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| Journey to the South Pacific
A 22-Day tour starting from $2,999
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| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welcome to the South Pacific and a journey that will introduce you to the many diverse regions of both Australia and New Zealand! You'll witness firsthand unique cultures like that of Australia's Aboriginals and New Zealand's native Maori civilization. Your adventure begins in Cairns, an ideal setting-off point for the Great Barrier Reef. The majestic coral structures that make up the reef are home to the most diverse animal and plant ecosystem on earth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip. Meals 13 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(es), 10 Dinner(s) Hotel Accommodations: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service chargesCAIRNESThe Oasis Resort SYDNEYThe Menzies CANBERRAAll Seasons Olims Hotel QUEENSTOWNMercure Resort MT COOKHermitage Hotel MELBOURNEGrand Mercure Swanston CHRISTCHURCHRydges or Chateau on the Park WELLINGTONDuxton NAPIERScenic Circle Te Pania ROTORUARydges Complimentary hotel-to-hotel baggage handling. Sightseeing Private transportation via a deluxe, climate-controlled motorcoach
Day 1 and Day 2
Depart from Home Today you board your Qantas flight and begin the adventure of a lifetime to Australia and New Zealand, two countries known for their friendly and welcoming nature. Crossing the International Dateline, you lose a full day. Day 3 Cairns (Northern Beaches), Australia - Tour Begins Your tour begins today in Cairns, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, renowned for tropical rainforests, warm weather, friendly people and beautiful beaches. Tonight, enjoy a special welcome dinner with your new mates. Day 4 Great Barrier Reef Day 5 Cairns - Sydney Day 6 Sydney This morning you will see Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Paddington on a sightseeing tour of Sydney. You will also feel the power of one of the world’s most acoustically perfect architectural designs, the Sydney Opera House. In the evening you’ll enjoy a dinner cruise on beautiful Sydney Harbour during which you will be treated to spectacular views of Sydney’s greatest icons - the Harbour Bridge and world-famous Opera House. Day 7 Sydney Today you visit one of Australia''s greatest wildlife parks. Not only will you see koalas in their natural habitat, but you might also have the unique opportunity to pose for a photo with one of these adorable creatures while exploring this well-known sanctuary for Australia''s wildlife. You will also have the chance to feed the kangaroos and pet a wombat. Later, enjoy an educational presentation on opals - learn how raw opals are processed from the dark mine shafts to artistic creations found in your favorite jewelry store. This evening, enjoy the friendly city at your leisure or join us for an optional tour. Day 8 Sydney - Blue Mountains - Canberra Journey this morning into the majestic Blue Mountains which reside just outside Sydney. Revel in the beauty of this World Heritage Site as you visit the famous Three Sister rock formation and Govett''s Leap. Continue on to Australia''s capital city, Canberra. Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic city tour with a visit to Canberra''s War Memorial. The evening is yours to explore the city''s shopping district and great eateries. Day 9 Canberra - Melbourne This morning you visit the National Museum of Australia which interactively celebrates the land, nation and people of the country. Then, depart across southern Victoria. Travel past the snowy mountains and through the countryside, taking in the winelands and quaint villages. Arrive this evening in Melbourne - Australia''s most stylish city. Day 10 Melbourne Today you embark on a tour of Melbourne featuring Fitzroy Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance and the Parliament House. Later, travel to Phillip Island, a nature reserve and home of the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins. The Little Penguin is protected on Phillip Island and a staff of rangers works diligently to study and protect them. A highlight is sure to be the adorable Little Penguin Parade during which hundreds of lovable birds waddle out of the sea and cross the beach to their burrows in the dunes. You will also visit the interpretation center where you will learn about the life of the Little Penguins and their significance to the area. Dinner is included on Phillip Island. Day 11 Melbourne - Christchurch, NZ You leave Australia behind and travel to Christchurch, New Zealand. Located on the Avon River, this charming city is considered “the most English city outside of England.” Day 12 Christchurch – Queenstown, NZ Today, you will be arriving in the picturesque resort village of Queenstown. Become acquainted with your surroundings during a spectacular dinner at the Skyline Restaurant, which overlooks the appropriately named ‘Remarkable Mountains.’ Day 13 Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown Today you will travel through beech forest into the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley via the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Day 14 Queenstown Your day is at leisure. You may choose from several options to enhance your vacation. Shop in the charming village, relax and visit with new friends, or enjoy an optional ‘Safari of the Rings’ tour that takes you deep into the majestic landscape of the Lord of the Rings movies. Day 15 Queenstown - Mt. Cook Traverse the spectacular countryside to New Zealand’s most famous national park, Mt. Cook. En route, enjoy a stop at a local fruit stand to gain an inside look at the produce of New Zealand. Mt. Cook is one of the most impressive mountains in the world. You may choose to view the massive glaciers and extensive snow-covered mountain top terrain on an optional glacier flightseeing tour (weather permitting), or perhaps enjoy the park during a nature walk. Day 16 Mt. Cook - Christchurch A sightseeing tour highlights magnificent gardens, the Neo-Gothic Cathedral and the downtown park district. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. This evening you are invited to dine and make friends with a New Zealand family in their home. Day 17 Christchurch - Picton - Wellington Travel up the winding eastern coast to Picton where you will board the famous Interislander Ferry for one of the most scenic trips the world has to offer. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you cruise through the Marlborough Sounds and cross the Cook Strait, arriving this evening in the capital city of Wellington. Nestled between a sparkling harbour and the rolling hills of the North Island, Wellington was first settled by Polynesians in the 10th century. Day 18 Wellington Today you will enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of Wellington viewing the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament, historic St. Paul’s Church, and the government building, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Following the tour, you will visit the national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongawera Museum. Day 19 Wellington - Napier Journey into the region of Hawke''s Bay today, arriving in the city of Napier. Rebuilt in the 1930s after a devastating earthquake, Napier boasts some of the greatest art deco architecture in the world. Enjoy an art deco tour of this great city upon arrival. Day 20 Napier - Rotorua Rotorua, known as the geothermal wonderland and cultural capital of New Zealand, is your destination today. The evening is yours to explore this great city. Day 21 Rotorua This morning visit Te Puia, New Zealand''s premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. You''ll be truly amazed by the landscape of erupting geysers, bubbling mud pools and other geothermal wonders! Here, the Maori keep their customs alive by teaching the tribal youth the skills of traditional carving, weaving and dancing. Take part in an interactive demonstration on the art of weaving and the importance of the Maori dress. You will also view the Kiwi bird and learn what New Zealanders are doing to try to remove the Kiwi from the endangered species list. Next, a visit to the Agrodome will give you insight into how wool, one of New Zealand’s premier products, is produced. You will see a sheep shearing demonstration here. This afternoon, visit a jade factory to see how the raw product is transformed into a fabulous gemstone. Day 22 Rotorua - Auckland - Tour Ends Drive to Auckland where your tour ends.
Tour Australia's national capital, Canberra - from national monuments to national parks, it's a city of many surprises.
Learn about the life of Australia's Little Penguins when you visit the Interpretation Center on Phillip Island. From the Maori culture to the thermal hot springs, experience the fascinating city of Rotorua. Board a high speed catamaran for an exciting excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. From your base on Green Island, you are able to explore the reef. Enjoy a glass bottom boat ride*, a stroll on the walking trail to take in the rain forest, relax on the beaches, or just watch the fish and sea turtles swim past from the pier. Experience the unique lifestyle of the Aboriginal people with a visit to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Center. See an Aboriginal dance show, learn about the Aboriginal life style, and learn to throw a boomerang or play a didgeridoo, a traditional instrument. Sydney: You will see Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. Discover one of the world’s most fascinating architectural works as you take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House Koala Park: Not only will you see koalas in their natural habitat, but you might also have the unique opportunity to pose with one of these cuddly creatures. You will also have the chance to feed the kangaroos and pet a wombat. evening dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour will give you a different perspective of this beautiful city. Enjoy spectacular views of Sydney’s greatest icons - the Harbour Bridge and world-famous Opera House. Following the cruise, return to the Opera House to enjoy a captivating performance visit Te Puia, New Zealand's premier Maori cultural and geothermal experience. You will be surrounded by natural bubbling, steaming silica terraces as you explore the landscape Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of Wellington viewing the Beehive, New Zealand's Parliament, historic St. Paul's Church, and the government building, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere. Following the tour, you visit the national museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongawera Museum travel to Phillip Island, a renowned nature reserve and home of the world's largest colony of Little Penguins. The Little Penguin is protected on Phillip Island and a staff of rangers works diligently to study and protect them. Behold the incredible Little Penguin Parade as hundreds of these lovable birds waddle out from the sea and cross the beach to their burrows in the dunes. Enjoy a fascinating cruise on the spectacular fjord of Milford Sound, experiencing breathtaking vistas at every turn. traditional Maori welcome at a Hangi meal followed by a traditional performance of songs, dances and other festivities. Experience the hospitality of the Kiwi's as you are invited to dine in the home of a New Zealand family. Fantastic winery visit and dinner will help you discover the flavors of the region in Napier. Package Notes:
Due to changes in air schedules while on tour, the order of days in the itinerary may change. The internal flights on this program are not included in the land price of your vacation. These flights need to be arranged and purchased separately if you arrange your own air. Internal flights are included with the air portion of your vacation if you purchase air through the tour operator. Previous clients have indicated that a small gift from your area is appropriate and appreciated the night of your home hosted dinner in New Zealand. Due to early arrival times in some cities, rooms may not always be ready for immediate check-in. *Upgrading your visit with the Outer Reef option is at an additional cost. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed with the exception of visits to wildlife parks. |
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| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||