Trafalgar Tours Australia New Zealand

Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

TRAFALGAR TOURS OFFERS THREE DISTINCTIVE VACATION STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Understanding that every destination and everyone is not the same, Trafalgar offer three styles of vacation for you to choose from.  Each vacation choice has been carefully designed so you truly experience the destination, learn about the culture and see the world through the eyes of the locals.  Trafalgar's goal is to ensure you have the perfect vacation experience.

Free and Easy

Free and Easy touring with Trafalgar Tours specially desgined, free and easy vacations.  It’s the perfect balance between superbly organized sightseeing scenic drives and time to explore on our own.  Enjoy longer stays in each exciting destination, offering you the chance to really absorb the atmosphere of the beautiful places you visit. 

We offer you an array of exciting activities to enhance your vacation, giving you the freedom to decide which ones you want to join in on and those you don’t.  Spend the significant amount of free time in each destination exactly how you want.  Shop for new season fashion along uber-cool Chapel Street in Melbourne, explore the major sights of each lively city, relax on the world famous beaches or take advantage of the sightseeing and other exciting excursions we organize for you.

Discovery Tours

Australia and New Zealand are lands of many contrasts.  From Australia’s breathtaking coastlines, to its sprawling Red Centre; or the wonderful lush country side to the magical fjords of "the land of the long white cloud", at Trafalgar, we will ensure you see all this and everything in between.  Trafalgar’s Australia and New Zealand Discoveries present a range of first class, all inclusive escorted tours, allowing you to take in all the amazing sights, sounds and smells of these awe-inspiring countries.

Discoveries offer an unforgettable journey exploring the history, culture and traditions of Australia and New Zealand.  Choose from 10 perfectly designed itineraries ranging from 11-day tours to 24-day tours, all of which are accompanied by one of Trafalgar’s experienced Tour Directors who will bring each destination to life.  You’ll be chauffeured in style and comfort onboard luxury coaches, stay in firs class hotels in perfect locations, dine on delicious meals to arouse your taste buds and enjoy sightseeing with expert local guides.

A La Carte Touring

Explore, absorb and fall in love with some of the South Pacific’s most fascinating cities, resorts and scenic wonderlands with Trafalgar’s A La Carte Touring program.  Tailor-make your ideal vacations by incorporating a first class A La Carte Touring option to your Australian and New Zealand experience.  The program includes the perfect mix of mini-stay style vacations and stopover options designed to complement an already amazing adventure.

You will have the chance to escape to the colorful Great Barrier Reef, stand in awe of the Three Sisters found in the picturesque Blue Mountains, wander the chic streets of Melbourne and so much more.  The A La Carte Touring program offers you the freedom and choice of an independent vacation with the benefit of an escorted tour.  Enjoy the chance to mix and match the fantastic vacations together or include them as an additional extra to your Trafalgar tour – it’s your holiday, your choice!

Theres Nothing Like Australia

Posted on Friday, January 06, 2012

Australia has appeal for all types of travelers, from families to solo travelers, from young couples to multigenerational groups. The reasons to plan your vacation today are numerous: it's a safe destination; you get good value for your dollar; from the west coast of the U.S., it's about the same traveling time and distance as flying to Italy; and Aussie's speak English, making it easy to forge new friendships. Plus, with all of the excitement surrounding The Oprah Winfrey Show visit to Australia, the destinations is as hot as ever. As exciting as Sydney and Melbourne are, there is so much more to see and do beyond the major cosmopolitan cities. Herewith is just a sample of some favorite experiences with the destination's knowledge and expertise, we'll be sure to find a Downunder vacation experience that is right for you!

Australia Travel Blog

Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Australia and New Zealand provide some of the most unique and beautiful landscapes in the world. Spotlight the bustling metropolises of Sydney and Auckland, plus the incredible wildlife on land and at sea, and you have all the elements for a truly memorable vacation. From the sophistication of the Opera House and the world-class wineries, to the rugged individualism of the Outback and its inhabitants, Australia and New Zealand possess a wonderful diversity of sights, activities and cultures.

Few travel experiences can rival the excitement of sailing into the glistening harbors of Sydney and Auckland, as well as inspiring attractions, such as scenic Fiordland National Park and the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, just to name a few.

Whether exploring by land or by sea, our Certified Aussie Travel Specialists will help you select the perfect vacation.

Australia Travel Tips

Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2011

When you are planning a vacation to Australia and the South Pacific, please remember that Australia is an island the size of the U.S.A. It is wider across than the distance from New York to Los Angeles but has a population of only 20 million people.

Passports and Visas

A valid visa is required for all people wishing to travel to Australia. Visitors of all nationalities (except Australian and New Zealand passport holders) must obtain a visa prior to arrival.

Atlas will issue your Electronic Visas complimentary when you book a tour vacation with us.

Currency

The Australian unit of currency is the Australian dollar.

Credit Cards & Traveler's Checks

Exchange facilities can be found at all international airports and foreign currency or travelers’ checks can be exchanged at banks and large hotels. Normal bank opening hours are from 9:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Thursday and 9:00am to 5:00pm on Friday. All major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, banks and most stores.

Goods and Services Tax

All goods and services purchased in Australia are subject to a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is usually included in the displayed price. You may apply for a refund on the GST but only on goods costing A$300 (GST inclusive) or more, bought from the same store no more than 30 days before you leave Australia, which are to be taken with you as hand luggage or worn onto the aircraft upon your departure. Further information is available from Australian Customs upon arrival.

Electricity

The electricity current in Australia is 220–240 volts; AC 50Hz. The Australian 3-pin power outlet is different so you will need an adapter socket. Check your appliances to see if there is a 100–240v switch. If not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240v or 110v shavers are usually found in leading stores.

Climate

Australia is largely a temperate island destination. The seasons are the opposite to the seasons in North America. Some areas of Northern Australia experience a tropical climate, so be prepared for pleasantly warmer weather.

Shopping

Australia is a true shopping heaven. All major cities have extensive shopping facilities with malls, arcades and specialty shops selling a wide range of home-produce and international products. In the last few years Aboriginal art has increased in popularity. Duty-free shopping can be enjoyed in every capital city and international airports.

Fine Food and Wine

If you’re passionate about fine food and wine, you’ll fall in love with Australia. Fresh seafood is widely available. For something unique, try ‘fusion’ food, combining the best flavors from Asian, European and Australian cuisine. Australian wines are renowned throughout the world.

Australia & New Zealand Cruise Tours

Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Go Down Under, Deep Down Under

A cruise vacation to Australia/New Zealand is like a trip to a whole other world. Or, at least, to a whole other side of the world. You'll visit colorful reefs, meet curious creatures and explore progressive cities nestled in unimaginable landscapes.

And with an exciting cruisetour package, you'll travel even farther into the Australian outback, to remarkable places like the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock or the crocodile haven of Cairns. Our ships can't travel into the incredible Australian wilderness, but you can with one of our Australia Cruisetours.

Auckland

Stand atop Sky Tower, the Southern Hemisphere's tallest urban structure, and gaze over the cosmopolitan city of Auckland and its 1.3 million inhabitants. Or, tour the countryside of West Auckland, visit a private sheep farm, and see for yourself how the diverse New Zealand landscape can magically change in the blink of an eye. Beaches, countryside, bungee jumping, saltwater fishing, and much, much more - Auckland's diversity is its strength. You can't miss this 'City of Sails.'

Ayers Rock

Even the rocks are exciting in Australia - especially this massive monolith. Ayers Rock, known as Uluru to the locals, rises to over 1,000 feet out of the red dust of central Australia. With its striking sunset colors and mysterious springs and caves, Uluru is as fascinating to today's visitors as it has been to the local tribes for centuries. Your perfectly timed visit will include sunset views of the rock, a tasty barbeque and an astronomer-led tour of the spectacular southern night skies.

Cairns

Take a quick flight north of Sydney to Cairns, Queensland, and get to know the peaceful lagoons and lush rain forests of the Tropical North. As part of your cruisetour, you'll get to meet one of Australia's most famous locals - the saltwater crocodile. Follow timber boardwalks through Melaleuca wetlands, riverine rain forests, and eucalypt woodland to see the crocs (along with water birds, turtles, wallabies and cassowaries) in their natural home. Then get acquainted with the edge of your seat at the famously fierce Crocodile Attack Show.

Port Douglas

Three words: Great...Barrier...Reef! You can't visit Australia without a trip to the world's largest, most celebrated coral reef system. With the seaside village of Port Douglas as your hub, you'll travel to the reef for an unforgettable day of swimming, snorkeling, diving and frolicking among some 1,500 species of fish, 5,000 species of mollusk and 400 species of coral. Better bring an underwater camera!

Queenstown

Queenstown isn't called the 'adventure capital of the world' for nothing. Attracting international adrenaline junkies from around the globe, Queenstown and the surrounding area is primed for hiking, biking, camping, bungee jumping, skiing, fly-fishing, picture taking, and anything your heart rate can take. With a thriving nightlife and a youthful spirit, an evening out will introduce you to many local eats, drinks, and probably a few new friends. The perfect stop to let it all hang out.

Rotorua

Sister city to Klamath Falls, Oregon, Rotorua is known for its abundance of local geothermal activity. Bubbling mud pools, geysers, and hot springs make this a hot bed for some of the country's most enjoyable spas, intriguing botanical gardens, and environmental nature reserves. Make sure to take a trip back in time at the Rotorua Museum to see how the area thrived, and then recovered, following the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. It's an all-natural, tropical escape.

Sydney

G'day, mate! And welcome to Australia's largest city - Sydney. Your tour will include enough time to explore famous sites like lively Oxford Street, the Sydney Opera House and, of course, Sydney Harbour. Plentiful bays, pristine beaches and aquamarine waters make the Harbour one of the most beautiful in the world. And if you think that sounds eye-catching, wait 'til you see it all under the dazzling city lights at night.