Which are the best months for this tour and why?

The shoulder season is usually the best time to travel, it's the time between the dry and wet season. The best months could be: April - May or September - November.

What does "private vehicle" mean? Do we have to rent a car?

Private Vehicle would be the included transport for this trip, which would be comfortable coaches with air conditioning for the whole group.

Regarding the meal plan, it is stated that there are 22 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners included. However, my guest requires lunch and dinner daily, similar to breakfast, and they exclusively prefer Jain meals only. Could you please confirm if this arrangement is possible?

Generally, all meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give your client the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what, and with whom to eat. It also gives them more budgeting flexibility, though generally, food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable them to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. Should you client wish for Jain meals only, we can leave a note on their file with this request so that the CEO can take this into consideration when recommending restaurants. This is on a request basis and not a guarantee.

I am 6'4" tall, will there be king size beds for my wife and I, non dwarf seating on planes & buses? Our final flight leg will be from Tahiti to Auckland. Please confirm that leaving Tahiti on 8 September will get us to Auckland on 7 September due to IDL date change. We would like the options for Lake Wakatipu, Great Ocean Road and Blue Mountains. What is the severity of Yellow Fever and Japanese B encephalitis? Which tour hotels have laundry facilities or services? Do laundry facilities use coins, currency, credit cards? Are bleach or laundry soaps available?

This tour uses standard 3 star accommodation, rooms are based on double occupancy with twin or double beds. Upgrades are not available as the tour is sold as a package. Flights to and from the start of the tour are up to the individual traveller. The tour start date is September 7. Lake Wakatipu, The Great Ocean Road and the Blue Mountains are all a part of this tour. For information on Yellow Fever and Japanese B encephalitis please check with the Centre for Disease Control or your local travel health clinic. Laundry can be done at least once a week while on tour - most cities have laundromats where you can buy soap and wash your laundry in coin-operated machines. Your CEO (guide) will advise you along the trip where you will be able to do your laundry.

I would like to know if the price of this tour is in US dollars or Australian or NZ dollars.

To provide you with information on costs, we require first to confirm which departure date you are looking at as some departures have different pricing due to 'higher tourist season'.

How long does their hold last? Or when do they have to decide by?

Unfortunately those 2 travellers holding the option have now confirmed their spaces. This tour is now fully booked but we can add you to the waitlist should someone cancel their space. We do have 1 space available on 3rd December if that date could work for you?

Do you also book the flights as a holiday package alongside this tour?

Unfortunately we do not book flights, this would be done separately. We recommend speaking directly to a travel agency or the airline.

I'm looking for a 10 day tour to New Zealand & Australia combined. Likely 20 people. Do you have something like this for us?

We have some great Australia and New Zealand packages, however 10 days will not be enough to cover all these please. Our tours are more than 10 days and you can find some great options here.

From

US $12,149 per person

Journeys: Iconic Australia and New Zealand National Geographic Journeys

23 days

•

From Auckland to Cairns

4.0

1 traveler review

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View all

From

US $12,149 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures
In-depth Cultural: Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 10 - 16
Ages 12+

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Auckland
Accommodation
Hotel (CityLife Auckland)
Included Activities
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
Optional Activities
- Auckland Sailing: America's Cup Experience (Pre Tour) - 210 NZD per person
- Hobbiton Movie Set day trip (requires pre-night booking)
Day 2
Auckland - Waiheke Island
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (CityLife Auckland)
Included Activities
- Orientation with Expedition Leader
- Waiheke Island Wineries
Landmarks
Waiheke Island
Day 3
Auckland/Rotorua
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Millennium Rotorua)
Included Activities
- Waitomo Cave Excursion
Landmarks
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Rotorua
Day 4
Rotorua
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional hangi lunch prepared in an underground pit, shared with Maori hosts at Kohutapu Lodge)
Accommodation
Hotel (Millennium Rotorua)
Included Activities
- A day at Kohutapu
Optional Activities
- Hot Springs soak (50-360 NZD per person)
- Optional evening meal
Landmarks
Whirinaki Rainforest
Kohutapu Lodge
Day 5
Rotorua to Christchurch
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- The National Kiwi Hatchery
- Orientation with Expedition Leader
Optional Activities
- Hot Springs relaxation
Landmarks
National Kiwi Hatchery
Day 6
Christchurch
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (BBQ lunch with locally sourced ingredients at working sheep farm)
Accommodation
Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- TransAlpine Train
- Sheep Shearing Experience
Landmarks
Arthur's Pass
Canterbury Plains
Day 7
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Woolshed Suites)
Included Activities
- Tekapo Dark Sky Experience
Optional Activities
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens visit
Landmarks
Lake Tekapo
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Day 8
Lake Tekapo
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Woolshed Suites)
Included Activities
- Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
- Aoraki/ Mt Cook Kea Point Trek
Landmarks
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
Aoraki/Mt Cook
Kea Point Track
Day 9
Lake Tekapo - Wanaka - Arrowtown - Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Orientation with Expedition Leader
Optional Activities
- Walking tour starting at the Lakes District Museum
Landmarks
Wanaka
Arrowtown
Lakes District Museum
Day 10
Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Hotel)
Included Activities
- Fiordland National Park Wilderness Cruise
Landmarks
Fiordland National Park
Day 11
Queenstown
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel Queenstown Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Lake Wakatipu historic steamer cruise (115-269 NZD per person)
- Jet boat ride (159 NZD per person)
- Local winery visit and tasting (189-265 NZD per person)
- Gondola Ride (66-215 NZD per person)
- Optional farewell dinner
Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu
Day 12
Queenstown to Melbourne
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne)
Day 13
Melbourne
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch (Foodie walk through Melbourne's famed laneways at three venues: Asian entree with wine, Italian main with wine, and gelato dessert)
Accommodation
Hotel (Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne)
Included Activities
- Melbourne Foodie Walk
Day 14
Melbourne
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne)
Optional Activities
- 12 Apostles, Otways & Great Ocean Road (must be pre-booked to secure a spot)
Landmarks
Great Ocean Road
12 Apostles
Day 15
Melbourne to Uluru
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Desert Gardens Hotel)
Included Activities
- Indigenous Cultural Centre Visit
- Uluru Mala Walk
Landmarks
Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluru
Day 16
Uluru
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Desert Gardens Hotel)
Included Activities
- Kata Tjuta Guided Walk
- Sunset at Uluru
Landmarks
Kata Tjuta
Day 17
Uluru to Sydney
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Vibe Hotel Sydney)
Included Activities
- Sunrise at Field of Light
Optional Activities
- Optional dinner out in Sydney
Landmarks
Field of Light
Day 18
Sydney
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (Australian Barbecue dinner aboard private boat during sunset sail around Sydney Harbour)
Accommodation
Hotel (Vibe Hotel Sydney)
Included Activities
- Private Tour of the Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise
Landmarks
Sydney Opera House
The Rocks
Sydney Harbour
Day 19
Sydney
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Vibe Hotel Sydney)
Landmarks
Manly Beach
Bondi Beach
Day 20
Sydney to Cairns to Port Douglas
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Mantra PortSea)
Included Activities
- Indigenous Peoples Interpretive Walk
Landmarks
Daintree Rainforest
Mossman Gorge
Day 21
Port Douglas
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
Hotel (Mantra PortSea)
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef Excursion With Sailaway
Landmarks
Great Barrier Reef
Day 22
Port Douglas
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Mantra PortSea)
Included Activities
- Exclusive Indigenous experience at Cooya Beach
Optional Activities
- Optional farewell dinner
Landmarks
Cooya Beach
Day 23
Port Douglas to Cairns
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Waiheke Island

Landmarks
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Rotorua

Landmarks
Whirinaki Rainforest
Kohutapu Lodge

Landmarks
National Kiwi Hatchery

Landmarks
Arthur's Pass
Canterbury Plains

Landmarks
Lake Tekapo
Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Landmarks
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre
Aoraki/Mt Cook
Kea Point Track

Landmarks
Wanaka
Arrowtown
Lakes District Museum

Landmarks
Fiordland National Park

Landmarks
Lake Wakatipu

Landmarks
Great Ocean Road
12 Apostles

Landmarks
Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park
Uluru

Landmarks
Kata Tjuta

Landmarks
Field of Light

Landmarks
Sydney Opera House
The Rocks
Sydney Harbour

Landmarks
Manly Beach
Bondi Beach

Landmarks
Daintree Rainforest
Mossman Gorge

Landmarks
Great Barrier Reef

Landmarks
Cooya Beach

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

CityLife Auckland
Hotel
Days 1, 2
Millennium Rotorua
Hotel
Days 3, 4
Distinction Christchurch Hotel
Hotel
Days 5, 6
Woolshed Suites
Hotel
Days 7, 8
Novotel Queenstown Hotel
Hotel
Days 9, 10, 11
Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne
Hotel
Days 12, 13, 14
Desert Gardens Hotel
Hotel
Days 15, 16
Vibe Hotel Sydney
Hotel
Days 17, 18, 19
Mantra PortSea
Hotel
Days 20, 21, 22

Operated by

National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures

4.5

(326 reviews)

Number of tours

163

Age Range

12 to 99 years old

Response time

5 hours

Response rate

88%

TRAVEL, ENHANCED National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures are a...

Sustainability Initiatives

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Other

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Reviews

4.0

Overall rating based on 1 Reviews

Itinerary
5.0
Transport
5.0
Guide
5.0
Accommodation
5.0
Food
3.0
Tour Operator
4.5

J
Joan
January 20th, 2026
4.0
The experience itself was action packed and the guides were not only knowledgeable, but super concientious about...
The experience itself was action packed and the guides were not only knowledgeable, but super concientious about being helpful and attentive to the. groups needs. However, as a single traveller I did not fit in with the rest of the group. I have never done a group activity where the group did not "meld". Eight of the twelve in the group were travelling together and they tended to keep to their couples. Maybe it was this particular group. Most of them were extremely wealthy, doing trips like this four times a year, and flying first class. Avoidance of the opportunity for conflict in this politically divided world could also be a factor.Show more
Traveled in December 2025

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!

Ends on 22 Apr, 2026

From Sunday
3 May, 2026
To Monday
25 May, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
Check the availability with the operator
Departure on request
From:
US $14,069 per person
From Sunday
17 May, 2026
To Monday
8 Jun, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
Check the availability with the operator
Departure on request
From:
US $14,069 per person
From Sunday
14 Jun, 2026
To Monday
6 Jul, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
US $13,479 per person
From Sunday
12 Jul, 2026
To Monday
3 Aug, 2026
This departure date is not available or sold out
Sold out
From:
US $13,479 per person
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Instant Confirmation
From Sunday
9 Aug, 2026
To Monday
31 Aug, 2026
English
Filling Fast
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
US $13,479 per person
Multiple Room Types
From Sunday
6 Sep, 2026
To Monday
28 Sep, 2026
This departure date is not available or sold out
Sold out
From:
US $12,149 per person
See Similar Tours For These Dates
From Sunday
20 Sep, 2026
To Monday
12 Oct, 2026
This departure date is not available or sold out
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US $12,149 per person
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From Sunday
4 Oct, 2026
To Monday
26 Oct, 2026
This departure date is not available or sold out
Sold out
From:
US $13,479 per person
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From Sunday
11 Oct, 2026
To Monday
2 Nov, 2026
This departure date is not available or sold out
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US $13,479 per person
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From Sunday
18 Oct, 2026
To Monday
9 Nov, 2026
This departure date is not available or sold out
Sold out
From:
US $13,479 per person
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From Sunday
25 Oct, 2026
To Monday
16 Nov, 2026
This departure date is not available or sold out
Sold out
From:
US $13,479 per person
See Similar Tours For These Dates
5 Other Unavailable Departures
From Sunday
1 Nov, 2026
To Monday
23 Nov, 2026
English
Almost Sold Out
This departure date is available and will 100% depart
Guaranteed departure
From:
US $13,479 per person
Multiple Room Types

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What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

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J
Janet
Asked on August 13th, 2025
Which are the best months for this tour and why?
Tour Details
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written August 2025
  The shoulder season is usually the best time to travel, it's the time between the dry and wet season. The best months could be: April - May or September - November.
B
Bill
Asked on December 29th, 2024
What does "private vehicle" mean? Do we have to rent a car?
Transport
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written December 2024
  Private Vehicle would be the included transport for this trip, which would be comfortable coaches with air conditioning for the whole group.
R
Rhonda
Asked on July 20th, 2024
Regarding the meal plan, it is stated that there are 22 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners included. However, my guest requires lunch and dinner daily, similar to breakfast, and they exclusively prefer Jain meals only. Could you please confirm if this arrangement is possible?
Meals
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written July 2024
  Generally, all meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give your client the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what, and with whom to eat. It also gives them more budgeting flexibility, though generally, food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable them to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. Should you client wish for Jain meals only, we can leave a note on their file with this request so that the CEO can take this into consideration when recommending restaurants. This is on a request basis and not a guarantee.
D
Danielle
Asked on March 13th, 2024
I am 6'4" tall, will there be king size beds for my wife and I, non dwarf seating on planes & buses? Our final flight leg will be from Tahiti to Auckland. Please confirm that leaving Tahiti on 8 September will get us to Auckland on 7 September due to IDL date change. We would like the options for Lake Wakatipu, Great Ocean Road and Blue Mountains. What is the severity of Yellow Fever and Japanese B encephalitis? Which tour hotels have laundry facilities or services? Do laundry facilities use coins, currency, credit cards? Are bleach or laundry soaps available?
Accommodation
Flights / Transfers
Transport
Travel Support
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written March 2024
  This tour uses standard 3 star accommodation, rooms are based on double occupancy with twin or double beds. Upgrades are not available as the tour is sold as a package. Flights to and from the start of the tour are up to the individual traveller. The tour start date is September 7. Lake Wakatipu, The Great Ocean Road and the Blue Mountains are all a part of this tour. For information on Yellow Fever and Japanese B encephalitis please check with the Centre for Disease Control or your local travel health clinic. Laundry can be done at least once a week while on tour - most cities have laundromats where you can buy soap and wash your laundry in coin-operated machines. Your CEO (guide) will advise you along the trip where you will be able to do your laundry.
B
Becky
Asked on October 22nd, 2023
I would like to know if the price of this tour is in US dollars or Australian or NZ dollars.
Price / Availability
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written October 2023
  To provide you with information on costs, we require first to confirm which departure date you are looking at as some departures have different pricing due to 'higher tourist season'.
F
Frank
Asked on August 17th, 2023
How long does their hold last? Or when do they have to decide by?
Tour Details
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written August 2023
  Unfortunately those 2 travellers holding the option have now confirmed their spaces. This tour is now fully booked but we can add you to the waitlist should someone cancel their space. We do have 1 space available on 3rd December if that date could work for you?
B
Brenda
Asked on June 24th, 2023
Do you also book the flights as a holiday package alongside this tour?
Flights / Transfers
Tour Details
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written June 2023
  Unfortunately we do not book flights, this would be done separately. We recommend speaking directly to a travel agency or the airline.
N
Nancy
Asked on January 25th, 2023
I'm looking for a 10 day tour to New Zealand & Australia combined. Likely 20 people. Do you have something like this for us?
Group size
Tour Details
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written January 2023
  We have some great Australia and New Zealand packages, however 10 days will not be enough to cover all these please. Our tours are more than 10 days and you can find some great options here.
- N
  Nancy
  Traveler•Written January 2023
  This is a tour I like. But we need to make it HB.
- National Geographic Expeditions with G AdventuresOperator•Written January 2023
  Unfortunately, we do not have any tours that can make any changes to the itinerary. We can only sell the tour as it is for the same price on the website.

From

US $12,149 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

Price based on Private Single Room

Price based on Private Double Room

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 229943

Currencies
$
Australian Dollar
Australia
$
New Zealand Dollar
New Zealand
Plugs & Adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type I.
Type I
Australia and New Zealand
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Australia. Ideally 10 days before travel.
- Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Australia. Ideally 1 month before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before June 22nd, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 22nd, 2026, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures. Please familiarize yourself with the National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Journeys: Iconic Australia and New Zealand National Geographic Journeys

Itinerary

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Where You'll Stay

Sustainability Initiatives

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

Travel Insurance

Traveler Reviews

Dates & Availability

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

Good to Know

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