Itinerary
- Day 1
Melbourne
You'll arrive at your hotel on the Yarra River banks and get settled in. This evening, you'll meet your Travel Director and the rest of the group for dinner at a popular local restaurant. It's a good chance to connect with everyone before the tour really gets going.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a popular restaurant in the area)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne)
Included Activities
- Meet Travel Director for dinner at a popular restaurant
Landmarks Yarra River 
- Day 2
Melbourne
Your Travel Director leads a guided walk through Melbourne's little lanes and arcades, pointing out Victorian architecture and street art along the way. Stop by the Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery to learn about the Koorie peoples and their cultures. After that, you can explore more on your own or head out to Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade if you're interested.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza Hotel Melbourne)
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Melbourne's lanes, arcades and CBD
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery tour
Optional Activities
- Phillip Island Penguin Parade excursion (own expense)
Landmarks Koorie Heritage Trust Gallery Phillip Island - Day 3
Melbourne to Cairns
Fly to Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. You'll take a cruise at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures to spot koalas, wallabies, and crocodiles. Then you'll help with a Rainforest Restoration project, planting trees in the Notophyll Vine Forest to protect this rare ecosystem and support local wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Boxed breakfast (if departing on early flight from Melbourne))
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Included Activities
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures wildlife river cruise
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Rainforest Restoration project with tree planting activity
Landmarks Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Notophyll Vine Forest - Day 4
Cairns
Board a high-speed catamaran heading out to the Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel in the tropical waters with gear provided, or stay dry by touring the semi-submersible craft with its underwater observatory. A local guide shares reef information throughout the day. Enjoy a buffet lunch and afternoon tea and coffee on board before returning to Cairns.
- Meals
- Lunch (Buffet lunch on board the catamaran), Snack (Afternoon tea and coffee)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Included Activities
- Great Barrier Reef cruise on high-speed catamaran
- Snorkel at Great Barrier Reef (equipment provided)
- Semi-submersible underwater observatory option
- Buffet lunch on board
- Afternoon tea and coffee service
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 5
Cairns
This day is free for you to do what you'd like. Consider taking the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway up to Kuranda, checking out the village, and returning by the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway. Or just relax by the pool or at a cafe. Meet the group for dinner at Ochre Restaurant to try some Australian cuisine.
- Meals
- Dinner (Australian cuisine featuring best local produce at Ochre Restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Hotel Cairns)
Included Activities
- Dinner at Ochre Restaurant
Optional Activities
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway to Kuranda (own expense)
- Explore Kuranda village (own expense)
- Kuranda Scenic Railway return journey (own expense)
Landmarks Skyrail Rainforest Cableway Kuranda Kuranda Scenic Railway Ochre Restaurant - Day 6
Cairns to Sydney
Fly from Cairns to Sydney. The rest of your day is open. You could walk to the Art Gallery of NSW or Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Your Travel Director can suggest some good dinner spots if you want recommendations.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney)
Optional Activities
- Walk to Art Gallery of NSW
- Visit Mrs. Macquarie's Chair for panoramic views
Landmarks Art Gallery of NSW Mrs. Macquarie's Chair Sydney Opera House Sydney Harbour Bridge 
- Day 7
Sydney
Start with a guided tour inside the iconic Sydney Opera House to see its architectural details. Head to Bondi for a behind-the-scenes visit to the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. Have lunch at the Bondi RSL Club with views overlooking Bondi Beach. In the afternoon, take a Sydney Harbour sightseeing cruise to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from the water.
- Meals
- Lunch (Be My Guest lunch at Bondi RSL Club with stunning views of Bondi Beach)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Sydney Opera House
- Bondi Surf Life Saving Club behind-the-scenes visit
- Be My Guest lunch at Bondi RSL Club
- Sydney Harbour sightseeing cruise
Landmarks Sydney Opera House Bondi Beach Bondi Surf Life Saving Club Bondi RSL Club Sydney Harbour Bridge - Day 8
Sydney
You have the day to yourself for leisure or optional activities. Book a Sydney BridgeClimb if you want a bird's-eye view of the city, or take a tour to the Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters. Later, gather with fellow travelers for dinner to share stories from your time in Sydney.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with fellow travellers)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Sydney)
Included Activities
- Dinner with fellow travellers
Optional Activities
- Sydney BridgeClimb (own expense)
- Blue Mountains tour featuring Three Sisters (own expense)
Landmarks Sydney Harbour Bridge Blue Mountains Three Sisters - Day 9
Sydney to Queenstown
Fly to Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital. Get settled and check out the alpine village and Lake Wakatipu. The bars and restaurants here are walkable and worth exploring. Ask your Travel Director for recommendations on what to see and where to eat.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu 
- Day 10
Queenstown
Spend time at Real Country with a local farmer watching horse communication and working sheep dogs, trying stock whip cracking, and interacting with farm animals. Later, visit the historic gold-mining village of Arrowtown in the Southern Alps. Then cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at the Colonel's Homestead.
- Meals
- Dinner (Gourmet barbecue dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm Colonel's Homestead)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Included Activities
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - Real Country farm visit with local farmer
- Horse communication demonstrations
- Working sheep dog mustering demonstration
- Stock whip cracking lesson
- Farm animal feeding and interaction
- Arrowtown village exploration
- TSS Earnslaw steamship cruise across Lake Wakatipu
- Gourmet barbecue dinner and farm show at Walter Peak High Country Farm
Landmarks Real Country Arrowtown Lake Wakatipu TSS Earnslaw Walter Peak High Country Farm The Remarkables - Day 11
Queenstown
You have a free day in Queenstown. Consider venturing to Milford Sound to cruise past sheer cliffs, white-capped peaks, and waterfalls, or take a wine tour of the Otago region. Both options are available at your own expense.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel, Queenstown)
Optional Activities
- Milford Sound cruise (own expense)
- Otago wine region tour (own expense)
Landmarks Milford Sound Otago - Day 12
Queenstown to Auckland to Rotorua
Fly to Auckland and board your coach for the drive to Rotorua, New Zealand's cultural capital. This is where you'll start getting into Maori history and culture.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel Rotorua)
- Day 13
Rotorua
Take a guided tour of the National Kiwi Hatchery to learn about New Zealand's national bird from conservationists. See Rotorua's geothermal landscapes at Whakarewarewa, a living Maori village where residents use natural geothermal resources daily. That evening, experience Te Po at Te Puia with hangi-inspired food, cultural performances, and see the Pohutu Geyser erupt while you enjoy hot chocolate.
- Meals
- Dinner (Hangi-inspired cuisine at Te Po experience, Te Puia)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel Rotorua)
Included Activities
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - National Kiwi Hatchery guided tour
- Whakarewarewa geothermal area and living Maori village tour
- Te Po experience at Te Puia
- Hangi-inspired cuisine
- Cultural performance in Te Aronui a Rua meeting house
- Pōwhiri (traditional welcome), waiata (song), mōteatea (traditional chant), poi and haka performances
- Pohutu Geyser viewing with hot chocolate
Landmarks National Kiwi Hatchery Whakarewarewa Te Puia Te Aronui a Rua Pohutu Geyser 
- Day 14
Rotorua to Auckland
Head to the Waitomo Caves and cruise through cavernous limestone waterways lit up by thousands of blue and green glowworms. Then drive to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city with two harbours. Share your tour stories and celebrate over dinner at The Grill, trying Aotearoa's culinary offerings with your Travel Director and companions.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner celebrating Aotearoa's culinary treasures at The Grill)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Horizon by SkyCity Auckland)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Waitomo Caves including glowworm cruise
- Dinner at The Grill with Travel Director and companions
Landmarks Waitomo Caves The Grill - Day 15
Auckland
It's time to depart. You've covered two countries, done multiple adventures, and made plenty of new friends along the way. Say your goodbyes and head home with lots of memories.
