Itinerary
- Day 1
Dateline Crossing
Your adventure starts as you cross the International Dateline. You'll skip ahead a day, which means the calendar jumps but your body gets used to the time shift. It's one of those quirky parts of traveling this far east that'll feel strange at first.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bailey Crystalbrook Collection Hotel)
- Day 2
Cairns
You'll arrive in Cairns, the tropical gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Depending on when your flight touches down, you can explore the city on your own schedule. Later this evening, you'll meet up with the group for a welcome dinner to kick things off together.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bailey Crystalbrook Collection Hotel)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Cairns
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef 
- Day 3
Cairns
Another day in Cairns with no scheduled activities. You can spend it however you like - maybe relax by the water, walk around the esplanade, or check out local spots. The group gathers again tonight for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bailey Crystalbrook Collection Hotel)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Cairns
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef - Day 4
Cairns
This morning you'll head to Rainforestation Nature Park where an Indigenous guide walks you through Aboriginal history and traditions. Around lunch, you'll have an Aussie barbecue. After that, you'll drive over to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures for a nature cruise and boardwalk through the rainforest looking for birds, reptiles, wallabies, and koalas.
- Meals
- Lunch (Aussie barbecue lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Sydney Darling Square)
Included Activities
- Rainforestation Nature Park tour with Indigenous Pamagirri guide
- Aussie barbecue lunch
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures nature cruise
- Rainforest boardwalk exploration
- Wildlife naturalist experience
Landmarks Rainforestation Nature Park Hartley's Crocodile Adventures - Day 5
Great Barrier Reef
You'll board a high-speed catamaran heading out to the Great Barrier Reef, using Green Island as your base. Once there, you can take a glass-bottom boat ride, walk the trails on the island, relax on the beach, snorkel, or watch the marine life from the pier. If you want to go further out, there's an optional tour to the outer reef available.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Sydney Darling Square)
Included Activities
- High-speed catamaran excursion to Great Barrier Reef
- Glass-bottom boat ride
- Green Island walking trails
- Beach access
- Snorkeling
Optional Activities
- Outer reef tour
Landmarks Great Barrier Reef Green Island - Day 6
Cairns to Sydney
Your last morning in Cairns is yours to enjoy the tropical atmosphere and soak it in. Later in the day you'll fly to Sydney, the bustling city on Australia's east coast. You'll arrive with time to settle in before dinner.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Sydney Darling Square)
Optional Activities
- Relaxation and independent exploration in Cairns
- Day 7
Sydney
An expert-led tour takes you through Sydney's historic areas, including Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, and the Botanic Gardens. You'll also do a guided tour inside the iconic Sydney Opera House. After that, there's an optional presentation at the National Opal Collection if you want to learn more about Australian gems.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Rydges Auckland), Hotel (Hotel Indigo)
Included Activities
- Sydney city tour featuring Kings Cross, Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, and Botanic Gardens
- Expert-led tour of Sydney Opera House
Optional Activities
- National Opal Collection presentation
Landmarks Sydney Opera House Harbour Bridge Circular Quay Royal Botanic Gardens Kings Cross Chinatown The Rocks National Opal Collection - Day 8
Sydney
You have the day to explore Sydney at your own pace and check out whatever interests you. This evening, you'll board a dinner cruise around Sydney Harbour. From the boat, you'll see the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and other harbor sights while having dinner with the group.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Hotel)
Included Activities
- Dinner cruise of Sydney Harbour
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Sydney
Landmarks Sydney Harbour Sydney Opera House Harbour Bridge - Day 9
Sydney to Auckland
You'll fly from Sydney to Auckland, known as the City of Sails and the gateway to New Zealand. Auckland has the highest Polynesian population in the world, so the city blends modern sophistication with vibrant Pacific Island culture in interesting ways.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sudima Lake Hotel)
Landmarks Auckland 
- Day 10
Auckland to Rotorua
The morning starts with a panoramic tour of Auckland covering the America's Cup Village, War Memorial, Queen Street, and the Harbour Bridge. Then you'll travel inland to Rotorua, the Maori capital where over one-third of the population has Maori heritage. Tonight, you'll experience an authentic Hangi dinner celebration and learn about Maori culture and history.
- Meals
- Dinner (Authentic Hangi dinner celebration)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- Panoramic Auckland city tour featuring America's Cup Village, War Memorial, Queen Street, and Harbour Bridge
- Travel to Rotorua
- Authentic Hangi dinner celebration
- Maori cultural presentation
Landmarks America's Cup Village War Memorial Queen Street Auckland Harbour Bridge 
- Day 11
Rotorua
You'll visit Whakarewarewa Thermal Village where geysers and bubbling mud pools show off the geothermal activity. There's also an interactive weaving demonstration, and you'll learn about Kiwi bird conservation. Next, the Agrodome shows you a sheep-shearing demonstration and explains agriculture's role in New Zealand. The evening is free to do what you like.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Distinction Christchurch Hotel)
Included Activities
- Whakarewarewa Thermal Village tour
- Interactive weaving demonstration
- Kiwi bird viewing and conservation presentation
- Agrodome sheep-shearing demonstration
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Rotorua
Landmarks Whakarewarewa Thermal Village Agrodome - Day 12
Rotorua to Christchurch
You'll fly to Christchurch, the Garden City, which has been rebuilding since the 2011 earthquake. This afternoon, you get to choose. Either visit Quake City to explore the science behind earthquakes, or head to the Antarctic Centre for an immersion experience where you can meet penguins.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Quake City - earthquake science exhibits and stories
- Antarctic Centre - penguin encounters and Antarctic experience
Landmarks Quake City Antarctic Centre - Day 13
Christchurch
At Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, you'll see New Zealand's Big 5 animals up close: the Kiwi, Kea, Tuatara, Kaka, and Takahe. Later, you'll experience local Maori culture with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional waka canoe, paddling through the city's heart.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel)
Included Activities
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve tour
- New Zealand Big 5 wildlife viewing
- Avon River paddle in traditional waka canoe
Landmarks Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Avon River - Day 14
Christchurch to Queenstown
You'll travel south to Queenstown, the Adventure Capital of the World. It sits against a beautiful bay with snowcapped mountains rising around it. You'll arrive in the afternoon with time to wander through the charming village on your own before dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Queenstown
Landmarks Queenstown 
- Day 15
Queenstown
You'll cruise across Lake Wakatipu with incredible scenery all around. After the cruise comes a lakeside barbecue lunch with a sheepdog demonstration that shows off working farm dogs in action. Then you'll ride a gondola up to Bob's Peak for panoramic views of the region. The evening is yours to enjoy Queenstown before a big travel day tomorrow.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lakeside barbecue lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Millennium Hotel)
Included Activities
- Lake Wakatipu cruise
- Lakeside barbecue lunch
- Sheepdog demonstration
- Gondola ride to Bob's Peak
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Queenstown
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Bob's Peak - Day 16
Milford Sound
You'll travel through the ancient beech forest of the Hollyford Valley, passing through the Homer Tunnel to reach Milford Sound. The fjord cruise is the main event, with dramatic scenery all around. On the way back, you can choose to take an optional short flight back to Queenstown if the weather cooperates, giving you aerial views of the Southern Alps.
Included Activities
- Hollyford Valley travel through ancient beech forest
- Homer Tunnel passage
- Milford Sound cruise
Optional Activities
- Return flight to Queenstown via scenic flight over Southern Alps
Landmarks Hollyford Valley Homer Tunnel Milford Sound 
- Day 17
Queenstown
This day is completely free. You can either take an optional tour through the Queenstown countryside to visit movie filming locations from famous films, or stay in the village to shop and watch people. Tonight, you'll gather with everyone for a farewell dinner reflecting on the trip.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner
Optional Activities
- Queenstown countryside tour featuring movie filming locations
- Shopping and exploration in the village
Landmarks Queenstown - Day 18
Departure
Your tour comes to an end today. You'll leave with plenty of memories from your time traveling through Australia and New Zealand, from the reefs to the mountains to the cultural experiences along the way.
