronation Bathhouse located on shores of Lake Wakatipu featuring local food and wines with lake and mountain views
Optional Activities
- Otago region wine tasting tour visiting three premium boutique vineyards known for Pinot Noir
- Adrenalin-filled jet boat ride on the Shotover River
- Relaxing cruise across Lake Wakatipu on steamship TSS Earnslaw
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Shotover River Otago Region - Day 15
Arrowtown - Cromwell - Lake Tekapo
Arrowtown - Cromwell - Lake Tekapo- Accommodation
- Hotel (Peppers Bluewater Resort)
Included Activities
- Visit Highlands Motorsport Museum
- Visit Church of the Good Shepherd grounds and bronze sheepdog statue
- Guided stargazing experience with Local Specialist in UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve with optical telescope
Landmarks Arrowtown Cromwell Lake Dunstan Lake Tekapo Highlands Motorsport Museum Church of the Good Shepherd Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve - Day 16
Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
Lake Tekapo to Christchurch- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch)
Included Activities
- Cathedral in Latimer Square visit viewing colourful stained-glass windows and cardboard cathedral construction
- City sightseeing highlights including Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Earthquake Memorial, and Bridge of Remembrance
- Avon River viewing with English punting boats
Landmarks Christchurch Cathedral Latimer Square Canterbury Museum Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Bridge of Remembrance Avon River - Day 17
Christchurch - Hurunui Hills
Christchurch - Hurunui Hills- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Platter-style lunch at Waipara Springs Winery among the vines), Dinner (Celebratory dinner featuring Canterbury region produce)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch)
Included Activities
- By My Guest experience at Hurunui Hills farm with Bamford Family meeting animals and learning about Merino sheep and Angus cattle farming
- Wine tasting at Waipara Springs Winery
- Platter-style lunch at Waipara Springs Winery
- Celebratory dinner featuring Canterbury region produce
Landmarks Hurunui Hills Waipara Springs Winery - Day 18
Christchurch
Christchurch- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Final breakfast with travel group
