Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
Start by meeting the group and getting to know everyone you'll be traveling with over the next couple of weeks. This is your chance to connect with fellow travelers before the adventure kicks off.
- Day 2
Melbourne
Take a private walking tour through Melbourne's art-filled lanes and alleys, checking out jazz bars and hidden restaurants along the way. The afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace and discover more of what the city has to offer.
Included Activities
- Private walking tour of Melbourne's art-filled lanes and alleys
- Day 3
Cairns
Head to Cairns in Tropical North Queensland and board a cruise at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures to spot koalas, wallabies, and crocodiles. After that, you'll participate in a Rainforest Restoration project by planting trees to help protect local wildlife habitats.
Included Activities
- Cruise at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
- Wildlife viewing - koalas, wallabies, crocodiles
- Rainforest Restoration project - tree planting
Landmarks Hartley's Crocodile Adventures 
- Day 4
Great Barrier Reef
Spend the day experiencing the Great Barrier Reef. You can choose to snorkel for an up-close encounter with the marine life or view the underwater world from an observatory and semi-submersible craft.
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef experience
- Snorkeling or underwater observatory and semi-submersible viewing
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 5
Cairns
The day is yours to plan. Either explore the Cairns Esplanade or take the Scenic Railway up into the hills to Kuranda, returning via the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway through some of the world's oldest rainforest. Tonight, dinner at Ochre Restaurant features native ingredients used by the world's oldest civilization.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Ochre Restaurant on the waterfront using native ingredients)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Ochre Restaurant with native ingredients
Optional Activities
- Cairns Esplanade exploration
- Scenic Railway journey to Kuranda
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway return journey
Landmarks Cairns Esplanade Kuranda Ochre Restaurant - Day 6
Cairns to Sydney
Enjoy a scenic flight to Sydney with possible window views over the harbour. Once you arrive, the rest of your day is free to explore this city at your own pace.
- Day 7
Sydney
Take a guided tour inside the iconic Sydney Opera House, then hop on a Sydney Harbour sightseeing cruise with million-dollar views. After that, visit Wendy's Secret Garden at Lavender Bay, where a local volunteer explains this pocket of floral paradise overlooking the harbour.
Included Activities
- Guided tour inside Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Harbour sightseeing cruise
- Visit to Wendy's Secret Garden at Lavender Bay with local volunteer explanation
Landmarks Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Wendy's Secret Garden - Day 8
Sydney
Your day in Sydney is completely yours to plan. Consider a bird's-eye perspective on a BridgeClimb, a ferry to Manly for fish and chips on the beach, or any other Sydney experience that calls to you. This evening, celebrate Sydney with your travel companions at dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Celebration dinner with travel companions)
Included Activities
- Dinner with travel companions
Optional Activities
- Sydney BridgeClimb
- Ferry to Manly with beach dining
- Other Sydney activities
- Day 9
Sydney to Auckland
Travel from Sydney to Auckland, known as the 'City of Sails' for its two harbours. This contrasts with Sydney's single harbour and gives Auckland a unique character you'll start to get a feel for as you arrive.
- Day 10
Auckland
Get your Auckland bearings on a city tour, then choose a precinct to spend the afternoon exploring at your own pace. This gives you a chance to find what interests you most in the city.
Included Activities
- Auckland city tour
- Day 11
Auckland
Go behind the scenes at a working kiwi nursery and hatchery to learn about breeding programs helping New Zealand's endangered national bird. Tonight, you'll experience Indigenous culture at Te Pā Tū Māori with forest kai horotai, chef choice aperitif, and a seasonal three-course hangi dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Seasonal three-course hangi dinner prepared in an underground oven at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience with forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés) and chef choice aperitif)
Included Activities
- Behind-the-scenes visit at kiwi nursery and hatchery
- Te Pā Tū Māori Experience with forest kai horotai (seasonal canapés) and chef choice aperitif
- Seasonal three-course hangi dinner at Te Pā Tū Māori Experience
Landmarks Te Pā Tū Māori Experience - Day 12
Rotorua to Queenstown
Start with an exclusive Be My Guest morning tea at the Red Barn on a working dairy farm in the Waikato district. You'll try your hand at butter churning and soak in the country hospitality. Then travel to Queenstown, surrounded by ski fields, white-water rivers, and bungy cord bridges.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Be My Guest morning tea at Red Barn working dairy farm in the Waikato district)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest morning tea at Red Barn working dairy farm
- Butter churning experience
Landmarks Red Barn - Day 13
Queenstown to Milford Sound
Travel to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, where sheer cliffs, thundering waterfalls, glaciers, and rainforest create an inspiring landscape. Cruise through the sound and keep an eye out for dolphins and sea lions along the way.
Included Activities
- Milford Sound cruise in Fiordland National Park
- Wildlife viewing - dolphins and sea lions
Landmarks Milford Sound Fiordland National Park - Day 14
Milford Sound to Queenstown
Sleep in if you'd like, find a rooftop wine bar for lunch, or take a stroll around the lake at your own pace. Meet your fellow travelers this evening for a Highlight Dinner at 1860s Postmasters Cottage.
- Meals
- Dinner (Highlight Dinner at 1860s Postmasters Cottage)
Included Activities
- Highlight Dinner at 1860s Postmasters Cottage
Landmarks Postmasters Cottage - Day 15
Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
Travel through Arrowtown and Cromwell, known for their natural drama and delicious stone fruit. Arrive at Lake Tekapo, far from anywhere, and settle in for dazzling stargazing in the UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Optional Activities
- Stone fruit tasting in Arrowtown and Cromwell
- Stargazing in UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
Landmarks Arrowtown Cromwell Lake Tekapo Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve - Day 16
Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
Get an early start to watch the sun rise over the lake, or sleep in and enjoy the morning your way. Then head to Christchurch, where you'll see how the city has rebuilt and thrived following the 2010/11 earthquakes. A knowledgeable local will show you architectural innovations like the world's first church built of cardboard.
Included Activities
- Christchurch city tour with local guide
Optional Activities
- Lake Tekapo sunrise viewing
Landmarks Christchurch - Day 17
Christchurch to Hurunui Hills
Travel north through rolling countryside to Hurunui Hills, a hill country farm where the Bamford family has been farming since 1884. Meet the farm animals and soak up the scenery over morning tea. Later, continue to Waipara Springs Winery for a platter-style lunch among the vines. Tonight, cap off the day with a celebratory Farewell Dinner featuring produce from the Canterbury region.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Morning tea with the Bamford Family at Hurunui Hills farm), Lunch (Platter-style lunch among the vines at Waipara Springs Winery), Dinner (Celebratory Farewell Dinner featuring produce from the Canterbury region)
Included Activities
- Be My Guest experience at Hurunui Hills farm
- Morning tea with Bamford Family
- Farm animals meet and greet
- Platter-style lunch at Waipara Springs Winery
- Farewell Dinner featuring Canterbury region produce
Landmarks Hurunui Hills Waipara Springs Winery - Day 18
Departure
It's time to say goodbye, though you'll say 'see you soon' instead. Depart knowing you've experienced Australia and New Zealand with a great group of people.
