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| The Complete South Pacific
A 27-Day tour starting from $4,599
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| About This Tour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On this exciting excursion of contrasts you will truly be able to immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, you'll see the "big three" attractions, the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock and the world-famous Sydney Opera House. You'll also experience the Australia that Aussies know--charming country towns and rainforest villages. In New Zealand, explore both North and South Islands. Highlights include a luncheon cruise on Milford Sound; dinner in the home of a "Kiwi" family; and a visit to Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and a Maori village in Rotorua. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enjoy the services of a professional tour manager who accompanies you throughout your trip. Meals 21 Breakfast(s), 2 Lunch(es), 13 Dinner(s) Hotel Accommodations: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service chargesCAIRNESNovotel Palm Cove AYERS ROCKSails in the Desert ALICE SPRINGSNovotel KAKADUGagudju Crocodile Hotel MELBOURNEGrand Mercure Swanston HOBARTWest Point Hotel and Casino SYDNEYThe Menzies QUEENSTOWNMercure Resort MOUNT COOKHermitage Lodge CHRISTCHURCHChateau on the Park or Rydges WELLINGTONDuxton ROTORUAHome Stay or Rydges 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. Crossing the International Dateline, you lose a full day. Day 3 Cairns (Northern Beaches), Australia - Tour Begins Your tour begins in the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the northern beaches of Queensland. Tonight, enjoy a special welcome dinner with your new mates. Day 4 Great Barrier Reef Day 5 Cairns This morning you board the Skyrail Rain Forest Cableway for an unforgettable ride above the rain forest canopy. There are two stops where you may get off the cableway and experience the forest floor from specially designed boardwalks. The amazing diversity of plants, animals and birds will astound you. Return to Palm Cove for an evening at leisure to enjoy your tropical surroundings. Day 6 Cairns - Ayers Rock Fly to the heart of the Outback, arriving at Ayers Rock. Tour the sandstone domes of the Olgas and the area around the base of “The Rock.” Later, witness a stunning sunset as the colors of the Rock change dramatically. Day 7 Ayers Rock - Alice Springs This morning you depart for Alice Springs, located in the heart of the Australian Outback. A sightseeing tour of the area includes the Old Telegraph Station and Anzac Hill. Gain insight into the educational system in the Outback with a visit to the School of the Air - you may even see a class in session! A special experience is in store for you this afternoon as you will have the opportunity to meet the young Aboriginal group, Drum Atweme. Supported by the Collette Foundation, Drum Atweme is a musical group comprised of at-risk youth from the local community. Day 8 Alice Springs - Darwin - Kakadu National Park Begin your day with a Dreamtime Tour. Experience the culture of the Australian Aborigines and learn about their ancient culture, folklore, customs and the concept of Dreamtime. You will have the opportunity to taste some of their traditional Aboriginal food. Later, board your flight to the northern tip of Australia and the city of Darwin. You then drive into the heart of Kakadu National Park. Day 9 Kakadu National Park Today you experience the beauty and culture of Australia’s “Top End.” Kakadu National Park is home to wallaroos and wallabies, monitors and lizards, birds of every imaginable color, and crocodiles. See ancient Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie Rock and enjoy an audio-visual show at the Visitors Centre. During your afternoon Yellow Waters cruise you may see crocodiles as they bask in the sun, as well as waterfowl such as jabiru, egrets, herons and eagles. Day 10 Kakadu National Park - Darwin - Melbourne Fly to the beautiful Victorian city of Melbourne. Enjoy a city tour which includes Fitzroy Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance and Parliament House. Day 11 Melbourne Your morning is at leisure to explore Melbourne on your own. You may visit the elegant parks and gardens in this friendly city, take a ride on a streetcar, or enjoy lunch at an outdoor café in the quaint Italian neighborhood of Carlton. This afternoon you will visit 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 rangers diligently study them. View the Little Penguin Parade as hundreds of them 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 at a favorite Phillip Island restaurant. Day 12 Melbourne - Hobart A flight to Hobart, Tasmania brings you to Australia''s second oldest city. The rugged and pristine beauty of Tasmania provides the backdrop to your 2-night stay here. Day 13 Hobart Day 14 Hobart - Sydney Return to mainland Australia today and arrive in the bustling city of Sydney. Day 15 Sydney A city tour of Sydney, where modern-day Australia was born, highlights Kings Cross, the Harbour Bridge, Chinatown, the Rocks, Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens, and the fashionable suburb of Paddington. Day 16 Sydney This morning, visit Sydney Wildlife World which showcases Australia''s fascinating flora and fauna with three floors of exhibits. Within its walls, over 6,000 native animals are protected. Walk amongst the wallabies and birds when you experience Sydney Wildlife World''s new interactive walk-through. Visit the koala sanctuary where you can see Australia''s most famous animal species in its natural habitat. If you want to, you can even pet one! Next, enjoy a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about opals during a special presentation at the National Opal Collection, one of Australia’s top jewelry companies. Day 17 Sydney - Queenstown, New Zealand Travel to New Zealand, arriving in the gorgeous town of Queenstown. Day 18 Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown Journey through beech forest into the rugged grandeur of the Hollyford Valley via the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. Enjoy a cruise of Milford Sound fjord. Following your cruise, you return to Queenstown. You may choose to return via a short optional flight, weather permitting, for spectacular views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Day 19 Queenstown A leisurely day in this charming village offers several options to enhance your vacation. ADVANTAGE SEASON INCLUSION: Experience the beauty of the Southern Alps during the 4x4 adventure, “Safari of the Rings.” Journey through the majestic Remarkable Mountains and the breathtaking Queenstown countryside where spectacular scenery abounds! You will be immersed in what nature provided as a backdrop for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Day 20 Queenstown - Mt. Cook National Park Traveling through New Zealand’s picturesque countryside you will learn about the 19th century gold rush when you stop in Arrowtown. Later today you will arrive at Mt. Cook National Park where you may take nature walks or, if weather permits, enjoy an optional flightseeing tour to the top of the rugged mountain range. Day 21 Mt. Cook - Christchurch A drive through the Southern Alps, which line the western side of New Zealand''s South Island, brings you to the beautiful English city of Christchurch. Located on the Avon River, Christchurch is considered to be “the most English city outside of England.” Upon arrival, enjoy a sightseeing tour along the Avon River and view magnificent gardens, the Neo-Gothic Cathedral, and the downtown park district. ADVANTAGE SEASON INCLUSION: Board the historic Christchurch Tramway for a delightful dinner while passing some of the cities greatest attractions. Day 22 Christchurch Today is yours to explore the historic city of Christchurch at your leisure. ADVANTAGE SEASON INCLUSION: This afternoon you visit the International Antarctic Center, the gateway for both American and New Zealand Antarctic expeditions. Discover what daily life entails on the seventh continent and enjoy a visit to the little penguin exhibit where you will see these great creatures up close! Day 23 Christchurch - Wellington Traveling north along the coast you''ll pass scenic river valleys and vineyards. Arriving in Picton, you will ferry to the North Island on one of the most scenic trips the world has to offer. Cruising through the Marlborough Sounds and across the Cook Strait, your final destination is Wellington, the harbour capital of New Zealand. Day 24 Wellington According to Maori legend, Wellington Harbour was founded in the 10th century by the Polynesian navigator Kupe and first named Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui - or "head of Maui''s fish." A tour of this city showcases the Beehive Parliamentary buildings and views from atop Mt. Victoria. Later, experience Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, New Zealand''s national museum which has won worldwide acclaim for its innovative, exciting and diverse range of artwork and exhibitions which relay the captivating stories of the indigenous people. Day 25 Wellington - Rotorua Depart for the center of Maori culture - the city of Rotorua. Here you’ll see a unique landscape of bubbling and steaming geothermal springs. Tonight you will enjoy a home stay** and dinner with a New Zealand family. This is a great way to meet the Kiwis and perhaps form lifelong friendships. Day 26 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 culture alive by teaching the tribal youth traditional carving, weaving and dancing. Learn about this unique culture as you partake in a demonstration about the importance of the Maori dress and the weaving process. Before leaving you will get to view the national bird - the Kiwi. A visit to the Agrodome will give you insight into how wool, one of New Zealand’s premier products, is processed. You will also view a special sheep shearing demonstration. Later this afternoon, meet jade carvers and discover how jade is transformed to make beautiful jewelry. Day 27 Rotorua - Auckland - Tour Ends Travel through the majestic countryside of the North Island, arriving in New Zealand''s largest city, Auckland, "The City of Sails." Your tour ends in Auckland.
This tour features Hobart, the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, Ayers Rock, Melbourne, Auckland, and more.
Learn about the education of the children in the Outback during a visit to the School of the Air. Take a Yellow Waters Cruise in Kakadu National Park where you are sure to see crocs and plentiful bird life. See a Tasmanian Devil during a visit to the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park and learn about the efforts to save these great creatures. Board a high speed catamaran for an exciting tour of the Great Barrier Reef. Board the Skyrail Forest cableway for an unforgettable ride above the rain forest canopy. Tour the sandstorm domes of the Olgas. Enjoy a traditional dinner in the bush. Sightseeing tour of Alice Springs: Old Telegraph Station, Anzac Hill. Kakadu National Park home to wallaroos and wallabies.Yellow waters cruise On Philip Island see the Little Penguin Parade when they return from their day long feeding in the sea and parade up to the beaches into their nests located on the sand dunes. Take a guided tour of Port Arthur Historic Site Guided tour through the Sydney Opera House Summer Season Bonus: when you travel May through August extra optional activites are added as a bonus (such as Skyrail Cableway, Safari of Rings, International Antarctic Center). Please call for itinerary details. 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. Due to early arrival times into some cities, rooms may not always be available for immediate check-in. *If you purchase the outer reef option in the Great Barrier Reef, the glass bottom boat ride will be replaced by a semi-submersible boat on the outer reef pontoon. **Your home stay will take place in the greater Rotorua area. Your host family will pick you up at your hotel and return you to meet up with your group the following morning. If you prefer not to stay in a private home, you may choose to stay at your Rotorua hotel with dinner included. Please make your decision known at the time of booking. Previous clients have indicated that a small gift from your area is appropriate and appreciated the night of your home stay in New Zealand. Due to tour scheduling, return flights home should not be booked prior to 5:00 PM. 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||