| Day 1: Arrive Auckland, New Zealand : On arrival in the North Island city of
Auckland, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of
the day is at leisure. Overnight: Auckland, Crowne
Plaza Hotel
Day 2: Auckland—Waitomo—Rotorua : Depart Auckland and travel south through the
farming communities of the Waikato Province to the Waitomo Caves to enjoy an
underground tour of the glow worm grotto. Take a silent boat ride beneath
millions of tiny glow worms, glistening like a starry night, before
continuing to Rotorua. Tonight enjoy a Hangi (feast) dinner, including a
Maori cultural performance. Overnight: Rotorua,
Millennium Hotel for 2 nights (B,D)
Day 3: Rotorua Sightseeing : Today see the highlights of Rotorua, starting
at the Agrodome for an entertaining sheep and farm show. Visit Rainbow
Springs and Te Puia Thermal Reserve. This area has more than 500 hot springs
and geothermal activities including steam vents, boiling mud pools and
geysers. The remainder of the day is at leisure. You can choose to
experience rural living with a country family and enjoy a hearty home-cooked
meal with overnight stay. (B)
Day 4: Rotorua—Christchurch : Explore Rotorua on your own before joining a
flight to Christchurch, the “Garden City” and the South Island’s largest
city (airfare not included). On arrival in Christchurch there is time at
leisure to explore. Overnight: Christchurch, Crowne
Plaza Hotel (B)
Day 5: Southern Alps, Franz Josef. : 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 on board. Disembark
and continue down the West Coast to Franz Josef.
Overnight: Franz Josef, Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (B)Day 6: Franz Josef—Queenstown
: See alpine scenery departing 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. Overnight: Queenstown, Novotel Gardens
Hotel for 2 nights (B)
Day 7: Queenstown at Leisure :Wander around the town or choose from one of
the many exciting day tours available (own expense). (B)
Day 8: Queenstown—Melbourne, Australia
Welcome Drinks :Transfer to the airport for your flight to
Australia (airfare not included). Arrive in Melbourne and transfer to your
hotel. The rest of day is at leisure. Enjoy a welcome drink with your Tour
Director tonight. Overnight: Melbourne, Sofitel
Melbourne for 3 nights (B)
Day 9: Melbourne City Sights :This morning discover the delights of
cosmopolitan Melbourne, with its wide boulevards and historic buildings.
View the Collins Street shopping district and the architectural splendor of
St Paul’s Cathedral and both the Princess and Regent theatres. See the World
Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Buildings, Federation Square and stroll
through the Royal Botanic Gardens. Explore Captain Cook’s cottage in
stunning Fitzroy Gardens before visiting the bustling Queen Victoria Market.
See Melbourne’s world-renowned sporting arenas, including the MCG, before
paying tribute to Australian soldiers of war at the historic Shrine of
Remembrance. Then cross the Westgate Bridge for amazing city views. This
afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps choose to visit the Penguins on Phillip
Island (own expense). (B)
Day 10: Melbourne at Leisure : Today is yours to do as you wish in beautiful
Melbourne. Perhaps take a tour to visit the wineries of the Yarra Valley for
some wine tastings or travel on the magnificent Great Ocean Road to see the
Twelve Apostles and London Bridge (optional, own expense). (B)
Day 11: Melbourne—Sydney : You will be transferred to Melbourne Airport
for your flight to Sydney (flights any time, airfare not included). On
arrival in Sydney, transfer to your hotel. The remainder of day is yours at
leisure. Overnight: Sydney, Sofitel Wentworth for 3
nights (B)
Day 12: Sydney City Sights : Begin the day’s discovery with a journey over
the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Stop at Manly and stroll along The Corso. 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. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,L)
Day 13: Sydney at Leisure : Today is a great opportunity to explore
Sydney and its regions on your own. Discover the Blue Mountains, Jenolan
Caves or the Hunter Valley and its famous wineries (optional, own expense).
(B)Day 14: Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta
(the Olgas) : After breakfast, you will be transferred from
your hotel to Sydney Airport for your flight to Ayers Rock, arriving by
lunchtime (airfare not included). On arrival, you will be transferred to
your hotel. This afternoon travel to Kata Tjuta, which consists of 36
dramatic rock domes, and walk into Walpa (Olga) Gorge. Later, enjoy a glass
of wine as you admire the spectacular colors of Uluru at sunset. Overnight: Ayers Rock Resort, Desert Gardens Hotel (B)
Day 15: 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. Alternatively,
you can forgo the Mutitjulu and Mala walks to climb Uluru. Later, visit the
Cultural Centre and the Maruku Arts & Craft Cooperative. Travel from Uluru
to Alice Springs, passing the West MacDonnell Ranges and Outback landscapes.
Stop at the Outback Camel Farm where you can ride a camel (own expense). Overnight: Alice Springs, Crowne Plaza Hotel for 2
nights (B)
Day 16: Alice Springs Town Tour, Outback
BBQ : This morning, enjoy a town tour of Alice
Springs, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base and the School of
the Air. Tonight, enjoy a delicious Outback 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 sing-a-long and an explanation
of some of the stars. This is a wonderful way to experience the Outback. (B,D)
Day 17: Alice Springs—Cairns : Enjoy a morning at leisure in Alice Springs
before you are transferred to Alice Springs Airport for your flight to
Cairns (flights any time, airfare not included). On arrival, you will be
transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Cairns,
Shangri-La, The Marina for 3 nights (B)
Day 18: 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 systems provide 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 tropical waters. (B,L)
Day 19: Cairns at Leisure : Today is yours to do as you wish in Cairns.
Perhaps take a tour to Kuranda, the village deep in the heart of the
rainforest, to see the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers and ride the Skyrail
over the rainforest. Then take the Kuranda Scenic Railway passing over 40
bridges and through 15 tunnels travelling through tropical rainforest and
past rushing waterfalls (optional, own expense). (B) QFVDay 20: Depart Cairns
: After breakfast, you will be transferred to
the airport for your return flight (airfare not included). (B)
Day 22: Return home on Day 22, when adding in the
flights from Los Angeles |
Travel Packages
GUIDES
