Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairns
After you arrive in Cairns, you'll be taken to your hotel and then the afternoon and evening are yours. Check out the Cairns Esplanade since it's right here in the city, where you can swim in the lagoon or grab a drink and some food by the water.
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Free day to explore Cairns city
Optional Activities
- Visit Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
- Explore Cairns Esplanade and swimming lagoon
- Visit Daintree National Park
Landmarks/POIs Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park Cairns Esplanade Daintree National Park - Day 2
Cairns to Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation
You're picked up early at 8am for a full day exploring the north coast. First stop is Mossman Gorge for a swim, then you'll cross the Daintree River on a cable ferry and walk through the ancient rainforest. Lunch happens on Cape Tribulation Beach, and after that you're on a river cruise looking for crocodiles and other wildlife. The drive back to Cairns includes a stop at Rex Range Lookout.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Morning tea, Lunch (Picnic lunch on Cape Tribulation Beach), Afternoon tea
Included Activities
- Visit Mossman Gorge with swimming opportunity
- Daintree River cable ferry crossing
- Cape Tribulation exploration and Gondwana Rainforest walk
- Alexandra Range Lookout views
- Marrdja or Jindalba Boardwalk
- Picnic lunch on Cape Tribulation Beach
- Daintree River crocodile spotting cruise
- Wildlife viewing
- Guided sightseeing
- All park entrance fees
- Morning tea
- Tropical ice cream stop
Landmarks/POIs Mossman Gorge Daintree River Cape Tribulation Gondwana Rainforest Alexandra Range Lookout Marrdja Boardwalk Jindalba Boardwalk Rex Range Lookout - Day 3
Great Barrier Reef Full Day
Early morning you head to Marlin Jetty to board a boat for a 4.5 hour reef adventure. You'll hit two outer reef spots where you can scuba dive, snorkel, or just relax on deck. Lunch is a tropical buffet while cruising, and on the way back you'll try boom netting before finishing with wine, cheese and fruit as you return by 5pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Morning tea, Lunch (Delicious tropical buffet lunch served by local chef), Snack (Wine, cheese platter, and selection of tropical fruits), Other (Tea and coffee all day while vessel is stationary)
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef access
- Scuba diving instruction and exploration
- Snorkelling with 15-minute guided tour
- Snorkelling equipment hire and tuition
- Flotation devices
- Swimming opportunity
- Wildlife viewing
- Boom netting (weather permitting)
- All reef fees and taxes
Landmarks/POIs Great Barrier Reef Marlin Jetty - Day 4
Cairns to Sydney
You fly from Cairns to Sydney today and get settled at your hotel. Later, head up Sydney Tower to catch the sunset from 250 metres above the streets, then spend your evening wandering around this iconic harbour city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Sydney (one way)
- Airport transfer
- Sydney Tower observation deck entrance
Optional Activities
- Evening exploration of Sydney city
Landmarks/POIs Sydney Tower Sydney Opera House Darling Harbour Circular Quay Sydney Harbour Bridge Royal Botanic Garden - Day 5
Sydney Sightseeing and Harbour Cruise
A guided coach tour takes you through Sydney's main attractions starting in The Rocks, then the Opera House, Hyde Park, St Mary's Cathedral, and Parliament House. After that you'll visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Royal Botanical Gardens before checking out neighbourhoods like Paddington and Chinatown. Your day wraps up with a scenic harbour cruise and lunch on a boat with local meats, cheeses, fruit and bread.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious spread of local meats, cheeses, fruits, and breads on Sydney Harbour cruise)
Included Activities
- Coach touring with informative guide
- The Rocks visit
- Sydney Opera House viewing
- Conservatorium of Music visit
- Hyde Park exploration
- St Mary's Cathedral visit
- Parliament House visit
- Art Gallery of New South Wales visit
- Royal Botanical Gardens exploration
- Sydney Tower visit
- Darling Harbour exploration
- Mrs Macquarie's Chair visit
- Paddington neighbourhood exploration
- Chinatown exploration
- Bondi Beach visit
- Sydney Harbour cruise
- Inner-city pick-up
Landmarks/POIs The Rocks Sydney Opera House Conservatorium of Music Hyde Park St Mary's Cathedral Parliament House Art Gallery of New South Wales Royal Botanical Gardens Darling Harbour Mrs Macquarie's Chair Paddington Chinatown Bondi Beach - Day 6
Blue Mountains Day Tour
Start at Featherdale Wildlife Park where you can cuddle koalas and feed baby kangaroos, then head to Echo Point for views of the Jamison Valley and Three Sisters rock formation. You'll experience all three attractions at Scenic World including the Cableway, Skyway, and Railway. Later, a scenic river cruise through Sydney finishes your day at either Darling Harbour or Circular Quay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Featherdale Wildlife Park entry fee with koala cuddling and kangaroo feeding
- Echo Point viewing
- Scenic World attractions (Cableway, Skyway, and Scenic Railway entry fees)
- National Park entrance fees
- Sydney CBD pick-up
- River Cruise ticket
- Central drop-off at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay
- Guided sightseeing with friendly and informative tour guide
- Clean modern buses
Optional Activities
- Wombat and crocodile viewing at Featherdale
Landmarks/POIs Featherdale Wildlife Park Echo Point Three Sisters Jamison Valley Scenic World Scenic Cableway Scenic Skyway Scenic Railway Blue Mountains National Park Darling Harbour Circular Quay - Day 7
Kiama Coast Exploration
You're heading south from Sydney for a full day along the Kiama Coast, stopping at clifftop lookouts and viewpoints along the way. You'll see local wildlife, walk across quiet beaches, and look at aboriginal engravings. Lunch is a fresh BBQ meal outdoors surrounded by bushland, forests, and coastal views.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Freshly prepared BBQ lunch), Snack (Snacks)
Included Activities
- National Park fees
- Sightseeing along Kiama Coast
- Clifftop lookout views
- Multiple viewpoints
- Wildlife viewing
- Beach walks
- Aboriginal engravings exploration
Landmarks/POIs Kiama Coast - Day 8
Sydney Free Day
This day is completely free, so you can shop, hit the beach, or check out sights like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city's most well-known landmark. Spend your evening relaxing on Bondi Beach. If you're interested, there's an optional New Year's Eve harbour cruise with fireworks, canapés, seafood, desserts, and dancing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Free day to explore Sydney
Optional Activities
- New Years Eve Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise - $460 pp
- Shopping
- Beach exploration
- Sydney Harbour Bridge viewing
- Bondi Beach visit
Landmarks/POIs Sydney Harbour Bridge Bondi Beach - Day 9
Sydney to Auckland
You'll have breakfast at your hotel, then head to the airport for an early afternoon flight to Auckland. After you arrive and get to your accommodation, the rest of the day is yours to explore this 'City of Sails' between the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. There's an optional harbour dinner cruise available this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Airport transfer
- Flight to Auckland (one way)
- Free day to explore Auckland city
Optional Activities
- Harbour Dinner Cruise - $100 pp
Landmarks/POIs Auckland Harbour - Day 10
Hobbiton Movie Set and Waitomo Glowworm Caves to Rotorua
You travel through the Central North Island's farmland to the Hobbiton Movie Set on a 1,250 acre farm where Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films were shot. You'll see Hobbit holes, the Mill, and the Green Dragon Inn before eating lunch there. Then it's on to Waitomo Glowworm Caves for a 45 minute guided tour where you'll boat through the Glowworm Grotto. You arrive in Rotorua in the early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch at Green Dragon Inn)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing
- Hobbiton Movie Set guided tour
- Lunch at Green Dragon Inn
- Waitomo Glowworm Caves 45-minute guided tour
- Glowworm Grotto boat ride
- Sightseeing through Waikato and King Country regions
Landmarks/POIs Hobbiton Movie Set Green Dragon Inn Waitomo Glowworm Caves Glowworm Grotto Matamata - Day 11
Rotorua Maori Culture and Geothermal Exploration
The morning covers three of Rotorua's top attractions with a guided tour. First is Te Puia to see Maori culture, woodcarving and weaving schools where traditional skills continue. Next comes Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley with its geothermal features, then the Agrodome working farm with sheep shearing and dog trials. Rainbow Springs Nature Park rounds out the morning where you spot native plants and animals including kiwi birds. By evening you're at Mitai Maori Village watching warriors paddle a traditional waka, eating a hangi meal cooked the traditional way, and seeing cultural performances including the Haka.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditionally cooked hangi meal at Mitai Māori Village)
Included Activities
- Te Puia guided tour
- Māori woodcarving and weaving schools
- Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley tour
- Agrodome visit with sheep shearing display and farm dog trials
- Rainbow Springs Nature Park entry
- Kiwi bird viewing
- Guided sightseeing in Rotorua
- Mitai Māori Village evening experience
- Traditional waka paddle viewing
- Hangi meal (traditionally cooked)
- Māori cultural performance
- Traditional combat displays
- Haka performance
Optional Activities
- Rotorua's Polynesian Spa - $40 pp
Landmarks/POIs Te Puia Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley Agrodome Rainbow Springs Nature Park Mitai Māori Village Wai-o-whiro Stream - Day 12
Rotorua to Christchurch
An early flight takes you from the North Island to Christchurch on the South Island. Your driver meets you and takes you to your accommodation, then the day is free to explore Christchurch at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Airport transfer
- Flight to Christchurch (one way)
- Free day to explore Christchurch
- Day 13
Christchurch to Queenstown
You travel through the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo to see the Church of the Good Shepherd with Southern Alps behind it. Continuing on, Mount Cook Village comes next where Aoraki/Mount Cook at 3,754 metres dominates a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lunch is at the famous Hermitage Hotel, and you explore the village. After that, you pass Lake Pukaki through Mackenzie Country's tawny tussock, stopping in Omarama before arriving in Queenstown by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Hermitage Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing en route to Queenstown
- Lake Tekapo viewing
- Church of the Good Shepherd visit
- Southern Alps viewing
- Mount Cook Village exploration
- Lunch at Hermitage Hotel
- Mount Cook viewing
- Lake Pukaki viewing
- Mackenzie Country drive
- Omarama village stop
Landmarks/POIs Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd Southern Alps Aoraki / Mount Cook Mount Cook National Park Mount Cook Village Hermitage Hotel Lake Pukaki Mackenzie Country Omarama Canterbury Plains - Day 14
Queenstown Free Day
You have a free day in Queenstown, an alpine town on Lake Wakatipu with views of the Remarkables Mountain Range. Walk around at your own pace to find historic sites, good restaurants, and scenic spots. Optional activities include hiking Queenstown Hill, jet boating through Shotover Canyon, bungy jumping, white water rafting, or a cruise on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Free day to explore Queenstown
Optional Activities
- Queenstown Skyline Gondola Ride - $30 pp
- Shotover Canyon River Jet Boat Adventure (Big Red) - $105 pp
- Queenstown Hill hike
- Nevis Bungy Jump (134 metres)
- Shotover River White Water Rafting
- TSS Earnslaw vintage steamship cruise (1.5 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wakatipu Remarkables Mountain Range Queenstown Hill Shotover Canyon Shotover River Nevis Valley Walter Peak High Country Farm Queenstown Skyline Gondola - Day 15
Queenstown to Milford Sound
From Queenstown you travel in a luxury glass roofed coach through South Island scenery to Milford Sound. You'll pass Lake Wakatipu and rolling countryside to Te Anau with driver commentary, stop for morning tea, then drive the scenic Milford Road with photo stops and short walks. Later you board the Milford Mariner for a two hour leisurely cruise through the fiord seeing waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife with a nature guide.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Luxury coach transport from Queenstown
- Lake Wakatipu shore views
- Te Anau morning tea break
- Milford Road drive with photo stops and short walks
- Milford Mariner luxury cruise
- Extended fiord cruising
- Waterfall viewing
- Rainforest viewing
- Mountain viewing
- Wildlife viewing
- Nature guide commentary
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wakatipu Te Anau Milford Road Milford Sound Milford Fiord - Day 16
Queenstown to Franz Josef
A luxury coach takes you from Queenstown to Franz Josef across the wild West Coast. You'll pass crystal clear Lake Dunstan, Lake Wanaka, and Lake Hawea, stop in Makarora for morning tea near Mount Aspiring World Heritage Park, then cross Haast Pass over the Southern Alps through native beech forest. On the West Coast you see rainforests, waterfalls, and snow capped mountains before reaching Franz Josef village. A Glacier Shuttles rep gives you a short tour to view Franz Josef Glacier, then you walk up the valley to a glacier viewing platform or take short walks in the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Luxury coach transport from Queenstown
- Lake Dunstan, Lake Wanaka, and Lake Hawea viewing
- Mount Aspiring World Heritage Park border crossing
- Makarora stop for morning tea
- Haast Pass journey
- Southern Alps crossing
- Native beech forest viewing
- West Coast drive with rainforest, waterfall, and mountain viewing
- Glacier Valley Shuttle service
- Short glacier-viewing tour
- Franz Josef valley drive
- Glacier viewing platform walk access
- Short walks in the area
Landmarks/POIs Lake Dunstan Lake Wanaka Lake Hawea Mount Aspiring National Park Makarora Haast Pass Southern Alps Franz Josef Glacier Franz Josef Valley - Day 17
Franz Josef to Christchurch via TranzAlpine Train
You travel north through West Coast townships Whataroa and Harihari, stopping at Bushman's Centre for refreshments and local humour. Historic Ross comes next, site of New Zealand's richest 1800s goldfield, then Hokitika where you grab lunch and explore town before heading to Greymouth Railway Station. Boarding the world famous TranzAlpine Scenic Train, you cross the South Island west to east through Arthur's Pass National Park seeing beech forest, river valleys, and Southern Alps peaks. You descend to the Canterbury Plains and arrive in Christchurch at 18:30, then get transferred to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing through Whataroa and Harihari townships
- Bushman's Centre stop
- Ross township visit
- Hokitika town exploration with lunch purchasing opportunity
- TranzAlpine Scenic Train journey
- Arthur's Pass National Park viewing
- Beech forest viewing
- River valley viewing
- Southern Alps peak viewing
- Canterbury Plains viewing
- Hotel transfer on arrival
Landmarks/POIs Whataroa Harihari Bushman's Centre Ross Jones Creek Hokitika Greymouth Railway Station TranzAlpine Scenic Train Arthur's Pass National Park Southern Alps Canterbury Plains Christchurch Train Station - Day 18
Christchurch Departure
You finish your tour with breakfast at your hotel and standard checkout by 11am, so plan your return flight accordingly. This is a chance to think back on everything you've seen and the memories you're taking home from Australia and New Zealand.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Airport transfer
