How do people usually explore Australia and New Zealand?

You'll find guided group tours are really popular especially along those classic routes between Sydney and Cairns or Auckland to Queenstown where you'll travel with about 8-20 people and get fantastic insights into Aboriginal and Māori culture. If you're after something more intimate small group adventures with 4-12 people work brilliantly in places like Tasmania's Cradle Mountain and Franz Josef Glacier where you can get up close with wildlife. Wine lovers tend to go for private tours through Hunter Valley and Marlborough Sounds because you can take your time with tastings. The adventure scene is huge too especially for younger travelers 18-35 who want to mix it up with bungee jumping in Queenstown and diving the Great Barrier Reef.

What kind of authentic indigenous experiences can you have and where do you find them?

Up in North Queensland you can join really meaningful Kuku Yalanji ceremonies at Mossman Gorge including these amazing smoking rituals and walks where you learn about rainforest medicine. Over in the Daintree you'll see traditional spear-fishing which is fascinating. Rotorua's got some of the best Māori experiences where you can actually stay overnight in a marae eat traditional hangi feasts cooked in earth ovens and learn woodcarving from masters at Te Puia. Near Cairns Tjapukai Cultural Park lets you try didgeridoo playing and boomerang throwing while Wellington's Te Papa museum offers these beautiful pōwhiri welcome ceremonies.

What are the main natural attractions outside the cities and how do you get to them?

The incredible Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park needs a combo of flights and driving from Alice Springs but it's worth it for those amazing dawn viewing platforms you reach by desert walks. Getting to the outer Great Barrier Reef is pretty straightforward with fast catamarans from Cairns or Port Douglas and you can even take helicopters to remote cays. In New Zealand Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound are accessible by road or air from Queenstown with some really cool overnight cruises available. Mount Cook National Park's got these brilliant guided heli-hiking trips on the Tasman Glacier and Waitomo's glowworm caves are amazing with expert guides taking you through limestone caverns by boat.

What local foods should you try and where's the best place to find them?

You've got to try Kaikoura's crayfish at waterfront spots like Green Dolphin or The Pier and Tasmania's oysters are incredible at Hobart's Salamanca Market. Up on the Gold Coast Moreton Bay Bugs are a must-try at the seafood restaurants and down in Queenstown you'll find amazing Central Otago pinot noir paired with local lamb at the fancy restaurants. For authentic Māori hangi meals head to Mitai Village in Rotorua and if you're in Sydney the rock oysters at Watson's Bay are pretty special.

How do you get around Australia and New Zealand?

The Ghan's an amazing train journey crossing Australia's center from Adelaide to Darwin twice weekly while the TranzAlpine gives you stunning daily trips across New Zealand's Southern Alps between Greymouth and Christchurch. You'll find loads of flights connecting major spots like Sydney-Cairns and Auckland-Queenstown throughout the day. The Interislander ferry's great for crossing between New Zealand's islands with three daily trips through beautiful Marlborough Sounds. If you're into flexibility there are luxury coaches with hop-on-hop-off options along Australia's east coast and New Zealand's main tourist routes running regularly October through March. Lots of people grab rental cars too especially for scenic drives like the Great Ocean Road and South Island's West Coast you can pick them up from any major city.

Australia and New Zealand Tours 2025/2026

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Explorer Family Christmas & New Year +1
Australia New Zealand Fiji Highlights 21 Days
Destinations
Australia New Zealand Fiji
Age Range
8 to 90 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Bucket List Group Travel LLC
Duration
21 days
From
NZ$16,784
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Explorer Sightseeing
Australia’s West Coast & Ningaloo Reef – 8 Day Boutique Comfort Tour
4.9 (8 traveler reviews)
"Special highlights as well as the expected ones."
Jill, traveled in March
Destinations
Perth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia Reserve, Carnarvon,Coral Bay,Exmouth+2 more
Age Range
up to 90 year olds
Country Region
Australia West CoastWestern AustraliaNingaloo Reef+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Via Travel Australia
Duration
8 days
From
NZ$4,522
$1,130 now + easy payments of $565
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Explorer Sightseeing
Oz Intro
4.8 (1,529 traveler reviews) award winner
"Absolutely loved every minute of it! Non stop fun, and learnt so much as well!"
Sam, traveled in October
Destinations
Sydney, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane
Age Range
18 to 35 year olds
Country Region
Australia East CoastEast AustraliaGold Coast+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
INTRO Travel
Duration
10 days
From
NZ$1,449
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Explorer Sightseeing Christmas & New Year +1
Sydney to Cairns - 14 Day Boutique Tour
5.0 (3 traveler reviews)
"This tour was one of the most epic trips I've ever done. The dive and snorkeling day trip was one of the most awe-inspiring experiences of my life."
Jimmy, traveled in March
Destinations
Sydney, Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Port Macquarie,Byron Bay,Noosa,Rainbow Beach,Fraser Island,Brisbane,Airlie Beach,Whitsundays,Mission Beach,Atherton,Cairns,Great Barrier Reef+11 more
Age Range
up to 90 year olds
Country Region
East Australia
Operated in
English
Operator
Via Travel Australia
Duration
14 days
From
NZ$9,195
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Explorer Family Sightseeing Christmas & New Year +1
15-Day Great Australian Adventure - Private
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"We had a great time & it went very smoothly. I appreciate also that she would contact us to see how things were going."
Stanley, traveled in March
Destinations
Melbourne, Uluru, Sydney, Gold Coast, Cairns
Age Range
up to 70 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Vio Travel
Duration
15 days
From
NZ$3,960
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Explorer Family Sightseeing Christmas & New Year +1
10-Day Australia Starter Package - Private
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"Hotel locations was perfect near city center, hotel is clean and perfect."
Lilbeth, traveled in June
Destinations
Melbourne, Sydney, Cairns
Age Range
up to 70 year olds
Country Region
Great Barrier ReefEast Australia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Vio Travel
Duration
10 days
From
NZ$2,298
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Explorer Ocean Cruise
South Pacific Discovery 2026
Destinations
New Zealand Australia Vanuatu Fiji
Age Range
up to 99 year olds
Ship
Scenic Eclipse II
Ocean
Pacific
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
16% Off
Duration
11 days
From $21,345
NZ$17,845
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Explorer Family Self Drive Historical Christmas & New Year +2
New Zealand South to North Drive, Cruise & Rail
Destinations
Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef, Greymouth,Christchurch,Wellington,Auckland+3 more
Age Range
8 to 74 year olds
Country Region
New Zealand South Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Australia and New Zealand Travel Company
16% Off
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From
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Explorer Family Christmas & New Year +1
Aussie Icons - Sydney, Cairns & Melbourne
4.2 (9 traveler reviews)
"TourRadar did an outstanding as an travel agency."
Theresa, traveled in June
Destinations
Sydney, Blue Mountains, Cairns, Daintree National Park,Great Barrier Reef,Melbourne,Great Ocean Road,Apollo Bay+4 more
Age Range
8 to 79 year olds
Country Region
Great Barrier ReefEast Australia+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Australia and New Zealand Travel Company
16% Off
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10 days
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Explorer GAP Year Christmas & New Year +1
UltimateOz - Gap Year | ULTIMATE
4.7 (193 traveler reviews)
"A great week, despite the weather. Tim did whatever possible to make the week as good as possible."
AlexGalloway, traveled in March
Destinations
Sydney, Newcastle, Bondi
Age Range
up to 35 year olds
Country Region
Australia East CoastEast AustraliaHunter ValleyNew South Wales+3 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Ultimate Travel
16% Off
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