Day 1 - Day 2: Depart from Los Angeles for Sydney
Begin the adventure of a lifetime when you board your Qantas flight. Crossing the International Dateline en route, you skip a day ahead. Stay at the Vibe Hotel Sydney.
Day 03: Sydney Tour Begins
Start your adventure in Oz - the affectionate term Aussies reserve for their native country • Fly into the cosmopolitan city of Sydney and kick off your tour with dinner at the Sydney Tower’s revolving restaurant • Look out over the vibrant city below. CL. D
Day 04: Sydney
Set out on a tour of Sydney which highlights the lively Kings Cross district, Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the historic Rocks neighborhood and Botanic Gardens • Discover the perfectly designed UNESCO World Heritage Sydney Opera House during a guided tour • Take a behind-the-scenes look at the world of opals, Australia’s national gemstone • See how raw opals are transformed into beautiful jewelry • Head to world-famous Bondi Beach for a surfing lesson • Don’t worry…you don’t have to get wet • Learn the history of the beach and explore the rigorous training lifeguards must go through • Hear stories of the famous surfers that hale from Bondi and figure out how to stay up on a board • Afterward, explore the beach on your own • Enjoy free time in Sydney • Later, take a dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour and take in unforgettable views of the Harbour Bridge and the famous Opera House. B, D
Day 05: Sydney – Fraser Island
Depart for the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island, set in spectacular Hervey Bay • This World Heritage island remains the only place on Earth where tall rainforests grow on sand dunes • Enjoy the island's exceptional beaches, sand cliffs and freshwater lakes. Stay at the Kingfisher Bay Resort. B
Day 06: Fraser Island
Embark on a ranger guided 4WD tour of Fraser Island • Traverse the ever-changing landscapes • Drive along Seventy-Five Mile Beach’s famous highway, and see the Maheno shipwreck • Dine tonight at your spectacular resort. B, L, D
Day 07: Fraser Island - Sunlander Train
Travel overnight to Cairns aboard the Sunlander, Australia’s longest running rail journey • Experience the ideal way to traverse Queensland's eastern coastline • Sink into the cozy surroundings and sensational scenery. Stay on the Sunlander Train. B, D
Day 08: The Sunlander – Cairns
Discover postcard-perfect vistas in incredible Cairns - gateway to the Great Barrier Reef • Spend the balance of the day getting to know this great area. B, L, D
Day 09: Cairns
Arrive at the Mossman Gorge and immerse yourself in the indigenous culture • Take a dreamtime walk through the rainforest with a tribe native to the region • Visit culturally significant sites and stroll among the lush vegetation and wildlife • Discover the history of cave paintings and hear enchanting Aboriginal creation stories and dreamtime legends • Visit Hartley's Croc Farm and search for crocodiles in their natural habitat • Live your own eco-adventure on the lagoon cruise • Meet some koalas and enjoy an Aussie barbecue. Stay at the Novotel Oasis Cairns Hotel. B, D
Day 10: Great Barrier Reef
Head towards one of the world's natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef • Arrive at Green Island and allow the natural wonders to surround you • Snorkel or stay dry while checking out the marine life from a glass bottom boat • For a more adventurous encounter with the reef, you may choose the Outer Reef optional tour. B, L
Day 11: Cairns - Ayers Rock
Fly into the heart of the Outback • Make your way to iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock), a UNESCO World Heritage site • Explore the sandstone domes of the Olgas • Learn how geologic forces created these masterpieces • Get a sense of their Aboriginal spiritual significance • Experience the magic of Uluru at sunset • Watch the color change before your eyes • Raise your champagne glass and toast an amazing day. Stay at the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort. B
Day 12: Ayers Rock - Adelaide - Barossa Valley
Fly to Adelaide, capital of South Australia • Head north into the Barossa Valley, Australia’s most famous wine region • Barossa Valley wines are renowned among connoisseurs as some of the world’s finest • Tonight, enjoy a fantastic dinner overlooking the vineyards of the valley. B, D
Day 13: Barossa Valley
Enjoy a full sightseeing tour of the Barossa Valley • Visit a few local wineries to learn about the history and geography of the region and why the wine wins such accolades • Try everything from Chardonnay to Pinot Noir • You don’t have to be a connoisseur to enjoy yourself as wine experts explain the lore and allure of South Australian wine. B
Day 14: Barossa Valley - Adelaide - Christchurch, New Zealand
Say goodbye to Australia and head for New Zealand* • Arrive in the beautiful city of Christchurch, located on the Avon River. Stay at the Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch. B
Day 15: Christchurch
Start the day with a tour of Christchurch’s botanical garden • Later, a sightseeing tour highlights the city’s other magnificent gardens and the downtown park district • Experience a day in the life of an ordinary New Zealander, or Kiwi as they are known, when you dine with a family in their home. B, D
Day 16: Christchurch - Mt. Cook – Queenstown
Travel over the rugged countryside to New Zealand’s most famous national park, Mt. Cook • Take a nature walk or choose an optional glacier flightseeing tour** • En route to Queenstown stop at a local fruit stand for a colorful look at the varied produce of New Zealand • Arrive in Queenstown • Dine at the Skyline Restaurant for spectacular views of Queenstown, the Remarkable Mountains and Lake Wakatipu. Stay at the Distinction Nugget Point. B, D
Day 17: Milford Sound
Travel through the Hollyford Valley to world-famous Milford Sound • Cruise this dramatic fjord • Choose to return to Queenstown via a short optional flight** for spectacular views or return by coach. B, L
Day 18: Queenstown
Spend a day at leisure • Explore Queenstown independently • Opt to take “A Journey Through Middle Earth” tour of the South Island’s Tolkienesque landscape and see the cinematic backdrop that brought The Lord of the Rings to life on the big screen. B
Day 19: Queenstown - Franz Josef Glacier
Journey through New Zealand’s diverse landscape • See subtropical rainforests, twisting coastline, glacial lakes and the Southern Alps • Arrive in the Franz Josef Glacier Region • In Franz Josef, visit the West Coast Wildlife Centre to learn more about the Kiwi bird and other types of indigenous wildlife. Stay at the Monaco Hotel & Resort. B, D
Day 20: Franz Josef Glacier – Nelson
Take advantage of an optional flightseeing** tour of the jagged glacier region • Continue your journey into the heart of the South Island • Visit Pancake Rocks • Watch the sea burst through vertical blowholes in heavily eroded limestone during high tides. B, D
Day 21: Nelson - Abel Tasman – Nelson
Travel to Abel Tasman for a relaxed and scenic cruise along the coast of Abel Tasman National Park. B
Day 22: Nelson - Picton – Wellington
Head for Picton, a waterfront town on New Zealand’s South Island • Stop to tour one of Nelson’s vineyards and taste a variety of wines • Relax on a picturesque three hour ferry ride to Wellington • Arrive at this capital city nestled between the sparkling harbour and rolling hills of the North Island. Stay at the Scenic Hotel Te Pania. B
Day 23: Wellington – Napier
Join a sightseeing tour of Wellington that includes the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament, historic St. Paul’s Church and the Government Building • Visit Te Papa Tongawera Museum, the national museum of New Zealand • Enjoy a guided tour through the Maori Experience • Travel toward Hawke's Bay, arriving in Napier. B
Day 24: Napier
Enjoy an Art Deco tour of Napier • Explore this unique architectural style that reached its heyday between 1920 to 1940 • Visit the historic home of James Walter Chapman-Taylor, New Zealand’s famous Art Deco architect • Sample the country’s best wine during a stop at a local vineyard • Visit a chocolate factory and learn about the delicate and scrumptious art of the chocolatier. B
Day 25: Napier - Tongariro National Park
Depart for Tongariro National Park, New Zealand’s oldest national park and a World Heritage area • Bask in the glow of chandeliers during a Pacific-Rim dining experience in the Chateau’s signature restaurant. B
Day 26: Tongariro National Park – Rotorua
Travel to Rotorua, the Maori capital known for its intriguing geothermal landscape • This evening, relax and enjoy the city on your own. Stay at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside. B
Day 27: Rotorua
Visit the geothermal village of Te Puia • Witness how the Maoris keep their culture alive by teaching their youth the skills of traditional weaving, carving and dancing • See the beautiful geothermal landscape of the village, including erupting geysers and bubbling mud pools • Take part in an interactive demonstration on the art of weaving and the meaning of Maori dress • Meet skilled carvers who work with New Zealand jade at a local jade factory • Explore the Agrodome • See an interactive sheep-shearing demonstration and learn about the different sheep and wool that come from New Zealand • For dinner, visit a recreated traditional Maori village to learn about Maori life before Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand) was colonized • Immerse yourself in the village during a walkthrough • Follow this with a Hangi meal and authentic Maori entertainment such as the famous Haka dance • The New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks, celebrates with this dance before each contest. B, D
Day 28: Rotorua – Flight home
Depart Fiji for your flight home
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