Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland and get settled at your centrally located hotel. The afternoon is yours to wander around the waterfront if you feel up to it, or simply rest after traveling. Later in the evening, you'll meet your guide and the other people on the tour for a casual welcome meeting.
- Start point
- Auckland, New Zealand (Auckland)
Optional Activities
- Explore vibrant waterfront
- Rest and relax after flight
- Day 2
Auckland to Rotorua
Leave Auckland heading south toward Waitomo to see the glowworm caves. You'll take a guided boat through the caves, then continue through the Waikato region to reach Rotorua. The drive takes you through green farmland and gets you settled in Rotorua by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided boat ride through Waitomo Caves with glowworms
- Travel through Waikato region
Landmarks/POIs Waitomo Caves - Day 3
Rotorua
You have the full day free to check out Rotorua at your own pace. There's plenty to see on your own. In the evening, you'll attend a traditional Māori cultural performance and Hangi feast, which gives you a genuine introduction to New Zealand's indigenous heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Māori Hangi feast)
Included Activities
- Traditional Māori cultural performance and Hangi feast
Optional Activities
- Geothermal park visits (like Wai-O-Tapu)
- Ziplining
- White-water rafting
Landmarks/POIs Wai-O-Tapu - Day 4
Rotorua to Wellington
You'll travel through rolling farmland and wine country, stopping in Napier for lunch. The Art Deco buildings there are worth a quick walk around. After that, continue to Wellington, New Zealand's capital, positioned between hills and the harbour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Travel through farmlands and vineyards
- Stop in Napier for lunch
Landmarks/POIs Napier - Day 5
Wellington
Start with a morning city orientation walk so you get a feel for Wellington's layout. From there, the rest of the day is open. Visit Te Papa National Museum, walk the waterfront, ride the cable car up the hill, or just wander through shops and cafés.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning city orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Papa National Museum
- Stroll the waterfront
- Take the cable car
- Browse quirky shops and cafés
Landmarks/POIs Te Papa National Museum Wellington Cable Car - Day 6
Wellington to Kaikoura
Fly to the South Island and head through Marlborough wine region. You'll stop for a wine tasting to try some local wines, then travel to Kaikoura, a coastal town where you'll spend the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to South Island
- Travel through Marlborough wine region
- Wine tasting
Landmarks/POIs Marlborough Wine Region - Day 7
Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs
The morning is free, so you can sign up for optional whale watching or dolphin swimming if that interests you. Later in the day, you'll travel inland to Hanmer Springs, a small alpine town known for its thermal pools where you can soak.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Whale watching
- Dolphin swimming
- Visit Hanmer Springs thermal pools
Landmarks/POIs Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools - Day 8
Hanmer Springs to Franz Josef
This is one of New Zealand's most scenic drives as you cross the Southern Alps. You'll head down through rainforest and eventually reach the West Coast, arriving in Franz Josef, the glacier town, by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cross Southern Alps scenic drive
- Travel through rainforest
- Arrive in Franz Josef
Landmarks/POIs Southern Alps - Day 9
Franz Josef
You have the day free to explore the glacier area however you like. Optional activities include heli-hiking if you're adventurous, kayaking, soaking in hot pools, or visiting the West Coast Wildlife Centre to see native animals.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Heli-hiking
- Kayaking
- Soaking in hot pools
- Visit West Coast Wildlife Centre
Landmarks/POIs West Coast Wildlife Centre - Day 10
Franz Josef to Queenstown
Drive through Haast Pass with stops at waterfalls and lakes along the way. You'll arrive in Queenstown by evening, which is known as New Zealand's adventure capital with plenty of activity options.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Haast Pass
- Stops for waterfalls and lakes
Landmarks/POIs Haast Pass 
- Day 11
Queenstown
This day is yours to do what you want. You can try jet boating or bungee jumping if adventure appeals to you, take a gondola ride up the mountain, or simply relax by Lake Wakatipu and watch the scenery.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Jet boating
- Bungee jumping
- Gondola ride
- Relax by Lake Wakatipu
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wakatipu - Day 12
Queenstown to Fiordland National Park
You'll take a guided full-day trip into Fiordland National Park, which includes a cruise through Doubtful Sound. The scenery is remote and dramatic, and you'll spend significant time on the water seeing the fjords.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Full-day guided journey into Fiordland National Park
- Cruise through Doubtful Sound
Landmarks/POIs Fiordland National Park Doubtful Sound - Day 13
Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
Travel north through Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, which offers high alpine scenery throughout the drive. There are optional short walks available, and you can view the glacier from designated viewpoints. By afternoon, you'll reach Lake Tekapo with its turquoise waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
- Alpine views
Optional Activities
- Short hikes
- Glacier viewing
Landmarks/POIs Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Lake Tekapo - Day 14
Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
Pass through the Canterbury Plains on your way to Christchurch. Once you arrive, you can explore the botanical gardens, see earthquake memorials from the 2011 quake, and check out the city's creative street art and regeneration projects.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Pass through Canterbury Plains
- Explore botanical gardens
- Visit earthquake memorials
- Discover creative street art
Landmarks/POIs Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Day 15
Christchurch to Melbourne
You'll fly across the Tasman Sea to Melbourne. After you arrive and check into your hotel, the afternoon is free. Head out to explore the café scene or take a walk along the river if you want to stretch your legs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Melbourne
Optional Activities
- Enjoy the café scene
- Take a riverside stroll
Landmarks/POIs Yarra River - Day 16
Melbourne
Join a guided tour through Melbourne's iconic laneways and Queen Victoria Market, then see the Yarra River, Federation Square, and the city's parks. This gives you a solid overview of what makes Melbourne tick.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of iconic laneways
- Queen Victoria Market
- Yarra River
- Federation Square
- Lush parks
Landmarks/POIs Queen Victoria Market Federation Square Yarra River - Days 17 - 18
Melbourne
You have two full days to explore Melbourne on your own or join optional excursions. The Great Ocean Road is a scenic drive to see dramatic coastal cliffs, or you can catch the Phillip Island Penguin Parade at sunset, or ride the historic Puffing Billy steam train.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Great Ocean Road tour
- Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Puffing Billy steam train ride
Landmarks/POIs Great Ocean Road Phillip Island - Day 19
Melbourne to Cairns
Fly to tropical North Queensland and settle in at your hotel. You'll have free time to walk along the Esplanade or relax by the pool as you adjust to the tropical climate.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to North Queensland
Optional Activities
- Explore the Esplanade
- Relax poolside
- Day 20
Cairns
Spend the full day on a cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. You can snorkel or scuba dive to see the coral and fish, take a glass-bottom boat ride to stay dry, or book a helicopter flight for an aerial view of the reef.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise
Optional Activities
- Snorkelling
- Scuba diving
- Glass-bottom boat rides
- Helicopter flight
Landmarks/POIs Great Barrier Reef - Day 21
Cairns
This is a relaxation day, though several optional activities are available. You could visit the Daintree Rainforest, the world's oldest tropical forest, or Hartley's Crocodile Adventures. Another option is the scenic railway to Kuranda village with a return via Skyrail cableway, and you can visit the butterfly sanctuary or Aboriginal cultural centers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Daintree Rainforest tour
- Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
- Kuranda Scenic Railway journey
- Skyrail cableway return
- Butterfly sanctuary visit
- Aboriginal cultural centres visit
Landmarks/POIs Daintree Rainforest Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Kuranda - Day 22
Cairns to Uluru
Fly to the Red Centre and head to Uluru. You'll visit the base of the rock at sunset with sparkling wine, then have dinner under the stars at the 'Sounds of Silence' venue, which includes the meal and the experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner ("Sounds of Silence" dinner under the stars)
Included Activities
- Flight to Red Centre
- Uluru sunset visit with sparkling wine
- "Sounds of Silence" dinner under the stars
Landmarks/POIs Uluru 
- Day 23
Uluru to Alice Springs
Wake early to catch the sunrise at Uluru, then travel across the red desert to Alice Springs. The drive gives you a sense of the vast Outback landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sunrise at Uluru
- Travel across desert to Alice Springs
Landmarks/POIs Uluru - Day 24
Alice Springs
Visit several iconic central Australia sites including Simpson's Gap, the Royal Flying Doctor Service headquarters, and the School of the Air, all of which show different aspects of Outback life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Simpson's Gap
- Royal Flying Doctor Service visit
- School of the Air visit
Landmarks/POIs Simpson's Gap - Day 25
Alice Springs to Sydney
Fly to Sydney and check into your hotel. The afternoon is free, so you can explore around the Harbour or take a ferry to Manly Beach if you want to get out on the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Sydney
Optional Activities
- Explore the Harbour
- Take a ferry to Manly
Landmarks/POIs Sydney Harbour Manly 
- Day 26
Sydney
Start with a morning city tour covering The Rocks historic area, the Opera House, Circular Quay, and the Botanical Gardens. After that, board a lunch cruise on the harbour to see the city from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Harbour lunch cruise)
Included Activities
- Morning city tour of The Rocks
- Opera House tour
- Circular Quay visit
- Botanical Gardens visit
- Harbour lunch cruise
Landmarks/POIs The Rocks Sydney Opera House Circular Quay Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney - Days 27 - 28
Sydney
You have the day free for shopping, heading to Bondi Beach, or joining an optional tour to the Blue Mountains to see the Three Sisters rock formation, Echo Point, and Featherdale Wildlife Park. On the final evening, everyone gets together for a farewell dinner and drinks with the group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner and drinks)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner and drinks
Optional Activities
- Shopping
- Bondi Beach visit
- Blue Mountains tour
- Three Sisters visit
- Echo Point visit
- Featherdale Wildlife Park visit
Landmarks/POIs Bondi Beach Blue Mountains Three Sisters Echo Point Featherdale Wildlife Park - Day 29
Sydney
You'll be transferred to the international airport for your departure. Safe travels home and thanks for traveling with the group.
Included Activities
- Transfer to international airport
